Congrats to the Chiefs
The Spokane Chiefs put in another total performance, going 4 for 4 to win the Memorial Cup and rock the (Kitchener) Rangers big time.
The Rangers’ line of Justin Azevedo, Nick Spaling and Matt Halischuk that brutalized the Bellville Bulls in the semifinals with five points each was blanked by the Chiefs’ Tyler Johnson-led line.
Dustin Tokarski was sensational with 53 saves! Jared Cowen was brilliant on defense and the PK and the big guns like Judd Blackwater and crew came through with goals when they needed them.
Drayson Bowman has to be right up there with the quickest release, natural goal scorers I’ve seen.
And after going 3 for 3 in the round robin by Tuesday, the Chief had to wait a full momentum-sapping five days until Sunday for a single winner-take-all game to cap a victorious season.
To come out of the WHL and represent the West, first you have to win against the best in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Washington and Oregon – a major feat in its own right. They demonstrated they were up to the task.
Even though I am a gigantic hometown Vancouver Giants fan, congrats once again to the Cascade Mountain boys from Spokane. I understand many will be back for the next couple of years so they may make for strong defenders of West’s Junior A supremacy in 2009-10. Well deserved and well earned Chiefs.
Gerry J Bloomer
West Vancouver, B.C.