Chiefs draftee Collins chasing his dream
Jesse Collins has always wanted to play for the Spokane Chiefs.
After a strong season with the SAYHA Jr. Chiefs last year, the 15-year-old center from Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) was drafted by the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup champion Chiefs in the WHL Bantam Draft in May.
“I like the fact that Collins is consistent, smart and will make great plays,” Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Moulton said in a release following the draft.
Collins will attend the Chiefs’ training camp, which opens next week, along with two other local players drafted this year by the Chiefs – defenseman Tanner Mort from Post Falls and Spokane’s Mitchell Fowler. Another local product – Shadle Park High School’s Tyler Alos – heard his name called in the Bantam Draft when the Seattle Thunderbirds selected him in the sixth round.
Mort, the highest drafted local player by the Chiefs this year, was selected in the fourth round. He played in 14 games and scored 10 points for the Coeur d’Alene Lakers last season.
Collins and Fowler were teammates on the Spokane Bantam AA club. This fall Fowler and Mort will play for the Lakers, a Tier III Jr. A Hockey team.
Collins, however, is hitting the road in pursuit of his dream.
After Collins was drafted by the Chiefs, his father, Jeff Collins, explored other options.
“I thought the best scenario for Jesse to get stronger and better would be to play the highest level of hockey for his age,” Jeff Collins said. “I went online and contacted a few teams and Jesse was invited to try out for the Colorado Thunderbirds in Denver.”
The Colorado Thunderbirds are the nation’s third-ranked team in AAA Youth 15 midget hockey. Last month Collins joined more than 90 players from around the nation to compete for a spot on a team that went 92-16 last season. He made the roster.
The day after the Chiefs annual Red-White scrimmage at the Arena on Aug. 24, which marks the conclusion of camp, Collins is flying to Denver with his mom to billet with a host family. He will attend Grandview High in Denver and play for the Thunderbirds.
“This experience will give Jesse a chance to grow,” Jeff Collins said. “He will come back a year older, a year bigger and stronger, and with more experience. We think it will give him the best chance to fulfill his dream of playing for the Spokane Chiefs.”
Golf
Several local golfers fared well at the Banner Bank Eastern Washington Junior Invitational golf tournament, held at the Walla Walla Country Club Aug.7-8.
Genevive Dodge of Post Falls set an age-group tournament record, winning the girls 15-17 division by shooting a 75 and 70 for a 36-hole total of 145. Jenna Speltz of Spokane was second at 156.
Howard Garrett of Spokane won the boys 15-17 division, shooting a 73 and 65 for a total of 138. Sierra Bezdicek of Colbert won the girls 12-14 division with a two-day score of 153. Her sister Savana Bezdicek came in second at 160.
Basketball
The Pacific Northwest Blazers finished fourth at the girls U13-14 AAU National Basketball Championship last month in Norman, Okla.
The Blazers went 7-2 overall. Their two losses were by a total of three points – 49-47 in the semifinals to eventual national champion SGV (Calif.) and 62-61 to Dayton Hoop Black (Ohio) in the third-place game.
The team roster includes players from Washington, Idaho and Montana. Local players include Devyn Galland and Nakia Arquette (Lewis and Clark) and Tia Presley (Gonzaga Prep).