Lynch remains major linchpin for Chiefs

Jeff Lynch knows this is the end of the line, but he doesn’t want to look back yet – not with more than half a Western Hockey League season to go.

“It’s definitely different. I’ve never been in this position before,” said Lynch. “I’m trying not to think about what needs to be done (after the season), just concentrate more on now and winning.”

Lynch is the 20-year-old captain of the Spokane Chiefs. He is playing his final season of junior hockey and has been a Chief for the entirety. It’s uncertain whose footsteps he will follow next season between his brothers and ex-Chiefs Doug (pro) or Scott (college).

Whatever the path, those around Lynch say he’ll succeed. They uniformly describe Lynch as the essence of a Chief: a hard worker, a good teammate and a “character guy.”

“He’s a great person off the ice,” said Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz. “He’s very motivated and is committed to being successful. That comes from his upbringing, no question, but he’s a good person. Jeff is one of those guys … who wants us not to be average – not to be mediocre, but to be good.”

A mature young man, Lynch is a late bloomer in at least one respect. After three workmanlike seasons, he found his scoring touch last season and finished with 49 points (including three game-winning goals).

An assistant captain last season, Lynch has added responsibility this campaign as the only one wearing the “C”.

The burden showed at the start of the season. He got out of the gate slowly, but has three goals and two assists in his last three games. He has 13 points on the season, with six goals and seven assists.

“It’s definitely more pressure, more responsibility,” said Lynch of his captaincy, “and, if our team isn’t doing well, or kind of struggling, I kind of take it on myself and think I’m doing a bad job.”

At the beginning of the season, Lynch went so far as to make sure everyone else was ready to play and put himself last. Since that time, Lynch has discovered he can lead more effectively by first being on top of his individual game.

“It’s kind of hard to balance everything, so I’m trying to find the happy medium somewhere,” said Lynch, who had a goal and an assist against Portland on Sunday in a 4-3 road win.

He is currently paired up on a line with Adam Hobson and newcomer David Linsley. He spent the last half of last season and part of this season with Derek Ryan and Chad Klassen. He and Klassen have been in Spokane together for five years.

“We (he and Klassen) played power play, PK (penalty kill), and the first line almost all of last year and most of this year,” said Lynch. “So, we’re pretty comfortable with each other and we play well together, but ultimately if it helps out the team to split us up, then that’s better for the team.”

Such an outlook is the type coaches try to find in their leaders. Lynch puts his head down, does his job, and – when necessary – calls out teammates when they come up short. Then, a couple of shifts later, he takes the ice himself to show them what he means.

“I try to lead by example,” said Lynch. “I know that if I’m playing good, people will follow me.”

As for goals in his final season, he wants to see his team make the playoffs and leave something behind for his younger teammates and the last of his brothers, rugged Chiefs defenseman Jason.

“I think he wants to leave a legacy of having taken us to the next level,” said Speltz.

But there is one personal goal he’d like to attain. Lynch would own the family single-season scoring record if he can better his total from last season by one point (his 49 last season tied Doug’s best year).

“That will probably stand,” he said. “J (Jason) will probably hold the record for most penalty minutes, though.”