WHL Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs Weekly

Published on January 12, 2004 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Spokane Chiefs News Release


The Spokane Chiefs have moved into first place in the US Division by earning five of a possible six points in three games last week. Spokane holds a one-point advantage over the Tri-City Americans with four fewer games played. The Chiefs will play their next five games on the road, including this Wednesday's match-up at Prince George.

THIS WEEK Wednesday, January 14th at Prince George AIR- 7:00 GAME-7:30

The Chiefs will travel to Prince George for the second time this season in their third overall meeting. Spokane is 0-1-1 versus the Cougars. The Chiefs dropped a 3-2 decision to the Cougars on November 23rd in the Arena the first time Prince George traveled to Spokane. Brad Schell and Steven Gillen scored the goals for the Chiefs. Spokane came from a 4-2 deficit in the third period on November 12th and came away with a 4-4 tie in Prince George. Brad Schell had two goals and an assist while Jevon Desautels and Joff Kehler each had a goal and a helper. Spokane and the Cougars will meet four times this season.. Spokane will host the Cougars on February 7th. Last season the Spokane was 2-3-0-1 versus the Cougars, including a 1-2-0-1 record in Spokane.

Friday, January 16th at Kamloops AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will finish their four game regular season series versus the Blazers with their second trip to Kamloops. The Chiefs have lost three one-goal games to Kamloops, once in overtime and twice by 3-2 scores in regulation. The Blazers earned a 2-1 overtime win on October 17th in the Arena. Chad Klassen had the Chiefs goal. On November 11th Kamloops skated to a 3-2 win over the Chiefs. Kamloops took a 2-0 lead in the second period before a pair of power play goals in the third tied it for Spokane. Kamloops scored late for the win. Spokane dropped another 3-2 decision on November 26th. On average, Spokane has outshoot Kamloops 29.3-28.3 in the three games. Spokane is 2-18 (11%) on the power play and 8-10 (80%) on the penalty kill.

Saturday, January 10th at Tri-City AIR-6:30 GAME-7:00

The Chiefs will travel to Tri-City for the fifth time this season in the 10th match-up of the year. Spokane is 4-2-1-2 in the first nine games of the series. Brad Schell has three goals and 11 assists in nine games this season versus Tri-City. Chad Klassen has 6-5-11. Three of Jakub Langhammer's four goals versus Tri-City have been scored on the power play. The Chiefs have lost all three of four games that they have scored first and are 3-1-1 in games that the Americans have scored the first goal of the game. The Chiefs are 10-38 (26.3%) on the power play and Tri-City is 7-35 (20%).

LAST GAME

Saturday, January 10th SPOKANE-6 vs. TRI-CITY-4

Seven different Chiefs had multiple points as Spokane earned 6-5 win over the Tri-City Americans on Saturday night in the Spokane Arena. Spokane started fast with a power play 18-seconds into the game and eventually scored 2:04 in. Jeff Lucky's shot from the right circle was stopped, but Ned Lukacevic swept the rebound from the slot to the left side to snap home his first of two on the night. Jevon Desautels also assisted on the play. Captain Joff Kehler gave the Chiefs a 2-0 lead at 13:37 of the opening period. Sean Zimmerman snapped it on net and Kehler tipped in the loose puck. Newcomer Brian Harris also assisted on the play. Tri-City cut the lead to one with a goal at 14:56. With Spokane skating on their third power play in the first, Chad Klassen found himself alone in front of the net and roofed the puck for his team leading 23 goal of the season. Kehler and leading scorer Brad Schell earned the assists. Spokane scored the lone goal of the second, at 10:09, when Kehler scored his second of the night. In the third, Tri-City scored their first of four at 2:43 to make the score 4-2, Spokane. Lukacevic gave the Chiefs their three goal lead back at 14:11 as he finished a pretty goal mouth pass from Harris. Zimmerman had his second assist of the night. Tri-City scored a pair of goals less than a minute apart, at 16:45 and 17:42, to pull back within one. Jakub Langhammer's empty-net goal would stand up as the game winner at 18:35. Just to make it interesting, Tri-City scored again with 34-seconds remaining with an extra attacker for the final score. The Chiefs went 2-5 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill to win their fourth game of the season versus the Americans. Jim Watt stopped 35 shots for his 11th win of the year to stay undefeated in his last four games.

Friday, January 9th SPOKANE-4 at EVERETT-1

The Spokane Chiefs won their third game in four meetings with the Everett Silvertips with a 4-1 decision on Friday night at Everett. Jim Watt made 32 saves, including 12 in the third period to earn his 10th win of the year. Spokane opened the scoring with a Chad Klassen goal at 15:14 of the first. Joff Kehler and Brad Schell assisted on the goal, which came on one of three shots the Chiefs had in the first. Shortly after the Klassen marker, Everett tied it up at 16:21 with their lone goal of the game. Two second period goals, including the Chiefs first shorthanded goal of the season, pushed Spokane's lead to 3-1. Kehler and Joel Rupprecht, who tallied his first career shorthanded goal, scored the goals. In the third, Jakub Langhammer finished the scoring with a power play goal. Schell, who finished with his third point of the night, and Gary Gladue each assisted on the play. Spokane was 9-9 on the penalty kill.

Wednesday, January 7th SPOKANE-2 vs. KELOWNA-3 F/OT

Justin Keller's power play goal 22-seconds into overtime gave the Kelowna Rockets a 3-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs on Wednesday night in the Spokane Arena. Kelowna's goal at 11:37 of the first period stood as the only score in the opening 40-minutes pf play. The Rockets outshot the Chiefs 14-3 in the first period, but Spokane came back and outshot Kelowna 10-5 in the middle frame. The Chiefs scored their first goal 1:54 into the third period when Scott Lynch's one-timer from the top of the left circle tied the score. Jakub Langhammer's power play goal at 4:37 gave the Chiefs their first lead of the game. Langhammer's hard slap shot from the right side was assisted by Adam Hobson and Jevon Desautels. As the game neared the end of regulation and headed into overtime the Chiefs were whistled for a penalty putting the Rockets on the power play for the start of the extra session. Keller scored with a snap shot from the top of the right circle.

NEWS AND NOTES

LUCKY TO BE BACK...In a three-way deal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Saskatoon Blades, the Chiefs acquired Jeff Lucky, a former first round bantam selection of Spokane. Earlier this season the Chiefs moved Lucky to the Calgary Hitmen to bring the number of 20-year-old's down to the league limit of three. In four seasons as a Chief, Lucky had played 193 career games, scored 56 goals and 131 points. Lucky had a pair of assists in his first game back in a Spokane sweater.

HARRIS CHIPS IN...Nineteen-year-old Brian Harris had a pair of assists on Saturday night versus Tri-City in his first game at home with the Chiefs. Harris is the seventh leading rookie scorer in the WHL with nine goals and 28 points. Harris was acquired from the Lethbridge Hurricanes on January 8th.

SCHEDULE...The Chiefs have gone 6-1-2-1 in their last 10 games. Spokane will travel to Prince George on Wednesday, Kamloops on Friday and Tri-City on Saturday night for three road games in four nights. Before the Chiefs return home on Friday, January 24th they will play two more road games for a total of five in a row, their second longest stretch of road games this season.

STRETCHING...The Chiefs have earned a point in nine of their last 10 games with a 6-1-2-1 stretch dating back to their final game before the Holiday break on December 17th. ROAD WARRIORS...The Chiefs are 4-0-2 on the road in their last six games.

OVERTIME ON OVERTIME...The Chiefs have gone into overtime in three of their last six games and are 0-1-2 in the stretch. On the season, Spokane has gone to overtime 10 times. The franchise record for overtime games played in one season is 17, set in 1994-95.

CAPTAIN KEHLER...Chiefs captain Joff Kehler has played 250 career games, 14th all-time in franchise history, and has scored 67 career goals and 110 career assist (24th all-time) for 177 points (tied for 23rd all-time). The 20-year-old has five goals and 12 points his last seven games. Kehler has become the 27th player in franchise history with 100 career assists.

KLASSEN...Chad Klassen has five goals and 13 points in his last eight games. The 18-year-old posted his third four-point game of the year on December 28th at Portland with one goal and three assists. Klassen is fifth in the WHL in scoring with 23 goals and 57 points. The Warman, Saskatchewan native has points in 33 of 44 games this season. Klassen, who had 15-29-44 last season, has already set a career high with 23 goals and 57 points. Klassen recorded his 100th career point on December 28th versus Portland and now has 111 career points (43-68-111).

SCHELLED... Brad Schell is fourth in the WHL in scoring with 22 goals and 59 points. The Scott, Saskatchewan native has three goals and nine assists in his last eight games. Schell is tied for fourth in the WHL with 12 power play goals. With the Chiefs first goal on October 11th versus Seattle, Schell recorded his 100th point of his career. Schell now has 148 career points (60-88-148). Schell was a part of Team WHL's two wins over a Russian Select team in the CHL-Russia Challenge Series. Schell did not register a point in the 7-1 and 4-1 wins in Calgary and Brandon. Schell played in his 200th career WHL game on Friday, December 12th at Seattle.

ZZZZ'S...Sean Zimmerman recorded his first career multiple point night on Saturday, January 10th versus Tri-City with a pair of assists. Zimmerman has two goals, two assists in 38 games this season and is +5 in his last two games.

THE LANG AND SHORT OF IT...Jakub Langhammer has 3-1-4 in a four game point streak, his second streak this long this season, and goals in three straight.

THE DIESEL...Jevon Desautels has one goal and three assists in his last four games. Desautels recorded his first career WHL hat-trick on October 31st versus Swift Current. The 19-year-old added an assist for a career high four points. Last year's team leader in penalty minutes leads again this year with 101 PIMs and currently has 504 career in 219 games (21st all-time).

U.S.A...U.S.A...In their last eight games versus US Division teams, the Chiefs are 6-0-2. Overall, Spokane is 13-6-2-3 versus the US Division.

POWER RANGERS...The Chiefs are 13-50 (26%) on the power play over the last 10 games. Spokane is fourth in the WHL and first in the Western Conference with a power play percentage of 21.1%.

COUTURE'S COUNT...Liam Couture scored his first career goal on Tuesday, December 30th at Seattle in a 4-3 win. Couture also recorded his first career multiple point game by adding an assist. The second year blueliner has one goal and six assists on the season.

LYNCH #1...Scott Lynch scored back-to-back game winning goals in 2-1 wins for the Chiefs on December 17th and 27th. With each goal and point, Lynch continues to raise the bar on career highs (5-14-19). Lynch has one goal and three assists in his last five games. Of Lynch's five goals, three have been game winners.

LYNCH #2...Jeff Lynch has missed just seven games the last three seasons, including one this year. The only game that Lynch missed this season was due to suspension. The 18-year-old has played 181 career games.

GP...Five players have appeared in all 44 games this season; Chad Klassen, Gary Gladue, Jevon Desautels, Ned Lukacevic and Steven Gillen. The only game that Brad Schell has missed was due to his commitment with Team WHL.

ROOP'S RUN...Joel Rupprecht has five goals and three assists in his last 11 games. The 19-year-old had multiple points versus Seattle on December 10th and versus Tri-City on December 27th and on December 30th at Seattle.

SILVER FOR A PAIR ...Sixteen-year-olds Adam Hobson and Jason Lynch won the Silver medal at the 2004 Under-17 World Hockey Challenge. Hobson scored four goals in the tournament, including a pair in a 7-4 win over the USA in the semi-finals. Lynch had one assist in the tournament. Myles Stoesz was unable to participate for Team Western due to injury, but was on the roster. The Steinbach, MB native is second on the Chiefs with 83 penalty minutes in 25 games.

NED THE GREAT...Ned Lukacevic has three goal and three assists in his last eight games. Lukacevic has 11 goals and 20 points this season.

GARY, GARY QUITE CONTRARY...Gary Gladue is the sixth highest scoring defenseman in the WHL. The 19-year-old had a seven game point scoring streak from October 24th through November 2nd. Gladue has one goal and six assists in his last nine games.

DRAFTED PLAYERS... Jevon Desautels (Washington, 4th round, 2002), Brad Schell (Atlanta, 6th round, 2002)

INJURY REPORT...Doug Auchenberg (shoulder, three to five weeks), Myles Stoesz (ankle, five weeks)

Check out the Spokane Chiefs Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2004


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