Stories by Dave Nichols for the Spokesman-Review

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs notebook: Goalie Carter Esler off to hot start; Mathis Preston pacing division-leading offense

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 29, 2025

The Spokane Chiefs 2025-26 season is underway and they are already exhibiting some of the traits that many expect to carry them back into the Western Hockey League playoffs and challenge to be one of the best teams in the league.

Sports > High school sports

Friday Night (High)lights: Mt. Spokane bounces back with signature win in rivalry game; league races thicken

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 28, 2025

Since becoming the paper’s high school sports editor in 2017, I can count on one hand the number of times I have had to miss Friday night football. Last week was one of those times, as I traveled to the fine state of Minnesota to witness my best friend’s wedding.

Sports > High school sports

Prep roundup: Nora Cullen lifts Mead girls soccer; Gonzaga Prep wins gold bracket at Sheridan-Welch volleyball tourney

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 27, 2025

Roundup of Saturday’s high school sports action from the Greater Spokane League.

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Carter Esler earns first WHL shutout, Spokane Chiefs blank Tri-City 3-0 in home opener

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 27, 2025

The Spokane Chiefs had an up-and-down opening weekend to the 2025-26 Western Hockey League season, picking up an 8-2 win over Kelowna on Sept. 19 before dropping a 6-4 decision to Kamloops the next night.

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs 2025-26 season preview: Early season roster still in flux even after season-opening road trip

Fri., Sept. 26, 2025

The 18 position players and two goalies who dressed for the Spokane Chiefs in their opening night road win over Kelowna on Sept. 19 were much different than the group who dressed in the Western Hockey League championship series against Medicine Hat in May. The roster will look different again for the home opener on Saturday when several players who were out at NHL camps return.

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs 2025-26 season preview: Forward Mathis Preston grows into more prominent role in draft-eligible season

Fri., Sept. 26, 2025

The nature of junior hockey as a developmental level means that when players age out or move up to professional or collegiate hockey, a new group of players are thrust into the spotlight.

Sports > High school sports

Week 4 prep football preview: Battle of the Bell presents opportunity for both teams; Cheney showdown against Gonzaga Prep

Thu., Sept. 25, 2025

After three weeks in the Greater Spokane League 4A/3A division, three teams remain undefeated, and two of those – perennial powerhouse Gonzaga Prep and upstart Cheney – face off Friday. The other undefeated team, Mead, takes on district foe Mt. Spokane in their annual rivalry game.

Sports > High school sports

Prep roundup: University’s Paige Stolp scores twice in win; Shadle Park Becks Bird wins cross country race

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 24, 2025

From staff reports

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Spokane Chiefs comeback falls short in 6-4 loss to Kamloops; Coco Armstrong scores third goal in two games

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 20, 2025

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Playing the second of back-to-back road games to start the season, the Spokane Chiefs looked a little fatigued through much of their Saturday matchup against the fresher Kamloops Blazers.

Sports > High school sports

Friday Night (High)lights: Gonzaga Prep continues to steamroll Greater Spokane League 4A/3A; Rogers rebounds for milestone league win

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 20, 2025

After one-third of the season, the league races are starting to shape up – even while a third of the teams in the league are still looking for their first wins.

Sports > High school sports

Gonzaga Prep dominates in all three phases of game, builds 48-0 lead through three quarters against Mt Spokane

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 19, 2025

Four Greater Spokane League 4A/3A teams started the 2025 season 2-0, setting up the early contenders. Two of them met Friday in what could eventually turn out to be a league title elimination game.

Sports > High school sports

Week 3 prep football preview: 4A/3A juggernauts face off with regular season league title implications; 2As start league play

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 18, 2025

It appears the Greater Spokane League 4A/3A division this season is made up of a few juggernauts while the rest fight for scraps. Four teams are undefeated after two weeks, four are winless, and two are at .500 with their only wins coming over one of the other struggling teams.

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Young but deep, experienced Spokane Chiefs embark on new season with lofty expectations

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 18, 2025

The 2024-25 version of the Spokane Chiefs finished just shy of reaching junior hockey’s Holy Grail – the Memorial Cup championships. Before the puck has even been dropped on the 2025-26 season, the Chiefs have already been hailed as one of the teams to beat in the upcoming season.

Sports > Spokane Chiefs

Junior hockey managers charting unknown waters as college-age players pursue previously unavailable options

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 18, 2025

General managers of Western Hockey League teams are planners by nature. With a limited amount of time for players to develop on their rosters before they reach draft eligibility or age out, GMs typically have their rosters sketched out several years into the future, with new draft classes sliding into roles older players once handled.

Sports > High school sports

Prep roundup: Lydia Lynn scores hat trick for Ridgeline girls soccer; North Central boys sweep cross country duals

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 17, 2025

From staff reports

Sports > High school sports

Friday Night (High)lights: Cheney matches season-best win total in Week 2; University pulls off ‘Greasy Pig’ victory

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 13, 2025

As one might imagine, a high school sports editor is pretty busy during the school year. It’s part of the job. That’s fine, because like students and teachers, the summer is (a little) less busy.

Sports > High school sports

GSL football: Christopher Wilson, Andrew Houndonougbo carry Cheney past Ridgeline

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 12, 2025

The Cheney Blackhawks football team has had a pretty tough go of it since moving up to the Class 3A ranks and joining the Greater Spokane League. Entering play this year, the Blackhawks had won just seven league games over five seasons, and no more than two in any of those campaigns.

Sports > High school sports

Week 2 prep football roundup: Mt. Spokane continues impressive start, shuts out Shadle

UPDATED: Sat., Sept. 13, 2025

Roundup of Friday's high school football action from the Greater Spokane League and across Eastern Washington.

Sports > High school sports

Mead defense holds Lewis and Clark in check until Landon Thomas, Panthers offense gets rolling

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 11, 2025

It took a little time, but Mead finally figured things out on offense Thursday night. What didn't need figuring out was their defense.

Sports > High school sports

Week 2 prep football preview: Cheney looks to show Week 1 win no fluke; West Valley hosts Lakeside in early-season nonleague showdown

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 11, 2025

Week 1 in the Greater Spokane League had a little bit of everything: Perennial favorites off to a good start, some surprises, and some questions left to be answered.

Sports > High school sports

2025 Fall Preps Preview: Gonzaga Prep football’s experienced senior class turns sting of semifinal loss into high expectations

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 11, 2025

Part of growing up is learning how to deal with disappointment. Some choose to forget and move on. Others use pain as motivation.

Sports > High school sports

2025 Fall Preps Preview: Under coach Ryan Cole, Rogers football goes from winless to league power in few short years

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 11, 2025

The turnaround in the Rogers football program – on and off the field – over the past few years has been nothing short of miraculous. Just don’t expect coach Ryan Cole to play into the hype.