Spokane Chiefs Conduct First Practice for 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – For the first time in Kitchener, Ontario the Spokane Chiefs hit the practice ice in preparation for the 2008 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

"The guys were excited and the tempo was as high as I've ever seen it," Captain Chris Bruton said about the lively 30-minute skate at SportsWorld, an office site facility that the four participating teams will use for practices during the 12 day tournament.

A quick breakfast at the team hotel preceded their arrival at the Auditorium, the site of the tournament and their first game on Saturday night versus the Belleville Bulls. Rogers Sportsnet then pulled each player in to get their headshot for the week's broadcasts, which, after nearly two months of playoffs and the beards that go along with it, should be a colorful view of the WHL Champions. Some have thrown grooming out the window, which is a playoff rite of passage, and could lead to a motto of, "It's is so easy, a caveman could do it!"

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All four coaches participated in an afternoon press conference and each reiterated how tough it is to win the most prestigious trophy in junior hockey but didn't give any in depth look into x's and o's.

"At this tournament it is important to get better as you go along," Benoit Groulx, the head coach of the Gatineau Olympiques said. "In a short tournament like this you need to rely on your team and play your style of hockey."

Bill Peters, the head coach of the Chiefs, thought that the playoff stretch that Spokane has had will be a strength going into the tournament, "We did have a tough road to get to here, but they were good situations to go through. Game 7, like we played against Tri-City or the Kitchener-Belleville series, will make you a better team."

Spokane will have had the longest lay off of the four teams in the tournament, 12 days in between winning the WHL title and playing on Saturday night, but that should also play as an advantage, "You will see a fresh team when we get on the ice Saturday night," Peters said.

Spokane has a limited amount of Memorial Cup experience, all sitting in Trevor Glass' locker, but defenseman Jared Spurgeon has had the ability to lean on his brother Tyler who played for the Kelowna Rockets during their runs to the tournament.

"We definitely had some discussions and he told me what everyone else has said 'don't let there be one let down - be prepared.' So far, it has lived up to his stories and my expectations,"

Spurgeon doesn't anticipate the lay off being a distraction or allow for a let down, "It is such a great atmosphere that there is no way you can be down for this. We'll be as pumped up for this as we were for Tri and Lethbridge."

Stepping into the Kitchener Auditorium is like taking a step back into time. Numerous banners hang from the rafters, including Memorial Cup Championships and retired numbers. Seats seem to rise straight up and sit right on top of the ice.

"The building and environment, there is no better atmosphere in junior hockey," Belleville Head Coach George Burnett said.

The host Rangers and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Gatineau will kick of the tournament at 4:00 on Friday night.

Spokane will play their first game on Saturday at 1:00 Spokane time. Mike Boyle will go on the air at 12:30 with Comcast Hockey Tonight on 1510 KGA. Comcast customers can also watch live on channel 78.

The Chiefs will finish their day off with an Opening Celebration at 6:30 that all four teams will participate in.

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