Saturday, October 4, 2014

Kootenay 2 Spokane 1

From Chris Wahl ... http://www.kootenayice.net/article/ice-rally-to-defeat-chiefs-in-home-opener

Jaedon Descheneau's goal in the dying moments of overtime helped lift the Kootenay ICE to a 2-1 victory over the Spokane Chiefs Friday at Western Financial Place.

Descheneau, playing in only his second game since being returned to the ICE from the St. Louis Blues, weaved through traffic before snapping home a wrist shot from the slot to punctuate Kootenay's 2014-15 home opener with a comeback win.

ICE goaltender Wyatt Hoflin and Chiefs counterpart Garret Hughson were the focal points Friday, with both netminders making save after save through a scoreless opening fourty minutes.

Spokane struck early in the third period through Keanu Yamamoto, who potted his second goal of the season 4:15 into the frame to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.

Kootenay pressed for an equalizer, however, firing 7 shots at Hughson before Zak Zborosky rifled home a wrist shot from the right-wing circle that sailed over the Spokane goaltender's right shoulder.

The ICE would wait until the closing stages of overtime before Descheneau, after collecting the puck in the left-wing corner, circled through to the middle of the offensive zone, beating both Hughson and the clock for his first goal in Kootenay silks this season.

Hoflin made 36 saves in the ICE goal, while Hughson stopped 30 Kootenay shots.

Friday's victory was head coach Ryan McGill's 250th with the ICE franchise.

UP NEXT: The ICE travel to Calgary for the first meeting of the 2014-15 season with the Hitmen. Game time is 7:00 pm.