WHL Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs Weekly

Published on March 11, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


With 102 points and a six game winning streak, the Spokane Chiefs enter the final week of the regular season in a tie with the Tri-City Americans for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Chiefs have played 68 games, the Americans 69 and the two will meet on Saturday night in Kennewick.

Before it gets to the point of that game meaning all the marbles, each team will play twice, Spokane on Wednesday in Kamloops and at home on Friday versus Portland. The Americans will travel to Everett on Wednesday night and host Kelowna on Friday night. Saturday's game will be the Americans final game of the regular season while the Chiefs will make up their game in hand on Sunday night in Portland.

The Chiefs, Americans and Vancouver Giants are in a three-way race for the top spot in the WHL. Vancouver has 100 points through 69 games and will play Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The winner of the Western Conference will have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs and earn the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy.

The Spokane-Tri-City game will be aired live on Comcast channel 12 at 7:00. All four games can be heard live on KJRB 790 the Fan with Comcast Hockey Tonight beginning a half-an-hour prior with Mike Boyle.

NEWS AND NOTES

VERSUS HISTORY...For just the fifth time in franchise history, the Chiefs have won 40 games in a season. The 48 wins are 12 more than they had last season and the most wins in a season since they had 47 in 1999-00. The most wins in franchise history are 50, accomplished in 1995-96.

TRIPLE DIGITS...Spokane has eclipsed the 100 point mark for just the third time in franchise history and with 102 points have their second best total ever.

CHIEFS BEST SEASONS EVER

YEAR RECORD POINTS

1995-96 50-18-4 104

2007-08 48-14-1-5 102

1999-00 47-21-4-2 100

1990-91 48-23-1 97

1997-98 45-23-4 94

WE'RE GOING STREAKING... The Spokane Chiefs have put together their third longest winning streak of the season at six in a row when they picked up a 2-1 win on Sunday night in Seattle. Earlier in the year the Chiefs posted streaks of nine, their second longest ever, and seven games. The Chiefs have six streaks this year of four or more games. Spokane has lost back-to-back games in regulation this year just three times and has just one streak of three regulation losses. Spokane has posted points in 54 of 68 games this year.

THAT IS MORE LIKE IT...Since allowing 16 combined goals, seven to Tri-City and a season high nine goals to Seattle on February 11th, the Chiefs have given up just 18 goals in the next 11 games for an average of 1.63 per game. During a 4-0 stretch last week Spokane allowed just three goals, two on the power play, and scored 16, nine on the man advantage.

D-(INSERT PICTURE OF A PICKET FENCE HERE)...The Spokane Chiefs are on pace to set a single season franchise record for fewest goals allowed. Just once in their previous 22 seasons the Chiefs had allowed fewer than 200 goals when teams scored 189 goals (2.63 per game) in 1999-00. This season, Spokane has allowed 149 goals, 2.19 goals per game through 68 games. Just three previous times in franchise history Spokane has averaged more than one goal scored per game than allowed per game with an all-time high of 2.22 (6.04 goals scored versus 3.82 goals allowed) in 1990-91. This year, Spokane has scored 3.50 goals per game for a difference of 1.31 goals per game, third best all-time.

40 IS THE MAGIC NUMBER...Drayson Bowman became the first Chief to score 40 goals in a season since Greg Leeb in the 1997-98 season when he had a pair against the Chilliwack Bruins on March 8th. His 40 tie him for the 19th most in a single season in Chiefs history but the second most in the 13 seasons since Spokane has moved into the Arena in 1995-96. Bowman has eight goals and eight assists in his last 11 games including a two goal, three assist night on February 11th versus Seattle. It was the second time this season Bowman had recorded five points in a game. Bowman also has three hat-tricks this season, the last being February 2nd in a shootout win over Kootenay. Bowman's 40 goals are fourth in the WHL. Bowman was named the WHL's Player of the Month for November after scoring 13 goals, 11 assists, 24 points and posting a +16. Bowman was named the Canadian Hockey League's Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks in the final two weeks of the month. The 18-year-old is eighth in the WHL in scoring (40-38-78). His eight game winners are two off the franchise's single season record. Carolina's third round pick has also scored 15 power play goals, fifth in the WHL. Bowman has scored 81 career goals, 21st all-time in Chiefs history.

18-YEAR-OLD SPURGEON...Jared Spurgeon enjoyed a career night with a goal and three assists in the Chiefs 5-1 win over the Portland Winter Hawks on March 5th. Spurgeon has a career high 12 goals and 43 points in 66 games and is +7 in his last eight games. Spurgeon has two goals and five assists in his last four games.

ROAD WARRIORS...The Chiefs 49 points on the road have broke a franchise record originally set in 1995-96 and 1999-00. Spokane has three road games remaining.

PLUS FUSS...The Spokane Chiefs have four of the top five players in the WHL in plus-minus. Chris Bruton is second in the league with a +36, Jared Spurgeon, Drayson Bowman and Mitch Wahl are tied for third at +35.

CENTURY CLUB...With a 4-1 win on February 6th Bill Peters earned his 100th career victory as head coach of the Chiefs, already the third most by a head coach in franchise history. Peters overall record is 109-81-10-12.

HOLY SHOTS, BATMAN...For the third time this year the Chiefs put more than 50 shots on net when they had 55 against the Everett Silvertips on February 15th. Spokane also put a season high 55 shots on net in their second game of the season, a 7-2 win at Prince George. The Chiefs also had 51 on December 9th against Portland, a 5-4 shootout win. Everett had 30 shots for a season high 83 combined shots. The franchise record is 109 combined shots on February 26th, 1986 when New Westminster outshot Spokane 58-51. On average, the Chiefs are outshooting the opponent 33.6-26.2. Spokane is 40-10 when outshooting their opponent.

OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN...Spokane totaled a season low 16 shots on goal, including one in the first period, and came away with a 2-1 win over Seattle on March 9th, their seventh in nine games versus the Thunderbirds. Spokane has been outshot just 16 times this season and is 7-9 in those games.

OH, BLACKWATER...Judd Blackwater has eight goals and 15 points in his last 10 games including a goal and an assist in Spokane's 2-1 win over Seattle on March 9th. Blackwater has 16-13-28 in his last 29.

GREAT WAHL...Forward Mitch Wahl has four goals and nine assists in his last 10 games, including a goal and two helpers on February 23rd in a 6-3 win over Tri-City. Wahl scored a goal and helped Team White to an 8-4 win over Team Red at the Top Prospects game in Edmonton on January 23rd. Wahl, the Chiefs first round selection (4th overall) in the 2005 WHL Bantam Draft, is in his second season in a Spokane sweater and is second on the team in scoring with 71 points. Wahl has recorded 16 goals and 38 assists in the last 44 games. Wahl's 51 assists are sixth in the WHL.

BREAKIN' GLASS...Trevor Glass has three goals and 11 points as a Chief. In 25 games, the defenseman is +13. Glass recorded his first goal as a Chief in a 5-2 win on January 25th versus Seattle. Spokane acquired the defenseman from the Medicine Hat Tigers in a trade deadline deal. Glass is in his fourth season in the WHL and has 188 career regular season games under his belt and another 42 in the post season, including four in last year's Memorial Cup. Glass helped the Tigers win the WHL Championship with a team leading +13 in the playoffs.

MCCRAE'S MARK...Since being acquired by the Chiefs, 19-year-old Justin McCrae has seven goals, eight assists and is +6 in 25 games. McCrae scored a pair of goals in his debut on January 9th against Kamloops. The Cochrane, Alberta native has played 266 career games, most for any active Chief. McCrae served as Saskatoon's captain this season.

THE CAPTAIN...Chiefs captain Chris Bruton has seven goals and 12 assists in his last 23 games. Eight of his goals have counted as the game winner. The four-year veteran has played 245 career games.

TOKARSKI'S MARK...Dustin Tokarski has set the franchise record for most shutouts in a season and now has six this year. His last two have come against the Tri-City Americans including a 24 save effort on March 7th in a 4-0 win. Tokarski also has eight career shutouts, second in franchise history and two off the all-time mark. Tokarski is third in the WHL with a 2.03 GAA. Tokarski became the first Chiefs goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts in consecutive starts with a 21 save effort on November 2nd versus Seattle since Jim Watt did it in 2003-04. Tokarski won 11 straight starts from October 13th through December 2nd and had a 1.35 GAA, three shutouts and a .934 save percentage.

AN ARMY OF ONE...Kevin Armstrong recorded his second shutout of the season with 21 saves on November 21st against the Chilliwack Bruins and is sixth in the WHL with a 2.15 GAA. The 19-year-old has an 19-5-1-2 record. Armstrong had a six game win streak this season.

COWEN AND TEAM WEST... Jared Cowen and Team West won the bronze medal at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge after a 9-6 win over Team Pacific. Cowen finished the tournament with seven helpers in six games. Cowen was named the Player of the Game for Team West three times. The first overall selection in the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft is in his rookie season in the WHL and has 4-13-17 with a +28 in 64 games.

ULMER FUDD...Stefan Ulmer recorded his first career three point night with a goal and two assists on February 11th versus the Seattle Thunderbirds. The 17-year-old rookie is +10 with three goals and 12 points in 33 games. The defenseman won a silver medal with Team Austria at the IIHF Division IA Under-20 World Championships.

RUDY, RUDY...David Rutherford has 14 goals and 20 points in his last 23 games. Rutherford missed 18 games due to injury. Of Rutherford's 20 goals, seven have been game winners. The 20-year-old scored 31 goals last season and had a hat trick on September 22nd at Prince George.

DRAFTED PLAYERS... Drayson Bowman (Carolina, 3rd round, 2007), Justin McCrae (Carolina, 4th round, 2007), Justin Falk (Minnesota, 4th round, 2007), Ondrej Roman (Dallas, 5th round, 2007)

INJURY REPORT...none to report

THIS WEEK

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12TH at KAMLOOPS BLAZERS AIR-6:30 GAME7:00

The Chiefs will travel to play at Kamloops for the second and final time this season. The Chiefs have hosted the Blazers twice and have split the two meetings. Kamloops picked up a 4-3 win on November 9th. Curtis Kelner and Tyler Johnson both scored for Spokane, which was 2-6 on the power play. Each team had just 22 shots on goal. On January 9th, Ondøej Roman and Justin McCrae each had a pair of goals and Dustin Tokarski made 26 saves in a 6-2 win. Spokane was 3-5 on the power play and 5-5 on the penalty kill. David Rutherford scored a goal with less than five minutes remaining on January 29th and Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves in the Chiefs 2-1 win on January 29th, their last trip to Kamloops. The Chiefs outshot Kamloops 37-28 and only had nine minutes in penalties, two resulting in Kamloops power plays.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH vs. PORTLAND WINTER HAWKS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

SUNDAY, MARCH 16TH at PORLTAND WINTER HAWKS AIR-4:30 GAME-5:00

The Chiefs will host the Portland Winter Hawks for the final time this season. Spokane will travel to Portland on Sunday night to finish the regular season in their ninth meeting of the year. This season, the Chiefs are 7-0 against Portland, 4-0 on the road and 3-0 at home. Spokane outshot Portland 45-24 and Jared Spurgeon had a goal and three assists as the Chiefs defeated the Winter Hawks 5-1 on March 5th. Four different players scored goals, Spokane was 3-3 on the power play and outshot the Winter Hawks 43-15 on January 21st in Portland. The Chiefs earned a 6-2 win on January 11th as Seth Compton scored two goals and two assists. Spokane scored four goals in the first period en route to a 9-1 win over Portland on October 28th. The nine goals is a season high for Spokane. Ondøej Roman (two), Judd Blackwater (two), Drayson Bowman, Levko Koper, Mitch Wahl and Seth Compton all scored for Spokane as they outshot the Winter Hawks 42-28 on the game. Kevin Armstrong has started six games and has posted a 1.33 GAA and .949 save percentage. Spokane has outshot the Winter Hawks, on average, 42.9 to 26.6 and has outscored Portland 5.86 to 1.71.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH at TRI-CITY AMERICANS AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will play travel to play the Tri-City Americans for the sixth and final time this season. It will be the 12th time they meet overall. Saturday's game will be the fifth weekend out of six that the two will have played. The Chiefs have won the last three games with the Americans as David Rutherford has scored five goals. Dustin Tokarski has been in net each game, including their last meeting when he stopped 24 shots in a 4-0 win. He also stopped 29 shots in a 6-3 win on February 23rd. Rutherford has six goals and 10 points and Chris Bruton has three goals and seven assists in 10 games against the Americans. Spokane is 5-3-1-2 on the season earning 13 out of a possible 22 points in 11 games. The team that is leading after the second period is 8-0. Three games have been tied through 40 minutes. In its 20th year of existence, the Chiefs lead the rivalry 118-105-1-4 with 13 ties.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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



Western Hockey League Stories from March 11, 2008


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