WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Weekly Report

Published on January 30, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


With one game remaining in January, the Spokane Chiefs have an opportunity to tie a franchise record for the most wins in a single month. In 14 games this month the Chiefs are 10-2-2-0. The Chiefs play at Seattle on Tuesday and a win would equal the franchise mark of 11 wins in a month, achieved four previous times, the last being February, 2010.

Spokane began the month 11 points behind Vancouver for fourth place in the Western Conference and head into this week tied with the Giants in the standings with three games in hand.

Tuesday's game is the beginning of a stretch where the Chiefs will play four games in five nights and five games in seven nights, including next Monday's home date versus the Thunderbirds.

THIS WEEK

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31ST at SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO - 1510 KGA

The Chiefs travel to Seattle for the second time this season in their third of eight meetings of the season, all in the final 36 games of the year. Spokane lost 3-2 on Monday, January 16th in their last meeting. Mike Aviani and Blake Gal each had goals. Seattle scored once on the power play and another shorthanded. Spokane was 1-2 on the penalty kill and 0-6 on the power play. Spokane earned a 4-2 win in their first meeting in Seattle on January 7th. Mitch Holmberg had two goals and Steven Kuhn and Todd Fiddler each added singles. The Chiefs finished last season 5-2-1-1 versus Seattle with a 2-1-1-0 record at home and a 3-1-0-1 on the road. Spokane was 8-44 (18.2%) on the power play and 36-39 (92.3%)on the penalty kill. Brenden Kichton had two goals and nine points while Mitch Holmberg had four goals and seven points. Steven Kuhn also scored four goals versus Seattle in nine regular season games. On average, the Chiefs outshot Seattle 44.9-26.9. Collin Valcourt and Corbin Baldwin were both +8.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST at KAMLOOPS BLAZERS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO - 1510 KGA

The Chiefs will travel to Kamloops for the second and final time this year. The Blazers last hosted Spokane on Friday, October 7th, a 6-4 Kamloops win. Darren Kramer scored twice while Reid Gow and Jason Fram also scored for Spokane. The Chiefs were 2-6 on the power play and 6-7 on the penalty kill. Kamloops then won a 2-1 decision on November 18th. Collin Valcourt scored the Chiefs' lone goal. Each team was 0-3 on the power play. Spokane outshot Kamloops 29-21. The Chiefs will host Kamloops for the final time this year on Wednesday, March 14th. Spokane was 3-0-0-1 last season versus the Blazers. Spokane's three wins included a shootout victory in their first meeting on October 6th, 2010. Reid Gow and Darren Kramer both scored in regulation. Spokane also scored 10 goals twice versus Kamloops, both at home, November 24th and December 11th.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD vs. VICTORIA ROYALS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO - 1510 KGA

The Chiefs will take on the Victoria Royals in their second of four meetings on the season. Mark Kalus, with two goals, led five different goal scorers in the Chiefs' 6-1 win on October 26th in the Arena. Spokane jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period. The Chiefs outshot the Royals 33-13. The Chiefs will travel to Victoria for back-to-back games on February 28th and 29th to complete the regular season series. Spokane earned a five game series win in the first round of the playoffs last season versus the former Chilliwack Bruins franchise. Spokane was 2-0 on the road. Steven Kuhn led all Chiefs with five points (2-3-5). Blake Gal had four goals including a hat-trick in the series clincher. Spokane was 3-22 (13.6%) on the power play and 19-22 (86.4%) on the penalty kill. Spokane scored the first goal of the game in all five meetings and outshot the Bruins 49.5-24.2. Spokane put a franchise record 78 shots on goal in a 2-1 shootout win on March 16th, their final meeting of the year. Spokane was 5-22 (22.7%) on the power play and 16-19 (84.2%) on the penalty kill. On average the Chiefs outshot the Bruins 46.5-22.8.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH at KOOTENAY ICE AIR-5:30 GAME-6:00 RADIO-790 KJRB

Spokane will travel to Kootenay for their third meeting of the season, the second in Cranbrook. The Chiefs are 2-0 versus Kootenay as both games have gone into extra time. Spokane won a 3-2 shootout on December 30th and a 5-4 overtime game on January 28th. In last Saturday's meeting in the Spokane Arena the Chiefs overcame a 3-0 deficit in the first period and forced overtime with 2:44 remaining in the game on a Darren Kramer goal. Five different players scored goals. The Chiefs outshot Kootenay 46-25. 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 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.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH vs. SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

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 75 in Spokane (506 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.

WALCHIPIN' IN ... Dylan Walchuk has five goals and seven points in 10 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 27-5-1-2. When scoring two or fewer goals, Spokane is 0-10-2-1.

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 10-2-2-0 in January. Spokane has a chance to tie a franchise record as they have won 11 games in a single month four previous times, the last being February, 2010. 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.

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-38 3- Sean Gillam - 142 3- Frank Evans - 177

4- Jared Cowen-37 4- Jared Spurgeon - 133 4- Jared Spurgeon - 170

Jared Spurgeon-37 5- Hugh Hamilton - 123 5- Brenden Kichton - 159

6- Brenden Kichton - 121

IN YOUR KICHTON ...Brenden Kichton has four goals, including the overtime game winner on January 28th versus Kootenay, 17 points and is a +18 in his last 13 games. Kichton also has nine goals and 34 assists in his last 37 games. He now has 121 career assists. Only six other defensemen have had over 100 career assists. He is leading the WHL in defenseman scoring with 50 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 11 starts Mac Engel is 9-1-0-0 and has posted a 2.24 GAA and .926 save percentage.

ROADIES ... In their last 15 road games the Chiefs are 9-4-2-0. 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 two goals, 13 points and is a +20 in his last 20 games. Over the last 11 he is +18 with two goals and six assists. He currently leads the Chiefs with a +27, fourth among all defenseman in the WHL and ninth overall. Baldwin is in his fourth season in Spokane and has played 225career games with 323 penalty minutes.

GOOD TO BE UHER ... Dominik Uher has five goals, 18 points and is +16 in his last 13 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 20 assists in his last 28 games. In his last 36 Uher has 16 goals and 23 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 +13 in his last 14 games. In his last nine he has one goal, seven points and is +10. He played his 100th career WHL game on January 25th at Everett. He has appeared in all 48 games this season after playing a combined 50 last year between Saskatoon and Spokane.

UP ON THE ROOF ...Todd Fiddler has seven goals, seven assists and is +10 in 16 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 five goals and 12 points in his last 16 games. The 18-year-old started the season with one assist in eight games and has scored 12 goals and 24 points in the next 35 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 30 points in his last 26 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 recorded three points, including a pair of goals, in a 4-2 win over Everett on January 25th. He also 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 50 goals, 74 assists and 124 points. He has 10 goals and 21 assists in his last 38 games. Last year he scored a career high 20 goals, 30 assists and 50 points. Kuhn has appeared in 264 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 25.7. Spokane has averaged 34.2 shots for, which is fourth in the WHL.

KAPTAIN KRAMER ...Darren Kramer has three goals and four assists in his last five games. This season Kramer has scored 18 goals and 14 assists in 47 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 439 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, one week), Cole Wedman (upper body, day-to-day), Reid Gow (upper body, one month)

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2012


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