WHL Spokane Chiefs

Final Practice, Then Championship Game

Published on May 24, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


One of two teams remaining in the entire Canadian Hockey League spent one of their two days remaining with each other at the Kitchener Auditorium in their final practice of the season. The Spokane Chiefs will take on the host Rangers on Sunday, May 25th at 1:40 Pacific time for the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

"Its one win, one shot, not like a best of seven," Chiefs 18-year-old Drayson Bowman pointed out. "All of the guys have been there before and we have prepared well all season long," for the opportunity.

Spokane last played on Tuesday night, their third win in the round robin portion of the tournament, and earned a bye straight into the final. The Rangers clubbed the Belleville Bulls 9-0 in the semi-final game on Friday night to advance.

It will be a game of one versus two in the final Canadian Hockey League standings. The Rangers, winners of a franchise record 53 games and 110 points during the regular season, were ranked number one for a majority of the year while the Chiefs held the number two spot. Spokane came away with a 2-1 win on Sunday night in their earlier meeting.

Saturday's practice put the Chiefs overages, Chris Bruton, Judd Blackwater and David Rutherford, one step closer to the end of their careers and was the last workout in a Chiefs uniform, a moment that was not lost on the captain, "I have put a lot of time into this league and the last four years of my life have been shaped by this organization, so I have put some thought into it," Bruton said as he was coming off the ice.

"Now the felling is excitement, focus and anticipation to get started and finish what we've put together this whole year, which is to win a Memorial Cup Championship."

Head Coach Bill Peters kept things simple in the last practice of the season, "We just wanted to get out and move the puck, feel good about ourselves with our timing and really just get a little bit of a sweat. We've done this for nine months and now we're focused and ready to play."

The mantra following the skate was keep all the preparation like a regular season game although there is obviously more at stake, "Bill and Hardy have prepared us for everything," Bowman said. Treating is like a regular season game, "means don't get too ramped up and excited to where you're fumbling the puck. Try to relax and play the way we have all season."

"Twenty guys will play tomorrow and we will need all of them to play and be on top of their game," Peters said.

Mike Boyle will go on the air at 1:00 with Comcast Hockey Tonight on 1510 KGA and the NHL Network and Comcast will begin their coverage at 1:40.

WELCOME THE CHIEFS HOME ON MONDAY

The Spokane Chiefs are inviting fans to welcome the team back to Spokane on Monday, May 26th at noon in the Spokane Arena. The Chiefs will be on hand and address the crowd and thank them for all the support throughout the season.

Spokane will play the Kitchener Rangers in the finals of the Memorial Cup on Sunday, May 25th at 1:40 pacific time.

Fans can enter the Spokane Arena through the main gates and go down to the grand staircase to the floor.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from May 24, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central