Spokane Chiefs

Based out of Spokane, Washington, the Spokane Chiefs are a major junior hockey team in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The Chiefs play in the U.S. Division against division foes that include the Everett Silvertips, Tri-City Americans, Portland Winterhawks, and the Seattle Thunderbirds.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/whl19792010.html

The Spokane Chiefs began their inaugural season in 1985. Prior to that, the franchise was based out of Kelowna, British Columbia as the Kelowna Wings from 1982-85. Since the team's inaugural season, it has won four Western Conference Championships, two WHL Championships, and two Memorial Cup Championships. The Chiefs are owned and operated by the Bretts Sports family, and play in the Spokane Veteran's Memorial Arena.http://www.spokanechiefs.com/page/about-the-organization

The Spokane Chiefs ended the 2009-10 season with a 45-22-3-2 record, good enough to place third in their division behind the first place Tri-City Americans and second place Everett Silvertips. The Chiefs advanced to the playoffs, where they met the Portland Winterhawks in round one, and lost four games to three.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/whl19792010.html

Center Mitch Wahl led the Chiefs in both points and assists on the season, finishing with 96 points on 66 assists. Wahl's 30 goals was enough for third on the team, with left winger Kyle Beach leading the team in goals scored with 52, while center Tyler Johnson scored 36 goals. Beach was second on the team in points with 86 and fourth on the team in assists with 34. In the net, James Reid logged 60 games for a goals against average of 2.41 and a record of 38-16-5.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0010072010.html

Since the Chiefs inaugural 1985-86 season, there have been a host of players that have gone on to have professional careers as National Hockey League (NHL) players. That includes current NHL players like Jared Spurgeon, Justin Falk, Michael Grabner, and Drayson Bowman, among others.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/display_drafted_from_team.php?tmi=8102 Former NHL players that once played junior hockey for the Chiefs include Jon Klemm, Pat Falloon, Darcy Wakaluk, Jamie McLennan, and Travis Green.http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayersByTeam.jsp?team=Spokane+Chiefs