Chiefs Take On T-Birds Twice With Top Vets In Nhl Camps

The Spokane Chiefs will take on a younger look in two weekend exhibitions with nine of their veterans at or on their way to pro camps.

The Chiefs are in Mountlake Terrace Friday night to play the Seattle Thunderbirds. The rivalry resumes here Sunday at 6 p.m. with the Chiefs and T-Birds at Eagles Ice Arena.

Forward Jason Podollan will leave Saturday to join the Florida Panthers, with hopes of sticking with the big club.

“They’ve told us they’re going to give Jason every opportunity to make it,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. “You tend to think that at 19 he’s coming back, but Jay will get a serious look. He could make it. We’re assuming he won’t be back.”

Also ticketed for Florida’s camp is Chiefs goaltender David Lemanowicz, who is certain to return to Spokane. While he’s gone, Aren Miller and Blaine Russell will split time in goal.

Since Lemanowicz is the likely starter and the Chiefs won’t keep three goaltenders, Miller - who played well in a period and a half Sunday against Portland - and Russell are competing for the backup job.

Russell played last year with Kimberley of the Rocky Mountain League, when he was on the Tri-City Americans’ WHL player list. The Chiefs picked him up over the summer.

Derek Schutz, the highly regarded goal-scoring forward, will make his Spokane debut on Sunday.

So will defenseman Brad Ference, like Schutz a 16-year-old who’s expected to compete for a job with the Western Hockey League club.

Both reported late to play in an all-star tournament in Moncton, New Brunswick.

“We’re speculating that those two are close (to making it),” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. “We’ll get a better read in the next two weeks, after we’ve seen them in some games.”

Schutz, projected as a right wing or center, played at a higher level than did Ference a year ago, AAA midget. Ference was at the AAA bantam level.

“It’s tougher for a defenseman (Ference) to make it at 16,” Speltz said.

Right wing Ty Jones and defenseman Chis Lane are among the other rookies fighting for a spot on the roster, Speltz said.

The Chiefs have 20 players back from last year, counting Podollan. Seven newcomers, all 16 or 17, may be ready but some will have to wait until next year, Speltz said.

Off to camp this weekend with the NHL team that has their rights are Podollan, Lemanowicz, defenseman Hugh Hamilton, to Hartford; defenseman Martin Cervan, Edmonton; defenseman Sean Gillam, Detroit; center Darren Sinclair, Vancouver; right wing John Cirjak, Colorado and left wing Joe Cardarelli, Tampa Bay.

Right wing Jay Bertsch is in camp with Colorado.

The Chiefs will have veteran defenseman Scott Fletcher back for the Seattle games. Left wing Greg Leeb could return as well. He’s skating after an off-season ankle injury delayed his start.

Defenseman Adam Magarrell, the key acquisition in the Bryan McCabe trade last February, is back but won’t dress for either Seattle game. Seriously burned in a June car-motorcycle accident, Magarrell’s recovery is still ahead of schedule, Speltz said.

Notes

The Chiefs trimmed the roster by two, sending defenseman Jamie Pryor, 16, to Red Deer, where he’ll play AAA midget hockey. Pryor suffered a hip pointer in a practice and was unable to play in an exhibition… . Defenseman Sean Trann, 17, has returned to Vancouver while the Chiefs shop his rights around the WHL. “He’s expressed an interest to play in the Western League,” Speltz said. “We’re trying to find an opportunity for him.”

Forward Trevor Chernicki, picked up in the McCabe deal with the Brandon Wheat Kings, decided not to report when there was no assurance that he’d make the club. Chernicki, 17, will play Tier II hockey in Winnipeg with an eye on playing here next year, Speltz said… . The top pick in the bantam draft, center Blake Evans, 15, will play at the AAA midget level in Saskatoon. While he was in camp, Evans impressed Speltz as a “puckhound who’ll play physical. He gives you an honest effort every time out,” the GM added. Speculation is that Evans will make it here as early as next season.

, DataTimes