Chiefs’ schedule more of same

The Spokane Chiefs will again open their Western Hockey League season with the Western Conference champion Kootenay Ice – on Sept. 24 in Cranbrook, British Columbia.

Spokane will host its archrival, the Tri-City Americans, in its traditional home opener on Oct. 1 in the Spokane Arena.

The league’s schedule was announced Wednesday and is subject to change, pending potential conflicts in Portland and Seattle with National Basketball Association dates.

The Chiefs will play 25 of their 36 home games on weekend nights.

The remaining 11 home games will be played on Wednesdays.

The Chiefs, who play in the WHL’s U.S. Division of the Western Conference, are coming off a last-place finish. Spokane will meet Tri-City 12 times (six home, six away); Everett nine times (four home, five away); Portland nine times (five home, four away); and defending division champion Seattle eight times (four home, four away).

The league also announced the preseason schedule and Spokane will participate in two preseason tournaments: in Everett (Sept. 2-4); and Tri-City (Sept. 9-11).

The Chiefs’ lone home exhibition game is Sept. 16 vs. Tri-City at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.