WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Weekly Report

Published on January 21, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Chiefs will play four games in five nights this week starting on Wednesday at Everett. After playing their fifth game in a row on the road at Portland on Thursday, Spokane will host Prince Albert on Saturday and Kootenay on Sunday. Please note, Sunday's game is a 4:00 pm start time.

THIS WEEK

Wednesday, January 21st at Everett AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will travel to Everett for the third time this season in their fifth meeting of the year. The Chiefs hold a 3-1 advantage in the season series with a win and loss at home and two wins in Everett. The Chiefs earned a 6-1 win in their initial meeting on October 24th. Spokane scored two goals 37-seconds into the game as Gary Gladue and Brad Schell gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead nine-seconds apart. Schell finished the night with two goals and an assist while Chad Klassen had one goal and three assists. Five different players scored goals for the Chiefs as they outshot Everett 30-18 and went 4-5 on the penalty kill. Two Everett goaltenders combined to shutout the Chiefs on November 14th in Spokane as the Silvertips scored two power play goals in the win. Spokane's Chad Klassen recorded his first career hat-trick in a 4-2 win on November 19th in their first trip to Everett. The Chiefs won the last match-up, 4-1, on January 9th as four different players scored goals. Klassen has two four point games versus the Silvertips and nine points (5-4-9) in four games. Schell also has nine points (2-7-9). Jim Watt is 2-1 with a 1.68 GAA and .943 save percentage. In all, nine different players have scored goals versus the Silvertips. Spokane is 3-17 (17.6%) on the power play and 22-26 (84.6%) on the penalty kill.

Thursday, January 22nd at Portland AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs and Portland Winter Hawks will meet for the eighth time overall. The two skated to a 3-3 tie on January 4th in their last meeting. Spokane is 3-2-1-1 this season versus the Hawks. Seven different players scored goals in a 7-4 Chiefs win on October 15th. Chad Klassen has three goals and nine points in seven games. Ned Lukacevic and Brad Schell each have 3-4-7. In four games, Jim Watt has a 2-1-1 record with a 2.66 GAA and .913 save percentage. Spokane is 7-34 (20.6%) on the power play and 30-36 (83.3%) on the penalty kill versus the Hawks. Portland has scored the first goal of the game in five of the seven games. The Chiefs and Hawks went through a seven game playoff series last season with the Spokane coming from a three games to one deficit to advance. Three of the games went into overtime, including a double overtime effort in game four, a 2-1 Portland win. The Chiefs are 17-5-2 in the last 24 games played in the Spokane Arena versus Portland and 28-11-5 in the last 44 games against the Winter Hawks.

Saturday, January 24th vs. Prince Albert AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will host the Raiders in their only match-up of the season. Prince Albert earned a 3-2 overtime win last season. The last time the Raiders visited Spokane the Chiefs won 5-3 on October 10th, 2001. The Chiefs are 9-5-1 versus the Raiders since the 1995-96 season. The Chiefs are 2-0-0 versus the East Division this season.

Sunday, January 25th vs. Kootenay Ice AIR-3:30 GAME-4:00

The Chiefs will host the Kootenay Ice for the third time this season. The two teams have split the previous four games with Spokane winning a pair in overtime. Spokane has won a pair of games in overtime, on back-to-back nights on October 3rd in the Arena and the fourth in Cranbrook. Spokane lost their last match-up with Kootenay on January 3rd, 4-2. In three games, Jim Watt is 2-0 and has stopped 83 of 86 shots (.965). The Chiefs are 15-17 (88.2%) on the penalty kill.

NEWS AND NOTES

SCHEDULE...The Chiefs have gone 6-3-2-2 in their last 13 games. Before the Chiefs return home on Friday, January 24th they will play one more road game, tomorrow night in Portland, for a total of five in a row, their second longest stretch of road games this season.

STRETCHING...The Chiefs have earned a point in 11 of their last 13 games with a 6-3-2-2 stretch dating back to their final game before the Holiday break on December 17th. ROAD WARRIORS...The Chiefs are 4-2-2-1 on the road in their last eight games.

OVERTIME ON OVERTIME...The Chiefs have gone into overtime in four of their last nine games and are 0-1-3 in the stretch. On the season, Spokane has gone to overtime 11 times. The franchise record for overtime games played in one season is 17, set in 1994-95.

CAPTAIN KEHLER...Chiefs captain Joff Kehler has played 253 career games, tied for 12th all-time in franchise history, and has scored 68 career goals and 111 career assist (24th all-time) for 179 points (23rd all-time). The 20-year-old has six goals and 14 points his last 10 games and is +5 in his last seven games. Kehler has become the 27th player in franchise history with 100 career assists.

KLASSEN...Chad Klassen has six goals and 16 points in his last 11 games. The 18-year-old posted his third four-point game of the year on December 28th at Portland with one goal and three assists. Klassen is fifth in the WHL in scoring with 24 goals and 60 points. The Warman, Saskatchewan native has points in 35 of 47 games this season. Klassen, who had 15-29-44 last season, has already set new career highs. Klassen recorded his 100th career point on December 28th versus Portland and now has 114 career points (43-69-112).

SCHELLED... Brad Schell is sixth in the WHL in scoring with 22 goals and 61 points. The Scott, Saskatchewan native has three goals and 11 assists in his last 11 games. Schell is sixth in the WHL with 12 power play goals. Schell now has 150 career points (60-90-150). Schell was a part of Team WHL's two wins over a Russian Select team in the CHL-Russia Challenge Series. Schell did not register a point in the 7-1 and 4-1 wins in Calgary and Brandon. Schell played in his 200th career WHL game on Friday, December 12th at Seattle.

ZZZZ'S...Sean Zimmerman recorded his first career multiple point night on Saturday, January 10th versus Tri-City with a pair of assists and had his second one week later versus Tri-City. Zimmerman has two goals, four assists in 40 games this season and is +5 in his last seven games.

THE LANG AND SHORT OF IT...Jakub Langhammer has 5-1-6 in his last seven games. Langhammer has had two four game point streaks this season, including one that was snapped on Wednesday night.

HARRIS CHIPS IN...Nineteen-year-old Brian Harris had a pair of assists on January 10th versus Tri-City in his first game at home with the Chiefs. Harris is the seventh leading rookie scorer in the WHL with nine goals and 28 points. Harris was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on January 8th.

JEVON'S STORY...Jevon Desautels recorded his first career WHL hat-trick on October 31st versus Swift Current. The 19-year-old added an assist for a career high four points. Last year's team leader in penalty minutes leads again this year with 109 PIMs and currently has 512 career in 221 games (tied for 19th all-time).

U.S.A...U.S.A...In their last nine games versus US Division teams, the Chiefs are 6-1-2. Overall, Spokane is 13-7-2-3 versus the US Division.

POWER RANGERS...The Chiefs are 14-58 (24.1%) on the power play over the last 12 games. Spokane is fifth in the WHL and second in the Western Conference with a power play percentage of 20.4%.

LYNCH #1...Scott Lynch recorded his first career two goal game on Wednesday night in a 4-3 otl at Prince George. Lynch also scored back-to-back game winning goals in 2-1 wins for the Chiefs on December 17th and 27th. With each goal and point, Lynch continues to raise the bar on career highs (7-15-22). Lynch has three goals and four assists in his last eight games. Of Lynch's seven goals, three have been game winners.

LYNCH #2...Jeff Lynch has missed just eight games the last three seasons, including two this year. The 18-year-old has played 183 career games.

GP...Four players have appeared in all 47 games this season; Chad Klassen, Gary Gladue, Jevon Desautels and Ned Lukacevic. The only game that Brad Schell has missed was due to his commitment with Team WHL.

GARY, GARY QUITE CONTRARY...Gary Gladue is the sixth highest scoring defenseman in the WHL. The 19-year-old had a seven game point scoring streak from October 24th through November 2nd. Gladue has one goal and seven assists in his last 12 games.

DRAFTED PLAYERS... Jevon Desautels (Washington, 4th round, 2002), Brad Schell (Atlanta, 6th round, 2002)

INJURY REPORT...Doug Auchenberg (shoulder, week-to-week), Myles Stoesz (ankle, week-to-week), Jeff Lucky (abdominal, indefinite)

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2004


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