NATIVE AMERICAN APPRECIATION NIGHT

The Spokane Chiefs host the Lethbridge Hurricanes tonight on Native American Appreciation Night presented by Coeur d’Alene Casino. The game will feature a special pre-game ceremony honoring Native American culture in the Spokane community.

BROADCAST INFO

Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on CBS SportsRadio 1510 KGA with the pre-game show beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fans can also watch on WHL Live, download the Chiefs Mobile App, or follow the Chiefs on social media for live updates.

GAME PREVIEW

The Chiefs are 13-7-3-0 with a 4-game winning streak after a 4-2 win over Victoria on Wednesday night. They are currently 3rd in the U.S. Division – 1 point behind 2nd-Place Tri-City – and 5th in the Western Conference. Spokane and Portland are tied with 29 points, but the Chiefs have 5 games in hand. 

Spokane plays an East Division team for the first time this season, hosting the Lethbridge Hurricanes. They went 4-1-0-1 vs. the East Division last season. Lethbridge entered the week on a 9-game losing streak dating back to October 29 but snapped it with a 4-0 win over Vancouver on Wednesday. They played the Tri-City Americans in Kennewick last night, losing 4-1 while being outshot 41-15.

The Hurricanes are led offensively 20-year-old forward Riley Sheen with 3 goals and 19 assists for 22 points. Zane Jones and team captain Jamal Watson are close behind with 18 points each. Jones has 11 goals and 7 assists Watson has 12 goals and 6 assists. Tyler Wong (8-9-17) and Taylor Cooper (6-7-13) round out the majority of the scoring. Rookies Stuart Skinner and Zac Robidoux share goaltending duties for Lethbridge. Skinner has a 3.29 GAA and .918 SV% in 13 games while Robidoux has a 4.20 GAA and .885 SV% in 16 games.

Spokane played Lethbridge once last season, winning 6-2 on Nov. 18 behind a hat trick from Mitch Holmberg. Adam Helewka and Jackson Playfair added goals and Jason Fram provided 2 assists in the win. Garret Hughson started in net and stopped 21 of 23 shots faced. There were a combined 24 penalties for 86 PIM in the game.

The Hurricanes last won at Spokane Arena on Feb. 12, 2003. Spokane’s current goaltending coach, Ryan Cyr, won the game for the ‘Canes, making 33 saves in the 3-2 Lethbridge victory.

Current Lethbridge Assistant Coach Bryan Maxwell also has ties to the Chiefs. Maxwell is one of Spokane’s all-time winningest coaches, with 165 wins behind the Chiefs’ bench including 48 during the 1990-91 season culminating in Spokane’s first Memorial Cup Championship.

TICKETS

Tickets for Saturday night and all Chiefs home games are available in-person at the Chiefs’ Ticket Office, over the phone at (509) 535-PUCK or (800) 325-SEAT, via TicketWest outlets and online at www.ticketswest.com.