Ex-Chief Johnson earns AHL award

Hockey: Former Spokane Chiefs star and Norfolk Admirals center Tyler Johnson was named the March Player of the Month in the American Hockey League, the league announced on Monday.

The Spokane native led all AHL skaters with 22 points in 12 games – recording 11 goals, 11 assists and a plus-13 rating during Norfolk’s historic month.

The Admirals picked up their 22nd consecutive win on Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the St. John’s Icecaps. The record-setting win streak is more than any other North American pro hockey team has accomplished at any level. Norfolk will go for its 23rd straight win tonight when it faces Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Johnson’s 13-game scoring streak – the longest by an AHL rookie in more than six years – included a goal in nine consecutive games from March 3-24.

Johnson has 29 goals and 34 assists in 69 games for Norfolk this season, ranking second among AHL rookies in scoring.

Signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Lightning last year, Johnson played four seasons with Spokane in the Western Hockey League, winning a Memorial Cup in 2008 and helping the United States to a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships. 

Chiefs, Ams schedule set

Hockey: The Spokane Chiefs, who beat Vancouver 4-2 in their first-round WHL playoff series, open second-round play against rival Tri-City this weekend:

Game 1: at T-C, Friday; Game 2: at T-C, Saturday; Game 3: at Spokane, April 11; Game 4: at Spokane, April 13; Game 5: at T-C, April 14; Game 6: at Spokane, April 16; Game 7: at T-C, April 18. Games 5, 6 and 7 are if necessary.

Levenseller joins Vandals staff

Football: It’s official. Mike Levenseller is a member of the Idaho coaching staff as the Vandals’ receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Levenseller reunites with Robb Akey on the Vandals staff after having served with Idaho’s head coach for seven years at Washington State.

Levenseller, a WSU alum, joined the Cougars staff in 1992 and Akey was hired in 1999. Both were coordinators during their tenures at WSU with Akey leaving to become Idaho’s head coach in 2007.

“We couldn’t get a better hire,” Akey said.