Kootenay Ice defeat Spokane Chiefs

CRANBROOK, B.C. – For 69 seconds in the first period Friday night, the Spokane Chiefs had the Kootenay Ice on the run. A couple of power-play goals pulled Spokane from behind, but for most of the rest of the 58-plus minutes it was the Ice who had the upper hand in skating to a 6-3 Western Hockey League win in the Rec Complex. Mitch Holmberg gave the Chiefs the early lead when he stole the puck and put in his own rebound 1:39 into the game before the Ice forged a 2-1 lead on goals by Max Reinhart and James Martin. Power-play goals by Steve Kuhn and captain Tyler Johnson 1:09 apart three minutes after Martin scored pulled Spokane back ahead before the period was 15 minutes old. But the Ice (2-1-0-0) capitalized on Spokane (0-2-0-0) mistakes for early goals in both the second and third periods, scoring twice in each period to win going away. Kevin King scored once in each period for Kootenay, his second goal of the season coming shorthanded 46 seconds into the second period. It was the first goal of the season for Holmberg, Kuhn and Johnson. Spokane outshot Kootenay 27-19, but took just four in the third period. Ice chips Two of last season’s Chiefs have been sent to American Hockey League affiliates by their NHL teams. Kyle Beach was sent by the Chicago Blackhawks to Rockford, Ill., and Mitch Wahl was sent by the Calgary Flames to Abbotsford, B.C.