Holmberg Wins it in OT
Published on October 3, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release
Mitch Holmberg's second goal of the game 3:32 into overtime completed wild home opener for the Spokane Chiefs in a 6-5 win over the Tri-City Americans. The 17-year-old's snap shot from the right wing past Alexander Pechurskiy's blocker gave the Chief's Head Coach Don Nachbaur his first career win on Spokane's bench and evened the season series with the Americans at one game apiece.
After the game, the Chiefs learned that defenseman Jared Cowen was returned to the team by the Ottawa Senators. The defenseman played five NHL pre-season games with them. He had two assists and was +1. As a 19-year-old, Cowen could only play in the NHL with the Senators or be returned to Spokane this season.
On the night, Blake Gal also scored twice, including the game tying goal with a minute remaining, while Levko Koper, Tyler Johnson and Holmberg had a goal and two helpers for the Chiefs.
"This game was something that our team really needed. We didn't compete the last two games and it has been something that we've been working on I think we really competed today," Chiefs captain Tyler Johnson said. "Overall, we got a lot better."
8,686 fans saw a quick start by both teams and a third period where the lead changed hands twice.
The Americans scored first, 4:43 into the game on a Kruise Reddick goal.
"The fans were great, it was unfortunate they got the goal, but we bounced back real quick," Johnson said. "Our fans never gave up on us, which is very rewarding for us and helped us along."
Spokane would score the next three, including a power play goal by Gal at 6:38. Johnson and Levko Koper assisted.
19-seconds later Johnson scored to give the Chiefs their first lead of the game. Koper finished a flurry in front of the Tri-City net at 11:45 and the Chiefs had a two-goal lead. Tri-City pulled back within one with the final goal of the first at 12:48.
Each team tallied once in the second, Holmberg's first at 9:13 and a shorthanded goal by Patrick Holland at 19:21, their first of three straight. After two, the Chiefs led 4-3.
The lead would last until the 4:53 mark when Adam Hughesman scored to tie it up. Just 59-seconds later, he gave the Americans a 5-4 lead with a power play goal.
"Once they got that goal to go up 5-4 it hit us that we needed to battle back," Holmberg said.
The comeback began when the American's Jordan Messier was called for slashing at 17:29. With the Chiefs on the power play and James Reid on Spokane's bench in favor of an extra skater, Spokane pulled even when Gal scored his second of the game. Holmberg's wrap-around attempt went wide and slid towards Gal, who batted it in while on both knees, from the left post.
"It was an incredible feeling after Gal scored and it gave us all the confidence in the world going into overtime," Holmberg said.
Holmberg would win it with 1:28 left on the clock.
"I just driving wide and wanted to get a shot on net, hoping for the best. I was going blocker side and I saw it going in," he said. "It was just incredible."
Western Hockey League Stories from October 3, 2010
- Winterhawks Defeat Lethbridge 6-2 Sunday - Portland Winterhawks
- Oil Kings Capture Third Straight Win - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Wheat Kings Family Pack Is Back - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Salmon Kings Get Ryan Turek Back - WHL
- Blades Settle Over-Age Situation With Trade of Sena Acolatse - Saskatoon Blades
- Cougars Acquire 20 Year Old Sena Acolatse from Saskatoon - Prince George Cougars
- Holmberg Wins it in OT - Spokane Chiefs
- Chiefs Hand Americans First Loss 6-5 in OT - Tri-City Americans
- Cowen returns to Spokane - Spokane Chiefs
- T-Birds Defeat Winterhawks In Shootout - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Winterhawks Fall 3-2 to Seattle in a Shootout Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Giants Win In Don Hay's 800th Career Game as a Head Coach In The WHL - Vancouver Giants
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