WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Weekly Report

Published on February 14, 2012 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


TopBar

The Chiefs will play their final of four straight home games on Wednesday night when they host the Vancouver Giants. Spokane sits just two points in front of the Giants for fourth place in the Western Conference. The top four teams in each conference will hold home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Following Wednesday's game the Chiefs will play four straight on the road, including three in as many nights this weekend with trips to Kootenay, Tri-City and Seattle.

The Chiefs magic number for clinching a playoff spot is two points. A Chiefs win or Everett loss in regulation would secure Spokane a spot in the post-season for the sixth straight year.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH vs. VANCOUVER GIANTS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

The Chiefs host Vancouver in their only trip to Spokane this season. It will be their second and final meeting of the season. The Giants earned a 3-2 shootout victory on October 5th in Vancouver in their only other meeting this season. Spokane was 1-3 on the power play and 4-4 on the penalty kill. The Chiefs outshot Vancouver 27-21. Spokane trailed 2-0 before scoring late in the second and tying the game at 17:48 of the third with a Darren Kramer goal. Spokane was 0-3 in the shootout while Vancouver scored once. Spokane was 2-0 last year versus the Giants as they earned a 3-2 shootout win on December 10th in Vancouver as Spokane outshot the Giants 45-22. One week later Dominik Uher scored two goals and added an assist as the Chiefs held the Giants to just 15 shots on goal in a 4-0 win. Overall, Spokane was 2-8 on the power play and 5-5 on the penalty kill. On average, the Chiefs outshot the Giants 35.5-18.5.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH at KOOTENAY ICE AIR-5:30 GAME-6:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

Spokane will travel to Kootenay for their fourth meeting of the season, the third and final in Cranbrook. The Chiefs are 2-1 versus Kootenay with two games going into overtime. Spokane has won once in a shootout and another in overtime. Kootenay won the last match-up 4-2 on Saturday, February 4th in Cranbrook. The Ice scored twice in the second and third periods and never trailed. Mitch Holmberg and Brenden Kichton scored for the Chiefs as they outshot the Ice 30-20. Spokane won a 3-2 shootout on December 30th and a 5-4 overtime game on January 28th. On January 29th 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 had the win with 38 saves. The Chiefs will host Kootenay on Saturday, March 10th in their final meeting of the season. The Chiefs hosted Kootenay in The Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic, the first ever outdoor hockey game in WHL history, on January 15th at Avista Stadium, an 11-2 decision in favor of the Chiefs. Blake Gal had two goals.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH at TRI-CITY AMERICANS AIR-6:30 GAME7:00 RADIO-790 KJRB TV-SWX

The Americans will host the Chiefs for the ninth meeting of the season. Beginning last Saturday night, a 5-3 Tri-City win, the two will race off in four of five weekends. The Americans lead the season series 5-3. Mike Aviani, Liam Stewart and Mitch Holmberg scored at home for Spokane on February 11th but the Chiefs had their two game winning streak snapped in the series. Spokane was 1-4 on the power play and 6-7 on the penalty kill. Tri-City scored two shorthanded goals. In their last game in Tri-City Spokane skated away with a 3-1 decision on January 20th. Spokane trailed 1-0 going into the third before Collin Valcourt, Brenden Kichton and Dominik Uher scored. Uher's goal was shorthanded. The Chiefs earned a 5-3 win on January 14th in Spokane. The game was 3-3 through two periods before Dylan Walchuk scored a go ahead goal at 7:05 of the third. Dominik Uher scored his second goal of the game, this one into an empty net, for the final tally. The Chiefs went 2-4 on the power play and 5-5 on the penalty kill. In the annual New Year's Eve game, Tri-City skated to a 4-1 victory. Marek Kalus scored the Chiefs' lone goal. There were just a combined 37 shots on goal, 17 by Spokane. In the American's last trip to Spokane they picked up another 4-1 win on November 5th. Mike Aviani scored the Chiefs' lone goal. Tri-City earned a 3-1 win on October 29th. Blake Gal scored the Chiefs' only goal as Spokane was 1-6 on the power play and 7-7 on the penalty kill. Each team defended their home ice in their respective home openers. Tri-City earned a 4-1 win over Spokane on September 24th. One week later, Steven Kuhn scored twice as Spokane picked up a 7-2 victory. The Chiefs were 4-12 on the power play and 5-5 on the penalty kill. Spokane is 10-47 (21.3%) on the power play and 37-42 (88.1%) on the penalty kill in eight games. In its 23rd year of existence the Chiefs lead the regular season series 142-123-1-5 with 13 ties.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH at SEATTLE THUNDERBIRDS AIR-4:30 GAME-5:00 RADIO-1510 KGA

The Chiefs travel to Seattle for the third time this season in the sixth match-up of the year. Spokane is 4-1 versus Seattle, including a 5-4 victory on February 10th in the Spokane Arena. It capped a two-game home stand versus the Thunderbirds with Spokane winning both games. Five different players scored goals and Davis Vandane had a career high three assists. Spokane skated away with a 7-3 victory on February 6th after scoring four goals in the third. Seven different players tallied for the Chiefs, including Mike Aviani who had a goal and two assists. Spokane was 2-4 on the power play and 6-6 on the penalty kill. All eight of the Chiefs and Thunderbirds games will be played in the final 36 games of the year. In their previous meeting the Chiefs had 5-3 win over Seattle on January 31st on the road. Dominik Uher scored four goals, including the game winner with 1:12 remaining. Spokane lost 3-2 on January 16th in the first meeting in Spokane. Mike Aviani and Blake Gal each had goals. Seattle scored once on the power play and another shorthanded. 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. In five games Uher has four goals and six points, Aviani has three goals and six points and Kichton and Holmberg have two goals and five points. Corbin Baldwin has five assists and is a team leading +9.

NEWS AND NOTES

GOOD TO BE UHER...Dominik Uher was named the WHL's Player of the Week on February 6th after scoring six goals and nine points in four games. Uher became the first Chief to score four goals in a game since Drayson Bowman did it on February 25th, 2009 in a 5-2 win at Kamloops. Uher's four goal game came on January 31st in a 5-3 win at Seattle. He has six goals and 10 points in his last seven games. Uher also has 11 goals, 28 points and is +18 in his last 19 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 17 goals and 22 assists in his last 33 games. Uher had a seven game point scoring streak snapped on November 5th versus Tri-City. Uher had five goals and eight assists. He leads the team with five 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.

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 79 in Spokane (510 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.

SCHEDULE...Spokane plays 14 games in February, six at home and eight 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.

ROLLIN'...The Chiefs tied a franchise record with 11 wins in January. They had accomplished that feat four previous times, the last being February, 2010. In their 15 game month, they went 11-2-2-0. Spokane had their seven game point streak snapped on February 1st at Victoria. Prior to that Spokane was 6-0-1-0 and had points in 13 of 14 games (11-1-2-0). Spokane is 16-6-2-0 since December 27th.

WALCHIPIN' IN...Dylan Walchuk has six goals and 15 points in 17 games, including a three assist effort on January 31st at Seattle. 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.

Text Box: SPOKANE CHIEFS DEFENSEMEN - ALL-TIME LEADERS CAREER GOALS CAREER ASSISTS CAREER POINTS 1- Brenden Kichton-41 1- Frank Evans - 146 1- Bryan McCabe - 184 2- Sean Gillam - 40 2- Bryan McCabe - 145 2- Sean Gillam - 182 3- Bryan McCabe-39 3- Sean Gillam - 142 3- Frank Evans - 177 4- Jared Cowen-37 4- Jared Spurgeon - 133 4- Jared Spurgeon - 170 Jared Spurgeon-37 5- Brenden Kichton - 125 5- Brenden Kichton - 164 IN YOUR KICHTON...Brenden Kichton's goal on February 6th versus Seattle was his 41st career, more than any other defenseman in Chiefs' history. Kichton has seven goals, including the overtime game winner on January 28th versus Kootenay, 24 points and is a +15 in his last 20 games. Kichton also has 12 goals and 38 assists in his last 43 games. He now has 125 career assists. Only six other defensemen have had over 100 career assists. He is leading the WHL in defenseman scoring with 53 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.

MIKEY LIKES IT...Mike Aviani has five goals and 14 points in his last 12 games. He is also +8 in that stretch. Aviani recorded his second three point game of the season on February 6th versus Seattle with one goal and two assists in a 7-3 win. He also had two goals and three points on November 6th in an 8-1 win over Everett.

ROADIES... In their last 18 road games the Chiefs are 10-6-2-0. 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, 12 points and is a +24 in his last 18 games. He is fifth in the WHL with a +33, third amongst defensemen. Baldwin is in his fourth season in Spokane and has played 231 career games with 346 penalty minutes.

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 +20 in his last 20 games. In his last 15 he has two goals, 11 points and is +16. He played his 100th career WHL game on January 25th at Everett. He has appeared in all 54 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 +8 in 23 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 eight goals and 15 points in his last 23 games. The 18-year-old started the season with one assist in eight games and has scored 15 goals and 27 points in the next 42 games.

HOLM COOKIN'...Mitch Holmberg had a seven game point streak snapped on February 10th versus Seattle. He had two goals and six assists. Holmberg also 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 17 goals and 36 points in his last 33 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.

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, 75 assists and 125 points. Last year he scored a career high 20 goals, 30 assists and 50 points. Kuhn has appeared in 271 straight games, a franchise record, and is the only player in team 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 25.9. Spokane has averaged 33.9 shots for, which is fifth in the WHL.

KAPTAIN KRAMER...Darren Kramer has four goals and five assists in his last 12 games. This season Kramer has scored 19 goals and 15 assists in 54 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 21st in franchise history with 463 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... Reid Gow (upper body, two weeks)

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Western Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2012


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