Spokane Chiefs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spokane Chiefs |
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City | Spokane, Washington |
League | Western Hockey League |
Conference | Western |
Division | U.S. |
Founded | 1982 |
Home arena | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
Colors | Red, white and blue |
General manager | Matt Bardsley |
Head coach | Brad Lauer |
Championships | Ed Chynoweth Cup 2 (1991, 2008) Memorial Cup 2 (1991, 2008) conference championships 2 (2008, 2025) |
Website chl.ca/whl-chiefs |
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Franchise history | |
1982–1985 | Kelowna Wings |
1985–present | Spokane Chiefs |
The Spokane Chiefs are a junior ice hockey team from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and their home games are at Spokane Arena. The Chiefs have won the Memorial Cup twice, in 1991 and 2008. They were only the second American team to win this big championship! Spokane also hosted the very first outdoor game in WHL history on January 15, 2011, at Avista Stadium.
Contents
Team History
How the Chiefs Started
The Spokane Chiefs team we know today began in 1985. Before that, there was another team called the Kelowna Wings in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Wings played for three seasons, from 1982 to 1985. Then, the team moved to Spokane and became the Chiefs.
The Chiefs were not the first junior hockey team in Spokane. There was a team called the Flyers from 1980 to 1982. The Chiefs started playing their games at the Spokane Coliseum, which had been a hockey home since the 1950s.
Winning Their First Big Titles
The Chiefs quickly became a strong team in Spokane. For their first thirteen seasons, they only missed the playoffs once. In 1990, new owners bought the team and brought in Bryan Maxwell as coach and Tim Speltz as general manager.
The 1990–91 season was amazing! Players like Ray Whitney and Pat Falloon led the team. Whitney scored 67 goals and had 185 points, while Falloon had 64 goals and 138 points. The arena started selling out for games. Goaltender Trevor Kidd joined the team and was a huge help.
In the playoffs, the Chiefs beat the defending champions, the Kamloops Blazers. Then, they won the league final against the Lethbridge Hurricanes in four straight games. This made them WHL champions! They went on to win the 1991 Memorial Cup, beating the Drummondville Voltigeurs 5–1 in the final game. They were only the second American team to win the Memorial Cup.
In 1995, the Chiefs moved to the new Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. In 2016, Ray Whitney became the first player to have his jersey number retired by the team. This means no other player will wear his number 14.
Second Championship Win
After a few tough seasons, the Chiefs had a record-breaking year in 2007–08. They won 50 games and earned 107 points! Key players included goaltender Dustin Tokarski, Jared Cowan, and rookie Tyler Johnson.
Just like in 1991, they beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL championship in four games. Tyler Johnson was named the playoff's most valuable player. This win sent them to their second Memorial Cup tournament. They won the final game 4–1 against the Kitchener Rangers. Tokarski made 53 saves and was named the tournament's most valuable player. During their celebration, the Memorial Cup famously broke into two pieces!
Tyler Johnson, who is from Spokane, had a great career with the Chiefs. In 2022, his jersey number 9 was also retired, making him the second player to receive this honor.
The Chiefs stayed strong for several years after their second Memorial Cup win. In 2010, they played a playoff series against Portland where the home team didn't win any games. This was a first in league history!
Outdoor Game and Fan Support
Spokane hosted the very first outdoor game in the Western Hockey League on January 15, 2011. It was called the "Outdoor Hockey Classic" and was played at Avista Stadium. A huge crowd of 7,075 fans watched the Chiefs beat the Kootenay Ice 11–2.
Spokane is known for its strong support for the Chiefs. Fans often clap together to celebrate goals. After their first championship in 1991, attendance jumped by 30 percent! This helped the team plan for a new, bigger arena. The Chiefs consistently rank among the top WHL teams for attendance. For example, in the 2022–23 season, they were second in the league for average attendance, even though they didn't make the playoffs.
Season Records
Regular Season Performance
Here's a look at how the Chiefs have done in their regular seasons:
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1985–86 | 72 | 30 | 41 | 1 | - | - | 373 | 413 | 61 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1986–87 | 72 | 37 | 33 | 2 | - | - | 374 | 350 | 76 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1987–88 | 72 | 37 | 32 | 3 | - | - | 330 | 296 | 77 | 2nd West | Lost West Division final |
1988–89 | 72 | 25 | 45 | 2 | - | - | 326 | 419 | 56 | 6th West | Did not qualify |
1989–90 | 72 | 30 | 37 | 5 | - | - | 334 | 344 | 65 | 4th West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1990–91 | 72 | 48 | 23 | 1 | - | - | 435 | 275 | 97 | 2nd West | Won Championship and Memorial Cup |
1991–92 | 72 | 37 | 29 | 6 | - | - | 267 | 270 | 80 | 2nd West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1992–93 | 72 | 28 | 40 | 4 | - | - | 311 | 319 | 60 | 5th West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1993–94 | 72 | 31 | 37 | 4 | - | - | 324 | 320 | 66 | 5th West | Lost West Division quarterfinal |
1994–95 | 72 | 32 | 36 | 4 | - | - | 244 | 261 | 68 | 5th West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1995–96 | 72 | 50 | 18 | 4 | - | - | 322 | 221 | 104 | 1st West | Lost final |
1996–97 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | - | - | 260 | 235 | 74 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semifinal |
1997–98 | 72 | 45 | 23 | 4 | - | - | 288 | 235 | 94 | 2nd West | Lost West Division final |
1998–99 | 72 | 19 | 44 | 9 | - | - | 193 | 268 | 47 | 7th West | Did not qualify |
1999–2000 | 72 | 47 | 19 | 4 | 2 | - | 272 | 191 | 100 | 1st West | Lost final |
2000–01 | 72 | 35 | 28 | 7 | 2 | - | 242 | 219 | 79 | 4th West | Lost West Division final |
2001–02 | 72 | 33 | 25 | 11 | 3 | - | 223 | 206 | 80 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semifinal |
2002–03 | 72 | 26 | 36 | 6 | 4 | - | 216 | 261 | 62 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semifinal |
2003–04 | 72 | 32 | 29 | 4 | 7 | - | 200 | 215 | 75 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal |
2004–05 | 72 | 24 | 38 | 8 | 2 | - | 192 | 230 | 58 | 5th U.S. | Did not qualify |
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs | |
2005–06 | 72 | 25 | 39 | 5 | 3 | 193 | 254 | 58 | 5th U.S. | Did not qualify | |
2006–07 | 72 | 36 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 232 | 217 | 80 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2007–08 | 72 | 50 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 251 | 160 | 107 | 2nd U.S. | Won Championship and Memorial Cup | |
2008–09 | 72 | 46 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 246 | 145 | 95 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semifinal | |
2009–10 | 72 | 45 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 240 | 179 | 95 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2010–11 | 72 | 48 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 310 | 193 | 102 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference final | |
2011–12 | 72 | 38 | 25 | 5 | 4 | 257 | 225 | 85 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semifinal | |
2012–13 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 269 | 230 | 90 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semifinal | |
2013–14 | 72 | 40 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 244 | 213 | 86 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2014–15 | 72 | 34 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 219 | 229 | 72 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2015–16 | 72 | 33 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 223 | 245 | 75 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2016–17 | 72 | 27 | 33 | 8 | 4 | 235 | 272 | 66 | 5th U.S. | Did not qualify | |
2017–18 | 72 | 41 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 282 | 240 | 88 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2018–19 | 68 | 40 | 21 | 2 | 5 | 267 | 222 | 87 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference final | |
2019–20 | 64 | 41 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 258 | 179 | 87 | 3rd U.S. | Season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |
2020–21 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 79 | 17 | 4th U.S. | No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic | |
2021–22 | 68 | 24 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 188 | 289 | 53 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2022–23 | 68 | 15 | 43 | 4 | 6 | 195 | 314 | 40 | 5th U.S. | Did not qualify | |
2023–24 | 68 | 30 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 268 | 263 | 66 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarterfinal | |
2024–25 | 68 | 45 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 292 | 202 | 93 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Final |
Playoff Journey
The Chiefs have had many exciting playoff runs. Here are some of their key playoff results:
- 1990–91: Won the WHL Championship and the Memorial Cup!
- 1995–96: Reached the WHL Finals, but lost.
- 1999–2000: Reached the WHL Finals again, but lost.
- 2007–08: Won the WHL Championship and the Memorial Cup!
- 2010–11: Made it to the Western Conference final.
- 2018–19: Made it to the Western Conference final.
- 2024–25: Reached the WHL Finals, but lost.
Overall, the Chiefs have a playoff record of 164 wins and 152 losses. In Memorial Cup tournaments, they have a record of 9 wins and 3 losses.
Championship Wins
The Spokane Chiefs have won several major championships:
- Memorial Cup: 1991, 2008
- Ed Chynoweth Cup (WHL Championship): 1990–91, 2007–08
- Conference Championship: 2007–08, 2024–25
- Regular Season Division Titles: 1995–96, 1999–00
WHL Championship Series
- 1990–91: Won, 4–0, vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes
- 1995–96: Lost, 1–4, vs. Brandon Wheat Kings
- 1999–2000: Lost, 2–4, vs. Kootenay Ice
- 2007–08: Won, 4–0, vs. Lethbridge Hurricanes
- 2024–25: Lost, 1–4, vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Memorial Cup Finals
- 1991: Won, 5–1 vs Drummondville Voltigeurs
- 2008: Won, 4–1 vs Kitchener Rangers
Team Players
Players Who Played in the NHL
Many players who started with the Spokane Chiefs later played in the National Hockey League (NHL). Some of these players include:
- Jaret Anderson-Dolan
- Adam Beckman
- Valeri Bure
- Jared Cowen
- Pat Falloon
- Michael Grabner
- Travis Green
- Tyler Johnson
- Trevor Kidd
- Darcy Kuemper
- Bryan McCabe
- Derek Ryan
- Jared Spurgeon
- Dustin Tokarski
- Ray Whitney
- Kailer Yamamoto
Retired Jersey Numbers
The Chiefs have honored special players by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will ever wear that number again.
# | Player | Ref. |
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9 | Tyler Johnson | |
14 | Ray Whitney |
Team Leaders
Head Coaches
The head coach guides the team during games and practices. Here are some of the Chiefs' head coaches:
- 1989–1994: Bryan Maxwell
- 1994–2000: Mike Babcock
- 2005–2008: Bill Peters
- 2010–2017: Don Nachbaur
- 2024–present: Brad Lauer
General Managers
The general manager (GM) is in charge of building the team, including signing players and making trades.
- 1990–2016: Tim Speltz
- 2022–present: Matt Bardsley
Where the Chiefs Play
The Chiefs play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. Before 1995, they played at the Spokane Coliseum.
Chiefs Fan Attendance
The Chiefs have a strong fan base. Here's how many people have come to their games over the years:
Season | Average Attendance | WHL Rank |
1996–97 | 7,826 | 2nd |
1997–98 | 8,048 | 2nd |
1998–99 | 7,482 | 2nd |
1999–2000 | 7,200 | 1st |
2000–01 | 6,669 | 2nd |
2001–02 | 6,370 | 3rd |
2002–03 | 6,100 | 3rd |
2003–04 | 6,293 | 3rd |
2004–05 | 6,250 | 4th |
2005–06 | 6,092 | 5th |
2006–07 | 6,028 | 4th |
2007–08 | 6,557 | 3rd |
2008–09 | 6,656 | 3rd |
2009–10 | 6,453 | 3rd |
2010–11 | 6,439 | 3rd |
2011–12 | 6,443 | 2nd |
2012–13 | 6,368 | 3rd |
2013–14 | 6,102 | 4th |
2014–15 | 5,829 | 5th |
2015–16 | 5,765 | 4th |
2016–17 | 5,812 | 5th |
2017–18 | 5,741 | 3rd |
2018–19 | 5,959 | 2nd |
2019–20 | 5,709 | 3rd |
2020–21 | — | 4th |
2021–22 | 4,419 | 4th |
2022–23 | 5,842 | 5th |
2023–24 | 6,044 | 3rd |