Whits climb to third in D-III poll

Whitworth is breathing rare air.

The 13-0 Pirates were ranked third nationally in Monday’s D3hoops.com top-25 men’s basketball poll, the highest-ever rating for the school as an NCAA Division III member.

Whitworth moved up one spot from last week. Its fourth place tied for the highest-ever D-III rating in school history.  Whitworth was also ranked fourth heading into the 2010 Division III tournament.   

The Pirates improved to a 4-0 mark in the Northwest Conference with last weekend’s home sweep of Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound.  The 13-0 start matches the best ever in the school’s history. Whitworth also started the 2006-07 season 13-0. 

Whitworth will test its new ranking and record this week when the Bucs play at George Fox on Friday and Willamette on Saturday.

The highest ranking in school history came in the final poll following the 1995-96 season when the Pirates were second in the NAIA Division II coaches poll after finishing as national runners-up.

Skaters need waiver

The rink at Avista Stadium, site of the first outdoor game in Western Hockey League history on Saturday, will be available for fans to skate on Friday, but all who participate will be required to fill out a waiver prior to skating.

The Chiefs are holding an open skate as part of the festivities leading up to the Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic at 1 p.m. Saturday against the Kootenay Ice.

Fans can download a waiver on the Spokane Chiefs website. For children under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must fill out the waiver.

There will be two sessions, from 4-5:30 p.m. and from 6-7:30. Children 12 and under can skate for $3; it’s $5 for all others. Fans are encouraged to bring their own skates, but some skates will be provided by Eagles Ice-A-Rena.

Fans are invited to watch the Chiefs practice at Avista Stadium on Thursday at 1 p.m. It will be the only time the team will skate on the ice prior to Saturday’s game. Practice is free and open to the public.

Tickets to the Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic are available by calling the Chiefs ticket office at (509) 535-PUCK or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT.

• Defenseman Kyle Krzyzaniak, who appeared in seven games and was a minus-2, was reassigned by the Chiefs to the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.