Chiefs welcome 2010 with open arms

Gary Peterson/Action Sports Images

The Spokane Chiefs found themselves just one point out of first place in the U.S. Division during the early stages of December. It must feel like a long time ago since then, however, as the Chiefs stumbled into the new year losers of five straight and six out of seven.

While four of Spokane’s last five games have been one-goal affairs, they’ve found themselves on the wrong end of each of those defeats, managing just one point in that span. Because of their recent woes, the Chiefs currently stand in third place in the U.S. Division and in fourth place in the Western Conference, 13 points behind the leader in both of those standings, the Tri-City Americans. Fortunately, Spokane has games in hand on all three teams ahead of them in the West and are in immediate striking distance of both the Vancouver Giants (2nd in the West, 40 games played, 51 points) and the Portland Winter Hawks (3rd, 41 games played, 51 points). Having played just 37 games, the Chiefs have games in hand on both of those points and can overtake each of them with a strong run.

That might be a tall task for Spokane, however, with the slate of games they have awaiting them. On Saturday, January 2, the Chiefs travel to Vancouver to face the Giants in a pivotal matchup. The next night, the Chiefs take on the Seattle Thunderbirds, who handed Spokane one of their five consecutive losses. Tuesday, January 5, Spokane hosts the league’s best team, at least record-wise, the Saskatoon Blades before three straight contests over the weekend: at home versus the Chilliwack Bruins and Tri-City and on the road against the Everett Silvertips, who the Chiefs have yet to defeat on the season.

Spokane’s slump can partially be placed on the absence of Jared Cowen and Tyler Johnson, who are currently competing at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Both have been out of the lineup for all five of the Chiefs’ losses during their latest skid and will miss more time this week as Canada and the U.S., respectively, continue to advance in the World Juniors.

In their place, though, youngsters such as Tanner Mort and Mike Aviani have chances to prove that they can play well in the WHL. If Spokane can get contributions from those guys, as well as the other rookies, they should be able to keep up with and perhaps begin closing the gap on the teams ahead of them in the race for the top playoff seeds in the Western Conference.