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Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs open season with win

September 25, 2006 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Spokane Chiefs wasted no time setting the bar high for themselves with a 8-4 win to open the regular season on Saturday night at Kootenay. The eight goals matched their season high from last year when they defeated the Portland Winter Hawks 8-1 on December 11th. The last time the Chiefs had scored eight goals on the road was October 16th, 2004, a 9-5 win at Tri-City.

The victory was the first time they had won their opening game since 2001-02, also against the Ice, and now they will jump right back into the fire with a Tuesday afternoon game against the Vancouver Giants, the host of the 2007 Memorial Cup. Mike Boyle will go on the air at 6:30 with Comcast Hockey Tonight and the play-by-play will begin at 7:00 on KJRB 790 the Fan.

Spokane will continue their four game road stretch on Saturday night when they travel to Tri-City to take on the Americans at 7:00. The game will be Tri-City's home opener.

Before Spokane opens at home on Saturday, October 7th, also against the Americans, the Chiefs will travel to Everett to take on the Silvertips on Friday, October 6th.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH at VANCOUVER GIANTS

AIR-6:30 GAME

Spokane will travel to Vancouver to take on the Giants in the first of four match-ups against the BC Division opponent. In three games last year versus Vancouver, Michael Grabner scored five goals and seven points. Kevin Armstrong made three starts versus Vancouver and had a .914 save percentage. The Chiefs were 24-28 (85.7%) on the penalty kill. The Chiefs made a trade with Vancouver on September 18th by acquiring David Rutherford for a fifth round bantam selection.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH at TRI-CITY AMERICANS

AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will take on the Tri-City Americans for the first of 12 match-ups on the season. Last year, Spokane finished the regular season 5-5-1-1 versus the Tri-City Americans. The team that led after the second period was 10-1 last season in the series. In 12 games, Derek Ryan scored five goals and 12 points and Michael Grabner had nine goals and 10 points. Grabner finished the season series +9 while Sean Zimmerman was +12. In its 19th year of existence, the Chiefs lead the rivalry 108-97-1-1 with 13 ties. Spokane will host Tri-City on Saturday, October 7th when they open the home portion of their schedule. The Chiefs will be back in Tri-City on Saturday, November 4th.

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 25, 2006


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