John Owen to coach at CV

Wrestling: A father is replacing a son as head wrestling coach at Central Valley.

John Owen (pictured above), 64, who was head coach previously for six years at CV, has been named to replace his son, Tommy, who resigned in early October after one season to take an assistant position at George Mason University.

“What Tommy did worked pretty well and I’m smart enough to know – and my ego is in check enough – that we don’t have to make a lot of changes,” said Owen, who resigned as head coach at West Valley this summer after three years. “Tommy’s goal was to win a state title. That’s not going to be any different for me.”

Prior to coaching at CV, Owen spent the better part of three decades as head coach at North Idaho College. He was inducted last week into the Inland Northwest Hall of Fame for the many accomplishments of his NIC teams.

CV athletic director Butch Walter is pleased to have Owen back.

“We know that John will continue the work started last year by his son Tommy,” Walter wrote in an email announcing Owen’s hire.

Greg Lee

Chiefs’ Gal suspended

Hockey: As expected, the Spokane Chiefs lost forward Blake Gal to a suspension, but they added reinforcements on Tuesday.

The Western Hockey League suspended Gal for three games after he received a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding in Saturday’s 3-1 loss at Tri City.

Gal will miss Saturday’s rematch in the Arena along with Sunday’s game with visiting Everett. The Chiefs are 8-0 at home this season.

The Chiefs sent a fifth-round pick in next summer’s bantam draft to Brandon for 17-year-old rookie left wing Carter Profit.

Originally a fifth-round pick of the Wheat Kings, Profit appeared in 13 of 15 games and scored one goal.

Dave Trimmer