VANCOUVER WINS GAME 1

The Vancouver Giants defended their home ice in game one of the second round with a 3-1 win over the Spokane Chiefs on Friday night in a battle between the last two Memorial Cup Champions.  It is just the second such meeting in WHL history, the first time taking place in 1993 when the Kamloops Blazers, winners in 1992, defeated the 1991 Memorial Cup Champion Chiefs.

Vancouver’s Mike Piluso tipped in a Lance Bouma pass in front of the Chiefs net 16:56 into the first period to take a 1-0 lead.  The Giants outshot Spokane 13-9 through the first.  Spokane held Vancouver off the board in the only power play chance of the period.

After a scoreless second period, Mitch Wahl struck on the Chiefs second power play of the night at 4:44 of the third.  The 18-year-old tried to force a pass into the front of the net to Drayson Bowman but the pass attempt hit the back pad of Tyson Sexsmith and bounced in to even the score at one.

Shortly thereafter, the Giants took advantage of a power play when Gary Nunn deflected a Jonanthan Blum shot from the point into the corner over Dustin Tokarski’s stick side for a 2-1 lead at 6:40.  Vancouver’s Craig Cunningham scored into an empty net at 19:16 to finish the game.

Tokarski was named the game’s third star with 36 saves.

The Chiefs will resume their series with Vancouver in game two Saturday night at 7pm. Mike Boyle will have the call on 1510 KGA beginning with Comcast Hockey Tonight at 6:30pm.  The game can also be seen live on Comcast Channel 79.

The series will shift to Spokane next Tuesday and Wednesday night at 7:00 in the Arena for games three and four.  Tickets are available by calling the Chiefs office at (509) 535-PUCK or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT.