Kooper Gizowski, Saige Weinstein named to U17 Capital City Challenge roster
Per Hockey Canada’s announcement Friday, Chiefs forward Kooper Gizowski and defenseman Saige Weinstein were among the 66 players named to the under-17 roster for the Capital City Challenge in Ottawa later this month. The four-team tournament will feature three men’s under-17 teams and Canada’s National Women’s Team from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1.
Gizowski, Spokane’s second-round (40th overall) pick of the 2020 WHL Draft, led the Northern Alberta Extreme (NAX) with 51 points (27G-24A) in 29 games played during the 2019-20 season. He finished tied for sixth in the CSSHL in goals scored, tallying two hat tricks and six multi-goal games. So far this season, Gizowski notched a point on an assist in the first game of the year, in addition to three points (2G-1A) in preseason play.
Weinstein was the Chiefs’ 18th overall (first round) pick in the 2020 WHL Draft and also played alongside Gizowski for the Xtreme. During the 2019-20 season, Weinstein posted four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in 23 games with NAX.
Since 2001, 10 Canadians that have competed with one of Canada’s national men’s under-17 teams have been selected first overall in the NHL Draft: Rick Nash (2002), Marc-André Fleury (2003), John Tavares (2009), Taylor Hall (2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Aaron Ekblad (2014), Connor McDavid (2015), Alexis Lafrenière (2020) and Owen Power (2021).
The Capital City Challenge opens on Nov. 26 at TD Place Arena and full-event ticket packages can be purchased for $80 starting Monday, Nov. 8 on Hockey Canada’s website.
—
The Spokane Chiefs are a member of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players. Since 1985 the Chiefs have been a pillar in the Spokane community, offering family-friendly entertainment and a winning tradition which includes: two Memorial Cup Championships in 1991 & 2008, two WHL Championships in 1991 & 2008 and four Western Conference Championships in 1991, 1996, 2000 & 2008. Over 60 alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League.
The Chiefs’ 2021-22 regular season continues on Friday, November 5 when they host the Everett Silvertips at Spokane Arena. It will be the Avista “Way to Save” Team Poster Giveaway as the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Spokane Chiefs team poster courtesy of Avista Utilities. Tickets for Friday and all regular season games are available online at spokanechiefs.com/tickets.
