Klassen is about more than just his statistics

One play cannot truly capture what center Chad Klassen means to the Spokane Chiefs, but it sure can illustrate the point.

The 20-year-old assistant captain is easily the most consistent offensive player on the team. He is again the team’s leading scorer on its top line, keys the power play and the penalty kill, and does all “the little things” that win games.

An example?

As the Spokane Chiefs clung to a one-goal lead over the Saskatoon Blades in the final minute of Wednesday night’s game in the Arena, the visitors began applying relentless pressure with an extra skater.

Saskatoon adeptly moved the puck between its players in an attempt to set up a game-tying goal. As one Blades defenseman tried to pass it over to the other, one of the Chiefs made sure it didn’t happen. Klassen lunged with his stick and disrupted the play, then sent the puck to the other end of the ice. Threat over.

It’s the type of moment Chiefs fans have witnessed from Klassen during his five years in Spokane.

Of course, there has also been many an artistic goal. Last season, he had 27 of them and led the Chiefs with 64 points. This season, he is their leading scorer through eight games, with 11 points on five goals and six assists.

Klassen has a point in all but one of those games and is coming off a one-goal, three-assist night last Saturday in Tri-City – all on the power play.

When asked why the Chiefs’ previously struggling power play had suddenly found life, coach Bill Peters pointed to Klassen. Moving him back to the point alone made his teammates better around him.

“We use him all different situations and he’s a very important part of our team,” said Peters. “He needs to have a good year individually for us to have a good year collectively and he’s poised to have a real good year.”

If you talk to Klassen, you won’t get much bulletin-board material. He’s a modest person who, by his own admission, isn’t a big talker. But it’s clear he knows how much this team counts on him.

“There’s always pressure to do well, with points and everything, and to lead, but try not to think about it,” said Klassen. “I do think about it, but hopefully I can continue to do well – and whatever happens, happens.”

Klassen is a tireless worker and has found things to work on this season. He said he’s trying to finish more checks and has worked on subtle aspects of his skating.

But those who have watched him consistently say there a couple of key traits that set him apart.

“I think, more than anything, is that he wants to win and he wants to be good,” said Chiefs assistant coach Kevin Sawyer, who has seen him play for more than a year. “He wants to be the best player on the ice, every night.”

That comes to him naturally, adds Sawyer. Or, as Peters puts it: “That’s not a switch he turns on and off.”

Peters also points to Klassen’s on-ice vision, which allows him to see plays develop. It’s just one aspect of his mental game which allows him to supplement his physical skills.

Klassen stands only 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, but he’s one of the toughest players on the ice. On a regular basis, he gets been leveled by the check of a bigger player – only to bounce up and get under way again – and sometimes dish it right back.

“He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s a fairly strong guy. … He does overcome, but in every success story that you see, the underdog prevails because they want it. … That’s what he does.”