Chiefs Can Fire Scoring Leader Gone, But Club Boasts Depth

Their strength is in numbers.

The Spokane Chiefs won’t have last year’s scoring leader Jason Podollan when they open the season Saturday night in Kennewick against the Tri-City Americans, but they probably won’t have any trouble carrying and firing the puck.

With Podollan away with the NHL Florida Panthers the shots will go to a committee of 15 forwards on the 27-player roster.

Every one of them can score.

“A guy like Podzy is a big-time talent,” Chiefs coach Mike Babcock said. “You don’t replace that. You fill in in different ways. Any time someone leaves, others get bigger opportunity.”

Among the proven goal-scorers are Greg Leeb, John Cirjak, Joe Cardarelli and Trent Whitfield.

“We’ll have a team that will be in relentless pursuit of the puck,” Babcock said. “Whitfield has the talent to dominate a game. I’m glad he’s on our club. I know our defense feels that way.”

The blue line patrol is salty, led by second team all-star Sean Gillam. Hugh Hamilton, Adam Magarrell, Joel Boschman and John Shockey contribute to a solid defense.

“Those five will lead the way,” Babcock said. “I can tell you who’s No. 1 (Gillam) but I couldn’t tell you who’s No. 5.”

The question - and he’s getting a little tired of seeing it in print - is who is good enough to replace Jarrod Daniel in goal?

Hard-working David Lemanowicz starts, backed by Blaine Russell and Aren Miller. Lemanowicz, who turns 20 in March, did a lot with limited opportunity last season (a 3.23 goals-against average with two shutouts). He appeared in only 16 games, however, and still has to prove he can do it in an everyday role.

“The Hockey News picks us to finish fifth,” Babcock said. “They question our goaltender. The think he’ll do fine but I’d say that whether I believed it or not.”

Babcock believes it.

“I’m optimistic - cautiously optimistic,” he said.

The Chiefs will replace captain and tough guy Kevin Sawyer in much the same way as they hope to replace Podollan, with numbers.

Only center Darren Sinclair returns from the Chiefs’ punishing checking line of last March. Sawyer and Jeremy Stasiuk are gone.

Sinclair this year will be flanked by Jay Bertsch on the right and Dmitri Leonov on the left.

“They give us some toughness and they’ll score better than last year’s line,” Babcock said. “We think it’s a solid puck-control unit that will work hard and maybe dominate low. That’s a lot of meat coming at you.”

Newcomers are defenseman Chris Lane, left wing Andrew Milne, right wing Ty Jones, left wing Kris Graf, center Martin Cervan, center Derek Schutz and the two backup goaltenders.

“We have to use everybody to win,” said Babcock, who might have been Western Hockey League coach of the year if the vote had been taken after the playoffs instead of before. “You can find more top-end guys on other teams. I’m not saying we don’t have good players.

“I’m saying our balance is excellent.”

, DataTimes