Balance highlights Chiefs’ season-opening win

Who leads the Spokane Chiefs in scoring after one game of the 2014-15 Western Hockey League season? Ten players are tied with one point apiece. A true team effort Saturday night helped the Chiefs knock off the Tri-City Americans 4-2 at Toyota Center in Kennewick. Read story

Last season, from Game 1 on, Mitch Holmberg made it clear that he would be the Chiefs’ scoring leader. He had three goals and one assist in the Chiefs’ season-opening win over Tri-City and ended up leading the WHL in scoring.

Spokane’s newest Mitch, with the last name Lipon, laughed Saturday when asked if the Chiefs could expect the same amount of scoring in the Mitch department.

“That’s big shoes to fill, but I’m definitely going to try my best,” Lipon said.

The Chiefs’ first injury report lists center Blair Oneschuk, lower body, 3-4 weeks; right wing Jacob Cardiff, lower body, indefinite; and defenseman Colton Bobyk, lower body, indefinite. Spokane lost Hudson Elynuik early in Saturday’s game, after he assisted on Dominic Zwerger’s goal.

Chiefs coach Don Nachbaur didn’t want to talk about injuries or individual efforts. He also didn’t specifically address whether Garret Hughson, who started in goal, has won the No. 1 spot from Alex Moodie, acquired in a trade from Saskatoon, or 17-year-old Tyson Verhelst.

“But the guys who suited up, I give them a lot of credit,” Nachbaur said. … “The kids in front of (Hughson) played hard and so did every guy who played.”

“Definitely we’re seen as an underdog, but that serves as motivation for our team here,” Lipon said. “We’re going to go out this year and prove them wrong, because we actually do have the talent to go places.”