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WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Weekly Report

November 2, 2004 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


UPCOMING

Friday, November 5th at KAMLOOPS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

For the first time this season, the Chiefs will travel to Kamloops to take on the Blazers in their second of four match-ups on the season. After the Chiefs took a 1-0 lead on October 23rd, Kamloops defeated Spokane 6-1 in the Arena in their first match-up of the season. Chris Bruton had Spokane's lone goal. The Chiefs and Blazers will play a home-and-home series on January 29th and February 1st, with the first game being played in the Spokane Arena. The Blazers won all four games in the series last year, including one in overtime. Three of the four games were decided by one goal. The Chiefs were 15-17 (88.2%) on the penalty kill.

Saturday, November 6th vs. TRI-CITY AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will host Tri-City for the second time this season in the Chiefs and Americans fourth match-up of the year. The Chiefs are 2-0-0-1 with wins in Spokane and Tri-City this season. The Americans won the last game, a 4-3 overtime decision on October 30th. Nine different players scored goals on October 16th at Tri-City in a 9-5 win. After giving up the first two goals of the game, the Chiefs scored nine in a row. Spokane earned a 3-0 win over Tri-City on Saturday, October 9th in the Spokane Arena. Jim Watt stopped 29 shots in his first shutout of the season and Spokane put 50 pucks on net. Chad Klassen has two goals and five assists and Ned Lukacevic has six assists in three games. The Chiefs finished last year's season series with a 5-4-1-2 record with all five wins coming at home. The Americans will not be back in Spokane until January 22nd.

LAST WEEK

Saturday, October 30th SPOKANE-3 TRI-CITY-4 OT

The Spokane Chiefs rallied from a three goal deficit, only to drop a 4-3 overtime decision at Tri-City Saturday night. Clayton Stoner's goal 1:13 into overtime was the game winner, as Spokane scored two in the second and one in the third to force overtime. Tri-Cities Marc Connors scored the lone goal of the first period as he beat Chiefs goalie Jim Watt at 18:18 to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Tri-City would put in two power play goals 1:38 apart midway through the second period to take a 3-0 advantage. Spokane would respond on Scott Lynch's unassisted goal 9:58 into the period to move within 3-1. Captain Jevon Desautels would then put in a rebound on the power play to bring the Chiefs within 3-2 at the end of two. Chad Klassen and Scott Lynch would get the assists. In the third, the Chiefs would tie it as Klassen would put in a rebound of a Ned Lukacevic shot at 4:02 to even the game at 3-3, before Stoner's shot would win it for Tri Cities in overtime. Jim Watt made 26 saves while Chad Klassen and Scott Lynch each had a goal and an assist.

Friday, October 29th SPOKANE-2 vs. SEATTLE-4

The Seattle Thunderbirds scored three times in the third period to overcome a 2-1 deficit and earn a 4-2 win over the Spokane Chief on Friday night in the Spokane Arena. The Chiefs record dropped to 5-6, 4-3 in the Spokane Arena. The T-Birds scored first as Kyle Fecho's shot from the point was deflected in front of Jim Watt and trickled into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead 11:11 into the first period. Ned Lukacevic tied it for the Chiefs at 16:36 of the second. Derek Ryan broke Lukacevic out at the Thunderbird's blue line, who then used a backhand to score the equalizing goal. Just over a minute later, Michael Grabner scored his first career goal as a Chief as Gary Gladue and Jeff Lynch assisted on the play. The Chiefs took a 2-1 lead into the third period. Seattle tied it up at 5:48 on the power play and took the eventual lead at 15:46 on the first of two goals by Aaron Gagnon. Gagnon would score into an empty net for the eventual final score, 4-2. Watt stopped 23 shots, including 12 in the second period. The Chiefs were5-6 on the penalty kill.

NEWS AND NOTES

OPSAHL ACQUIRED...The Spokane Chiefs have acquired goaltender Kevin Opsahl from the Portland Winter Hawks for future considerations. Opsahl has appeared in three games this season stopping 82 of 90 shots for a .911 save percentage and has recorded a 3.20 GAA with a 1-2 record. The Trail, BC native spent the first portion of the 2003-04 season as the Winter Hawks back-up and appeared in seven games posting a 2.93 goals against average, .910 save percentage and 3-2 record. The 18-year-old was then reassigned to Trail where he played for the BCHL's Smoke Eaters and played 11 games, going 6-4-0. In a related move, goaltender Kirk Irving has been released from the Chiefs roster and is awaiting reassignment.

COMPTON REASSIGNED...The Spokane Chiefs have reassigned 16-year-old forward Seth Compton to the Spokane Braves of the KIJHL. Compton had appeared in four games this season with no points and two penalty minutes. The West Richland, Washington native was the Chiefs fifth round selection in the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft. Last season as a Brave Compton scored 16 goals and 42 points in 45 games.

SCHEDULE...Starting on Friday night, the Chiefs will play six games in nine nights. For of those games will be played at home. In November, the Chiefs will play 13 games, eight at home and five on the road.

CLUTCH N'GRABER...Michael Grabner scored his first career WHL goal on October 29th versus the Seattle Thunderbirds. The 17-year-old was the Chiefs only selection in the 2004 CHL Import Draft.

DID I HEAR A NINER?...The nine goals the Chiefs scored on Saturday, October 16th at Tri-City were the most they scored since a 9-4 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds on October 12th, 2001. The Chiefs set a road record for most unanswered goals with nine. The last time the Chiefs scored 10 in a game was against Tri-City on February 26th, 2000. Spokane set their overall record for most unanswered goals in a game at 10 in that game.

KILL ‘EM ALL...The Chiefs have allowed just two power play goals at home this year and have killed 26-28 (92.9%) this season in the Spokane Arena. Overall, the Chiefs have allowed just nine power play goals and are 49-58 (84.5%)

FIRST TIMERS...Both Mike Reich and Jason Lynch each scored their first career goals on October 16th at Tri-City in a 9-5 win. Reich was the Chiefs first round selection in 2003. Lynch, in his second season as a Chief, was Spokane's second round selection in 2002.

SHOT TO THE HEART...Spokane's 50 shots on October 9th versus Tri-City were the most since March 15th, 2002 when the team put 51 shots on net in a 2-2 tie with Tri-City. The Chiefs franchise record for shots on goal in one game is 75 in a 6-0 win on March 17th, 1996 versus the Prince George Cougars.

KLASSEN SESSION ...Chad Klassen has five goals, 12 assists and 17 points in his last nine games. In 12 games this year, Klassen has points in 10, including three points twice. His 19 total points tie him for sixth overall in the WHL. Klassen is fourth in the WHL in assists. His six game assist streak from October 6th through October 22nd is the longest in the WHL this season. Klassen was the league's top scoring 18-year-old last season with 35 goals and 91 points. Klassen finished second on the Chiefs and sixth in the WHL in scoring and was tied for the team lead with a +17.

HOBBY'S HOBBY...Adam Hobson had a four game point scoring streak snapped on October 23rd versus Kamloops. Hobson had one goal and seven points in that span. The 17-year-old won a gold medal with Team Canada at this summer's Under-18 World Junior Hockey Championship.

WATT'S NEST...Eighteen-year-old goaltender Jim Watt earned his fifth career shutout on Saturday, October 9th in a 3-0 blanking of the Tri-City Americans. Watt had 29 saves in the win. The Edmonton, Alberta native equaled a franchise record with four shutouts in 2003-04. The Edmonton, AB native also set a franchise mark with a .915 save percentage. Watt finished the season with a 2.65 GAA and 16-14-1-1 record.

LYNCH PIN...Twenty-year-old defenseman Scott Lynch has points in nine of 12 games this year and is the second highest scoring defenseman in the WHL with four goals and 10 assists. The 20-year-old has five multiple point games this year. Last season Lynch scored a career high 17 goals and 40 points, both tops for any Chiefs defenseman. Lynch's 17 goals were the most by a Chiefs defenseman since 1993-94.

ZIMMER-MAN...Sean Zimmerman had a four game point scoring streak snapped on October 23rd. Zimmerman had four assists in that span. The 17-year-old was named the Chiefs Rookie of the Year last season after posting a +1 in 66 games.

STOESZ PUT...Seventeen-year Myles Stoesz is second in the WHL in penalty minutes with 66 through 12 games. Stoesz led all Chiefs rookies a year ago with 128 penalty minutes.

BRUTON'S BLOG...Seventeen-year-old Chris Bruton scored his first career goal on Saturday, October 2nd versus the Kootenay Ice, an empty netter in a 4-2 win. Bruton has five goals this season, third most for any rookie. Bruton was an eighth round selection in the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft.

HOWARTH YOU DOING...After playing in his first game as a Chief on October 15th versus Vancouver, Kyle Howarth hit the score sheet with a goal and an assist one night later in a 9-5 win over Tri-City. The 18-year-old was acquired by the Chiefs from the Medicine Hat Tigers.

ROSTER NEWS...The Chiefs are carrying 22 players on its roster, including two goaltenders, seven defenseman and 13 forwards. By age, the Chiefs have three 20-year-olds, three 19-year-olds, seven 18-year-olds, six 17-year-olds and three 16-year-olds. The Chiefs feature nine rookies. On defense, Spokane has just one first year player on its roster and six veterans.

CAPTAIN DESAUTELS...The Spokane Chiefs have named 20-year-old forward Jevon Desautels its captain for the 2004-05 season. Desautels has played in 241 career games, all in a Chiefs sweater, putting him 17th on the franchise's all-time list.

NED NEEDLELANDER...Ned Lukacevic recorded his first career four point game on October 16th in a 9-5 win over Tri-City. Lukacevic had four assists on the night and has recorded a point in seven of 10 games this year. The 18-year-old was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round of this summer's NHL Entry Draft. The Port Coquitlam, BC native scored 19 goals last season and was one of two players (Klassen) that appeared in all 72 games.

THE HIGHLANDER...Derek Ryan recorded his first career three point game on October 16th in a 9-5 win over Tri-City. Ryan had one goal and two assists. The 18-year-old scored a goal in his first career WHL game, the regular season finale versus Kootenay last season. Ryan is a local product who attends Shadle Park High School in Spokane.

INJURY REPORT...Joe Logan (groin, day-to-day)

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