Live blog: 2008 Memorial Cup final Kitchener vs. Spokane

2008 Memorial Cup final
Sunday, May 25: Spokane 4, Kitchener 1 (F)

Live blogger: Karlo Berkovich, www.therecord.com

 123OTTPPS
Kitchener1 0 0 - 1 0/4 54
Spokane1 2 1 - 4 2/4 26

1:58 p.m. Monday, May 26. Well, finally saw a close up video of the Cup drop. Turned out Chris Bruton — a class act, by the way, humanitarian, team captain, articulate — had the Cup break in his hands before trying to hand it to Glass. So thanks for the push, Spokane fans. But be advised nowhere in here did I blame Bruton. I thought "just one of those things" covered it. And as for the American angle, I KNOW many of the players are Canadian, etc.  But they are also American, Swedish, Russian, etc. in the broad sense of hockey as a whole. That's the beauty of the contemporary game — it's a world sport. I was just the messenger for someone's remark in the press box. All the best. Enjoy the well-deserved championship.

7:20: Oh, my. Spokane captain Chris Bruton, in trying to pass the Cup to Trevor Glass for the traditional skate-around, dropped it. Or Glass did. The top fell off. They stood there, looking at it, like, "now look what you did." Nobody seemed to know what to do. Not the players, not CHL commissioner David Branch. So after a pregnant pause, they tried to fix it, couldn't, so now they have two Cups.

Somebody up here just said "that's why you shouldn't give Americans our trophies." Funny, really. The whole thing, dropping the Cup, the American line . . . it does take a bit away from the traditional shares-ey skate-around with the Cup, but what the heck. The stunned silence from the crowd and everyone on the ice likely resulted from the fact the Memorial Cup is so revered, as it should be — representing as it does the honouring of World War I veterans.

In the end, just one of those things. We're all human. Bottom line: Nobody will ever forget the day the Spokane Chiefs won the Memorial Cup and then dropped it, splitting it in two. It's about the only thing they dropped all week. Great team, worthy winners. Quiet celebration, obviously not many Spokane fans here besides parents. Can't help but imagine how this place would have been roaring had the Rangers won; they'd still be out there skating around, the stands would be full. But, it was not to be.

7:09-7:15: Rangers players salute their fans, and the tribute is reciprocated. Twice, Kitchener has hosted the Memorial Cup and now twice the Rangers — whose two Cup wins came in Quebec in 1982 and 2003 — have lost the championship game on home ice. In 1984, Ottawa won 7-2. And now today, Spokane frustrates the Rangers, 4-1. Spokane finishes the tournament 4-0, Kitchener 2-3. People will no doubt bring up the point, would the Rangers have won had injured goalie Steve Mason been playing? Hard to say. In terms of confidence, he might have provided some at the back end in terms of the team feeling it could better freewheel with him back there. But you can't win a Memorial Cup scoring two goals in two games against the champions. The best team won.

7:07: 4.4 seconds left. Faceoff. 4-1, final. Spokane wins the Memorial Cup.

7:04: Coming up to a minute to go. Cowen, who else, gets the empty netter. 4-1. 56.2 secs left. The best team in the tournament is going to be the best team in the Canadian Hockey League. And they deserve it. Twice beating the host team in their own barn, stifling the CHL's best offence? Rangers fans giving their team a deserved standing '0' for a season that will come up one win short. Congrats to both clubs.

7:04: 1:30 left in third.

7:03: Spaling a drive, blocked by Jared Cowen. What a solid defenceman he is, and not just physically.

7:02: 2:22 to go in third. Faceoff in Spokane end, where it's been most of the second half of this period.

7:01: "Let's go Rangers". But not as loud as earlier.

7:00: Just over 3:30 to go in third.

6:59: Puck in Rangers end. Out. Back in. Back out. Hey, you try typing as fast as guys skate.

6:57: 5:54 to go. Faceoff, back underway.

6:57: If you're wondering, haven't missed anything. TV TO.

6:54: Sorry, but I just don't buy that shot clock. 47-26 right now? Rangers are pressing (uh, they ought to be, no?). And Spokane seems to be doing the rope-a-dope. A two-goal lead and the clock on their side, though it may prove a dangerous approach. But really, I swear some wide shots are being credited as on goal. My count would be more like 10 shots fewer, Rangers. Like right now, another phantom shot. OK, that's it. I'll leave it alone. But it's disturbing because, while Tokarski is playing well, as he has all tournament, if Rangers lose they'll be bemoaning being beaten by a goalie when in fact, should it happen, they'll have been beaten by a solid, resilient team that doesn't give the opposition time and space.

6:53: Tokarski sprawls for a save. Spokane looking just a teensy bit rattled. As much as the Chiefs get rattled.

6:52: Rangers pressing the action, just missed. They can't get a decent shot on goal.

6:51: Rangers moving it around in Spokane end. Turnover now, dumped back behind Rangers net.

6:50: Back at it. Faceoff in Ranger end. No, wait, red TV light still on. OK, it's off.

6:48: 50-50 draw winning total, $16,000-plus. Why the heck didn't I buy a ticket? Well, as my boss says, if people invested all the money they throw away on lotteries and such, they'd be rich. But hey, lightning might strike. Actually, I don't buy very many lottery tickets.

6:47: Computer froze up. Power play over. Still 3-1. Nine minutes left. Spokane shot, Chiefs thought they had one. Wow, credit Ben Shutron with saving the day for Rangers. Unice down and out, puck sliding towards goal line, Shutron swats it away. TV timeout, 8:55 left.

6:45: Rangers work it around, get a shot, back down the ice. Here come the Rangers again.

6:44: Penalty, Spokane. 12:03 left in third. Falk goes off.

6:42: Now we're back at the other end. Rangers just couldn't reach a loose puck on front. Chiefs ice it. Faceoff, another Rangers chance. Tokarski freezes it.

6:41: Back underway. Spokane buzzing in Rangers' end.

6:39: Boedker to Kadri in front. Tokarski coming up big now. Nice stop, from lip of crease. Chest save.13:56 left in third. TV timeout.

6:38: A rare thrust today by the Azevedo line. Spaling stopped.

6:37: Mascioli point-blank range, Tokarski save. Still 3-1.

6:34: Rangers trying to work it in, but it just doesn't stay in that Spokane end very long. So disciplined. And big, too. Chiefs have two 6-5, 200-plus pound D-men in Cowen and Justin Falk. Some big forwards, too. Tough to find space against. Duco just nailed Chiefs captain Chris Bruton with a heavy hit into the boards.

6:33: Big shot by big 6-5 Cowen, big glove save Unice.

6:32: Crowd exhorting their Rangers, trying to pick them up. Spokane, however, bursts into the Kitchener zone. We've played nearly two minutes of the third.

6:31: We're underway in the third.

6:29: About to start the third period and I nearly forgot to tell everyone about Mitch Wahl's dad. If you care. Anyway, ran into him in a coffee line yesterday. Nice gent. Lives in Orange County, CA, but get this. He and his wife, worried about their son being so far from home when he got drafted by Spokane, bought a house in Spokane and Mrs. Wahl lives up there during the season. They use it as a billet house for Mitch, and goalie Tokarski, among others. Dad said he's flown back and forth nine times this season. He's in concrete (as a business).

6:12: One last flurry by Rangers, Duco bowls Tokarski over. Period ends.

6:11: A minute left . . .20 seconds now, wraparound try by Spokane nets nothing. 13.1 to go in the second. Faceoff in Rangers end.

6:09: Rangers try again. Flip shot by Mascioli, gloved and held by Tokarski. Shot came from blueline.

6:06: Rangers fans getting restless. Some pressure now by Kitchener but can't get a decent shot. Twice, over the net. Three times. The thing about that is, people will say "if only they had it on net". Well, it's about positioning and defensive zone coverage — Spokane is denying the Rangers proper positioning to get off effective shots.

6:05: Back at it, Rangers lose possession, Spokane sends 'em back down the ice to regroup. And again.

6:04: We're catering to commercials.

6:02: Rangers having difficulty breaking out of their zone consistently against Spokane checking. Now they do, puck into Chiefs end, Spokane takes a penalty. Levko Koper. Key power play try for Rangers coming up. 5:57 left in period.

6:01: Mitch Wahl, weak shot from blueline. Unice turns it aside. I met Wahl's dad in the mall on Saturday, more on that when I get time.

6:00: Halfway to midnight. Faceoff coming up, bills paid, for the moment. 7:49 left, faceoff deep in Rangers end.

5:58: You can't say it enough watching Spokane: The Chiefs are so disciplined, so good getting the puck out of their own zone, limiting space and time for the opposition. Frustrating team to play against, no doubt. TV timeout. Again?

5:56: Back at it. Spokane seems to have the puck most of the time.

5:53: Rangers' Spaling belts Stefan Ulmer, smallish Spokan D-man, into the end boards. Ulmer is 5-10, 165. Spaling goes 6-1, 183. TV timout. 9:57 left in the second period.

5:52: Mike Mascioli, Rangers, just got crunched by two Spokane defencemen. It's back in the Rangers' end, now it's out, Rangers pressing Chiefs....

5:50: Now I'm convinced the shots total at the Aud is wonky. Rangers just took a shot, it was blocked and cleared, and they get credited with a shot. I thought it was shots ON goal, not AT goal. The Russkies used to keep such stats, you know.

5:49: Spokane takes a penalty. Rangers working it around the Chiefs' end.

5:47: 3-1. Power-play wrister, high glove side. Trevor Glass picked the corner on Unice. Only place he could put it. Timeout, Kitchener. Hmm. Shots were 20-13 Kitchener before the goal. Spokane scores. Still 20-13. How can that be?

5:46: Another Rangers penalty. Webber again. Key point in the game right here.

5:45: Here come the Chiefs again. One shot. Two. Unice saves.

5:44: 2-1 Spokane. Who else? Drayson Bowman. Turnaround wrister.

5:42: This definitely isn't the wide-open spaces of Friday night's romp over Belleville that the Rangers are dealing with right now. Ah, the big guy in front of me moved. Don't come back. Just kidding. Sort of. Clear sightlines now.

5:41: Someone who wasn't sitting in front of me, down a row, in the first period, just moved in. He's really tall, even sitting down. This could prove problematic but we'll deal with it.

5:39: Kadri tries to split the Spokane D. Does. Can't get a shot off, though.

5:38: Here we go. Underway in period 2.

5:21: Shots 19-8 Kitchener in that period but that doesn't reflect the play, particularly over the last half of the first period. The Chiefs got playing their patient, tight game, limiting open ice, not letting the Rangers freewheel. Pretty even period overall, despite the shots count. Important for Rangers to kill that penalty off last two minutes of the period and they did so effectively.

5:20: Period over.

5:19: Now Spokane finally works it in, sets up, back out. Penalty over.

5:18: Spokane can't get much going on this pp. Rangers checking well.

5:16: Scramble in front of Tokarski. No damage. 2:30 left, 1-1. Another penalty coming to Rangers. Off goes Spaling.

5:14: TV timeout. Welcome to the Jungle by Guns 'n' Roses blaring. This is the Aud, though. Seems too family like to be a G 'n' R type place. And, hey, Axl, when's Chinese Democracy coming out?

5:11: The Chiefs have tied it 1-1. Power play. Judd Blackwater. "Old black water, keep on rollin', Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me"...What, you don't like the Doobie Brothers? OK, so I'm dating myself. Anyway, I like 'em pre-Michael McDonald joining up and turning them into a schlock — though more popular on the charts — band. 

5:09: Boedker drifts a slapper from the blueline. Easy save Tokarski. Duco ges belted in front, Spokane comes down and now another Kitchener penalty. Shutron going off. In eight seconds, Chiefs will have a power play.

5:08: Rangers can't get much going so far. Here comes Boedker. Broken up and sent back down the ice.

5:06: Looks to me that Spokane is asserting itself. Puck goes in deep, cycled, Rangers get it out to centre, maybe beyond, back in it goes. Advantage Spokane right now. Still 1-0 Rangers though. And now some good grinding work down low by Kitchener forces a Spokane penalty. Mike Reddington going off, holding. First Ranger power play.

5:05: Faceoff coming up just outside the S line.

5:04: Flip shot by Spokane's Cowen from blueline. Deflected in front. Comes out to centre, Cowen hauls down Nazem Kadri. No penalty. Crowd a touch perturbed.

5:03: Spokane works it in deep....Comes in front, Unice covers up.

5:01: A VERY feeble wave trying to build around the Aud. Folks, that's so '80s. Give it up. A bit better effort now. Not much, though. KISS is singing Shout it Out Loud, nobody's joining in.

5:00: Chiefs in tight, trying to stuff it. Unice there. Spokane picking up its pace, looks like. TV timeout with 8:47 left. 12-6 Kitchener shots on goal edge.

4:59: Scott Tregunna drifts one wide of Tokarski and then gets bulled over by Jared Cowen. Cowen is 6-foot-5, 211 pounds.

4:57: Duco drifts one at Tokarski. Glove save. Duuuuucoooo, the crowd brays.

4:56: Drayson Bowman drills one at Unice; goalie makes the save with traffic in front. Chiefs buzzing, McCrae had a chance in deep, steered to side and Rangers clear the zone. Penalty's up.

4:55: Chiefs win draw, work it around, cross-ice pass broken up, deflected into netting.

4:52: Penalty to Rangers. Weber going off for slashing. 13:32 left in first period. First power play of the game goes to Spokane. TV timeout.

4:51: Boedker in on goal for Rangers. Tokarski save.

4:50: 1-0 Kitchener. Off faceoff. Brandon Mashinter.

4:48: Rangers point shot just missed, screen in front of Chiefs goalie Dustin Tokarski. Shots are 5-2 Kitchener at this point, 15 minutes and change left in the first period.

4:47: One thing about the Chiefs, they are VERY tidy in their own zone, don't seem to get flustered, outnumber the offensive players. We'll see how this develops.

4:46: Icing again on Spokane, resulting from missed breakout pass.

4:46: Ondrej Roman quick wrister, Unice kick save. Boedker back for Rangers, broken up.

4:45: Ben Shutron slapper from point for Rangers. Doesn't get through, blocked by Chief defender.

4:44: Icing on Spokane, who just a moment earlier had a good forecheck going in the Rangers' end.

4:43: First shot. Justin McCrae tests Ranger goalie Josh Unice. Stick save.

4:43: Yannick Weber speeds up ice for Rangers. Offside at Spokane line.

4:42: Just about to begin. Puck drops.

4:38: They used to talk about the ghosts of great players past at the Montreal Forum. They're not ghosts, but former Rangers Derek Roy and Scott Stevens, Memorial Cup champs in 2003 and 1982, respectively, just handled the ceremonial faceoff.

4:36: My ears hurt.

4:33: No matter what happens, this is, for most franchises, a once in a generation event. You're hosting the Memorial Cup and your team is in the final. When you consider new rinks popping up or set to pop up all over the place (Kingston, Windsor, a new one in Oshawa already), the CHL rotation system and the age of the Aud, it will be a long time before Kitchener hosts again. Rangers just hit the ice: deafening roar.

4:28: Drums banging, Let's Go Rangers! chant rocking the Aud. Red carpet out, the usual pre-game hype stuff. Soon, we'll be playing.

4:18 Warmups are over. Lights go down. Here come the ice resurfacers. Not sure if they're Zambonis or not so I won't call them that. Zamboni, of course, long ago became to ice resurfacers what Kleenex is to tissues.

3:31: The ice has been resurfaced, some of the players on the respective teams are out at their benches, not suited up yet, just sitting on the boards or the bench, taking it all in. Not that there's much to take in right now, although they let the fans into the rink just now.

2:45 p.m. The calm before the, you know...Just got set up in the press box. All's quiet in the Aud, some arena workers doing some final touches, pasting advertising onto the boards. Back later.