Spokane Chiefs

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Spokane Chiefs
City:	Spokane, Washington
League:	Western Hockey League
Conference:	Western
Division:	U.S.
Founded:	1985–86
Home Arena:	Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Colors:	Red, White and Blue
Head Coach:	Bill Peters
General Manager:	Tim Speltz
Franchise history
1982–85:	Kelowna Wings
1985-Present:	Spokane Chiefs

The Spokane Chiefs are a major junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League based out of Spokane, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, with a capacity of 10,700. Their uniforms are similar to those of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Spokane consistently ranks in the top 10 in the Canadian Hockey League in attendance. [1] They are the current Memorial Cup champions, and first team ever to win the Ed Chynoweth Cup - awarded starting in 2008 to the team that wins the WHL Championship.

Memorial Cup Championships: 2 (1990–91, 2007–08)

Memorial Cup Appearances: 3 (1990–91, 1997–98, 2007–08)

WHL Championships: 2 (1990–91, 2007–08)

WHL Championship Appearances: 4 (1990–91, 1995–96, 1999–00, 2007–08)

WHL Western Conference Championships: 4 (1990–91, 1995–96, 1999–00, 2007–08)

WHL West/U.S. Division Championships: 2 (1995–96, 1999–00)

Playoff Appearances: 19 (1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08)

[edit] History

The Chiefs won the WHL Championship in 2008. The trophy was renamed the Ed Chynoweth Cup that same year.

The Spokane Chiefs franchise was granted in 1982 to Kelowna, British Columbia as the Kelowna Wings. They moved to Spokane in 1985.

The Chiefs won the Memorial Cup and President's Cup in 1991 and 2008, have won two division titles, and four Western Conference championships. The Chiefs and Portland Winter Hawks are the only two U.S. division teams to win the Memorial Cup. The Chiefs are also the only team in the history of the Western Hockey League to come back from an 0–3 deficit to win a best-of-seven series, which they did against Portland in 1996.

The 1991 Memorial Cup team included future NHL players: Ray Whitney, Pat Falloon, Trevor Kidd, Jon Klemm, and Scott Bailey. This team of future NHL'ers blew through the Memorial Cup Tournament, scoring a goal in the first couple of minutes of virtually every game.

The Chiefs returned to greatness in the 1995-96 season, the team's first year in the Spokane Arena. The Arena hosted many memorable events in that first year, and saw the Chiefs win 50 games and advance to the WHL finals, only to lose in five games to the Brandon Wheat Kings.

The Chiefs won the Kal-Tire Western Conference Championship cup in 2008.

Just two years later, the Chiefs hosted the 1998 Memorial Cup, and were one goal away from advancing to the final game to take on WHL rival Portland. However an overtime victory by the Guelph Storm sent the Chiefs home for the year. Still, Spokane set an attendance record for the Memorial Cup. In the 1999-00 season head coach Mike Babcock led the team from a last place finish the previous year to a first place, 47 win season. The Chiefs advanced to play the Kootenay Ice in the WHL finals, but lost in six games.

Between 2001 and 2005, the Chiefs struggled to find an identity. The organization went through three head coaches in five years: Perry Ganchar (resigned), Al Conroy (fired) and current coach Bill Peters. Still Spokane fans, known for their robust support, continued to turn out to watch their team. The Chiefs consistently average 6,000–7,000 fans per game, one of the top figures in the Western Hockey League. The Chiefs are also known for having a goal celebration often called the 'best in junior hockey.' [2] In 1999, the fans were named the best in the WHL. On Saturday nights, often referred to as 'Hockey Night in Spokane', the Spokane Arena is generally sold out, and sellouts are always expected when the Tri-City Americans come to town.

The 2006–07 season saw the Chiefs return to the playoffs for the first time in two years. They fell four games to two versus the CHL's top-ranked team, the Everett Silvertips. During the summer of 2007, the Chiefs announced Head Coach Bill Peters' team option for a third year had been picked up. Also in the off season, Assistant Coach Steve Pleau left the team to become the Head Coach of the newest WHL franchise, the Edmonton Oil Kings. With their first pick in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft, the Chiefs selected left-winger Michael Betz.

The 2007–08 season produced the most wins by a Spokane Chiefs team since the 1999–00 season, a season which saw the Chiefs go to the WHL Finals. The team, backed by a solid goaltending tandem and an offensive attack led by Carolina Hurricanes draft pick Drayson Bowman, ranked in the top ten of the CHL for most of the season, and reached the #1 spot in late February. In one of the greatest series in WHL history the Chiefs beat their arch-rival, the Tri-City Americans, 4 games to 3 in the Western Conference finals to earn a spot in the 2008 WHL Finals. 5 of the 7 games went into overtime, including 3 games decided in double overtime.

In the Finals, the Chiefs outscored the Lethbridge Hurricanes 15–5 and swept the series 4–0, just as they did in the 1991 WHL playoffs, to earn a trip to the Memorial Cup in Kitchener, Ontario. The Chiefs skated to a perfect 3–0 round robin record en route to their 2nd Memorial Cup, defeating the host Kitchener Rangers 4–1 in the championship game.

[edit] Players

[edit] Current Roster

Number	Player	Position	Birthyear	Hometown
2	Jared Cowen	D	1991	Allan, Saskatchewan
3	Trevor Glass	D	1988	Cochrane, Alberta
4	Mike Reddington	D	1990	Port Coquitlam, British Columbia
5	Jace Coyle	D	1990	Cranbrook, British Columbia
6	Brett Bartman	D	1989	Medicine Hat, Alberta
7	Ryan Letts	RW	1989	Newport Beach, California
9	Tyler Johnson	C	1990	Liberty Lake, Washington
12	Chris Bruton	C	1987	Calgary, Alberta
14	Mitch Wahl	C	1990	Seal Beach, California
15	Justin Falk	D	1988	Snowflake, Manitoba
16	Dustin Donaghy	LW	1989	Cranbrook, British Columbia
17	Justin McCrae	C	1988	Cochrane, Alberta
18	Jared Spurgeon	D	1989	Edmonton, Alberta
20	David Rutherford	C	1987	Ladner, British Columbia
21	Ondrej Roman	LW	1989	Ostrava, Czech Republic
22	Stefan Ulmer	D	1990	Dornbirn, Austria
23	Judd Blackwater	C	1987	Lethbridge, Alberta
24	Curtis Kelner	LW	1988	Peoria, Arizona
25	Levko Koper	C	1990	Edmonton, Alberta
26	Seth Compton	LW	1990	West Richland, Washington
27	Drayson Bowman	LW	1989	Littleton, Colorado
28	Luke Betts	LW	1989	Maple Ridge, British Columbia
31	Kevin Armstrong	G	1987	Winnipeg, Manitoba
34	Dustin Tokarski	G	1989	Watson, Saskatchewan

[edit] NHL Alumni

[edit] Club Records

There are 11 Championship Hockey Banners hanging from the rafters at the Spokane Arena. Seven belong to the Chiefs. Starting in the 2008-09 season, three more banners will be added- including another Memorial Cup banner.

Most Goals: 68 - Valeri Bure (1992–93)

Most Assists: 118 - Ray Whitney (1990–91)

Most Points: 185 - Ray Whitney (1990–91)

Most Points, rookie: 78 - Pat Falloon (1988–89)

Most Points, defenceman: 84 - Bryan McCabe

Most Penalty Minutes: 505 - Kerry Toporowski (1990–91)

Best Goals Against Average, Goaltender: 2.05 - Dustin Tokarski (2007–08)

Most Shutouts, Goaltender: 6- Dustin Tokarski (2007–08)

Most Saves, Goaltender: 2,007 - Troy Gamble (1987–88)

Most Games Played, Goaltender: 67 - Troy Gamble (1987–88)

Most Points In Standings, Team: 107 (2007–08)

Most Wins, Team: 50 (1995–96), (2007–08)

[edit] Season-by-season Record

[edit] Regular Season

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

ALL-TIME RECORD: 1656GP, 792W 722L 93T 37OTL 13SL

[edit] Playoff History

• 1985–86: Lost to Portland Winter Hawks 5 games to 4 in Conference semi-finals.
• 1986–87: Lost to Portland Winter Hawks 5 games to 0 in Conference semi-finals.
• 1987–88: Defeated Victoria Cougars 5 games to 3 in Conference semi-finals.
  Lost to Kamloops Blazers 5 games to 2 in Conference finals.
• 1988–89: Out of playoffs.
• 1989–90: Lost to Kamloops Blazers 5 games to 1 in Conference semi-finals
• 1990–91: Defeated Seattle Thunderbirds 5 games to 1 in Conference semi-finals.
  Defeated Kamloops Blazers 5 games to 0 in Conference finals.
  Defeated Lethbridge Hurricanes 4 games to 0 in WHL finals. WHL CHAMPIONS
  Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place.
  Defeated Drummondville Voltigeurs 5–1 to win Memorial Cup. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
• 1991–92: Defeated Portland Winter Hawks 4 games to 2 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Seattle Thunderbirds 3 games to 1 in Conference semi-finals.
• 1992–93: Defeated Tacoma Rockets 4 games to 3 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Kamloops Blazers 3 games to 0 in Conference semi-finals.
• 1993–94: Lost to Seattle Thunderbirds 3 games to 0 in Conference quarter-finals.
• 1994–95: Advanced past round-robin tournament with 3–1 record.
  Lost to Tri-City Americans 4 games to 3 in Conference semi-finals.
• 1995–96: Defeated Portland Winter Hawks 4 games to 3 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Earned second-round bye.
  Defeated Kamloops Blazers 4 games to 2 in Conference finals.
  Lost to Brandon Wheat Kings 4 games to 1 in WHL Finals.
• 1996–97: Defeated Kelowna Rockets 4 games to 2 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Prince George Cougars 3 games to 0 in Conference semi-finals.
• 1997–98: Defeated Kelowna Rockets 4 games to 3 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Prince George Cougars 3 games to 1 in Conference semi-finals.
  Lost to Portland Winter Hawks 4 games to 3 in Conference finals.
  Hosted Memorial Cup, finished round-robin in third place.
  Lost 2–1 (OT) in Semi-Final to Guelph Storm.
• 1998–99: Out of playoffs.
• 1999–00: Defeated Tri-City Americans 4 games to 0 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Earned second-round bye.
  Defeated Prince George Cougars 4 games to 1 in Conference finals.
  Lost to Kootenay Ice 4 games to 2 in WHL finals.
• 2000–01: Defeated Kamloops Blazers 4 games to 0 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Seattle Thunderbirds 3 games to 0 in Conference semi-finals.
  Lost to Portland Winter Hawks 4 games to 1 in Conference finals.
• 2001–02: Defeated Tri-City Americans 4 games to 1 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Kelowna Rockets 4 games to 2 in Conference semi-finals.
• 2002–03: Defeated Portland Winter Hawks 4 games to 3 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to Kelowna Rockets 4 games to 0 in Conference semi-finals.
• 2003–04: Lost to Everett Silvertips 4 games to 0 in Conference quarter-finals.
• 2004–05: Out of playoffs.
• 2005–06: Out of playoffs.
• 2006–07: Lost to Everett Silvertips 4 games to 2 in Conference quarter-finals.
• 2007–08: Defeated Everett Silvertips 4 games to 0 in Conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Vancouver Giants 4 games to 2 in Conference semi-finals.
  Defeated Tri-City Americans 4 games to 3 in Conference finals.
  Defeated Lethbridge Hurricanes 4 games to 0 in WHL finals. WHL CHAMPIONS
  Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place.
  Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4–1 to win Memorial Cup. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS

• All-Time Playoff Record (Not Including Memorial Cup Games): 110–98
• All-Time Memorial Cup Tournament Record: 9–3

[edit] Executives

[edit] Head Coaches & All-Time Regular Season Records

• 1985–86 Ernie Gare Jr. (1–5–0)
• 1985–86 Marc Pezzin (30–41–1)
• 1986–87 Peter Esdale (37–33–2)
• 1987–89 Butch Goring (39–41–3)
• 1989 (Interim)- Bob Strumm (2–4–0)
• 1988–89 Gary Braun (21–32–2)
• 1989–94 Bryan Maxwell (165–155–22)* Resigned Mid-Season 1993–94
• 1994 (Interim)- Tim Speltz (1–0)
• 1994 (Interim)- Perry Shockey (0–1)
• 1994 (Interim)- Mike Fedorko (9–11–2)
• 1994–00 Mike Babcock (234–169–29–2)
• 1997 (Interim)- Brian Cox (5–2–0)
• 2000–02 Perry Ganchar (68–53–18–5)
• 2003–05 Al Conroy (82–103–18–13)
• 2005-Present Bill Peters (111–81–10–12)

[edit] General Managers

• 1985–86 Marc Pezzin
• 1986–89 Bob Strumm
• 1989–90 Brian Maxwell
• 1990-Present Tim Speltz

[edit] Arenas

• 1950–1995 Spokane Coliseum (5,400 capacity)
• 1995- Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena (10,700 hockey capacity)

[edit] Spokane Arena Hockey Attendance Records

The Spokane Arena is the home of the Spokane Chiefs.

• Largest Crowds: 10,759 vs. Tri-City (7 times since 1995), 10,751 Spokane vs. Val d'Or (1998 Memorial Cup Opener) and 10,700 vs. Tri-City (8 times since 1995), 10,650 vs. Tri-City (2 times since 1995)
• Smallest Crowd: 3,025 Spokane vs. Kelowna (February 8, 2006)
• 1995–96 Sellouts: 11 (Includes NHL Exhibition Game)
• 1996–97 Sellouts: 10
• 1997–98 Sellouts: 14 (Includes 8 Memorial Cup Games)
• 1998–99 Sellouts: 9
• 1999–00 Sellouts: 10
• 2000–01 Sellouts: 6
• 2001–02 Sellouts: 7
• 2002–03 Sellouts: 5
• 2003–04 Sellouts: 4
• 2004–05 Sellouts: 2
• 2005–06 Sellouts: 1
• 2006–07 Sellouts: 2
• 2007–08 Sellouts: 3

[edit] Chiefs Attendance Averages and WHL Attendance Rank

[edit] See also

• Spokane Flyers

[edit] External links

• Spokane Chiefs website
• Stefan Ulmer website