Spokane Chiefs
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C
Unless the Chiefs have an ace up their sleeves this year no one knows about, they could well be the whipping boys of the west division. David Boychuk is tough, however last year didn't scrap too many of the leagues real tough guys and also received little ice time. With little other toughness, the Chiefs will need to utilize Boychuk more often this year to keep the heat off some of their smurf like forwards. Ryan Thorpe showed some toughness as a 16 and 17 year old with the Blazers, however since being dealt to the Chiefs, Thorpe has seen limited ice time and little willingness to drop the gloves. The Chiefs will need a big year from Thorpe to keep the heat off his teammates. Kurt Sauer is one big hombre, however showed very little when it came to playing with the gloves off. Chris Barr and Shaun Thompson will be counted on to also drop the gloves on a regular basis as the Chiefs skill guys are for the most part small. Look for the Chiefs to address this need unless they plan on using Boychuk more often than last year and Thorpe regains his confidence.

Ryan "Haunting the Blazers" Thorpe
LW...6'4"...215lbs...02/06/81

 Hasn't fought much since becoming a Chief a year and a half ago, but this guy can fight. Limited ice time and a few concussions might have taken away some of his ability to go, but with not much other toughness, Thorpy will need to get busy if he's to add much to the Chiefs roster.
 


Kurt "Sweet and" Sauer
D...6'4"...225lbs...01/16/81

 Big, strong guy who didn't fight much at all last season, but like Thorpe will need to add some muscle to the Chiefs line up this year. Took some time to adjust coming from the USHL last season.  I look for more feistiness from Sauer this season.


David Boychuk
D...6'4"...225lbs...07/16/81

There's very little chance of this big D-man losing his spot in the top ten.  For more info click on "The Mayon Event", west division.
Chris "I'm not even old enough to get into the"Barr
D...6'3"...195lbs...04/12/82

 Having gotten his feet wet with the Chiefs  last  year, Barr is another kid who'll need to step to the plate this year to lend a hand. Good size and long reach should allow Barr to fare just fine fighting, but we'll see if it's in his game as he showed flashes last year of being a willing combatant.
 


Shaun "Let me at 'em, coach" Thompson
LW...6'2"...190lbs...05/28/80

 A solid middleweight who can toss the leather pretty good, Thompson may be a frequent scrapper as he doesn't mind getting in the opponents face and will likely see a lot of time checking the other teams top line. Spirited scrapper who throws 'em with abandon.
 


Jordan Clarke
LW...6'2"...204lbs...01/27/82

Acquired from P.A. should take a little of the pressure off David Boychuk.  Not afraid to mix it up as seen by his ddance card so far this year.  Jordan has spent time in outr Mayon Event east division and will likely show up in the west now.
After approx. 40 games

C+

From worst to first the last two seasons what are they going to do for an encore?   They too have some pretty tough hombres but don't always use them to their advantage.  David Boychuk is probably one of the toughest guys in the west division and with the recent acquisition of Jordan Clarke from the Raiders  they may possibly have the best "one-two punch" in the west. Add to that Shaun Thompson who has stepped up his physical play, Jevon Desautels and Chris Barr the Chiefs are more than capable of going to war with the best of them.  If they could ever get Kurt Sauer to drop the gloves once in a while Spokane's end of the ice would rapidly become a place that other forwards wouldn't want to visit to often. Sauer is a huge kid and with the west as tight as it is this year he will probably be called upon a few more times as the season winds down and teams are looking any way they can to secure a playoff spot.  One thing is for sure....As little scrapping as the Chiefs do,  I doubt that there's too many teams go into their barn with a game plan  set on beating the Chiefs physically.
 



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