Chiefs blank Silvertips

The Spokane Chiefs already boast one of the league’s best defenses.

As players gradually return to the team, it appears the Chiefs’ offense is catching up to its better half.

Drayson Bowman came back from a seven-game absence to score once, and Ondrej Roman added an assist in his return to Spokane, which earned a 2-0 victory over the division-rival Everett Silvertips on Saturday in front of 7,540 fans at the Arena.

“I’m not sure we could’ve got anybody better in a trade,” Bowman said of Roman, who spent the first half of the season playing in the Czech Republic. “I’m thrilled to have him back, and he can bring a lot to our team.”

James Reid made 25 saves to earn the shutout for the second-place Chiefs, who improved to 24-14-0-3 with the victory to extend their advantage over the Silvertips (19-17-5-0) to eight points in the WHL’s U.S. Division. The Chiefs have allowed 84 goals in 41 games, the second-fewest total in the WHL.

After acquiring forward Brady Calla from Kamloops earlier in the week – in exchange for 20-year-old Seth Compton and a third-round pick in 2010 – Spokane didn’t make any more trades before Saturday’s afternoon deadline.

But they did welcome back Roman, who now has 19 goals and 91 assists in 143 career games with the Chiefs.

“Ultimately it’s the trade you never have to make,” said Spokane coach Hardy Sauter, whose team ranks seventh in the 10-team Western Conference with 119 goals scored. “To get a player of that caliber and not have to give up anything at this time of year is huge.”

Roman assisted on the Chiefs’ first goal, which came 9 minutes into the first period. As Roman swept behind the net, Everett goalie Thomas Heemskerk moved left to guard against a wraparound.

But instead of continuing on, Roman dropped the puck to Dustin Donaghy, who flicked it into the net before Heemskerk could even turn around. Tyler Johnson also picked up an assist on the goal.

Bowman fired a wrist shot from the right circle that found the back of the net to give Spokane a 2-0 lead just 5:30 later.

“I was really happy we got those two quick goals,” said Reid, who earned his eighth win of the year and his fourth shut- out. “I could relax a bit more.”

Reid will likely relinquish his starting spot in the net when regular keeper Dustin Tokarski returns to the team this week – he’s expected back on Monday – but the junior goalie said he hoped his recent play has given the team confidence should something happen to their star.

“I think I’ve shown myself,” Reid said, before adding jokingly, “so I guess I am trying to take his job.”

The Chiefs’ next contest comes Wednesday, when they host the last-place Portland Winter Hawks (12-27-1-1).

Ice chips

The Chiefs made no further trades after acquiring Calla, but they reassigned three players to their respective junior teams before the league trade deadline.

Foremost among them was forward Mike Betz, who had played in 30 games this season. He was reassigned to the Sicamous Eagles of the KIJHL. The Chiefs also sent down Anthony Bardaro (Surrey Eagles, BCHL) and goalie Alex Wright (Prince George, BCHL). Bardaro had one assist in six games, while Wright played in one contest.

KIJHL

Brock Munro scored twice to lead the host Nelson Leafs over the Spokane Braves 5-2 at Nelson, British Columbia.

Ryan Maul and Jake Peterson scored for the Braves.

Nelson is 32-6-1 and in first place in the Neil Murdoch Division. Spokane is fourth in the five-team division at 17-21-2.