Chiefs Hope Winter Hawks Provide Boost

Tim Smith by his own admission is a little frustrated.

The Western Hockey League all-star is without a goal in the Spokane Chiefs’ first three games. That he has two assists is encouraging, but Smith wants to finish as well as create plays, which means scoring goals.

Smith and the Chiefs will try to get untracked tonight in the Arena against the Portland Winter Hawks.

“Three games in, I’m struggling a little bit,” Smith said Thursday. “I came in with such big expectations. I’ve been feeling like I have to win every game every shift instead of just going out there and doing my job.

“But I’m still not overly worried about it,” added Smith, who scored 96 points last season. “It’s a matter of getting used to a couple of new things for everyone.”

Smith voiced support for coach Perry Ganchar in his first season behind the Spokane bench.

“Everyone believes in Ganch and believes in our systems,” Smith said. “We win tonight, we’re tied for first. It’s not like it (their 1-2 start) is the biggest deal in the world.”

The Winter Hawks come in with a number of forwards playing well. Shawn Roed has five points in Portland’s three games. Import players Josef Bali and Marcel Hossa are poised for career seasons.

The game is a homecoming for Winter Hawks defenseman Kris Callaway, who was traded to Portland by Spokane at last January’s trade deadline for goaltender Jason LaBarbera.