It's been quite a ride for the Spokane Chiefs this season, but who would have thought in August that the Chiefs would be playing for the Memorial Cup championship?

Well Spokane, that's exactly what the Chiefs are doing Sunday when they face the winner of Friday's Belleville-Kitchener semi-final.

Spokane eliminated the Quebec Junior Major Hockey League champion Gatineau Olympiques Tuesday with a solid 3-1 victory. Like the 1991 Memorial Cup champion Chiefs, Spokane finishes 3-0 in the round robin.

Tuesday's game was pretty typical Chiefs hockey. The defense was rock steady and the Chiefs opportunistic offensively. Dustin Tokarski made the big saves when he had to, as he turned away 26 Gatineau shots.

Spokane got off 43, including 18 in the decisive second period when the Chiefs scored two goals to take a 2-1 lead after two. Drayson Bowman scored his Cup leading 5th goal on the Chiefs power play of the period to make it 2-1. Chris Bruton had a great net-front screen to partially block the goalie's view. Mitch Wahl then hit the game winner late in the period on a nice move across the top of the slot. As he drifted right, he fired the shot back left and the goalie had no chance on it.

The Chiefs had several chances after that to extend the lead, but between Gatineau goalie Ryan Mior robbing Spokane on some point blank chances and the Chiefs missing the net on others, it remained a one goal game into the final minute.

Gatineau pulled Mior and with the net empty, Jared Cowen cleared the puck to Levko Koper at the Chiefs blue line and Koper put it home to seal the win.

It was a nice win for a team that didn't need the win. Spokane had already clinched a berth in the finals after Belleville beat Gatineau the night before, but the Chiefs knew this was a game to build on for Sunday's final. It just shows the maturity of this group compared to last year or two years ago. It would have been easy to sit back and rest on their laurels, but this group is squarely focused on winning the Cup.

It's now just 60 minutes away. The Chiefs are one win away from joining the '91 club as the only teams in Spokane history to win the Memorial Cup. There's a lot of work ahead between now and Sunday, but now that they've come this far, why not win it?

They are certainly capable and with the Chiefs defensive game, they are in good shape to do so. Championships are won with defense...how many times have you heard that sports saying? It's true though. With Dustin Tokarski and the defense in top form, Spokane is in good shape for Sunday's title tilt. Whether it's Belleville or Kitchener, it will be a real battle, reminiscent of the Tri City series. The boys have proven they can win at that level though.

Hopefully there's one more supreme effort left. GO CHIEFS GO!

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