Chiefs fizzle in home opener, lose to Americans again

Chiefs owner Bobby Brett has guaranteed Spokane fans that his team will make the playoffs this season, as he reminded a crowd of 8,825 in a staged pregame sitcom of sorts.

But it’s the Tri-City Americans who are laughing so far this season, as they are doing their best to make Brett pay out $100,000 in refunds to Chiefs season-ticket holders if they finish in last.

Tri-City posted its second win in eight days over the Chiefs, 5-1 in Spokane’s Western Hockey League home opener on Saturday night at the Arena.

The Americans jumped to a 4-0 lead after one period to post their fifth straight win.

Just 8 minutes, 8 seconds into the game, the Americans had scored on three of their first seven shots and sent Spokane starting goalie Kevin Armstrong to the bench. He was replaced by rookie goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who stopped the bleeding.

Tokarski, a 16-year-old who won his WHL debut on Friday at Everett, stopped the first 11 shots he faced before giving up a 5-on-3 goal with just 45 seconds remaining in the period. He allowed only one other goal down the stretch – a rebound goal by Erik Felde (his second of the game) at the 14:55 mark of the third. Taylor Procyschen also had two goals for the Ams.

Chiefs coach Bill Peters called his team’s effort “an embarrassment” and especially didn’t like what he saw in net.

“Obviously, I didn’t think it was all his fault, but I didn’t think he was good in the beginning either,” Peters said of Armstrong. “He kind of matched our team. He wasn’t ready; we weren’t ready and Dustin went in and did a good job and will start Tuesday.

“That’s a battle now; the number one job is wide open now. Who’s kidding who?”

Spokane (2-2-1, 5 points) was out of sync for most of the game, save for a few offensive bursts which were turned away by Tri-City goaltender Carey Price.

Meanwhile, Spokane’s defense allowed two goals and an assist by Procyshen and a goal each by Felde and Alex Aldred in the first period alone.

Things didn’t get any better in the second, as Spokane continued its uninspired play in a scoreless period, though the Chiefs outshot the Americans 11-6. They would finally get on the board in the third, when Michael Grabner ended Price’s bid for a shutout at the 6:34 mark.

The Americans improve to 5-1, 10 points.

Ice chips

Scratches for Spokane were Ryan Bryce, Mike Reddington, Cody Esposito, David Linsley, Chris Langkow, and Jared Spurgeon. … Former Chiefs captain and assistant coach Kevin Sawyer provided radio color commentary for Saturday’s game.

Americans 5, Chiefs 1

First Period—1, TC, Procyshen 3 (Boogaard, Gillen) 5:23; 2, Tri-City, Felde 4 (Aldred) 6:39; 3, TC, Aldred 2 (T. Procyshen, A. Boogaard) 8:08; 4, TC, Procyshen 4 (Felde, Valach) 19:15 (pp). Second Period—None. Third Period—5, Spo, Grabner 2 (Hobson) 634; 6, Felde 5 (Schmidt, Reddick) 14:55 . Power-play Opp.—Tri-City 2 of 10; Spokane 0 of 7. Saves—Tri-City, Price 31saves; Spokane, Armstrong 4 saves; Tokarski 24 saves. A—8,825.