The Chiefs continue their light early season schedule with just one game this week when they entertain the rival Tri-City Americans. Spokane split two games with the Kootenay Ice last weekend as they now sit at 5-3-1 in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League and in 4th place, a point behind Everett.

Last weekend began with the first of the home and home series with Kootenay up in Cranbrook, B.C. I love the drive up there, especially when I get to sit on the bus and let K.J. the bus driver do the work. It's a beautiful drive though, so I highly recommend you doing it if you've never had the chance to see the Chiefs up there. Spokane will make two more trips up to Cranbrook this season, on January 16th and again on February 19th.

As for the game itself, the boys got off to a good start, outshooting the Ice 18-9 in the first period, but only found themselves tied at 2. Kenton Miller's first goal of the year, shorthanded, tied the game at one. Then Mitch Holmberg put home his first WHL goal to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. Kootenay would score just 1:03 seconds later on Chase Martin, making his first WHL start to even things up.

After the Ice took a 3-2 lead, Jared Cowen would pull Spokane back to a 3-3 tie with a power play goal in the last minute of the second period. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the Ice would score a power play goal midway through the 3rd to take a 4-3 win.

It was one of those games that seemed every mistake the Chiefs made; it ended up in the net. All in all, a veryyyy frustrating loss.

Spokane would rebound the next night with a 3-1 win to even the season series at 1-1. The Chiefs fell behind 1-0 after one on a power play goal by the Ice, but Spokane's Steve Kuhn would bring the Chiefs into a 1-1 tie after two with a rebound goal late in the second period.

Kyle Beach would give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead in the first two minutes of the third to give Spokane a lead they would never lose. It was a great shot from the low left circle that top shelved Ice goalie Nate Leuwen. He's probably still wondering how it went in.

Kenton Miller would seal the win with a rebound of a Kuhn shot midway through the period. The line with Kuhn, Miller and Dustin Donaghey played great against Ice all weekend and is a greattt sign for the Chiefs. They really need this line to perform in support of Mitch Wahl and Tyler Johnson's line to have the type of season they are capable of having this year.

The win also marked the debut of Chiefs goalie Michael Tadjedeh, who turned away 24 of 25 Kootenay shots to pick up his first victory. Tadjedeh, who was acquired from Lethbridge last week, was picked up to help out with the absence of starter James Reid. Reid will return to the lineup Saturday when the Chiefs host the Ams at the Arena.

Spokane is now carrying three goalies with Reid, Tadjedeh and Martin. I would imagine the team will make a decision in a couple of weeks as to which two they will carry the rest of the season. It's safe to say Reid will be the starter, so the decision comes down the 17-year-old Martin or 18-year-old newcomer Tadjedeh. In my mind and humble opinion, it's Tadjedeh to win or lose it. If he performs well in practice and plays well in another start...which I'm sure he and Martin will see playing time soon, he can play himself into the #2 spot. He outperformed Martin over the weekend, so Tadjedeh has the edge right now.

On the injury front, Ryan Letts is still about three weeks out from his Achilles tendon injury. The team took a setback when Jared Spurgeon had his appendix removed on Wednesday morning. He'll probably be out of the lineup another two weeks to the Chiefs.

Otherwise, the team is ready to go as they face Tri in a big division game Saturday at the Arena. Spokane needs to make up ground in the division and beating Tri and Portland will go a longgg ways towards that goal.

The two teams will drop the puck at 7pm Saturday. I'll be on the air with the pre game show beginning at 6:30pm on 1510 KGA.

Hope to see you at the rink!

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