Cirjak Sues Over Bus Accident

John Cirjak is seeking financial relief from damages suffered in the crash of the Spokane Chiefs team bus last January.

The former Chiefs forward, now with the Regina Pats, filed suit last week in Spokane County Superior Court against Northwestern Stage Lines et al, seeking restitution for damages from a vehicle collision.

Nothwestern Stage Lines provides transportation for the Western Hockey League club.

The accident occurred on Sunday, Jan. 19, near Cranbrook, British Columbia. Cirjak and three other players were treated for cuts and bruises at Cranbrook regional hospital and released.

Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said to his knowledge no other player is involved in legal action over the accident. He declined to comment beyond that.

Cirjak is represented by Spokane attorney John Clark.

A spokesman for Northwestern Stage Lines referred questions to the company’s insurance carrier, which is represented by a Cleveland, Ohio, legal firm.

Attempts to reach Cirjak by phone in Regina were not successful. The Regina Leader-Post approached the 20-year-old player Monday, but Cirjak refused comment.

Contacted in Burnaby, British Columbia, Cirjak’s father, Ivan Cirjak, spoke only off the record.

Clark also declined comment expect to characterize the civil matter as “pretty small potatoes.”

Cirjak played in the WHL All-Star Game the Wednesday following the accident.

The most seriously injured player was Yegor Mikhailov, who sat out the rest of the season. Mikhailov is back in his native Russia. He competed in the World Junior Tournament during the Christmas holidays.

Chiefs notes

Spokane center Trent Whitfield will wear the captain’s C for the West squad at the Jan. 21 Western Hockey League All-Star Game in Regina. … The Chiefs sent left wing Ben Johnson to Rochester, Minn., of the U.S. Junior Hockey League, with the understanding the 18-year-old needed more ice time and would return next year, with a chance to make the club. Johnson remains on the Chiefs’ 50-man list… . Greg Leeb heads into tonight’s game in Prince Albert with a nine-game scoring streak. … The Chiefs are drawing 200 a game above last year’s record attendance pace, when they attracted more than 285,000 to the Arena. … The Chiefs have run into the teeth of winter on their third and final swing East. It was 55 below with the wind chill figured in Monday in Regina, where Spokane plays Saturday night.

Ty Jones, a 1997 first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, is represented by Los Angeles agent Mike Barnette. If the Chiefs winger had a choice, he’d “sign right away, before the playoffs. I think about it, but I’m in no real hurry,” Jones said. “I’d like to get it done before summer starts, to have some money to do some stuff for fun, but I know it could take another year and a half, if they don’t want to sign me.” The 18-year-old also said, “I don’t want to sign during the playoffs. I’d like to concentrate just on the playoffs.”

Monday, for a second straight night, the WHL game with Kamloops at Portland was postponed because of snow and ice.

Both teams were in town, but the officiating crew, traveling from Spokane, could not make it past Hood River because a severe winter storm closed Interstate 84.

The game has been set for Jan. 25.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: COMING UP Spokane plays at Prince Albert tonight at 5:30. Radio: 1510 AM.