Without the Rockets involved, the WHL playoffs have less of a luster for Kelowna fans, but the Championship series still carries a Canada vs US underlying drama.

Friday night in Spokane, in game one of the final, the home-town Chiefs posted a decisive 4-1 victory over the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Spokane’s Drayson Bowman scored twice for the victors, and additional insurance was supplied by Tyler Johnson and Judd Blackwater with one goal each.

The Hurricanes only goal was contributed by Adam Chorneyko, but a strong 21 save effort by goalie Juha Metsola wasn’t enough to outweigh the four shots that made it past him. The Lethbridge team was playing its first game after finishing up their Eastern Conference series sweep of the Calgary Hitmen back on April 23.

Spokane’s Dustin Tokarski only needed 13 saves to hold off the Hurricanes.

Game two of the best of seven final goes Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m. in Spokane.