Chiefs Settle Lawsuit With Ex-Player Hope

Half of the lawsuit filed by former Spokane Chiefs player Jared Hope was settled out of court in late August, the Hope family’s Spokane attorney said this week.

Hope was a 17-year-old center from Edmonton, Alberta, in the 1995-96 season when he suffered two concussions that ended his playing career.

He was knocked out in a September 1995 game in Kelowna, when he was checked from behind. Nearly a month later, on Oct. 21, 1995, Hope took another hit against the Tri-City Americans that left him with a second concussion.

Hope was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs but was unable to pursue a professional career.

Alleging negligence in allowing him to play too soon after the first head injury, Hope sued for damages to be determined at trial.

The Western Hockey League and the Chiefs, through attorneys for their insurance carrier, agreed to settle out of court for an undisclosed sum.

“It came down to a business decision by the insurance company,” Chiefs GM Tim Speltz said Tuesday.

The action against the team doctor at the time, Lawrence Klock of Spokane, is proceeding, attorney Doug Spruance said.

“The remaining defendant is Dr. Klock, whom we claim did not properly assess or treat Jared for his first concussion,” Spruance said. “They put him back in too soon and that led to a second concussion. After that, the writing was on the wall for a career in hockey.”

Mann might return

Defenseman Stephen Mann, sidelined through the first month of the season with a knee injury, went through a full-contact practice Tuesday and may be available when the Chiefs return to action Saturday night in the Arena.

“We’ll see how things go with him today but we’re thinking that we could have everybody available for the weekend,” Speltz said.

After taking 10 days off, the Chiefs play at Seattle on Friday and at home against Tri-City on Saturday.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Chiefs notes

Disgruntled star right winger Jamie Lundmark, who refused to report back to the Moose Jaw Warriors, did wind up in Seattle as reported here last week. The signed property of the New York Rangers, Lundmark went to the T-Birds this week for Scott Kelman… . Coach and director of hockey operations Al Tuer promises more changes in Tri-City, but one player who’s proved his worth is ex-Spokane center Blake Evans. In the 8 minutes, 35 seconds that Evans has sat in the penalty box, the Ams have given up six power-play goals. … Red Deer Rebels center Donovan Rattray left an Oct. 21 game on a stretcher after taking a hit from Medicine Hat’s Steve McIntyre. Rattray reportedly will sit for up to six weeks with a concussion.