Chiefs must get busy
Are these Spokane Chiefs for real? They are about to find out.
It’s go time.
The Chiefs are nine games into their Western Hockey League season and are quickly approaching a series of important tests.
They play three games this weekend, starting with Saskatoon on Friday night at the Arena and continuing Saturday night in Kelowna, a team they defeated 2-1 last weekend in Spokane.
The real fun begins Sunday, when the Chiefs are at Vancouver to take on the defending Memorial Cup champion and B.C. Division-leading Giants, and continues Tuesday at the Arena against the up-and-coming Brandon Wheat Kings.
“We’ve only played nine games, so we’re excited to get going,” Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. “We got a first test when we had four games in six nights (in early October), and now we play four games in five nights, so we’re looking forward to it.
“First we have Saskatoon, and they’ve been better lately, and we know Vancouver is going to be a big test for us.”
The Chiefs (5-2-1-1) will face the Giants twice in three weeks – hosting the WHL’s top-ranked team for the second meeting on Nov. 3.
Spokane will also meet the Seattle Thunderbirds in the upcoming weeks, the only U.S. Division team the Chiefs are yet to face this season.
“We’ll know a lot more once we get through this next week of games,” said Speltz, “but then there is a 10-day stretch where we play Seattle three times.
“I think it will be a good indicator of where everyone (in the division) sits and we’re looking forward to those games as well.”
Seattle has played the fewest games in the league with seven and has 10 points and a 4-1-1-1 record.
Spokane is in second place in the division standings with 12 points. The first-place Tri-City Americans have played 11 games, and are 8-3-0-0 with 16 points.
League suspends Kelner
Chiefs forward Curtis Kelner will serve a two-game suspension following a hit on Portland’s Brett Ponich late in Spokane’s 5-2 victory over the Winter Hawks last Friday night at the Arena.
The penalty occurred with 1 minute remaining in the game when Kelner, who scored his third goal of the season earlier in the period, was called for kneeing inside the Chiefs offensive zone. At the end of regulation, both goalies left the crease and several fights broke out on the ice.
Ponich was injured on the Kelner hit and missed the Hawks’ games on Saturday and Sunday.
“It wasn’t an intentional hit at all,” said Speltz. “It’s one of those supplemental disciplinary things, and because he was hurt, Portland sent for a review and Kelner received the suspension.”
Kelner will miss Friday’s game against the Blades and Saturday on the road at Kelowna.
Spurgeon stays on plus side
Jared Spurgeon is keeping things positive.
The Chiefs veteran defenseman leads the team in plus/minus, with plus 7.
Plus/minus is the stat that measures the team goal differential when a player is on the ice. Players’ plus/minus stats get increased by one every time their team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal while they are on the ice. If the team is scored against while at even strength or on a power play when the player is on the ice, his plus/minus is lowered by one.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native was picked by the Chiefs in the 10th round of the 2004 Bantam Draft and has one goal and two assists this season.
Notes
Rookie defenseman Jared Cowen, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 Bantam Draft, has five points in nine games played, four coming from assists. … Chiefs goalie Dustin Tokarski (2-1-0-1) has faced 116 shots in five games and has allowed 10 goals. Kevin Armstrong (3-1-1-0) has allowed 12 goals and faced 115 shots in five games. … Forward David Rutherford is still day-to-day with a groin injury and is doubtful for Friday’s game against Saskatoon.