Area roundup: Spokane Chiefs’ Ty Smith selected for Team Canada

The newest Spokane Chief, 15-year-old Ty Smith, has been selected to compete for Team Canada in the upcoming 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, the team announced Thursday.

Smith, who scored two assists in Wednesday’s 9-2 win over Saskatoon, is one of 17 players named to Canada’s roster. Smith previously was the top pick in the 2015 Western Hockey League’s Bantam draft.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the group of players chosen to represent Canada to compete at the highest level in international competition,” Hockey Canada official Scott Salmond said in a news release. “This event is a unique experience unlike any other, and will be something that our athletes learn from and remember for a lifetime.”

The roster was selected from 2000-born players from all regions of Canada. The men’s hockey tournament in Lillehammer will feature Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia and the United States with a round-robin format before a single-elimination tournament. Canada opens versus Russia on Feb. 13.

Smith will play with the Chiefs against Portland on Friday before returning to his Lloydminster Bandit Pipeline Bobcats of the Alberta ‘AAA’ Midget Hockey League.

Football

Eastern Washington graduate and former Eagles assistant Eti Ena has returned to coach the Eagles’ defensive line, head coach Beau Baldwin said.

Ena comes to Eastern from Cal Poly, where he coached the defensive line from 2013-15. Before that, Ena spent four seasons (2009-12) as defensive line coach at Idaho.

“We’re fortunate to be able to hire somebody who has such great coaching experience and success working at different universities on the West Coast,” Baldwin said.

Ena was a grad assistant at Eastern from 2003-05, when Baldwin was offensive coordinator under Paul Wulff.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to be back at my alma mater,” said Ena, who transferred to EWU from Snow College in Utah but was unable to play because of a shoulder injury.

Ena takes over as defensive front coordinator from Ryan Sawyer, who left to pursue opportunities outside of coaching. Assistant Brian Strandley will continue as a defensive line coach.

Baldwin said Sawyer’s recruiting coordinator duties would be filled by cornerbacks coach Cherokee Valeria.

Ena’s cousin, Paul Ena, was a two-time All-Big Sky defensive end for EWU from 2009-12. His uncle and Paul’s father, Tali Ena, was a standout running back at Washington State University (1976-79) and went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks.

Baldwin still has one vacancy to fill after quarterbacks coach Zak Hill left to become offensive coordinator at Hawaii.

Soccer

Spokane SC Shadow will field an elite women’s team this summer, the organzation announced.

Spokane is the third member of the men’s Evergreen Premier League of Washington to join the new women’s Northwest Premier League, which is introducing its first six clubs.

Spokane is the third member of the Evergreen Premier League to unveil a women’s team, joining the Olympic Force and South Sound FC. Spokane’s NWPL team will include current and recent collegiate players and will also provide an opportunity for the elite college prospects.

“The NWPL coming to Spokane is a huge step for women’s soccer,” said Spokane native and former Seattle Pacific University standout Megan Lindsay, who has recently played abroad. “It is a great thing for the soccer community in Spokane, especially for the little girls who dream of playing professionally.”

“We need a women’s team in Spokane,” Lindsay said.

The team will include players from nearby programs at Gonzaga, Washington State, Idaho and Eastern Washington, along with Spokane natives who play collegiate ball out of town. More talent is expected from high school seniors who are preparing for the jump to the college level.

“This is a great opportunity for young players in the area to get a feel for the advanced level of competition they may soon embark on,” said Kevin Moon, who coaches the Shadow’s top high school-age teams and serves as college advisor for players.

This won’t be the first women’s team to play in Spokane. The Spokane Shine won the 2012 Northwest Division regular-season title in the Women’s Premier Soccer League.

More information on the formation of the Shadow NWPL team, such as coaching staff, tryouts and playing venue, will be announced later, said Gerald Barnhart, the Shadow general manager.

Shadow men’s tryouts in March: The two-time defending EPLWA champion Shadow will host an open tryout on the weekend of March 19-20. Interested players should reserve the weekend on their schedule. Further information regarding tryouts will be available in the coming weeks, Barnhart said.