What do the Spokane Chiefs and Paul McCartney have in common? TheySA国际影视传媒檙e both playing at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena this month.

It will all be explained.

The Chiefs are set to take on the Kamloops Blazers in the opening round of the Western Hockey League (WHL) playoffs, with Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in Kamloops on Friday night. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a different set-up than traditional best-of-sevens as the first three games will be in Kamloops, followed by the next three in Spokane with Game 7, if it gets that far, back in Kamloops. A normal series would see both teams play two home games each with Games 5 through 7 flip-flopping between both cities.

So why is it like that? ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 where Paul McCartney comes in as YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Logan Cunningham explained.

SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 having a concert at our arena (on April 28) and that took up our ice time,SA国际影视传媒� said Cunningham, a defenceman for Spokane. SA国际影视传媒淚 guess the arena wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 expecting us to be in the playoffs so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why they probably scheduled it for then.SA国际影视传媒�

In any case, the Chiefs go into the WHL playoffs as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a spot that Cunningham didnSA国际影视传媒檛 think they would occupy at any point this season. They spent most of the first half of the regular season languishing near the bottom of the conference.

Cunningham said it all had to do with Adam Maglio, who started the season as head coach but didnSA国际影视传媒檛 finish as he was fired in early February.

SA国际影视传媒淭he team culture just wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 good earlier in the season with our old coach,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎ll he did was coach by video and the guys just didnSA国际影视传媒檛 seem to want to battle every night for him and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not good.SA国际影视传媒�

Ryan Smith, the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 associate head coach, was named as MaglioSA国际影视传媒檚 replacement, and Cunningham said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 when things began to change.

SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 connected with all the players and everyone loves him because he brought a totally different attitude,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou want to go out and fight for a guy like that and the results have been obvious. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e been a much better team since he took over.SA国际影视传媒�

Being a lower seed means the pressure isnSA国际影视传媒檛 there, said Cunningham.

SA国际影视传媒淥ur goal is to win it all but if we can get Game 1, then we get into their heads a bit,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e pop them on home ice early and they start getting nervous. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 no pressure on us. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e come up from last place in the standings so why not go out there and try to do some damage?SA国际影视传媒�

The attitude in the locker room is that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing to lose, he added.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e going all in, go out there and do what we can,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we arenSA国际影视传媒檛 at our best, theySA国际影视传媒檒l roll over us but if we play like we have the last little while, we can do some damage.SA国际影视传媒�

This will be CunninghamSA国际影视传媒檚 first playoff run in the WHL and he said the feeling is one of nervous excitement.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what to expect,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get to do the playoffs last season because our season was cut short and I havenSA国际影视传媒檛 been around long enough to experience what itSA国际影视传媒檚 like but ISA国际影视传媒檓 expecting it will be a battle for sure.SA国际影视传媒�