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Memorial Cup Real or Replica? · Friday May 30, 2008

Seeing the video of poor Chris Bruton of the Spokane Chiefs grasping the Memorial Cup and then it breaking in two got me thinking.

First, I didn’t know it wasn’t the real Memorial Cup, but only a replica and that the real one was stored away in some museum. It makes sense that they wouldn’t let the real Memorial Cup out in the public. I mean when those hockey players get over emotional something is bound to happen in the 100 year history. Could all of that kissing of the Cup created a chemical reaction that weakened the base making it more susceptible to handling?

Maybe kissing of the Cup should be limited in the future.

Then I got to wondering about our Portland Winter Hawk Memorial Cup party at the MC, and if that was the real one or a replica? Hmm…

It did look authentic and I would have never thought that it wasn’t what it was advertised to be. I know my kid in the picture is real but I am not sure about the Cup.

Looking closer at the base it seems that there is a gap where the Cup attached to the Base close to where the break occurred.

Could this be the evidence the investigators need to solve this case?

— S. Blanchard

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Hawks vs. Chiefs - Game 66 · Thursday March 6, 2008

First two shots, two goals was all the Spokane Chiefs needed to coast to a 5-1 win over the Portland Winter Hawks on Wednesday night in Spokane. It was the Hawks 21st loss in a row.

The early goals were scored by Jared Spurgeon and Mitch Wahl 18 seconds apart in the opening two minutes.

This immediately got Kurtis Mucha off the bench and Jordan White was done for the night.

Mucha finished the night stopping 40 of 43 shots in relief.

Portland’s only goal came in the opening minute of the third period when defenseman Travis Bobbee’s point shot glanced off a defender in front of Armstrong and went into the net.

Spokane finished 2 of 9 on the power play; Portland was 1 of 4.

Spurgeon had a goal and three assists to lead Spokane. Chris Bruton had one goal and two assists; Mitch Wahl two goals; and Drayson Bowman two assists.

Next up Everett at home.

Attendance: 4660
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena

Game Description
Game Summary

Three Stars

Spurgeon (SPO), Bruton (SPO), Wahl (SPO)

Fight Card

Gabriel/Blackwater

— S. Blanchard

Comment

Chiefs vs. Hawks - Game 48 · Tuesday January 22, 2008

3 power play opportunities and 3 power play goals was all that was necessary for the Spokane chiefs to cruise to a 4-1 win.

The win elevated Spokane into the U.S. Division lead with 70 points, one ahead of Tri-Cities.

The Chiefs put a consistent pressure that created a 43-15 shot disparity.

“They play the exact opposite way we play,” Mucha said of Spokane.

Portland coach Rich Kromm said the team had an off day. “We weren’t very committed defensively or very sharp this game,” he said.

The Hawks were looking for their new savior to show up Colin Reddin, but the 17 year old has not been released to play by the WHL.

The Hawks selected Reddin with the 51st pick in the 2005 Bantam draft. He signed with the Hawks but later, with the team’s permission, signed to play for the U.S. Hockey national development team program.

As the Oregonian states:

After a year and a half with the development team, Reddin decided to leave because of a lack of playing time. He returned to Portland on Jan.10 to play for the Hawks, but USA Hockey has not released him. The Hawks claim Reddin’s contract with USA Hockey ended after the 2006-07 season, though he did sign a registration card with ice hockey’s governing body in the United States.

At 1:30p.m., 30 minutes before game time, the WHL told Winter Hawks President Jack Donovan not to let Reddin play until the situation is resolved.

Hawk management believes they are in a fight to get Reddin in Hawk gear. I feel sorry for the kid that is just trying to play hockey and is caught in between some turf war between USA Hockey and the CHL.

The new Hawk motto: No scoring, no hitting, no fighting…maybe next year.

Next up Kelowna on the road.

Attendance: 3353
MC

Game Description
Summary

Three Stars

Bruton (SPO), Blackwater (SPO), Valchar (POR)

Fight Card

Ponich/Blackwater – Ponich took exception to the Blackwater boarding penalty near the end of the game. Not enough blows to call. Ponich is starting to show some spark in a dull Sunday afternoon game with a nice assist to Valchar on the only goal of the game.

— S. Blanchard

Comment

Chiefs vs. Hawks - Game 31 · Monday December 10, 2007

The Portland Winter Hawks rallied from two goals down in the final two minutes to force overtime against the Spokane Chiefs. The Chiefs pulled it out in the shoot-out, to win 5-4. For most fans at the MC this was a real winner for the Hawks.

Spokane came into the game as the top team in the WHL and ranked #2 overall in the entire Canadian Hockey League.

The Hawks pulled Kurtis Mucha twice in the final two minutes and scored both times as Jacob Dietrich and Kevin Undershute scored to force overtime. Undershute’s tying goal came with just 18.4 seconds left on the game clock.

Portland took a two-goal lead early in the second period after goals by Luke Walker and Chris Francis, but Spokane rallied for four consecutive goals to take a 4-2 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the third period. Spokane got goals from Chris Langkow, Drayson Bowman, Chris Bruton and Jared Spurgeon.

Travis Ehrhardt had two assists, setting up both the third and fourth goals for Portland. Bowman and Bruton each added assists for two-point nights as well for Spokane.

After a scoreless overtime, Jace Coyle scored the lone goal in the shoot-out for Spokane as the second shooter for the Chiefs. Dustin Tokarski stopped Undershute, Tyler Swystun and Ehrhardt to preserve the victory. Kurtis Mucha stopped Bowman and Ondrej Roman in the shoot-out as well.

Mucha stopped 47 of 51 Spokane shots and received the number one star of the game.

Portland went 2 for 5 on the power play while Spokane went 1 for 5.

Next up Spokane away.

Attendance: 3330
Key Arena

Game Description
Game Summary

Kemper’s Three Stars

Mucha (POR), Ehrhardt (POR), Bowman (SPO)

Fight Card

No fights tonight…all business.

— S. Blanchard

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US Divisional News · Friday January 18, 2008

— S. Blanchard

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