WHL Spokane Chiefs

First round versus Everett starts Friday night

Published on March 17, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Chiefs will travel to Everett for the first game of their best-of-seven series with the Silvertips that will begin on Friday, March 19th. The Chiefs and Silvertips will play the first two games of the series in the Everett Events Center over the weekend before coming home to the Spokane Arena next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tickets are available for games three and four at the Chiefs office by calling (509) 535-PUCK or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT.

GAME ONE

Friday, March 19th

at Everett

GAME TWO

Saturday, March 20th

at Everett

GAME THREE

Tuesday, March 23rd

at Spokane

GAME FOUR

Wednesday, March 24th

at Spokane

GAME FIVE *

Friday, March 26th

at Everett

GAME SIX *

Saturday, March 27th

at Spokane

GAME SEVEN*

Tuesday, March 30th

at Everett

* if necessary

SCHELL AND KLASSEN EARN POST SEASON HONOR

The Western Hockey League announced that Spokane Chief forwards Brad Schell and Chad Klassen have both been named Second Team All-Stars in the Western Conference.

Schell, from Scott, Saskatchewan, was the Chiefs leading scorer with 35 goals and 57 assists. His 92 points were tied for fourth in the WHL and was tops in the Western Conference. The 19-year-old is property of the Atlanta Thrashers, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Klassen finished just one point back of Schell and ended up sixth in the WHL in scoring with 35 goals, 56 assists and 91 points. Klassen and Schell also were tied for the team high with a +17 rating. The Warman, Saskatchewan product had a nine game point scoring streak and a seven game goal scoring streak in October, both season highs for the Chiefs.

Both Schell (1999) and Klassen (2000) were former first round selections of the Chiefs in the WHL's Bantam Draft.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Kelly Guard (Prince Albert, SK), Kelowna Rockets

Defenceman - Braydon Coburn (Shaunavon, SK), Portland Winter Hawks

Defenceman - Josh Gorges (Kelowna, BC), Kelowna Rockets

Forward - Adam Courchaine (Winnipeg, MB), Vancouver Giants

Forward - Nigel Dawes (Winnipeg, MB), Kootenay Ice

Forward - Ryan Kinasewich (St. Albert, AB), Tri-City Americans

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Jeff Harvey (St. Albert, AB), Everett Silvertips

Defenceman - Richie Regehr (Rosthern, SK), Portland Winter Hawks

Defenceman - Shea Weber (Sicamous, BC), Kelowna Rockets

Forward - Brandon Dubinsky (Anchorage, AK), Portland Winter Hawks

Forward - Chad Klassen (Warman, SK), Spokane Chiefs

Forward - Brad Schell (Scott, SK), Spokane Chiefs

EASTERN CONFERENCE

FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Cam Ward (Sherwood Park, AB), Red Deer Rebels

Defenceman - Mark Ardelan (Avonlea, SK), Prince Albert Raiders

Defenceman - Dion Phaneuf (Edmonton, AB), Red Deer Rebels

Forward - Kyle Brodziak (Vegreville, AB), Moose Jaw Warriors

Forward - Ryan Getzlaf (Regina, SK), Calgary Hitmen

Forward - Jeremy Williams (Glenavon, SK), Swift Current Broncos

SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM

Goaltender - Rejean Beauchemin (Winnipeg, MB), Prince Albert Raiders

Defenceman - Derek Meech (Winnipeg, MB), Red Deer Rebels

Defenceman - Aaron Rome (Nesbitt, MB), Moose Jaw Warriors

Forward - Tomas Fleischmann (Celadna, Czech Rep.), Moose Jaw Warriors

Forward - Seth Leonard (Nakusp, BC), Prince Albert Raiders

Forward - Tyler Redenbach (Kamloops, BC), Swift Current Broncos

FIRST ROUND NEWS & NOTES

Everett set a league record for expansion franchises with 35 wins and became the first first-year team to win a division championship.

Spokane and Everett split an eight game series with five of the games being decided by two goals or less. The Chiefs won all four games that they scored the first goal, as did Everett. The Chiefs won three of the first four games, and the final game of the regular season. Spokane outscored Everett 20-15 (2.50 to 1.88 on average). On average, Everett outshot the Chiefs 26.4 to 26.0. Jim Watt played five games versus the Silvertips and finished with a 3-2 record and 1.42 GAA and .948 save percentage. One of Watt's four shutouts this season was against Everett, February 29th in a 2-0 win. Chad Klassen had two four point games versus the Silvertips (10/24 and 12/28) including his first career hat-trick on November 19th in a 4-2 win. Klassen led the Chiefs in scoring versus Everett with five goals and 12 points. Brad Schell finished with two goals and seven assists while Joff Kehler had two goals and six points. The Chiefs earned a 6-1 win in their initial meeting on October 24th. Five different players scored goals for the Chiefs. The Chiefs won 4-1 on January 9th as four different players scored goals. In all, 12 different players have scored goals versus the Silvertips.

FIRST ROUND FACTS...The Spokane Chiefs have advanced to the first round of the WHL playoff for the 17th time in franchise history. Spokane has earned a first round victory in 12 of the 16 previous first round series they have played; including the last eight times they have made the playoffs. Dating back to games six and seven in the 1998 first round versus Kelowna, the Chiefs are 17-4 in first round games. Spokane came from a three games to one deficit last season to earn a seven game series victory over the Portland Winter Hawks.

LITTLE DIVISION IN US DIVISION...Just five points separated the top four spots in the US Division with Everett winning the regular season with 80 points, and the Chiefs finishing with 75 points, 13 more than a year ago. Portland and Tri-City, second and third respectively, had 77 and 76 points.

.500 CLUB...The Chiefs finished above .500 for the seventh time in the last nine years. Spokane has played above .500 11 times in franchise history. All four playoff teams from the US Division were above .500.

GOALS AGAINST...The Chiefs allowed 214 goals this season, third fewest in franchise history. Spokane allowed a franchise record 191 goals against in 1999-2000 and 206 in 2001-02.

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2004


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