Chiefs overpower Hurricanes
The Lethbridge Hurricanes probably have no desire to play at the Arena again this year.
The Spokane Chiefs hosted the Hurricanes on Wednesday night for first time since sweeping them in early May to win the Western Hockey League championship and advance to the Memorial Cup tournament.
Though it’s a new season, Spokane got the same result.
Two goals from Chiefs leading scorer Levko Koper and three power-play goals earned Spokane a 5-2 victory in front of 4,012 fans.
Mitch Wahl finished with a goal and an assist, Trevor Glass also scored and Seth Compton added an empty-net goal in the final minute of regulation for Spokane.
Stefan Ulmer, who had three assists and the winning shootout goal on Saturday night against Tri-City, notched two assists, as did Drayson Bowman.
“The first period I thought was one of our better first periods lately,” Chiefs coach Hardy Sauter said. “I knew having gone on three power plays and them not getting any that we were going to end up with more penalties in the second – we all knew it was coming.”
Sure enough, the penalties came in the middle period.
Spokane took six penalties in the second, beginning with Steve Kuhn’s instigator minor, 5-minute major and 10-minute misconduct for fighting. By the end of period, the Hurricanes had been on the power play five times, which Spokane responded to by killing off four of the five advantages.
Brent Henke managed to score on goalie Dustin Tokarski – who finished with 35 saves for Spokane – late in the second after Bowman took a roughing penalty.
Dwight King also scored for the Hurricanes (9-10-0-1) late in the third period.
“Our penalty kill did a really good job, and obviously Dustin (Tokarski) did as well,” Sauter said. “Our power play tonight, also, did a real good job of taking what was open. They scored some big goals for us.”
Immediately following the game the Chiefs boarded their charter bus and left for their longest road trip of the season – a 10-day, six-game swing through the East Division. The trip begins with a Friday night game against the Prince Albert Raiders.
Spokane (13-4-0-3, 29 points) trails idle Tri-City (14-5-0-2) by one point in the U.S. Division standings. with one game in hand.
Ice chips
Forwards Justin McCrae (knee, 2-3 weeks) and Mike Betz and defenseman Cory Baldwin (both healthy) were scratches for Spokane. … The Chiefs remained inside the Canadian Hockey League’s Top 10 rankings, dropping one spot to No. 10 in the poll’s ninth installment of the season. Also ranked from the WHL are the Vancouver Giants (No. 3), Calgary Hitmen (No. 5) and Tri-City Americans (No. 8). The Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) are ranked No. 1.