Fast Break
College football
Eastern breaks into Top 25
A 2-0 start, including a 41-31 victory over UC Davis on Saturday, has earned Eastern Washington its first national ranking since 2005 in The Sports Network NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Top 25 poll of sportswriters, broadcasters and sports information directors released Monday.
Eastern, ranked 25th, hasn’t been nationally ranked since it finished the 2005 season 13th in the TSN poll.
Besides Eastern, Big Sky Conference rivals Montana is ranked second and Montana State is 18th. Appalachian State is ranked first and received all 90 first-place votes.
In the Sagarin computer ratings, Eastern is even higher with a ranking of No. 9 among FCS schools, one spot ahead of Montana.
Junior hockey
Bruton named Chiefs captain
The Spokane Chiefs have named 20-year-old forward Chris Bruton its captain.
“For me, Chris was an obvious choice,” coach Bill Peters said. “He is a player who puts the team’s goal first, ahead of his own personal goals.”
Nineteen-year-olds Justin Falk and Seth Compton were also named alternate captains, while 18-year-olds Drayson Bowman and Jared Spurgeon will share an alternate captain role through the year.
Bruton is entering his fourth season in Spokane, having played more WHL games (191) than any other current Chief. The Calgary native has scored 32 career goals, 75 career points and has registered 269 penalty minutes.
The Chiefs will open the regular season Friday night in Prince George at 7. Their home opener is Oct. 6 against the Tri-City Americans.
Junior hockey
Tips announcer dies of cancer
Dave Piland, whose booming baritone made him a fan favorite as Everett Silvertips announcer from the start of the Western Hockey League franchise, is dead at 43.
Piland, who lived in Snohomish, Wash., died Friday of complications from brain cancer, the club’s Web site confirmed.
“Silvertips games won’t be the same without Dave,” said Aaron Wilson, the club’s senior account executive. “His voice got fans out of their seats and, in turn, fed the players’ enthusiasm.”
The Silvertips hired Piland without a tryout before their first game at the Everett Events Center in 2003.
He kept working between multiple surgeries and radiation and chemotherapy treatments after being diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, in October 2005.
“He never once at any time said, ‘Why me?’ ” Wilson said. “He looked at it as a challenge, something that would make him stronger.”
Survivors include his wife Lisa, sons T.J. and Greg and daughters Crissy and Katie.