Young Chiefs show skills

On the first day of on-ice scrimmages at the Spokane Chiefs’ training camp on Friday, the players who looked good included most of those who are supposed to be standouts.

Of course, the returning veterans made their presence known. But camp isn’t about the team’s front office discovering what they can do. It’s mostly about the players battling for the final half-dozen spots.

A couple of players who were in camp last year as 15-year-olds showed off their sophomore knowledge, natural skill and improved physiques during some impressive first-day performances.

There are no guarantees for rookies to make the team, but it’s almost a sure bet that forward Mitch Wahl and defenseman Michael Reddington will be Chiefs this season.

Wahl, the Chiefs’ first-round draft pick in 2005 (fourth overall), is a talented offensive player who continues to show a nose for the puck. Reddington, the team’s second-round pick that same year, is a well-rounded defenseman who has a rock-solid build and innate toughness.

Wahl is a highly-rated National Hockey League prospect whose California team finished third at nationals last season. He followed up that feat by representing his country in the recent Three Nations’ international tournament, then came straight to Spokane’s camp.

“This year, I feel a lot more comfortable,” said Wahl, who is up to 5-foot-11 1/2 and 175 pounds. “I have a lot more confidence this year because I did it last year. I’m ready this year for sure.”

Reddington was on the team’s radar for this season, but his stock is rising because of his continued improvement and a fragile depth at the position for Spokane. The Chiefs have been dogged by injuries among the defensive corps the past two seasons and already have one player out as camp opens and another one recovering from off-season surgery.

“I feel great,” said Reddington (6-0, 198 pounds). “I trained real hard all summer and I think I have a good chance to make this team.”

Another player with a good shot at making the roster is forward Chris Langkow.

Langkow is a year older than Wahl and Reddington and spent last season playing junior hockey in Saskatchewan. He has shown toughness in front of the net and an uncanny playmaking ability that led to a couple of goals Thursday.

“It’s my dream to make this team and maybe have a chance to get drafted by an NHL team,” said Langkow. “This is the first step in it – to make this team this year – and that’s definitely my goal.”

Changing of guard

There was someone old and someone new in the coaching ranks as camp opened. Assistant coach Steve Pleau and former assistant Kevin Sawyer were both on hand – both in different roles.

Pleau, who was just hired last week, was still looking for housing and getting to know the team. Helping him through that process in an unofficial capacity was his predecessor, Sawyer.

Pleau resigned his head coaching job with an American Hockey League team after it was unable to promise him a new contract at season’s end.

“I had worked in the St. Louis organization for about nine years and I thought a change was good,” said Pleau, whose father is the general manager of the parent club.

He said he’s looking forward to proving himself in a new setting.

Sawyer spent the summer at his home in Christina Lake, British Columbia, being a dad and unwinding after a life in hockey that spanned stints with the Chiefs as a captain and assistant coach, as well as a long playing career in the NHL.

“It’s great to be back,” said Sawyer. “I knew I was going to miss it when I left and I certainly know my place here. … I’ll be here to help out how I can and am grateful for the chance to come back.”

Ice chips

Overall No. 1 overall pick Jared Cowen, a defenseman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, skated well and played good positional defense in his first ice time at the Arena. A towering physical specimen, he proved worthy of his status in the recent bantam draft. … New import Ondrej Roman was still getting his feet wet earlier this week during ice time at Eagles Ice-A-Rena, but he quickly showed flashes of brilliance on the first day. … The scrimmages continue today. The Red-White game is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.