It’s been a sweet November for this Chiefs line

They have easily been the most productive Spokane Chiefs line in the month of November.

Derek Ryan, Ondrej Roman and Drayson Bowman have helped carry a scoring load for a team missing some of its key players up front.

Lingering ailments have sidelined two of last year’s top scorers for the Western Hockey League team, Adam Hobson and Michael Grabner. But the impact of their loss has been lessened by the play of a line that is an interesting mix of experience, speed, and vision.

Ryan, a 20-year-old center, has always been a playmaker during his tenure with the team. Roman, a first-year import, has overcome a slow start to earn a share of the team’s scoring lead with Ryan. And Bowman, the team’s top rookie last season, has finally found his sophomore game.

The result of their synthesis has been stunning. In the last six games, they have combined for 21 points. They have also been a big factor in the rise of the Chiefs power play from near the bottom in the league to the top 10: Ryan has six power-play goals, Bowman also has six, and Roman has set up many of those.

Their efforts have been key in helping the team to win four of its last six games and in posting a big win over the highly- regarded Vancouver Giants this week.

“I think we have a good line,” said Roman. “With Derek and Drayson, we’ve played good and have been making some points. We play good as a team, I think. It’s been better.”

Coach Bill Peters has been saying for weeks that he’s liked the progress of the line, even when the team was struggling as a whole to win games.

“It’s meant a lot (for them to get going),” said Peters. “They (Roman and Bowman) have both been playing well for us and ‘Doc’ has been real consistent.”

Ryan said before the season that he wants to make his last WHL season his best. He’s led the way as the line has stepped up its play. In the month of November, Ryan has seven goals and six assists; Roman has one goal and 17 assists; and Bowman has seven goals and three assists.

Ryan and Roman, in particular, have developed a chemistry that has seamlessly translated from 5-on-5 play to the power-play unit. The two can often be found camped out in what has become their “sweet spot” on the ice.

Roman has been dangerous working behind the net and has an array of moves to create chaos among an opposing defense. Ryan can be found working either in the corner or near the left post quarterbacking the unit, while Bowman secures the weak side.

Roman has been the catalyst as of late after suffering through an adjustment period to the North American game.

“It was a slow start, I felt bad,” said Roman, who admittedly was homesick for the Czech Republic and didn’t know English when he arrived. “Everything was so difficult for me, but as time is going, things are getting better.”

And others are starting to notice. After a recent three-assist night at home, Roman came off the ice to learn that a National Hockey League scout was waiting for him.

In contrast, the thought of playing at the next level was part of the reason for Bowman’s slow start.

“It’s his draft year, so I think he was putting a little too much pressure on himself to score two goals a shift, but there’s a lot more to the game than that,” said Peters, who noted Bowman has also been on the of the team’s top penalty killers this season.

Bowman agreed with his coach’s assessment.

“I think I was worried too much about points,” said Bowman. “I’ve learned not to think about it so much and just go out and play like I know I can and it’s helped, so far.”

Bowman was recently rated among the top WHL prospects for next summer’s professional draft and it helped to ease his mind.

“I was little surprised, since I didn’t play that well at the start of the season,” the former first-round bantam pick said. “So far I’m happy with that and just want to move up as the season goes along.”