MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - KENNEWICK, WA – And just like that, the magic that was the 2007-2008 Tri-City Americans’ hockey season finally came to a close.
Judd Blackwater scored two goals, including the game-winner 16 seconds into the third period, to lead the Spokane Chiefs onto a 4-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans in front of a sold out crowd of 5,907 at the Toyota Center. With the win, the Chiefs claimed the Kal Tire Western Conference Championship series 4 games to 3 and advance to the Western Hockey League Finals for the first time in eight years. Meanwhile, for the Tri-City Americans, the sting of the loss is softened somewhat by the memories of doing something no other Americans team had done before them; claim the first U.S. Division title in team history and their first Scotty Munro trophy for the best regular season record.
Tuesday’s match-up resembled the previous six games that came before it, as the Chiefs and Americans were knotted at 1 headed into the final period of play. At the 12:50 mark of the first period, David Rutherford started the scoring for Spokane. Then, at the 6:59 mark of the second period, Colton Yellow Horn tied the game with his 10th goal of the playoffs. After two 
periods of play, Tri-City held a 25 to 14 shot advantage, but could not shake the Chiefs.
Then, the dam started to break for Tri-City. Just 16 seconds into the third period, Blackwater connected on his first of the night, putting Spokane on top for good. Nearly eight and a half minutes later and on the power play, Drayson Bowman found the back of the net to cushion their lead, now at 3-1. Fittingly, Blackwater capped the scoring with 35 seconds remaining in the contest on an empty netter to seal the victory. Blackwater had five goals over the final three games of the series, which nearly doubled his output earlier in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Dustin Tokarski, who was selected as the series MVP, stopped 31 shots in route to the win. Chet Pickard finished a spectacular season that saw him win 46 regular season games with 16 saves.
Spokane will now advance to play the Eastern Conference Champion Lethbridge Hurricanes, who have been waiting patiently for their opponent. The Hurricanes swept the Calgary Hitmen 4 games to 0 in their conference final series. That series will start on Friday, May 2nd with the winner of the series advancing to the Memorial Cup in Kitchener, Ontario.
Meanwhile, the Tri-City Americans will now say good-bye to their three 20-year-olds, Colton Yellow Horn, Shaun Vey and T.J. Fast, who played their final game in an Americans’ sweater. But, as quickly as the Americans will say so long to their fellow teammates, they will prepare to welcome new ones, as the WHL will hold its Bantam Draft this Thursday, May 1st. The draft starts at 8:15 a.m. (MST) in Calgary, AB. Fans can follow all of the Americans’ draft day highlights online at www.AmsHockey.com.
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