Game day vs Spokanistan

This from Wrap Around Curl up in Spokane:

I got a fancy letter in the mail yesterday informing me if I renew my seat/account  and pay it off completely by the end March, I get a Reebok Edge Chiefs jersey.

Whoa now. You read that correctly. One of those 125 dollar sweaters. I’m kinda surprised its not one of the old jerseys. Even then I wouldn’t be complaining. Only one jersey per account regardless of the number of seats. No splitting up accounts. There is the not so fine print of if you cancel the order you are still responsible for the 125 bucks of the jersey plus a 50 bucks “because we can” fee.

Not gonna lie, that's a sweet deal.  I'm not sure how much economic sense it makes.  I guess they figure it's worth it to shell out for jerseys to keep fans.  In tough economic times, how many people consider not renewing season seats because of the cost?  So it probably costs the team a lot now to give away the jerseys, but they're keeping people who might not renew.  I am guessing that's the logic, who knows.  I just know I'm jealous.

The Herald has a nice bit on "the little guys" on the Americans' who make big contributions, despite their size.  Kruise Reddick, Johnny Lazo, Mason Wilgosh, Brendan Shinnimin, and Drew Owsley are featured.  It's a good article, a piece not focusing on wins, losses, upcoming games, none of that.  Just looking at some of the players.  The paper should do more of these types of features, it makes the players more accessible to the fans.  Not literally, obviously, but just getting to know the ins-and-outs of the players and the game.

"It all comes down to not giving up," said the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Reddick, who was listed by the Americans in July 2005. "My parents taught me that if it doesn't come your way, work harder and it eventually will."

"No one wanted to take a chance on us small guys, but we have (the) speed and skill that is essential to being an elite player in this league," Shinnimin said.

"Ever since my draft year, I was told I was too small," Lazo said. "But I've put that behind me."

"I understand I'm not going to score goals," said Wilgosh, who has seven goals and 12 assists. "But when I kill off a penalty, it's the same feeling for me."

"You look at all five of us and we are pretty small and that can get you overlooked," Owsley said. "We have all made contributions to the team. Sometimes it makes you wonder why we weren't drafted."

Tonight the boys, big and small, will be in Spokane to take on the rival Chiefs.  To say it's a must-win is a cliche and an understatement.  I'm guessing Drew won't be back, even if he's been cleared to play, which I don't know if he has been, he hasn't played in a while so I can't imagine he'd get tossed into that situation.  So I hope From Russia With Glove is as good as he was Wednesday against Seattle.  Tonight and tomorrow night.

Liveblog after the jump.