By Jeff D'Andrea

Fiddler floors former team for 3 points in Chiefs 7-4 win over Raiders

Dec 4, 2012 | 10:34 PM

Shortly after the WHL released the season schedule, Spokane Chiefs forward Todd Fiddler made sure he remembered the day: Dec. 4, 2012.

He memorized the date for Tuesday’s game against his former team, the Prince Albert Raiders, since late in the summer time and it showed in his game. Fiddler scored a goal, added two assists and was +4 in the Chiefs’ 7-4 win over the Raiders (first in Eastern Conference, 20-9-0-2) at the Art Hauser Centre.

Fiddler received a chorus of boos every time he touched the puck and they got louder as the game went on. The Meadow Lake product didn’t expect the less than warm welcome from fans but said he understood after scoring just four goals and 10 points in 35 games as an 18-year-old with the Raiders last year.

“Not at all, but I guess I kinda let them down last year,” said Fiddler. “Whatever, got the win and shoved it right back at ‘em.”

The 19-year-old forward is now tied for the league lead in goals with 22 in just 28 games and is 10th in the league in scoring. He’s on the Chiefs, who are third in the WHL Western Conference and is on a tear with five goals and nine points in his last four games.

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“It’s going great so far, a lot of success coming. I give a lot of credit to my linemate Mike Aviani,” said Fiddler. “He’s an all-heart guy and he works real hard. He gets me the puck and I get him it back. We’re just working together right now.”

Aviani, 19, had a hat trick in the game against the Raiders and both of Fiddler’s assists were on Aviani goals. Aviani also set up Collin Valcourt late in the third period, which ended up being the game winning goal for the Chiefs.

While Fiddler was all-smiles for beating his former team, ex-Chiefs defenceman Davis Vandane had mixed emotions battling against his former club. Vandane played 111 games with the Chiefs before coming over to the Raiders in a trade on Oct.5.

Vandane said he was more anxious than he usually is for a game.

“When we started, there were a lot of nerves—that’s for sure,” said Vandane, who came in a trade from the Chiefs Oct. 5. “There’s a lot of guys over there that I’m really good friends with—good group of guys.

“It was sad leaving them but at the same time it was exciting to come here and play. Playing them again was a good thing.”

The Chiefs were able to open the game up in the second period by creating numerous breakaways and odd-man opportunities from stretch passes and transition play. Although the Chiefs are an up-tempo kind of hockey team and can create quick offence, Vandane admits his team was caught napping as well.

“They like to spread you out and use their speed but at the same time it was a lot of us,” said Vandane. “We were flat there for a little bit in the second and they did capitalize—credit to them.

“As we move on, we have to be aware with how the game is played.”

Raiders head coach Steve Young said his team failed to adapt quickly enough to erase those quick plays, especially in the neutral zone.

“I think the adjustments we tried to make were not exact there, as you saw in the second period,” said Young. “We got better in the third. I didn’t think we adjusted quick enough to the things we need to adjust to right away.”

Down 4-2 in the third period, Dakota Conroy scored twice for the Raiders to make it 4-4, but Valcourt scored the go-ahead with 3:03 left in the game. Liam Stewart scored 38 seconds after that and Connor Chartier sealed the game with an empty-netter.

Raiders assistant captain Anthony Bardaro, a former Chiefs player along with Vandane, had two assists against his former club. He now has seven points in his last three games, two goals and five assists.

Bardaro was traded to the Raiders on Dec. 28, 2011, along with goaltender Luke Lee-Knight, in exchange for Fiddler and goaltender Eric Williams.

Williams, who played for the Raiders the last two seasons, made 24 saves for the win against his former club.

Raiders newcomer Austin Daae scored his first goal with the Green and Gold in just his second game. He now has a goal and an assist in two games with the Raiders. Rookie Reid Gardiner had the other Raiders goal.

Jonas Knutsen got in a fight with Carter Proft 14 minutes in to the first period and Proft fell hard on top of Knutsen at the end of the fight.

Knutsen was wobbly and needed assistance to find the bench. He made Team Norway for the 2013 IIHF U20 World Championship Division I tournament, but his appearance there could be in jeopardy if Knutsen’s injury is severe enough.

Young couldn’t comment on Knutsen’s availability for the tournament immediately after the game.

The Raiders next three games are on the road, Friday against the Kootenay Ice (last in Eastern Conference, 8-17-1-0), Saturday against the Medicine Hat Tigers (eighth in conference, 13-16-2-0) and Dec. 13 against the Regina Pats (10th in conference, 11-15-2-2).

Their next home game is Dec. 14 against the Ice.

jdandrea@panow.com

On Twitter: @jeff_dandrea