Chiefs turn to Lewis issue after hiring assistant

One decision down, one to go – maybe.

That’s where things stand for the Spokane Chiefs just a week before the start of their training camp.

Spokane checked one thing off its to-do list Tuesday by hiring assistant coach Steve Pleau. Pleau is the son of St. Louis Blues senior vice president and general manager Larry Pleau and was most recently coach of the Peoria (Ill.) Rivermen of the American Hockey League.

Now the Chiefs hope to hear some news from the Canadian Hockey League on a matter which potentially could change the makeup of the team’s offense.

The eligibility of National Hockey League first-round pick Trevor Lewis (17th overall, Los Angeles Kings) continues to be pursued by Western Hockey League officials, but it’s unclear when or if a decision is forthcoming.

Lewis, a Utah product, hails from the WHL’s defined territory. The Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League, however, signed the forward to a player tryout agreement at the NHL draft combine in early June.

The news of the signing wasn’t announced until late July, and has caused an unprecedented situation among the CHL’s three leagues: the WHL, the OHL and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Each side in the dispute has polar opposite views of the matter.

On one side is the Owen Sound Attack and the player’s agent, Wade Arnott. On the other side is the WHL and commissioner Ron Robison, on behalf of the Chiefs.

Both the Chiefs and the Attack opening training camp in a matter of days, but no action has been taken by the CHL regarding Lewis and no formal process exists for resolving the situation. The current president of the CHL is David Branch, who previously approved Lewis’ Owen Sound contract in his capacity as OHL commissioner.

Branch did not return phone calls seeking comment. Arnott said he hasn’t been notified that the CHL is going to further examine the matter. The WHL is mulling its options, if that’s the case.

At the heart of the matter is a written regulation that defines territories for each league, and a set of unwritten customs and practices that all of the parties agree rely on principles of good faith. Each side claims they’ve played by both the letter and the spirit of the rules.

The WHL, in the person of Robison, is arguing that only two things matter: Lewis is in the WHL territory and he is a listed player of the Chiefs.

The other side, in the persons of Owen Sound general manager Michael Futa and Arnott, said there is no dispute. They said Lewis is a 19-year-old free agent, as he was eligible but undrafted for two years by WHL teams.

Futa said last week that he exercised “due diligence” in verifying that Lewis was not listed by any WHL team when he signed him and did not seek a release of rights for Lewis from the league.