Disallowed Goal Should Have Counted

There’s nothing the Spokane Chiefs can do about the loss of a game-tying goal in the dying seconds of Saturday night’s Western Hockey League opener with the Tri-City Americans, except hope it doesn’t happen again.

Although it’s small solace, the head of officials told the Chiefs that the referee, Alain Frenette, appears to have mistakenly waved off Lynn Loyns’ goal with 13 seconds left that would have tied a game Spokane wound up losing 3-2.

The issue is whether the puck was frozen - trapped by the goaltender. That would have killed the play and the clock, before it was slammed in by the Chiefs. The other possible explanation is that Frenette momentarily lost sight of the puck and intended to stop play but hesitated - then felt he had to blow it off after the Chiefs put it in the back of the net.

Whatever the rationale, the puck was alive in front of the goaltender when Loyns knocked it in.

Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz, in Prince George for tonight’s road opener with the Cougars, said Monday he talked with WHL vice president Rick Doerksen.

“He was very supportive of our situation, but there’s not a whole bunch that can happen, other than to review it and for him to go through it so the referee can improve the next time,” Speltz said. “It’s disappointing. We score and he (Frenette) finds a reason - -which winds up being wrong - to disallow it. Disappointing, but there’s nothing we can do but move on.

“He (Doerksen) wants to review the tape, but at this point it’s only to help the referee identify the mistake, should they call it that, and hopefully improve in the future.”

Chiefs look improved

Controversy doesn’t detract from what was a solid opener for both clubs. The Chiefs played like an improved team. The Americans strongly suggested they don’t have as much rebuilding to do as we suspected.

One reason is the threat posed by Czech right wing Jaroslav Kristek. He had 38 goals a year ago, when the Americans were loaded with forwards. With more ice time, the second-round pick of the Buffalos Sabres - the 50th players selected in ‘98 - should finish closer to 50 goals.

Tri-City coach Don Hay was asked to compare Kristek with Seattle’s premier import, Russian Oleg Saprykin.

“They’re different types,” Hay said. “Saprykin is a little grittier and probably skates a little better, but I think Jaroslav can score goals as well, if not better, than Saprykin.”

Wow.

Hay smiled. “He’s going to be a valuable guy for us,” the coach said, “no question.”

A Whitfield report

An athlete named Whitfield was in Spokane last weekend, but it wasn’t Trent Whitfield, one of the most popular Chiefs for portions of five seasons. His kid sister, Kristina, was here, playing volleyball for Ohio University at Gonzaga’s annual Spikeoff Spokane tournament.

Kristina, from Alameda, Saskatchewan, hadn’t been back since her brother played his last season here in 1998. She still regrets missing that year’s Memorial Cup Tournament at the Arena, but school kept her back East.

The two talk on the phone regularly and Kristina reports “Trent’s in the best shape he’s ever been in.”

Trent, who’s in the NHL’s Washington Capitals system, was assigned to the American Hockey League’s Portland (Maine) Pirates earlier this week. This is the 22-year-old’s second year in Portland.

Braves to play in Arena

The Spokane Braves will make a rare appearance in the Arena on Friday night, in their Spokane opener with Osoyoos. The Braves, who went 2-2 on the road to start their season, will eventually move into new digs in the Valley. Planet Ice is the name of the facility. It’s one of two new ice sheets to open in the spokane Valley this fall.