Hello all:

This is Jessica Brown, the beat writer for the Spokane Chiefs. I've seen some comments that there have been no new postings on this blog. This is true. We have changed the format, and now all of your sports news - including stuff on the Chiefs - can be read at Sportslink.

Don't come here anymore, go to www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/sportslink.

Thanks, and keep reading and commenting. I promise, there are postings.

Last week, the Western Hockey League adopted some rule changes for the upcoming season.

Several of the rule changes are consistent with the rule changes the NHL has put into place for their upcoming season.

We’ve streamlined all of our blog content so that you can view it all in one spot. The SportsLink blog gives readers sports news updates, notes and opinion and allows readers to give feedback.

Save SportsLink on your favorites list. When you get to SportsLink you specify the team you wish to read about.

It was all offense on Sunday, as mostly veterans and a few newcomers shined in the Red-White game at the Arena.

You can read my story by clicking on the link below.

The buzz around the Arena as players took the ice for the first time Friday for Spokane Chiefs’ training camp was mostly directed toward the veteran players.

One newcomer, though, showed why there is a lot of hype and excitement before preseason play has even started.

The Spokane Chiefs have released their tentative schedule for the 2007-08 season which includes the home opener on Saturday, October 6th versus the Tri-City Americans.

Prior to their home opener, Spokane will travel for five road games and begin the season with a pair in Prince George on Friday, September 21st and Saturday the 22nd.

The schedule is subject to change.

Looks like the Chiefs are looking to strenghten up their defense.

The Chiefs have acquired 18-year old defenseman Patrick Kozyra from the Red Deer Rebels in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the 2008 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft.

Sorry guys, I'm not sure why I didn't have this posted here sooner.

The Chiefs picked Austrian Stefan Ulmer with the 34th overall pick in this morning's CHL Import Draft. Ulmer is a 17-year-old, 5-foot-10, 165-pound defenseman.

"Stefan will be a good offensive player for us," Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. "He is very skilled and a great skater and we expect him to add an offensive dimension."

The Chiefs named Hardy Sauter, a former Chiefs defenseman, assistant coach for the 2007-08 season.

Sauter scored 13 goals and 61 points in 66 games for the Chiefs in 1991-92 after an early season trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings where he spent the majority of his junior career.

“I am grateful for the opportunity,” Sauter said. “I’m looking forward to the upcoming hockey season and expecting us to have a very good hockey team and win a lot of games.”

For more information, click on the link below. What do you think of the Chiefs' hire?

A Spokane Chief was selected in each of the third, fourth and fifth rounds of this weekend's NHL Entry Draft, including forward Drayson Bowman, who was picked by the Carolina Hurricanes 72nd overall. Defenseman Justin Falk was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the fourth (110th overall) and center Ondrej Roman was taken by the Dallas stars in the fifth round (136th overall).

Spokane Chiefs defenseman Jared Cowen is one of 40 players, and only one of two born in 1991, who have been invited to try out for Canada’s Summer 18-under national team.

The players will be competing for one of 22 spots on Team Canada which will compete at the U18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka (formerly the Junior World Cup), from August 14-18 in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Canada has won this tournament three straight years.

The team will be made up of players born in 1990 or later. Cowen and Jimmy Bubnick, the Kamloops Blazers first round pick in 2006, are the only two players born in 1991 to be invited to the camp. Tryouts will take place in Calgary, AB August 4th through the 9th.

You can read more about this here.

Spokane Chiefs Captain Adam Hobson has signed a three-year entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago selected Hobson with their seventh round (203rd overall) pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

"In his four year junior hockey career in Spokane Adam earned the opportunity to move on and play professionally," Chiefs coach Bill Peters said. "We wish Hobby nothing but the best in the Chicago Blackhawk organization."

"It's rewarding for the organization when players can continue their dreal to play at the next level. This will be a good opportunity and challenge for Adam," general manager Tim Speltz said.

Hobson just finished his fourth season with Spokane and has played 252 career games as a Chief, 18th on the franchise’s all-time games played list.

The Mission, British Columbia native scored 14 goals and 32 points in 43 games last year as captain. Prior to suffering a knee injury that forced him to miss 26 games at mid-season, Hobson had played in 194 consecutive games dating back to January, 2004.

Hobson was named the Chiefs Player of the Year in 2006 after scoring a career high 23 goals and 50 points, the Ken Rabel Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year in 2005 and the Scholastic Player of the Year in 2004.

Hobson was originally selected by Spokane with their first round pick (12th overall) in the 2002 WHL Bantam Draft.

The Spokane Chiefs exercised the third-year option on on head coach Bill Peter’s initial contract. Peters signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year prior to the 2005-06 season.

"Bill is dedicated, committed and loyal and we are looking forward to the upcoming season" general manager Tim Speltz said. "Our team took very positive steps with regard to the development of our players and the on-ice performance. We believe Bill will continue to lead our team to the next level."

"I’m excited about the upcoming season and as a team we’re looking forward to building on the steps that we took last year," Peters said. "We have a dedicated group coming back that can accomplish something special."

Peters helped lead the Chiefs to a 36-28-4-4 record this past year, an 11 win and 22 point improvement from the previous season.

The Chiefs will continue the process of searching for an Assistant Coach for the 2007-08 season to replace Steve Pleau.

Any thoughts on the contract extension?

The Edmonton Oil Kings have selected 19-year-old J.P. Szaszkiewicz from the Chiefs roster in the WHL’s expansion draft.

The Spokane Chiefs have announced that assistant coach Steve Pleau will not return to for the upcoming year.

"We expected when we hired Steve it would be short term," Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz said. "Steve is a very qualified coach and we wish him the best in the future."

"Steve proved to be a great asset for our organization," Chiefs head coach Bill Peters said. "His experience from pro-hockey allowed us to look at things in a different light and allowed us to take a step forward as a team."

Pleau served one year on the Chiefs bench and helped Spokane make an 11 win and 22 point turnaround in the standings.

The Chiefs will begin the search for a replacement immediately. Any thoughts on a prospect?

The Chiefs picked up two forwards - left-winger Michael Betz and right-winger Blake Gal - in the first and second rounds of yesterday's WHL bantam draft.

You can read the draft day story here, which includes all of the Chiefs' draft-day selections.

The Chiefs will have the 12th draft pick in today's bantam draft in Calgary.

Chiefs general manager Tim Speltz seemed confident that the Chiefs will be able to pick up one of the guys on their list. You can read the draft advance here.

Any thoughts on the Chiefs future needs?

Hockey's Future filed a complimentary report about Spokane's Sean Zimmerman recently, but wasn't so kind about Michael Grabner.

The site predicts both will play in the American Hockey League next season. What are your thoughts?

Adam Hobson, left, and Myles Stoesz are unsigned.

The Chiefs make their selection in next week's Bantam Draft. Look for coverage online and in the newspaper next week from the new Chiefs beat writer, Jessica Brown.

What are your thoughts about the Chiefs' needs?

Following are key dates for the WHL offseason.

From the team:

Mike Boyle has signed an agreement to be the Voice of the Chiefs for the next two seasons. Mike just finished his fifth season as the Play-by-Play announcer of the Chiefs and we’re excited for the next two years.

The Spokane Chiefs gave the Everett Silvertips a run for their money, but fall 4-2 in the series after losing a tough Game 6 at the Arena. Here's my story. Here is the story from the Everett Herald. Everett next plays Prince George.

The future looks brighter for the Chiefs, who played a lot of rookies and second-year players for most of the season.

Spokane hosts Everett in clearly the most important game of the season. Here is my advance story and one from the Everett Herald.

We'll have full coverage online and in the paper.

Also, here's the Seattle Times' story on the T-birds' thrashing of Tri-City to win their series.

Spokane had a late-night meal in Everett, then hit the road for home.

The Chiefs host Everett on Sunday night at the Arena in Game 6, down 3-2 and looking to force a Game 7.

We will have an advance in Sunday's Spokesman-Review. The Chiefs and coach Bill Peters say they just need to forget about Game 5 and defend their home ice to extend the series.

Spokane Chiefs coach Bill Peters can always seemingly find something to take away from a loss.

Well, even motivational guru Tony Robbins would have a tough time finding a nugget of wisdom for Spokane after Game 5 of the Chiefs’ Western Hockey League playoff game on Friday night at the Everett Events Center.

The Everett Silvertips blew the Chiefs away with a four-goal second period en route to a 5-1 win in the teams’ opening-round playoff series.

The Spokane Chiefs meet the Everett Silvertips in what could turn out to be a pivotal Game 5. We'll have coverage online tonight and in Saturday's paper.

Here is my advance from today's paper. Here's a column by Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald where the Silvertips' stars say they will get their offense back on track.

What are your predictions for tonight and the series outcome?