Chiefs finish preseason unbeaten

A Judd Blackwater hat trick highlighted by an assist from goalie Dustin Tokarski.

There’s a first time for everything, and there is no bad time to go unbeaten – even if it is the preseason.

Blackwater scored in all three periods, and David Rutherford finished with two assists as the Spokane Chiefs ended their Western Hockey League exhibition schedule with a 6-0 win over Tri-City – their third victory over the Americans in the Chiefs’ 6-0 preseason – Friday night at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.

Blackwater opened scoring with the lone goal of the first period when Rutherford forced a Tri-City turnover behind the net and passed the puck out to Blackwater, who backhanded the goal in at 11:51.

His second goal was scored off an unexpected assist from Tokarski, who combined with Kevin Armstrong for 13 saves in the shutout. His final goal, in the third period, came from Ondrej Roman and Jared Spurgeon at 16:41, 29 seconds before rookie Jace Coyle scored the final goal of the night.

“It felt good to get (the hat trick) – it’s the first time, too bad it wasn’t during the season and had to be in the preseason.” Blackwater said. “(Tokarski) made a big save and the rebound just popped out, I picked it up and scored.”

The Chiefs wrap up their preseason schedule having outscored opponents 29-9, and while Chiefs coach Bill Peters is pleased with the way things went during exhibition play, he still sees the bigger picture.

“(The preseason) could have been a little better,” Peters said. “We could have stayed 100 percent healthy, obviously Seth Compton (leg injury) hasn’t played, and it would have been nice to have Seth knock some rust out, but that’s just not the way it was. We played a lot of young guys in Everett and were able to make that first wave of cuts … all in all, it was a good preseason.”

It’s also a preseason that could be a sign of good things to come.

“We’ve laid a bit of a foundation,” Peters said. “What I know right now is I’ve got a mobile group of defenseman, a hard-working group of forwards and very good depth in goal, so that’s allows a coach to sleep pretty good at night.

“Is it a really great barometer – the preseason? No, but have we done a good job of establishing a few things? Yes, we have.”

The Chiefs open regular-season play Friday with back-to-back games on the road against the Prince George Cougars.

Notes

The Chiefs reassigned forwards Burke Gallimore and David Conrad. Gallimore returned to his AAA Midget team in Edmonton. Conrad awaits his destination.