Chiefs reassign two, get to 29

The Spokane Chiefs have the 29 players they’ll open the Western Hockey League season with this weekend. Well, at least they have the names of the 29 players. All the bodies aren’t accounted for yet.

Spokane got down to 29 on Monday by reassigning defenseman Eddie Friesen from Manitoba and goalie Alex Wright from Prince George, B.C., to their provincial junior teams.

The roster of two goaltenders, 10 defensemen and 17 forwards includes four veterans who are attending NHL training camps and three veterans who have been injured throughout the preseason.

Forward Ryan Letts (Achilles) and defensemen Jared Spurgeon (shoulder) and Corbin Baldwin (hand) are expected to be available for the Chiefs’ trip to Prince George for games Friday and Saturday.

The status of the four in NHL camps – Mitch Wahl (Calgary), Jared Cowan (Ottawa), Tyler Johnson (Minnesota) and Levko Koper (Atlanta) – likely won’t be known until later in the week.

Spokane’s home opener is Sept. 26 against Tri-City.

Men’s basketball

Two North Idaho College players, forward Renado Parker and combo guard Idell Bell, have committed to playing for the University of Idaho following the 2009-10 season, NIC coach Jared Phay announced.

The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Parker was the Scenic West Athletic Conference player of the year and an NJCAA first-team All-American after averaging 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for the 27-4 Cardinals last season.

The 6-2 Bell transferred to NIC after playing his freshman season at Brevard (Fla.) Community College, where he averaged 20.6 points. He was a preseason NJCAA All-American last season, but decided to sit out to comentrate on academics.

College volleyball

North Idaho College (14-2) is ranked second in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association Division I poll. It’s the second time in the program’s history the Cardinals are ranked that high.

Binn, Texas, is ranked No. 1. Salt Lake Community College is No. 3 and Southern Idaho is No. 8.