If Whitfield Returns, Will Chiefs’ Captain Have To Go? Spokane May Have To Give Up One Of Its 20-Year-Old Players

Joel Boschman glanced down at his discolored right thumb, at the ugly gash that cuts across the place where the thumbnail used to be.

The Spokane Chiefs captain - whose thumb was broken in a slashing incident two weeks ago in an exhibition game - wore a huge smile. The Chiefs had just battled back to win their regular-season opener with Boschman wearing the captain’s C.

Even talk of the numbers game the Chiefs may have to play over the next month seemed to take nothing from the moment. Ten minutes after the Chiefs had held off the Tri-City Americans 7-6 in their season opener, Boschman wore a grin that told you how good he felt.

“I’m not 100 percent with this thumb,” he said. “I can make a pass. That’s about it. It’s all part of the game. Hockey hurts. But it feels great, getting off to a good start. Hopefully, we can have a lot more nights like this.”

The pleasant dilemma is this. The Chiefs suddenly have Trent Whitfield back in the picture.

If the talented 20-year-old center does the expected and makes his return to junior hockey official this week, the Chiefs are a lot closer to competing at a championship level. But his return puts the club one over the limit of 20-year-old players. Although they can dress three 20-year-old players, the Chiefs can carry four until Nov. 1.

Who’ll go on or before Nov. 1?

Certainly not Perry Johnson, a versatile puck-moving defenseman.

So do you move Greg Leeb, who was voted the No. 1 star Saturday night? Leeb, who centered a No. 1 line with Ty Jones and Marian Cisar, is playing with a lot of jump since his return from the Dallas Stars.

Do you trade your captain, Boschman?

Assuming Whitfield and the Boston Bruins fail to reach an agreement - and odds of that seemed likely Saturday night - one of the four over-age players won’t be here after Halloween.

“They’ve offered a minor league contract,” said Whitfield, who indicated that the ball is in the Bruins’ court. He’s prepared to play the season here, barring a breakthrough in negotiations.

Whitfield is represented by Calgary agent Art Breeze. Efforts to reach Breeze Sunday were not successful.

The Bruins have until the next NHL draft in June to sign Whitfield.

“It’s good to be back,” Whitfield said. “I was impressed by the guys tonight. It’s evident they have great team speed.”

Boschman said, “It’s too bad he couldn’t stay in Boston and pursue his (pro) career but it’s a boost for us having him here. I have no idea what the situation is with myself, Johnson, Leeb and now Whitfield.

“It should make for a pretty competitive couple weeks.”

Chiefs GM Tim Speltz said the first move today is to contact the Bruins and clarify where Whitfield stands with them.

Speltz would not rule out the possibility that Whitfield would be back in a Chiefs uniform Wednesday night.

If so, another kind of numbers game would kick in. So sure were the Chiefs that Whitfield would turn pro that they’ve assigned his number 14 to rookie Brandin Cote.

Notes

Former Chiefs scoring leader Dmitri Leonov reportedly is prepared to play with Boise in the West Coast league… . Rookie Trent Hunter scored twice for Prince George in the Cougars’ 3-2 win over the Portland Winter Hawks Saturday night. Ken Davis and Brenden Morrow had the goals for the Hawks, who are here Wednesday night… . The Red Deer Rebels with be without one of the premier players in the WHL. Defenseman Jesse Wallin is expected to miss 6-8 weeks with a broken arm suffered in a automobile accident on Thursday night.

, DataTimes