I have to root for the Chiefs now? UGH.

"We came out flat, couldn't capitalize on our power plays and couldn't win a face-off," said Tri-City captain Jarrett Toll. "If we could have played the whole game like the last 10 minutes, we would have won. Now, our biggest enemy becomes out best friend. Hopefully they come out on top of Everett."

"We had our chance to win the game tonight and we didn't," said Tri-City coach Jim Hiller, whose team lost the season series to the Chiefs 8-4. "It's just disappointing right now."

"I thought we really showed our nerves in the first period," Hiller said. "Our power play as been there all year for us and we couldn't keep (the puck) on our sticks."  (Herald)

Yes coach, it is disappointing.  And y'all did come out flat.  But so what*.  Forty-seven regular season wins is still a pretty amazing accomplishment.  Especially with no "big name" scorers, like a Fadden, and with a couple of goalies and a coach with huge shoes to fill.

It feels wrong to be rooting for the Chiefs today.  I'll do it, mind you, but I will be taking a 2-hour, very hot shower afterwards to wash that feeling off.  

I could talk about the lack of urgency in last night's game until the 3rd period (again), or the goals FRWG let in that he shouldn't have, or the lack of winning faceoffs, or the momentum shifts.  But I don't wanna.  I don't even particularly want to discuss Schmidt's clip on Beach.  I never want to see anyone hurt, whether I despise them with every ounce of my being or not.  And I'm not going to guess as to what kind of intent was going on in Tyler's head.

I could talk about how much I hate the AMS/Chiefs rivalry because it bring out the worst fans on both sides.  I heard some pretty horrible things being yelled about the arena last night, and I'm half deaf (no, I really am).  So much for that Fan Code of Conduct, eh?  Yes, the refs suck, but to toss shit on the ice is just ridiculous. 

The 5-forwards-on-the-powerplay was in use again and what had worked so effectively Friday night fizzled last night.  It's a risky move.  One that paid off in Spokane, one that did not last night.  I can't say yet whether I like or don't like the idea.  I'm leaning towards liking it, even being as risky as it is.

The end-of-season awards were handed out last night too.  From amshockey.com: 

Applebee's Three Stars Award: Drew Owsley
Scholastic Player of the Year: Neal Prokop
Todd Klassen Humanitarian of the Year: Johnny Lazo
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Justin Feser
Rookie of the Year: Patrick Holland
Defenseman of the Year: Brett Plouffe
Leading Scorer: Brendan Shinnimin
Player of the Year: Brendan Shinnimin 

Neal is a great (looking) hockey player AND smart?  SWOON.   Holly totally deserved RoY, the argument could be made for Sergei Drozd, but Holland being younger (and better stats) gives him the edge by far (guess that's not the "edge" then).  I was surprised at the choice of Plouffe for DoY, especially with his less-than-stellar first half, but the stats (6G 28A 34pts) are impressive.  Schmidt has one more goal and a couple of assists than Brett, but perhaps (pure speculation on my part) Plouffe's sportsmanship--not jawing at refs all the time--gave him the edge over Schmidt.  Most Valuable Player Player of the Year went to Shinny, deservedly so.  Though I am, at the same time, disappointed it wasn't Drew.  Or at least shared like Yellow Horn and Pickard did a couple years ago.  Whatever, not to take anything away from Shinnimin, he totally deserves the award.  I'm just biased.**  Once again they didn't give out an Unsung Hero award.  My vote would be for Kruise Reddick.  And Neal Prokop. 

So congrats on another great season boys, thank you for letting us fans be a part of you chasing your dreams.  Thank you parents for sending your boys far from home to play the game they love.

*I only partially believe in this "so what" nonsense.
** BIASED, not infatuated, there's a difference.