CHIEFS BEGIN BUSY WEEK
Two games in two weeks. That has been the Chiefs schedule to open the 2011-12 season. Spokane and Kelowna, the Chiefs opponent at home on Saturday night, have played the fewest games in the WHL in the first two weeks of the season, but that will soon change. With three games in four nights this week Spokane’s schedule is about to ramp up.
The Chiefs’ week will conclude on Saturday night at home, their third game in four nights, with the Magnet Schedule Giveaway presented by the Black Book by Hagadone Directories. Tickets to all home games are available by calling the Chiefs office at (509) 535-PUCK (7825) or TicketsWest at (800) 325-SEAT (7328)
The Chiefs will take a tour through the B.C. Division this week with a pair of road games, at Vancouver on Wednesday and at Kamloops on Friday, before returing home on Saturday to take on the Rockets. Saturday’s game will mark the first of seven straight at home for the Chiefs.
Mike Boyle will go on the air each night a half-an-hour prior to each game with Xfinity Hockey Tonight on the radio home of the Chiefs, AM 1510 KGA, Everything Sports.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH at VANCOUVER GIANTS – 7:00
The Chiefs travel to Vancouver for their first of two meetings on the season and only game on the road. Vancouver will visit Spokane on Wednesday, February 15th in their only other meeting of the year. Spokane was 2-0 last year versus the Giants as they earned a 3-2 shootout win on December 10th in Vancouver as Spokane outshot the Giants 45-22. One week later Dominik Uher scored two goals and added an assist as the Chiefs held the Giants to just 15 shots on goal in a 4-0 win. Overall, Spokane was 2-8 on the power play and 5-5 on the penalty kill. On average, the Chiefs outshot the Giants 35.5-18.5. Brenden Kichton had two assists in two games.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7TH at KAMLOOPS BLAZERS – 7:00
Spokane will play in Kamloops in the first of four meetings of the year between the Chiefs and Blazers. The Chiefs will host Kamloops on Friday, November 18th. Spokane will not return to Kamloops again until Wednesday, February 1st. Spokane was 3-0-0-1 last season versus the Blazers. Spokane’s three wins included a shootout victory in their first meeting on October 6th, 2010. Reid Gow and Darren Kramer both scored in regulation. Spokane also scored 10 goals twice versus Kamloops, both at home, November 24th and December 11th. In between, the Blazers picked up a 4-3 shootout win on November 26th. Brenden Kichton had one goal and five assists in three games while Dominik Uher had three goals and four points in his only game versus Kamloops last year. Corbin Baldwin was +6. The Chiefs were 8-22 (36.4%) on the power play and 16-18 (88.9%) on the penalty kill.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8TH vs. KELOWNA ROCKETS – 7:00
The Chiefs and Rockets will face off in their first of four meetings on the year and the first in Spokane. Spokane will travel to Kelowna in back-to-back weeks (December 27th and January 4th) before hosting the Rockets again on Wednesday, March 7th. Spokane was 2-1-1-0 last season versus Kelowna. The Chiefs were 2-0 on the road and 0-1-1-0 at home. Mac Engel started three of the four match-ups and was 1-1-1-0. Spokane was 4-15 (26.7%) on the power play and 14-17 (82.4%) on the penalty kill with two shorthanded goals. Brenden Kichton had one goal and four points in four games. The Chiefs outshot Kelowna, on average, 34.5-21.2. In the season series the Chiefs outscored the Rockets 13-12.
