Dave Trimmer

Colfax downs South Bend to reach the State 2B football semifinals.

Whether it was animosity or gamesmanship, the Spokane Chiefs didn’t care. James Reid made 26 saves for his second shutout and rookie Brady Brassart scored his second goal in as many games as the Chiefs defeated the defending Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets for the second time this season, 1-0 before 4,319 fans at the Arena on Sunday night. It was the Chiefs' sixth win in their past seven games.

The Spokane Chiefs lit up the Kamloops Blazers. Brady Brassart lit up the Arena. With the rookie Brassart scoring his first Western Hockey League goal and Kyle Beach notching his second hat trick of the season, the Chiefs put a 6-1 Western Hockey League whippin’ on the Blazers before 8,321 fans at the Arena Saturday night.

West Valley’s best play failed miserably, but like almost everything else the Eagles did Friday night it turned out perfectly. Sparked by Mitch Peterson’s brilliant punt return on the final play of the first half, West Valley returned to the state football playoffs for the first time in 22 years with a dominating 29-0 win over visiting Selah in the first round of the 2A playoffs.

The Spokane Chiefs’ four-game winning streak came to an inglorious end Tuesday night at the Arena with a dismal 5-2 loss to the Everett Silvertips. In a battle between teams tied for third in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, the visitors outworked the lethargic Chiefs.

The Spokane Chiefs’ four-game winning streak game to an inglorious end Tuesday night at the Arena with a dismal 5-2 loss to the Everett Silvertips. In a battle before between two teams tied for third in the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League the visitors out-worked the lethargic Chiefs. “We did not play a good game,” Spokane coach Hardy Sauter said. “I don’t know (why). I can tell you part of the problems. “Turnovers, we didn’t attack with speed when we had the opportunity and partly we have to give Everett credit for playing a very solid road game.”

Saddle broncs will be in the spotlight for the Big Bend and Flying Five rodeo companies at the National Finals Rodeo next month. Big Bend and Flying Five, co-owned by Don Hutsell of Ritzville and Sonny Riley of Pomeroy, has long been known for their top flight bulls. However, the two have combined to send nine broncs to Las Vegas for the NFR Dec. 3-9.

A wounded and angry Giant invaded the Arena Saturday night, but the Spokane Chiefs didn’t flinch. A pair of nifty goals and a stellar defense provided the Chiefs and 8,358 fans with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Giants, who lost 8-2 a night earlier at Tri-City.

A pair of nifty goals and a stellar defense provided the Chiefs and 8,358 fans with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Giants, who lost 8-2 a night earlier at Tri-City.

On paper, the Spokane Chiefs’ dominating 5-1 Western Hockey League win over Chilliwack Wednesday night was a veteran affair. Red-hot Kyle Beach had two goals and top-line veterans Tyler Johnson, Levko Koper and Mitch Wahl connected while goalie James Reid turned aside 24 shots.

The Spokane Chiefs played a heck of a hockey game on Halloween night. Unfortunately, Portland goalie Kurtis Mucha came dressed as future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur.

It has become commonplace for Spokane to host NCAA basketball tournament games, but on Thursday the NCAA upped the ante. Not only will Washington State University and the Spokane Arena host a women’s regional in 2011 – the third time the Sweet 16/Elite Eight will be here – but Gonzaga and McCarthey Athletic Center will serve as host and site for first- and second-round games the same year.

The NCAA Women's Basketball Committee has selected Gonzaga to host the first two rounds of the 2011 tournament at McCarthey Athletic Center with the regional finals the next weekend at the Arena, hosted by Washington State.

This was the kind of game a team with high expectations can’t lose. Brandon, playing its fifth road game in eight days, came from behind to defeat the Spokane Chiefs 5-4 before 3,509 fans at the Arena Wednesday night.

Special teams weren’t special, which is why the Spokane Chiefs suffered a heart-breaking 4-3 loss to Western Hockey League rival Tri-City Saturday night at the Arena. The Chiefs had a man advantage seven times and seven times they came up empty. The Americans cashed in on two of their seven power-play opportunities.

After playing just nine games in the first 30 days of the Western Hockey League season the Spokane Chiefs play 17 games in the next 36 days, beginning tonight when the rival Tri-City Americans come to the Arena. The game comes a week after the Chiefs finished a home-and-home split with Kootenay while the Americans played Wednesday and Friday.

Mt. Spokane could forfeit last week’s 56-0 football win over East Valley for using an ineligible player for the last two plays. The Greater Spokane League championship couuld hang in the balance.

The Spokane area is going to be represented by more than cowboys at the National Finals Rodeo. Debi Davis of Nine Mile Falls has been selected as the assistant secretary for the NFR, which runs Dec. 3-12 in Las Vegas.