WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Weekly Report

Published on January 23, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


Winners of eight of their last 10 games and three in a row the Spokane Chiefs will play three times in four nights this week, including a pair of home games on Friday and Saturday night. The Chiefs earned three wins in as many nights last weekend with a road victory over Tri-City and two in the Spokane Arena on Saturday and Sunday over Portland.

Spokane begins the week three points behind Vancouver for fourth place in the Western Conference and seven back of Portland for third place. The Chiefs have played three fewer than the Giants and two less than the Winterhawks. In 14 games since the holiday break Spokane is 10-3-1-0.

THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25TH at EVERETT SILVERTIPS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

The Chiefs will finish their 10 game season series versus the Everett Silvertips. The Chiefs come in with a 7-1-1-0 mark in the previous nine games, including a 5-0-0-0 record at home and 2-1-1-0 record on the road. The Silvertips overcame a 3-0 deficit in the third period on January 13th and picked up a 4-3 overtime victory. Darren Kramer, Dylan Walchuk, his first as a Chief, and Davis Vandane, his first career, all scored for Spokane. It was the final of three straight games between the Chiefs and Silvertips, Spokane had won the first two including a 6-1 victory two night's prior in their final home game of the season versus the Silvertips. On January 8th, the Chiefs began the stretch with a 5-3 win. Eric Williams stopped 27 shots, including 16 in the third period, to earn his first win as a Chief. Everett won a 6-2 decision on December 16th, the second half of a home-and-home series. Spokane earned a 3-2 overtime decision in the first half on December 14th. Steven Kuhn scored with 46-seconds left in overtime for the win. The Chiefs outshot Everett 47-16. Prior to that, the Chiefs won a 5-2 decision in their first trip to Everett. Spokane began their 10 game season series against Everett on October 15th with a three goal third period and finished with a 3-1 win. Darren Kramer, Mitch Holmberg and Dominik Uher all scored in the final frame. Spokane was 1-3 on the power play and 1-2 on the penalty kill while outshooting the 'Tips 38-21. Steven Kuhn, Liam Stewart and Uher scored for Spokane in a 3-2 victory on October 22nd. The Chiefs were down 2-0 in the first 5:43 of the game and outshot the 'Tips 43-22. Spokane then outshot the Silvertips 56-18 on November 6th in an 8-1 win. Mike Aviani's two goals led seven different scorers. Marek Kalus had three assists. Tanner Mort was +4. On December 9th, Kichton had two assists in the 5-2 victory. Brenden Kichton leads all scorers with 14 points, including 13 assists, and is +15 in the series. Uher, Holmberg, Kramer and Aviani have all scored four goals in the series.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27TH vs. PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

Friday night will be the final of three straight home games versus the Portland Winterhawks. Friday will be Portland's last visit to the Spokane Arena. Spokane won the previous two last weekend by scores of 5-2 on Saturday and 6-1 on Sunday. Mike Aviani and Mitch Holmberg each scored twice on Sunday night as Spokane outshot the 'Hawks 33-22. In Friday night's meeting Steven Kuhn had two goals and Dominik Uher had a goal and two assists in the Spokane victory. In Portland's only other visit to the Arena on Saturday, December 17th it was an 8-6 Portland victory. Mark Kalus had a goal and assist for Spokane. The Chiefs have travelled to Portland three times. Spokane played back-to-back games in Portland on November 11th and 12th, losing once in a shootout and another in overtime, and dropped a 5-3 decision on November 25th. Five different players scored goals on November 11th in a 6-5 shootout loss. Spokane trailed 2-0 on November 12th and came back to send the game into overtime. On November 25th, Connor Chartier added a single in the loss. Spokane outshot the Winterhawks 49-39. Spokane and Portland will play each other eight times, four times in each other's building. The Chiefs will travel to Portland for the last time this year on Friday, February 24th. Darren Kramer has two goals and six assists to lead the Chiefs. Eleven players have scored a goal versus the Winterhawks with 10 of them scoring at least twice.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28TH vs. KOOTENAY ICE AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

Spokane will host the Kootenay Ice for the first time this season. It will be the second meeting in their five game season series. The Chiefs earned a 3-2 shootout win on December 30th in their first trip of the season to Cranbrook. Todd Fiddler, in his first game as a Chief, and Liam Stewart scored in regulation and Spokane outscored Kootenay 2-1 in a six round shootout. Each team had 40 shots and Mac Engel earned the win with 38 saves. The Chiefs will also host Kootenay on Saturday, March 10th. The Ice will host Spokane again on February 4th and 17th. Spokane finished last year's season series with a 3-1-1 record with wins in the last three, including a 4-3 shootout victory in their last game of the season on March 12th. Dominik Uher and Mike Aviani had goals. Uher finished the five game series with five goals and eight points. Brenden Kichton had 2-6-8 and was a +6 in four games. The Chiefs hosted Kootenay in The Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic on January 15th at Avista Stadium, an 11-2 decision in favor of the Chiefs. Blake Gal had two goals. It was the second half of a home-and-home series after Kootenay won the previous night's match-up 6-2.

NEWS AND NOTES

THE NACHBAUR 500...Don Nachbaur became the sixth coach in the history of the WHL to win 500 games as a head coach when Spokane defeated the Everett Silvertips on January 11th. Nachbaur is the reigning WHL Coach of the Year and is in his second season on the Chiefs' bench. Nachbaur won 202 in Seattle, 229 in Tri-City and has 73 in Spokane (504 total). He assisted on Canada's National Men's Summer Under-18 Team that won the gold medal at the 2011 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament over the summer.

CHIEFS ADD WALCHUK...Dylan Walchuk has four goals and five points in seven games as a Chief. Walchuk made his Spokane debut on January 11th versus Everett one day after being added to the roster. The British Columbia native was originally added to the Chiefs 50-player protected list in December, 2008. Last season Walchuk led the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League in points with 56, including 24 goals and 32 assists. He added another 13 goals and 20 points in 24 playoff games as Vernon finished as a runner-up in the Royal Bank Cup Championship, the Canadian Junior A National Title, one year after winning it. Walchuk split time this season at Northern Michigan University and Vernon.

THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER...When Spokane scores three or more goals in a game they are 25-5-1-2. When scoring two or fewer goals, Spokane is 0-10-1-1.

CENTRAL SCOUTING...Two Chiefs, Cole Wedman (142nd) and Reid Gow (185th), appeared on the NHL's Mid-Season Ranking of eligible North American Skaters for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

SCHEDULE...The Chiefs are 8-2-1-0 in January. They play 15 games during the month, eight at home and seven on the road. Prior to the holiday break the Chiefs played 34 games in 99 days. In the second half of the season Spokane will play the final 38 games in 73 days.

Text Box: SPOKANE CHIEFS DEFENSEMEN - ALL-TIME LEADERS CAREER GOALS CAREER ASSISTS CAREER POINTS 1-Sean Gillam - 40 1- Frank Evans - 146 1- Bryan McCabe - 184 2-Bryan McCabe-39 2- Bryan McCabe - 145 2- Sean Gillam - 182 3- Brenden Kichton-37 3- Sean Gillam - 142 3- Frank Evans - 177 Jared Cowen-37 4- Jared Spurgeon - 133 4- Jared Spurgeon - 170 Jared Spurgeon-37 5- Hugh Hamilton - 123 5- Brenden Kichton - 156 6- Jon Klemm - 120 7- Brenden Kichton - 119 IN YOUR KICHTON...Brenden Kichton has three goals, 14 points and is a +16 in his last 10 games. Kichton also has eight goals and 32 assists in his last 34 games. He now has 119 career assists. Only six other defensemen have had over 100 career assists. He is leading the WHL in defenseman scoring with 47 points. Kichton attended Team Canada's selection camp. He had an assist in Team WHL's 5-2 win over Team Russia in the in the CHL's SUBWAY Super Series versus Team Russia on November 16th. Kichton was named the Chiefs John "Hitman" Hern Defenseman of the Year in 2010-11 after recording 81 points, the second most all-time by a Spokane blueliner (Bryan McCabe, 82 points, 1993-94). Kichton was selected by the New York Islanders in the fifth round in 2011. His 23 goals in 2010-11 were the third most by a defenseman. He is the first Chief defenseman since '93-'94 and just the fourth in franchise history to score 20 goals in a single season. Kichton finished tied for the league lead in scoring amongst defensemen. He was third in the league with a +55.

ALL ENGELS...In his last nine starts Mac Engel is 8-1-0-0 and has posted a 1.77 GAA and .936 save percentage.

ROADIES... In their last 14 road games the Chiefs are 8-4-2-0. The Chiefs capped off a season high six game road stretch with a 5-2 win on Friday, December 9th at Everett. The Chiefs went 3-2-1-0 through the span. The Chiefs were 2-2-1 in a five game in six night trip through the Central Division with wins over Red Deer and Medicine Hat.

BALD IS BEAUTIFUL...Twenty-year-old Corbin Baldwin has one goal and nine points and is a +18 in his last 17 games. Over the last eight he is +16 with a goal and four assists. He currently leads the Chiefs with a +25, fourth among all defenseman in the WHL and eighth overall. Baldwin is in his fourth season in Spokane and has played 222 career games with 317 penalty minutes.

GOOD TO BE UHER ... Dominik Uher has five goals, 17 points and is +15 in his last 10 games. Uher helped the Czech Republic National Junior team to a fifth place finish at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships with a goal and an assist on January 4th in a 5-2 win over Team Slovakia. Uher finished the tournament with one goal and two assists in six games. Uher was an alternate captain for the Czech team. Uher has 11 goals and 19 assists in his last 25 games. In his last 33 Uher has 16 goals and 22 assists. Uher had a seven game point scoring streak snapped on November 5th versus Tri-City. Uher had five goals and eight assists. He is tied with Mitch Holmberg for the team lead with four game winners. Uher was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fifth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft after scoring 21 goals, 39 assists and 60 points in 65 games as an 18-year-old in 2010-11.

FRAM COMES ALIVE...Jason Fram is the sixth 16-year-old defenseman in franchise history to score four goals in a season. Sean Gillam holds the franchise record for 16-year-old blueliners with six goals in 1992-93. Hugh Hamilton scored five the following year. Sean Zimmerman (2003-04) and Jared Cowen (2007-08) also had four goals as a 16-year-old.

DVD MACHINE...Davis Vandane scored his first career goal on January 13th at Everett. Vandane is +14 in his last 11 games. In his last six he has one goal, five points and is +11. His next game will be his 100th career WHL game. He has appeared in all 45 games this season after playing a combined 50 last year between Saskatoon and Spokane.

UP ON THE ROOF...Todd Fiddler has five goals, seven assists and is +11 in 13 games as a Chief. He scored in his first game as a Chief, a 3-2 shootout victory over the Kootenay Ice on December 30th and in his home debut on January 6th versus Moose Jaw. Fiddler was acquired along with goaltender Eric Williams from the Prince Albert Raiders on Wednesday, December 28th.

MAKING HIS MAREK...Marek Kalus has four goals and 10 points in his last 13 games. The 18-year-old started the season with one assist in eight games and has scored 11 goals and 22 points in the next 32 games.

HOLM COOKIN'...Mitch Holmberg had a six game point scoring streak snapped on January 13th at Everett. In the span he scored five goals, 10 points and was +9. Holmberg has 14 goals and 28 points in his last 23 games. Holmberg recorded his first career hat trick in a 6-3 win over Medicine Hat on December 3rd. After a two goal effort on January 22nd in a 6-1 win versus Portland he now has six multi-goal games. In 58 games last season, Holmberg had 15 goals and 33 points.

KUHN'S CORNER...Steven Kuhn scored the overtime game winner on December 14th versus Everett. Kuhn recorded his 100th career point with an assist on October 29th at Tri-City. In his career Kuhn has 48 goals, 70 assists and 118 points. He has eight goals, including the game tying goal with 1:01 remaining in a 6-5 shootout win on November 19th versus Regina, and 19 assists in his last 35 games. Last year he scored a career high 20 goals, 30 assists and 50 points in 2010-11. Kuhn has appeared in 261 straight games and is the only player in franchise history to play in all 72 games three straight seasons. Kuhn was third on the Chiefs' roster last year with 10 power play goals.

SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS...On average, the Chiefs have allowed the fewest shots on goal in the WHL at 25.6. Spokane has averaged 34.2 shots for, which is fourth in the WHL.

KAPTAIN KRAMER...Darren Kramer has four assists in his last two games. This season Kramer has scored 15 goals and 14 assists in 43 games. He recorded his first career three point game, all assists, in a 5-1 win over Kelowna on October 8th in Spokane. The 20-year-old is the Chiefs captain. Kramer is now 24th in franchise history with 437 penalty minutes. Kramer was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators. As a 19-year-old he was named the Chiefs' Rookie of the Year and the Players' Player. His 306 penalty minutes led the WHL. During the regular season last year, Kramer had had seven goals and 14 points.

NHL DRAFT...Brenden Kichton (New York Islanders, 5th round, 2011), Dominik Uher (Pittsburgh Penguins, 5th, 2011), Darren Kramer (Ottawa Senators, 6th, 2011)

INJURY REPORT...Tanner Mort (upper body, two weeks), Cole Wedman (upper body, one week)

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2012


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