Submitted by Fox First at Ten on September 15th
The Spokane Chiefs won their fifth game in a row to finish the WHL pre-season with a 5-1-0-0 record as Collin Valcourt scored twice and Brenden Kichton had a goal and assist in a 4-1 decision on Friday night at Tri-City.A night after Spokane played all eight rookies on their roster in a 4-3 win over Kelowna, the Chiefs sported a more veteran line-up with 17 players from last year's team and just three newcomers. Spokane's two 19-year-old goaltenders split time with Eric Williams stopping all 19 shots he faced in 32:38 and Mac Engel going 11 for 13 in 27:22. Tri-City outshot the Chiefs 32-17 including 10-2 in the third period. Spokane scored the first four goals of the game with Valcourt finding the back of the net for the only tally of the first at 16:33. Adam Helewka, a 17-year-old rookie, scored his first of the pre-season at 5:36 of the second before Valcourt made it a 3-0 game at 18:37. Kichton's power play goal, in the Chiefs' only man-advantage of the night, gave Spokane a 4-0 lead 44-second into the third. Lucas Nickles and Justin Feser scored at 4:02 and 17:00 of the final period for the Americans. The Chiefs and Americans will trade home openers over the next two weekends as Spokane travels back to Kennewick's Toyota Center next Saturday night to begin the 2012-13 regular season. The Chiefs will begin the home portion of their regular season on Saturday, September 29th on Bud Light Opening Night in the Spokane Arena.
