Chiefs' Nachbaur considers next season
The end of one Western Hockey League season leads to thoughts about the next, as Spokane Chiefs coach Don Nachbaur knows well. Read story
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
Holmberg, Aviani sign with AHL teams
Mitch Holmberg and Mike Aviani, both of whom just finished stellar careers with the Spokane Chiefs, signed amateur tryout contracts with American Hockey League teams, the Chiefs announced Tuesday. Both players were never drafted by National Hockey League teams. Holmberg signed with Oklahoma City and…
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014
Sweep puts end to Chiefs' year
Another Spokane Chiefs season ended Thursday night as the Victoria Royals wrapped up a 4-0 sweep of the Western Hockey League first-round series with a 4-2 win at the Arena. Read story
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014
Nothing goes right as Chiefs trail series 3-0
Spokane Chiefs fans would be hard-pressed to come up with a worse period than Wednesday's first period that ended with Victoria leading 4-0 in Game 3 of the Western Hockey League playoffs. The Chiefs were held to one shot on goal through the first 11…
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014
Chiefs need breakthrough in series with Royals
With a break here and there, the Spokane Chiefs might be talking about finishing off the Victoria Royals rather than desperately needing a win to get back in their Western Hockey League first-round series. The Chiefs, trailing the best-of-seven series 2-0 after a pair of…
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014
Overtime bites Chiefs again in playoffs
With a bounce or two, the Spokane Chiefs could be coming home from Victoria, British Columbia, with a 2-0 lead over the Victoria Royals in their Western Hockey League first-round series. Instead, the Chiefs are down 0-2 after back-to-back overtime losses. Read story
SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014
Overtime loss puts Chiefs in 1-0 hole
The Spokane Chiefs and Victoria Royals opened their Western Hockey League first-round series in style Saturday night, playing more than 8 minutes of overtime before Victoria squeaked out a 2-1 victory. Game 2 is Sunday night in Victoria. Read story
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014
Former Chief Valcourt enjoys his spot
Here's a feature story on former Spokane Chiefs player Collin Valcourt, now with the Prince Albert Raiders. Read story
Holmberg, Aviani named to all-star team
Spokane Chiefs Mitch Holmberg (first team) and Mike Aviani (second team) were named to the Western Hockey League's Western Conference all-star team, the league announced Thursday. Holmberg, the winner of the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league's top scorer, is also the conference's finalist for…
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014
Last stand for Chiefs' veterans
Mitch Holmberg, Mike Aviani and Eric Williams, wrapping up their 20-year-old seasons with the Spokane Chiefs, aim for one more chance at Western Hockey League playoff glory. Read story
Chiefs' playoff opponent ranked 10th
The Kelowna Rockets claimed the top spot in the final Canadian Hockey League Top 10 poll of the Western Hockey League regular season. The Rockets, who led the league with 118 points, have been ranked No. 1 since the start of 2014. The Victoria Royals,…
SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2014
Final-game loss sends Chiefs to Victoria
Before Western Hockey League games started on Saturday evening, the Spokane Chiefs didn't know if they would play Seattle, Everett or Victoria to open postseason play. But the hot streak of Everett, which hasn't lost in regulation during its last 12 games, moved the Silvertips…
FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Chiefs win in shootout to tie for fourth
The chase for home-ice advantage in the Western Hockey League playoffs heated up Friday as the Spokane Chiefs edged the Tri-City Americans 4-3 in a shootout while Seattle lost and Everett won. Read story
WHL honors Chiefs dentist Smith
The Western Hockey League is honoring Spokane Chiefs dentist Dr. Mary Smith with a distinguished service award for nearly 30 years of working with the club. Dr. Smith will be honored before the Chiefs' home game with Tri-City, which begins in a little more than…
THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014
WHL provides update on Bozon
The Western Hockey League released the latest status on the Kootenay Ice's Tim Bozon, who is in intensive care with meningitis. Read story
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014
Chiefs' playoff picture blurry
The Spokane Chiefs could conceivably skate off the ice Saturday night in Kennewick, finished with their Western Hockey League regular season, and not know their assignment for the first round of the playoffs. Read story
Kelowna continues to lead poll
Every Canadian Hockey League Top 10 poll since the start of 2014 has had the Kelowna Rockets on top. The 25th edition of the poll, released Wednesday, was more of the same. Read story
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014
Chartier, Chiefs hope for strong finish
Connor Chartier scored again Tuesday night, giving the Spokane Chiefs' right wing 13 goals for the season, more than double what he tallied last season. Read story
Chiefs solve Thunderbirds
Spokane had lost all seven games against Seattle this season, but the Chiefs took care of that Tuesday night by toppling the Thunderbirds 6-4 during a rough-and-tumble road game. Read story
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014
Chiefs down to last six games
Wednesday night's 3-1 loss at Kelowna leaves the Spokane Chiefs with six games on their regular-season schedule: two against Prince George and Tri-City, and one apiece against Seattle and Everett. Spokane is one point ahead of Everett in the chase for the Western Conference's No.…
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014
Still No. 1, Rockets ready for Chiefs
The Kelowna Rockets continue to hold down the top spot in the Canadian Hockey League's Top 10 rankings. The Rockets will meet the Spokane Chiefs in four hours to complete their season series. Spokane is 2-1 against Kelowna this season. Read story
Postseason field takes shape
More teams have qualified for the Western Hockey League playoffs as the regular season winds down to its final 12 days. Read story
Kootenay's Bozon in critical condition
Kootenay Ice player Tim Bozon is hospitalized in Saskatoon with Neisseria meningitis. Read story
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014
WHL notes: Look out for Silvertips
This week's Western Hockey League notebook leads with the Everett Silvertips' late-season drive to improve their positioning for the upcoming postseason. Everett is now one point behind the Spokane Chiefs for the Western Conference's No. 5 seed. Read story
SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 2014
A nothing kind of weekend for Chiefs
Last weekend the Spokane Chiefs' offense was humming along, scoring 18 goals in three games. This weekend the Chiefs suffered back-to-back shutouts, including Saturday night's 3-0 setback to a Tri-City Americans team that had lost eight consecutive games. The Western Hockey League's regular season is…
Chris Derrick joined The Spokesman-Review in 1990. He currently is a copy editor for the Sports Desk.
Follow Chris online:
Looking for a Grip on Sports?
Vince Grippi's daily take on all things regional sports has been moved to our main sports section online. You can find a collection of these columns here.