Cowen captain for Team WHL
Spokane Chiefs captain Jared Cowen was named Team WHL captain for Wednesday’s game against a touring Russian team in Kamloops, British Columbia, while the Chiefs add a player to the roster.
The Russians swept two teams from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League stars last week, 5-4 and 4-3, but lost to the Ontario Hockey League stars 4-0 on Thursday. They played their second game on Monday.
After Wednesday’s game the Russians close the series with another WHL game in Prince George on Thursday. Most players are playing in just one game.
Cowen played in the SUBWAY Super Series last seasons. The defenseman was the first-round draft pick, 10th overall, by the Ottawa Senators in the 2009 NHL Draft and played for Team Canada in the World Junior Tournament last year.
With the probability of Cowen playing for Team Canada again this year and Garrett Leedahl injured, the Chiefs added a defenseman on Monday.
They picked up 18-year old Kyle Krzyzaniak, who has played 12 games for the Daughpin Kings of the Manitoba Hockey League. Krzyzaniak, who played one game in each of the past two seasons with Brandon, has one goal, two assists and eight penalty minutes for the Kings.
The Chiefs, who have won three straight for the first time this season, play three road games this weekend against U.S. Division rivals. They face Seattle for the first time this year on Friday, go to Tri-City on Saturday and tackle WHL-leading Portland on Sunday.