Chiefs play final regular-season home game Friday
Hockey: The Spokane Chiefs, fresh off back-to-back shootout wins that ran their winning streak to a season-high eight games, play their last home game of the Western Hockey League regular season tonight at the Arena.
Before the Chiefs take on Seattle, the Chiefs will present seven year-end awards, including Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Defenseman of the Year.
The Chiefs (48-18-4-2, 98 points) enter the game one point behind U.S. Division leader Portland in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference. After tonight’s game, Spokane goes to Tri-City on Saturday and Portland on Sunday. If the Chiefs win out they will be the top seed entering the playoffs.
Already with home-ice advantage because they can finish no lower than the third seed in the eight-team bracket, the Chiefs will have to open the playoffs on the road because of the NCAA women’s regional basketball tournament at the Arena. The first home playoff game is March 30.
Dave Trimmer
GU recruits are players of year
High school basketball: Gonzaga men’s basketball recruits Kyle Dranginis and Gary Bell have been named the Gatorade Idaho and Washington boys basketball players of the year.
Dranginis, the Idaho player of the year, averaged 24 points and nine rebounds a game for Skyview High School in Boise.
Bell, the Washington player of the year, averaged 28 points and eight rebounds a game for Kentridge High School.
The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court.
Dranginis and Bell are now finalists for the Gatorade national player of the year.
LPGA plays for free in Phoenix
Golf: The LPGA Founders Cup, set to open today at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa’s Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, will donate $1 million to charity – half to The LPGA Foundation and its LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program and half to the top 10 finishers’ designated charities.
The $1 million will count on the season money list.
The tournament honors the 13 players who founded the tour in 1950.
Associated Press