WHL Tri-City Americans

Sold Out Crowd Cheers Tri-City Past Spokane 2-1

February 22, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


KENNEWICK, WA - Hockey fans in the Tri-Cities are starting to understand...when the Spokane Chiefs come to town, you are going to want a ticket.

Chet Pickard stopped 41 shots and Adam Hughesman scored the game-winner, as the Tri-City Americans (42-16-0-3, 87 pts) outlasted the visiting Spokane Chiefs (39-19-0-3, 81 pts) 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,919 fans at Toyota Center. With the win, the Americans stretched their winning streak to four games, while picking up their first win over the Chiefs since December 31. Tri-City, which is 4-3-0-2 vs. Spokane this season, also increased their lead to six points over the Chiefs in the race for the U.S. Division title. Meanwhile, the loss was the second straight set-back for Spokane, who also maintains a slim three-point lead over fourth-place Kelowna in the conference standings.

The sold-out crowd was the fourth straight for the Chiefs and Americans at Toyota Center and, before they could even get to their seat, Tri-City gave them a chance to be heard.

Just 14 seconds into the contest and with the game's first shot, Mitch Fadden electrified the crowd with a perfectly placed shot, over Dustin Tokarski's glove, giving Tri-City the early 1-0 lead. With the goal, Fadden has now recorded a goal in four straight games, one shy of his season-high.

Then, midway through the first period, Kruise Reddick set-up Adam Hughesman, who had his shot go off a Spokane defender's stick. The ricochet got past Tokarski, putting Tri-City on top 2-0. For Hughesman, it was his 13th goal of the season and first since December 27, which was also against Spokane. With the goal, Hughesman also matched his point total from last season (41).

Throughout the second period, the two clubs continued to pound each other, both with shots on goal and physical play, as the squads combined for 55 shots through the first 40 minutes.

But, with 6:05 remaining in the second period and on the power play, a weak Tri-City pass was intercepted by Spokane's Mitch Wahl. Wahl was able to work his way past Tyler Schmidt, but had his shot deflect off Schmidt's stick. However, his shot still had enough on it to bounce its way past Pickard, cutting the Americans lead in half at 2-1. It was the second shorthanded goal against in as many nights for Tri-City, who had allowed just five through the first 59 games of the season.

Tri-City missed out on several other chances throughout the first two periods, as Taylor Procyshen was stopped twice on shorthanded breakaways of his own. But, each time, Tokarski was up to the task in what proved to be a great goaltending dual.

Despite Spokane's 14 to 9 shot advantage in the final period, Pickard could not be beat, as he held on to win his fourth straight game and 31st of the season. Meanwhile, Tokarski wrapped-up a second-star night with 34 saves on 36 shots faced in the loss.

Both squads were extremely effective on the penalty kill, going a combined 13-of-13.

With two big wins now behind them, Tri-City will get on the bus tomorrow, Sunday, February 22 and head west for a match-up with the Portland Winter Hawks. Game time is 5:00 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum. This season, the ‘Hawks have arguably been one of Tri-City's toughest opponents, despite their record in the conference. The Americans lead the nine-game series 4-3, with two of their losses coming in Portland. Each team has scored 10 goals through four games in the Rose City. The game will be broadcast live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, Kimo's Sports Café and R.F. McDougall's in Richland, starting at 5:00 p.m. Fans can also catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Sterling Savings Bank Warm-up Show at 4:45 p.m.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 22, 2009


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