Spokane Chiefs season outlook: Some prospects to keep an eye on

This is the sixth installment of an seven-part online series wrapping up the Spokane Chiefs’ 2016-17 season, as well as looking forward to next year. Today: The prospects.

Wednesday: The 20-year-old situation.

Friday: Young leadership emerges.

Saturday: The Goaltenders.

Sunday: Forward depth will be key.

Tuesday: The defensive unit.

Also: All-time wins leader Don Nachbaur out as coach of the Spokane Chiefs.

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The Spokane Chiefs relied on a great deal of rookies this season. And with a young team, the results were often inconsistent.

Eli Zummack, Ty Smith and Matt Leduc all played significant minutes as 16-year-olds. Several 17-year-old players were rookies last season, too.

While the Chiefs shouldn’t be as rookie-dependent in 2017-18, there are some prospects that could be impact rookies to keep an eye on.

Luke Toporowski, the younger brother of Chiefs defenseman Jake Toporowski, is the best candidate to take on a significant role as a first-year players. The Chiefs’ first-round pick in the 2016 bantam draft scored 21 points in 20 games for Chicago Mission U16 this past season.

Both Luke and Jake are the sons of former Spokane player Kerry Toporowski, who was a member of the Chiefs’ team that won the Memorial Cup in 1991.

Cedric Chenier, a 9th-round pick in 2015, has panned out well at the midget level and has a great chance of making the team in training camp next Fall. He led the Manitoba Midget Hockey League this past season in scoring with 65 points while playing for the Winnipeg Wild.

“I think he has a chance to come in here and step up and make the hockey club this fall,” said Chiefs general manager Scott Carter, noting his impressive season.

Carter Chorney, a second-round pick in 2016, is also a highly-regarded prospect. Carter Jones, a 1999-born player listed by the Chiefs from Corbet, Washington, had 66 points in 47 games with the Spokane Braves this season. Jones practiced with the Chiefs at times during the season when numbers were low.

On the defensive end, Eric Van Impe, a second-round pick in 2016 out of Calgary, Alberta, has a legitimate shot to make the team, as well. But with eight defenseman from last year’s team set to return, Van Impe will likely need a defenseman to leave the team for a chance to make the roster.

Defenseman Luke Gallagher and goaltender Donovan Buskey, who were added to the Chiefs’ roster as affiliate players to end the season, will make the team barring any setbacks.

Carter, who didn’t draft any of these players, is really content with his talent on his prospect list.

“You’re always hoping that there are three or four that have a chance to make your hockey club,” Carter said.

Coming up: Looking at the Bantam and European Draft.