
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.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2004
- Everett celebrates Silvertips season in style - Everett Silvertips
- Kinasewich Named to Western Conference All-Star Team - Tri-City Americans
- Tickets Available for Games 1 - 4 - Regina Pats
- Three Hitmen Receive WHL Honours - Calgary Hitmen
- First round versus Everett starts Friday night - Spokane Chiefs
- Cougars win draft lottery - WHL
- Thunderbirds hand out 2003-04 awards - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Schell and Klassen Earn Post-Season Honor - Spokane Chiefs
- Constantine finalist for WHL coach of the year - Everett Silvertips
- Chiefs Weekly Report - Spokane Chiefs
- WHL Playoff Preview - WHL
- WHL announces 2003-04 award finalists and conference all-star teams - WHL
- Blazers News - Kamloops Blazers
- 'Canes To Select Fourth Overall in 2004 WHL Bantam Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
- Wheaties set to battle Raiders - Brandon Wheat Kings
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.
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