Home stretch

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I dealt with a family tragedy over the past week and haven't felt like blogging at all. Now that I'm back let's talk hockey and what has happened over the past week and a half.

I really wish the news was better. Tri has pretty much wrapped up the U.S. division title and the second seed in the playoffs and Kelowna has pulled within one point of the Chiefs for the third seed in the playoffs (the Chiefs have a game in hand on Kelowna). Our list of injuries to defensemen also grew with Stefan Ulmer and Trevor Glass out. That leaves the Chiefs with five true defensemen with Dustin Donaghy filling in on defense to give Spokane three defensive lines.

There were some bright moments, like Drayson Bowman's four goal night in Kamploops last week, and a two goal performance by rookie Blake Gal in an 8-0 win over Portland on Friday. The Chiefs should also get back Ulmer this week and possibly Glass by the weekend. We'll need them. And I know it's not the Chiefs but the Saginaw Spirit (my adopted OHL team) clinched a playoff spot and are positioning themselves to the the third seed in their playoffs.

The most talked about game, however, is the game vs. Tri-City on Saturday on pink ice night. The score will be mentioned: a 5-2 Chiefs loss. But what is talked about the most were the fights. Lots and lots of fights in the third period highlighted by two different line brawls. So many players were sent to the locker rooms that the Chiefs had only eight players left at the end of the game, and six of them were on the ice. It was only Bowman and Reid on the bench. Cruise Reddick cemented himself as my least favorite Tri-City player when he attacked Jared Spurgeon from behind. Anyway, feel free to check out the Chiefs website and click on the game report to look at the penalties (342 minutes of penalties in all). But be sure go to the bathroom first and maybe even fix yourself something to drink. It will take a while. The only player I will give props to is Drayson Bowman for scoring his 40th goal of the season. With eight games left in the regular season he has an outside shot at 50.

Spokane will play four games on the road this week in Seattle, a BIG one against Kelowna, and two games in Prince George. Go Chiefs!