WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs fall in season opener

Published on September 25, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Spokane Chiefs opened the regular season with a 4-1 loss on Saturday night in Cranbrook, BC to the Kootenay Ice. Spokane outshot the Ice 30-28 and Chad Klassen scored his first goal of the season in the first half of a home-and-home series with Kootenay. Spokane will open the home portion of the regular season on Saturday, October 2nd in the Spokane Arena.

The Chiefs had an 11-7 shot advantage in a first period that saw a combined seven power play opportunities, including one just 1:14 into the game for the Chiefs.

Kootenay would take a 2-0 in the second with goals midway through the period just 2:07 apart. The Ice's Martin Sagat pounced on clearing pass at the Chiefs blueline and found an open net to take a 1-0 lead at 10:17 of the period . Shortly thereafter Dale Mahovsky converted on a Casey Lee assist to make it a two goal lead for Kootenay.

With the Chiefs skating on one of their nine power plays on the night Klassen finished a Ned Lukacevic pass at 13:38 to pull the Chiefs within one. Klassen picked up where he left off last year after scoring a career high 35 goals and playing in all 72 games. Twenty-year-old defenseman Scott Lynch also assisted on the play.

With the Chiefs on another powerplay in the third, Kootenay's Nigel Dawes stole the puck at the Chiefs blueline and skated in on Spokane's starter Jim Watt and made it a 3-1 game.

With Watt pulled and time running out Mahovsky put the finishing touches on the game with an empty net goal with 1:15 remaining in the contest.

Watt finished the night with 24 saves and Spokane killed off all five Kootenay man advantages.

Kootenay starter Jeff Glass earned the first star of the game with 30 saves. Mahovsky was second star and Spokane's Scott Lynch earned the third star.

Tickets for next Saturday's home opener are available by calling the Chiefs office at (509) 535-PUCK or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT. Tickets are also available Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Chiefs office on the southeast corner of the Arena.

The first 5,000 fans through the gate on Bud Light Opening Night will receive a Chiefs magnet schedule courtesy of Comcast.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from September 25, 2004


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