Dave Trimmer

It would seem the second weekend of preseason games was a rousing success for the Spokane Chiefs. But coach Don Nachbaur wasn't impressed in a loss to Tri-City.

State champions from three states and a pair of course records – not to mention glorious running weather – made the fourth Tracy Walters Invitational at Audubon Park on Saturday a great start to the cross country season. The Bozeman girls and North Central boys handily won team titles in the event that scores eight of 10 runners instead of five of seven, and Coeur d’Alene’s Kinsey Gomez (17 minutes, 48 seconds) and Kamiakin’s Anthony Armstrong (15:15) set records for the deceptively difficult three-lap, 1-mile course.

State champions from three states and a pair of course records – not to mention glorious running weather – made the fourth Tracy Walters Invitational at Audubon Park on Saturday a great start to the cross country season.

The Spokane Braves surprised a few people, maybe even themselves, by making it to the second round of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League playoffs last season. That won’t be the case this year.

After seeing his team in action for the first time, Don Nachbaur was pleased. The Spokane Chiefs played three preseason games in Everett last weekend, winning two, prompting the coach to say, “There were some real positives from our young guys and some real positives from our returning players.”

After seeing his team in action for the first time, Don Nachbaur was pleased. The Spokane Chiefs played three preseason games in Everett last weekend, winning two, prompting the coach to say, “There were some real positives from our young guys and some real positives from our returning players.”

The Spokane Chiefs backed up their words with action – or lack thereof. With first-year coach Don Nachbaur promising to give everybody a chance who deserved one, the Western Hockey League team only cut half of the players invited to last weekend’s training camp.

With first-year coach Don Nachbaur promising to give everybody a chance who deserved one, the Spokane Chiefs only cut half of the players invited to last weekend’s training camp.

The Spokane Chiefs backed up their words with action – or lack thereof. With first-year coach Don Nachbaur promising to give everybody a chance who deserved one, the Western Hockey League team only cut half of the players invited to last weekend’s training camp.

Fittingly it was the veterans’ day at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena Sunday afternoon when the first weekend of the Spokane Chiefs’ training camp ended with the Western Hockey League team’s annual Red-White scrimmage. All six goals were scored by returning players, including a pair by White defenseman Brenden Kichton, the second coming with 1:17 in regulation that forced the game to be decided by a shootout. Head coach Don Nachbaur declared himself the winner because he left his seat among the 2,652 fans to stand behind the White bench for the third period when they rallied from a 3-1 deficit. He quickly pointed out he didn’t choose the shooters for the shootout, which the Red won 3-2.

In addition to scouts, parents and a few curious fans, there is going to be one more seat filled at the Arena when the Spokane Chiefs open training camp today. Don Nachbaur, the new coach for the Western Hockey League team, plans to get to know the players from afar.

The Spokane Chiefs open training camp a week from today, but 19-year-old forward Matt Marantz was all smiles Wednesday afternoon when he figured they picked up their first win of the Western Hockey League season. The Chiefs announced they will play the Kootenay Ice outdoors at Avista Stadium on Jan. 15, a first in major junior hockey.

The Spokane Chiefs open training camp a week from today, but 19-year-old forward Matt Marantz was all smiles Wednesday afternoon when he figured they picked up their first win of the Western Hockey League season.

The Spokane Chiefs will become the second Western Hockey League team to announce an outdoor game for the 2010-11 season but it will be the first outdoor game for the league.

As with most American Legion baseball teams, Chesapeake, Va., goes by its Post name, in this case 280 Greenbrier, rather than a mascot. However, the team has suggested it could be called the Bulls.