Jared Cowen, the Spokane Chiefs' star defensemen and first-round NHL draft pick of Ottawa, gets his first taste of the big time tonight in the Senators' exhibition game with Montreal. It is rumored according to The Ottawa Citizen he could be back in Spokane for the Chiefs, who open tonight at Prince George, in time for next week's home opener. (The season opened Thursday with Vancouver winning 6-5 at Kelowna on a penalty shot in OT.)

Today we ran our season preview for the Chiefs. Eight rookies made the trip to PG and we talked with some of them prior to their departure, as well as a couple of vets. Coach Hardy Sauter was OK with the 13-hour trip to kick off the season because it provides ample opportunity for team bonding and a chance for the kids to deal with nerves prior to their home debut before what should be a big crowd at the Arena.

First, I would like to direct you to Gregg Drinnan's blog. First you'll get a report on the season opener in Kelowna, which includes a reference to the Chiefs. The guru of the WHL has a link to a Kelowna Daily Courier story with commissioner Ron Robison talking about the new fighting rules. If you scroll down, below Wednesday's blog post, you'll find Drinnan's predictions (he picks the Chiefs fifth in the Western Conference). On Tuesday he also gets into the new fighting rule.

The Chiefs roster breakdown - they have 25 players in PG but once all the dust settles (players returning from injuries, etc., they play to carry 23.

Rookies 7.

Goalies 2, 1 rookie

Defensemen 10, 3 injured, 3 rookies

Forwards 17, 1 injured, 4 rookies

20-year olds 4, 2 injured

19 year olds 6

18 year olds 7, 2 injured

17 year olds 8

16 year olds 4

Now, for some rookie reaction.

Mitch Holmberg, 16, F: It’s going to be a good time. I just have to work hard, hope to pop the line , keep working hard and doing what I’ve been doing. There are aspects of my game I need to work on  but otherwise it’s gone pretty good. I have to worry about the small stuff, the defensive zone, before I start thinking of the bigger picture.  Last year I was more offensively minded. This year coming in you have to be more stable in your own zone, think about that before you start creating offense. It’s starting to feel better. Every day is an improvement for me, I just have to keep going. It’s going to take a while but once I get up there hopefully I can (score) for the team.

Mike Maranta, 18, F: I had a blast. (Preseason) was a lot of fun. I got on the score sheet a couple times. I wish the team could have gotten a couple more wins but I think we’re well prepared going into the season. All the veterans are saying the speed is going to pickup and teams throughout the year get a little more tactical. Right now it’s a little rush around. I just want to go out and work as hard as I can and I’ll be fine. Here and there I was (nervous) but I thought I was a good enough player to put the puck in the net but that’s what I strive to do. Hopefully I can be productive throughout the year. I think we can do some damage in the playoffs if we keep going hard throughout the year. Hopefully we can get off to a good start here.

Chase Martin, 17, G: I was pretty excited (to make the team in a tough battle for the backup spot), aA lot of hard work finally paying off. Right now I'm the backup goalie. Obviously Reider (James Reid) got most of the game I'm sure. Whenever I get my games in I'll try to play my best and keep pushing Reider tomake him get better and stronger, too. I k new coming into this year if I made it I was going to be the backup. I'm more prepared for that now. I've just got to work hard every day and when my opportunity comes, try to take it. Everybodyhas to be a backup some time in their career. I felt good thoughout the whole game. In exhibition I thought I played well, felt like I had a chance if I kept playing well and battling. (Nervous?) A little bit. I think we're going to have a really good team here. We're expecting to do well (and) whenever I get a start, they're expecting me to get two points. It's nitce to have a bunch of returning guys that are really good playing in front of you.

Tanner Mort, 16, D: I figured I could be here. I had a pretty good preseason so just come out and do the same, a little more high intensity. (Still competing for a roster spot) puts the pressure on so the coach has confidence in you so when those guys come back he can still play us and have confidence in us; try to make sure we’re ahead of everybody so we don’t get cut. I got used to the speed. There’s a little pressure but just keep going out hard and trying to be the best guy, not really try to live up to anything, this is a new year.

Brett Bartman, 20, D: Over the last two or three years, the team has been focused on defense first. That kind of starts from our goalie out. Losing Dustin Tokarski, I think James Reid is going to be a great goaltender. I think everyone in the room has a ton of confidence in him. As far as the defensemen go, and even team defense, I think everyone is really committed to the system. Obviously with six or seven returning guys back this year, we’re confident. The best defensive team in the league is what we’re hoping to be.

Dustin Donaghy, 20, F: We’re a full team. We know we have to take care of our D zone before our offense will happen. It goes both way, your’e going to play D and then you're going to play offense and that’s when the points will come.

James Reid, 19, G: (The young defensemen) look pretty good. They made it pretty easy on me. I had a lot of shots (90 in two exhibition games, 6 goals) but I saw pretty much all the shots I had. All they have to do is clear out the traffic in front and it’s my job from there. They’re all very good. It will be close. I don’t know how many they’re keeping.

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