Chiefs set sights on hot Ice
It would seem the Spokane Chiefs just can’t catch a break from the Western Hockey League schedule makers.
The Chiefs (0-1-0-0) meet the Kootenay Ice (4-0-1-0) in their home opener tonight in the Arena at 7. It’s the Chiefs’ first game since a week ago, when they opened their season in Cranbrook, British Columbia, against … the Ice.
In the intervening seven days, Kootenay has played three games – and won them all – while becoming one of the most surprising teams in the WHL.
The Chiefs? Well, they have spent the last week hitting each other in practice and doing lots of situational drills: fun stuff, yes, but nothing like laying a check into the boards on an opponent.
So, tonight Chiefs players will be eager to hit the ice after the extended player introductions that mark the festivities of opening night in Spokane. After all, they’ve had 23 practices in the last month and they’re ready to get their season going in earnest.
“With a slow start, it’s tough to get into game shape just practicing every day,” said Chiefs captain Jevon Desautels. “But it’s also a good time to learn our systems and get a lot of repetitions.”
The Ice might be catching a little shut-eye during the pre-game from their hectic travel schedule. The Chiefs would certainly be glad to see a tired Ice team, but they aren’t counting on anything.
Kootenay has made an impressive run to start the season. The Ice tied highly touted Tri-City in their home opener and beat the Chiefs before posting two impressive shutout road wins this week, over top-ranked Vancouver and Kelowna. Then they came home Friday and blanked Lethbridge.
Kootenay goaltender Jeff Glass had back-to-back shutouts in his last two games (backup Taylor Dakers shut out Lethbridge Friday night) and has allowed two goals this season. He is the WHL’s leading goalie, statistically, with a minuscule goals-against average of 0.49 and a saves percentage of .982.
“No doubt, they’re riding a really hot goalie right now,” said Spokane Chiefs coach Al Conroy. “They’ve been outshot in a lot of those games. That’s what it takes sometimes to get a team going or get it over the hump and they’re getting it.”
The good news for Spokane is that it scored one of those goals against Glass. The Chiefs had plenty of opportunities last weekend. But they feel they can do a better job of getting more bodies in front of Glass on a consistent basis and making Glass and his defense work a little bit harder.
“We know we’ve got to get traffic to the net,” said Desautels. “We’ve got to get everyone going to the net, shoot high, and bang the garbage goals in.”
The Ice have found offense in a pair of left wingers, captain Nigel Dawes and second-year European Martin Sagat. More important, Kootenay has been an opportunistic team. It’s something the Chiefs would like to emulate that part of their game tonight.
With what’s anticipated to be a big crowd, it will be important for the Chiefs to get off to a good start. Spokane is looking to get a goal or two early and take some pressure off its defense and goaltender Jim Watt. If the Chiefs do so, they could find themselves in the win column for the first time since the end of last season.
The signs of life are definitely present: Spokane’s power-play and penalty-kill units worked well last weekend. At even strength, the Chiefs had crisp, clean puck movement while keeping play in Kootenay’s zone for the majority of the game.
The Chiefs can’t afford to make mistakes tonight that allow the Ice to steal the momentum. They say they’re not worried about that happening.
“I think if we do the same thing and take it to another level … we’re going to be OK,” said Conroy.
Ice chips
The Chiefs have acquired defenseman Joe Logan from the Vancouver Giants for the rights to defenseman Andy Schenn, 18, who decided not to return to the team this season. … The team said Friday that plenty of tickets remain for the opener and can be purchased at the Arena today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or at the game tonight.