WHL Spokane Chiefs

Roster Set for First Preseason Contests of 2019

Published on August 30, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Spokane Chiefs' initial 2019 preseason roster has been set, including 17 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders. The Chiefs will take on the Portland Winterhawks at 3 p.m. on Friday in Everett, Wash. to kick off their exhibition slate.

Of the 30 rostered players, 21 appeared in at least one game last season, including 17 full-time WHL players. Forward Ethan McIndoe leads all returning players with 263 career regular season games played, to go alongside his 23 career playoff games. Spokane potentially returns three of their top five goal scorers from a year ago in Adam Beckman (32; 1st), Jake McGrew (31; 2nd) and Luke Toporowski (21; 5th). They also potentially return three of three of their top five overall point leaders in Eli Zummack (68; 3rd), Beckman (62; 4th) and McGrew (54; 5th).

Second-leading scorer and CHL Defenseman of the Year Ty Smith (7G-62A in 2018-19) remains on the roster but is expected to at least begin the new campaign with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. As a 2000-born player, Smith must play this season with the Devils or be reassigned to Spokane.

The Chiefs are currently carrying five overage players in McGrew, McIndoe, Noah King, Filip Kral and goaltender Reece Klassen. League rules allow a maximum of three during the regular season.

Eight players are in line to play their first competitive game as a Spokane Chief, including five forwards in Grady Lane, Blake Swetlikoff, Brandon Reller, Reed Jacobson and 2019 first-round bantam pick Ben Thornton. Thornton remains with the club but is not eligible to stick as a full-time player this season. European imports Matvei Startsev (defenseman; Russia) and Lukas Parik (goalie; Czech Republic) are also in line to make their WHL debuts this fall. The Chiefs will need to get under the league-mandated limit of two import players by early October.

Click here to view the Chiefs' 2019 preseason roster.

Spokane begins their 2019 preseason schedule on Friday vs. Portland (3 p.m.), Saturday vs. Everett (7 p.m.) and Sunday vs. Vancouver (11:30 a.m.).

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Ticket packages for the 2019-20 regular season are available now and start as low as $80! Save off single game rates and see the biggest games of the year.

For more information, visit the Chiefs' Ticket Office at Spokane Arena, call 509-535-PUCK or go to spokanechiefs.com.

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