Bruton leads charge of rookies
As much as the Spokane Chiefs have been a mild surprise so far, so has one of their rookies.
Center Chris Bruton, 17, has scored five goals in his first 10 Western Hockey League games for Spokane while playing on the third and fourth lines. It’s a good start for the 5-foot-10, 176-pound product of Calgary, Alberta.
Bruton also sports an impressive plus-minus rating of 3, one of only a handful of Chiefs on the positive side so far. He and the likes of linemate J.P. Szaszkiewicz (plus 2), a left winger, have helped lead the charge of a half-dozen rookie forwards for Spokane.
“I’m real pleased with every one of our young guys,” said coach Al Conroy. “Every guy has worked hard, played really well. … The young guys that are playing for us right now are really doing a good job; they’re continuing to improve and they’re continuing to learn with their work ethic on and off the ice.”
The energy of the line and its solid work habits have earned them the praise of Chiefs fans also. They don’t get as many shifts, but they have been efficient.
“That’s real key for a young line,” said Conroy. “They’re going to go games without getting opportunities. But as long as they’re not giving anything up defensively, they’re creating energy for us and giving us a little bit of a lift that way; boy, we couldn’t ask for more.”
Last Saturday against Kamloops, the Bruton-Szaszkiewicz line had the only Spokane goal against the Blazers in a 6-1 loss. They also helped to start a line brawl when things got a little rough.
It was Bruton (No. 12) who not only scored the goal but also took down and pummeled one of the Blazers on the ice after receiving a hit from behind.
“You do that just to help out teammates,” said Bruton after practice on Thursday. “Anyone would do that for anyone else on the team. The older guys tell you they are there for you, so I’m sure the guys would have had my back on my team.”
He said the closeness of this team is one of its special traits.
“I’ve never been on a team like this,” said Bruton. “I’ve heard a lot of stories of the vet-rookie type of treatment, but the veterans have been just unbelievable to us. Everyone’s come together. I think we just bond really well. There’s not a guy on the team that has an attitude problem. Everyone’s just working hard and the older guys have just been great to help us learn.’
One year ago, Bruton was playing AAA Midget hockey for the Calgary Royals, where he totaled 18 goals and 26 assists. Playing at this level, and having some success, is somewhat of a surprise.
“It’s a great jump and it’s great personally to just get better than that and learn from the older guys,” said Bruton. “The coaching staff is just second to none here, so I’m just learning that much more and getting better.”
He cites the speed and the competitiveness of the WHL as the biggest differences from AAA.
Bruton was not one of the Chiefs’ top draft picks, having been selected in the eighth round of the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft. He says his size at the time hurt him. He appears to be a late bloomer physically, gaining 10 pounds this summer while retaining his speed entering camp.
“I just came in and worked hard,” he said. “Then, after I stayed a week, I just continued to work hard and excel and I’m lucky to be here now.”
Despite his hard work, grittiness, and good two-way play, he said he’s “a little” surprised by his early success.
“Me and Szaszkiewicz have been working together well,” said Bruton. “I guess you could say the bounces have been going my way and the coaches have been giving me the opportunity.
“The coaches have been great. They’ve said to me just to keep working hard, don’t get in over your head. … A lot of us rookies need to just play hard, work within the system, and try to contribute to the team.”
Back in the saddle
The Chiefs had a full week of practice after last Saturday’s loss to Kamloops and get back on the ice tonight against U.S. Division-leading Seattle (9-3, winners of four straight). Spokane (5-5) travels to Tri-City on Saturday night.
“This week, I thought the guys reacted pretty well,” said Conroy. “Everybody was upbeat and positive and we’re definitely prepared for the weekend.”
Conroy said the scouting report on Seattle is that the T-Birds are playing well from the blue line out, with outstanding goaltending from both Bryan Bridges (7-2, 1.22 GAA) and Gavin McHale (2-0, 0.50 GAA). Up front, the team’s well-balanced scoring attack is led by Aaron Gagnon (six goals, five assists) and Tyler Metcalfe (two goals, eight assists).
Goalie shuffle
Ex-Portland goalie Kevin Opsahl, acquired by the Chiefs to back up starter Jim Watt, arrived in Spokane and worked out with the team. Opsahl (3-2 in seven games this season, 2.93 goals against average, .908 saves percentage) is a known quantity to the Spokane organization.
“We’ve seen Kevin,” said Conroy. “Last year he played against us. In Everett this year, he had a very good game against us – beat us in the second game of that tournament. We know that he’s a capable player and we just felt it was a position that we had to upgrade on.”
The Chiefs released Kirk Irving after last Friday’s game against Kamloops, in which he allowed six goals on 18 shots. Conroy said at the time that the team still believed in Irving and was hoping to give him another chance. Irving was reassigned to the Camrose Kodiaks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, but he will remain on the Chiefs’ protected list. After his only start of the season, Irving is saddled with GAA of 9.73 and a saves percentage of .667.