SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Chiefs blazed past the Portland Winterhawks in a 4-0 sweep in the WHL Western Conference Finals, and now heads to Medicine Hat to play a very similar Tiger team despite the gap in the two’s point totals in the standings.
“Medicine Hat’s a very skilled team, they like to play east-west, and in the offensive zone just like Portland,” head coach Brad Lauer said. “Portland likes to look for those plays off to the side of the net, a lot like Medicine Hat, so there’s a lot of similarities we can use from last round that we can take into this round.”
The players chimed in, agreeing with the confident Lauer, and mentioning the pace and speed that both opponents possess.
“I think we match up well against teams like that, and scoring 30 goals in four games is obviously great, maybe clean up a little of the defensive side, as they’re going to be a very offensive team,” forward Berkly Catton said. “But I think it just shows we can score goals, and like we mentioned, up and down the lineup, everyone can do it. So, I think we’re really confident heading into this series.”
Defenseman Brayden Crampton added his frustrations on the defensive side last series, and what needs to be done to fix that side of the ice.
“We know they’re an offensive team, they got a lot of skill, and shutting down plays in the d-zone early, that’s what we gotta do better,” Crampton said. “Not give them the time and space, and letting them make plays, and just overall gotta be harder in the d-zone.”
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