Spokane, Wash – The Spokane Chiefs scored 2 goals 29-seconds apart in the third period to come back and beat the Kootenay ICE 3-2 in WHL action on Saturday night.
The ICE (36-25-4-4) opened the scoring on the powerplay as Max Reinhart won the faceoff, Tanner Muth got the puck to the middle blueline for Joey Leach who stepped into a low slap shot that changed direction and beat the goalie on the stick side.
Max Reinhart has points in 6 of his last 7 games.
The Chiefs (36-23-5-4) tied the game with 12 seconds left in the second period on a powerplay deflection by Marek Kalus.
Early in the third period Levi Cable dropped a pass to Elgin Pearce in the low circle and his wrist shot went through the goalies legs.
The Chiefs took a 3-2 lead with 2 goals 29-seconds apart with Darren Kramer and Collin Valcourt getting the goals. The goal went in off Valcourts’ skate into the net.
The ICE are hoping to get some key players off some scoring slumps … Dylen McKinlay has 1 goal in his last 17 games, Jesse Ismond has 1 goal in his last 21 games and Elgin Pearce (with 2 goals this week) had 3 goals in his last 26 games.
During the game there was an auction to help raise money for the Moulton family.
From the Spokane Chiefs website …
Chris Moulton, the Spokane Chiefs’ Director of Player Personnel, has put together the Chiefs’ teams which have seen them reach the playoffs and win a Memorial Cup since his joining our staff in 2007. In November 2011, Chris’ wife Shelley was re-diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L.) after initially beating it in 2002. Shelley has undergone chemotherapy and had a bone marrow stem cell transplant on January 26, 2012. Her road to recovery is long and for the next two years Shelley will require constant monitoring.
The Moulton’s live in Fernie, BC but Shelly’s treatments are in Calgary, Alberta. Taylor, Chris and Shelley’s 13-year-old daughter, has had to remain in Fernie with family while attending school; this time apart has been extremely difficult for all concerned. Chris and Shelley have had to remain in Calgary for an underdetermined amount of time for monitoring to be close to the hospital for treatments and any infection can prove to be very serious with her compromised immune system.
The Spokane Chiefs will be holding an auction on Saturday, March 10 to help raise money to help offset the Moulton’s expenses. The Chiefs reached out on the Moulton’s behalf to our former staff, Chiefs players, the Kootenay Ice and the Rypien Foundation, for donations. There was a great outpouring of support. The Chiefs’ heartfelt thanks go out to everyone for giving from their heart on behalf of the Moultons. All proceeds will go directly to the Moulton Family.
The ICE will host Edmonton on Wednesday.
ICE Scratches – Jeff Hubic, Spencer Wand, Drew Czerwonka (11th game, lower body, 2-4 weeks).
Game Summary
Spokane 36-23-5-4 Kootenay 36-25-4-4
1st Period
1, Kootenay, Leach 10 (Muth, M.Reinhart), 12:10 (PP).
Penalties-Ismond Ktn (inter. on goaltender), 7:29; Holmberg Spo (tripping), 11:57.
2nd Period
2, Spokane, Kalus 19 (Uher, Kichton), 19:48 (PP).
Penalties-Kichton Spo (tripping), 1:25; McKinlay Ktn (tripping), 6:26; Vandane Spo (kneeing), 7:31; Kuhn Spo (holding opp. stick), 15:28; Dirk Ktn (holding), 19:38.
3rd Period
3, Kootenay, Pearce 20 (Cable), 2:23.
4, Spokane, Kramer 21 (Chartier), 13:38.
5, Spokane, Valcourt 16 (Kichton), 14:07. Penalties-Ismond Ktn (tripping), 6:58.
Shots on Goal-Kootenay 8-4-10-22. Spokane 12-13-14-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Kootenay 1 / 4; Spokane 1 / 4.
Goalies-Kootenay, Lieuwen 27-19-4-2 (39 shots-36 saves). Spokane, Williams 15-20-4-2 (22 shots-20 saves).
A-8,783
Referees-Jason Nissen (91), Colby Smith (57).
Linesmen-Jeremi Del Campo (44), Jim Maniago (85).