WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Prepare for Regular Season Opener

September 15, 2009 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Two practices and a 13-hour bus ride is what separates the Spokane Chiefs from their first game of the regular season. The Chiefs will make the trip to the farthest point north in the Western Hockey League and begin their regular season on Friday, September 18th when they take on the Prince George Cougars in their first of two games in as many nights versus the B.C. Division club. "I think we're ready to go," second year Head Coach Hardy Sauter said from his office on Tuesday morning. The Chiefs will practice at Eagles Ice-A-Rena in north Spokane on Tuesday and Wednesday before boarding the bus for the first time this season later that night.

Spokane is coming off three weeks of training camp that included five pre-season games. The Chiefs finished 1-4 during the campaign, but Sauter said the team accomplished what it set out to do, "we knew in June what we wanted to do in training camp and that is evaluate our young players," he said.

"Each one made strides and improved. We're now looking forward to see who seems to excel l during regular season competition."

Of the 29 players on the Chiefs roster throughout training camp three are injured and will not see action for the foreseeable future. Four others are at NHL training camps, but the Chiefs anticipate having three of them back for the weekend. Tyler Johnson (Minnesota), Mitch Wahl (Calgary) and Levko Koper (Atlanta) are expected to return for the weekend series in Prince George. Defenseman Jared Cowen will remain in Ottawa with the Senators rehabbing his injured knee.

The absence of a veteran presence gave ample opportunity for first and second year players to receive a lion's share of the playing time in the pre-season producing a nice problem for Sauter and company, "We know that we have 10 defensemen that can play and that we have created an atmosphere of healthy competition at all positions."

Sauter thinks the internal competitions have fostered an important attitude in the team, "Not only are they pushing each other in the sense that we have to win the game, but teammates are pushing each other to improve. They know they have to improve because everyone else around them has been picking their game up."

"It will take some time to sort out," Sauter said about the final version of this year's Chiefs. "Now, we hope we as coaches make the best decisions with the lineup."

Mike Boyle will go on the air at 6:30 with Comcast Hockey Tonight on 1510 KGA on both Friday and Saturday night.

Tickets for all regular season home games, including Bud Light Opening Night on Saturday, September 26th versus Tri-City are on sale now at the Chiefs office or at all TicketsWest locations. The first 2,000 fans through the gates will receive a collector's edition 25th anniversary puck courtesy of The Black Book by Hagadone Directories.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from September 15, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central