Stars of Spokane

Preseason games are not about the final score. The Kraken's first-ever exhibition game was a winner on many fronts, not the least of which is this team of yours is entertaining and relentless on the puck.
There are plenty of stars on the Kraken roster (see below) but the night's galaxy has to start with the city of Spokane, which fittingly was named No. 1 star of the game. The noise in the building, especially after each of the Kraken's five goals, was NHL-worthy.

The sellout crowd set a high bar for the fans who attend upcoming games in Everett, Kent and Climate Pledge Arena. The guess here is those arenas and seat occupants will be up to the challenge.
"Unbelievable," said Ryan Donato, who scored a power play goal in the second period to tie the game after Vancouver jumped to a 2-0 first period lead. "I'm from the East Coast Boston
in a lively second period. The first time the team practiced man-advantage in training camp? This morning for maybe 12-15 minutes before getting on the plane to Spokane.

Second period, 12 minutes remaining: Kraken are up 18-7 in shots near mid-2nd period. Now 2-1 after Riley Sheahan goal off VAN defensive turnover. Nathan Bastian with assist, then next shift getting physical out front of Canucks net. Bastian had 134 hits last year and isn't likely to back down to anyone.
Second period: The Kraken's first power play is Giordano as QB with Donato, Schwartz, McCann and Eberle. The second unit is QB'ed by Dennis Cholowski, who just took advantage of his opportunity by starting a PP goal by McCann with primary assist from Schwartz.
Second period 17:28 remaining: Veteran center Riley Sheahan scores historic goal for the Kraken, making Vancouver pay for a turnover behind the Canucks goal. Linemate Nathan Bastian shovels the puck to Sheahan in front of the goal, finishing and finally solving Lativan goalie prospect Arturs Silvos.
End of first period: Seattle controls the pace and tempo for much of the first 20 minutes but is left with 2-0 deficit.

First period, 4:09 left: The starting line of Schwartz-McCann-Eberle controls possession (with help from D-man Carson Soucy for pretty much their entire shift, but didn't quite finish off a stellar passing sequence. VAN goalie Silvos is making handfuls of quality saves. He was sitting at 13 stops with two minutes left in the opening period.
First period, 8:10:Shots now 9-5 and Vancouver up 2-0 off powerplay goal scored by Canucks top-line wing Brock Boesser. Grubauer made a couple of stellar saves before the goal.
First period, 9:32: Vancouver goal on second shot ... Rathbone came out of the penalty box, grabbed a rolling puck
First period, 11:38: The Kraken hold a 7-1 shots on goal advantage.
First period, 14:04: Philipp Grubauer makes his first save and crowd chants, "Grubi! Grubi!"
First period, 17:03 remaining: The Kraken have controlled the early tempo and applied early pressure on Vancouver goalie Arturs Silvos. Ryan Donato (quality scoring chance) and Morgan Geekie (big hit) are early standouts.
First period, less than 30 seconds into the game: Spokane responds to PA announcer Sharon Williams call to "release the Kraken" by chanting and clapping "Let's go Kraken!" for a good minute.
6:10 p.m.
5:29 p.m. The Kraken are out for warmups, all wearing the number 21 to mark the year of the team's debut. The majority of the jerseys will be auctioned with all proceeds going to the One Roof Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Kraken and Climate Pledge Arena devoted to ending youth homelessness, providing more access to hockey and life opportunities to youth and communities of color and supporting environmental justice efforts. You can jump into the auction at:
onerooffoundation.org/auction
.
Some of the "21" jerseys here Sunday night will be auctioned in arena with proceeds going to youth hockey programs in the Spokane area as part of preseason "Three Rink Rush" slate of Kraken exhibition home games. The youth hockey programs in Everett (Oct. 1) and Kent (Oct. 2) will enjoy benefits in games next weekend.
5:23 p.m. The Brothers Leiweke (Tod, Kraken CEO, and Tim, Oak View Group CEO, developer and builder of Climate Pledge Arena) just walked through the press box/broadcast row to bring their undeniable can-do spirit and energy to local and national press up here in the catwalk-level bridge. Seattle, Washington state, the entire PNW, we're all fortunate these two are devoted to our hockey and entertainment dreams come true.
5:10 p.m. Fans are beginning to fill in the seating bowl here in Spokane, lots more are on the concourse checking out Kraken gear at pop-up team stands. The arena giant video screen is playing a video of Seattle defenseman Jamie Oleksiak hiking and talking with ROOT SPORTS Northwest hockey pre-game/post-game host Ross Fletcher. Warmups begin at 5:29 and puck drop is 6:10, an hour from now. Oleksiak just told Fletcher he is learning the hiking routine ("next time I won't wear jeans").