Spokane Chiefs | |
---|---|
City | Spokane, Washington |
League | Western Hockey League |
Conference | Western |
Division | U.S. |
Founded | 1985 |
Home arena | Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
Colors | Red, white and blue |
General manager | Matt Bardsley |
Head coach | Ryan Smith |
Website | www.spokanechiefs.com |
Franchise history | |
1982–1985 | Kelowna Wings |
1985–present | Spokane Chiefs |
Championships | |
Playoff championships | Ed Chynoweth Cup 2 (1991, 2008) Conference Championships 1 (2007–08) Memorial Cup 2 (1991, 2008) |
The Spokane Chiefs is a major junior ice hockey team based in Spokane, Washington that plays in the Western Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Arena. As of 2010 [update] , Spokane ranked in the top 10 in the Canadian Hockey League in attendance. [1] [ needs update ] The Chiefs won the Memorial Cup in 1991 and 2008. They also hosted the first outdoor hockey game in WHL history on January 15, 2011, at Avista Stadium versus the Kootenay Ice.
The Spokane Chiefs was the name of the hockey team that played in the Western International Hockey League (WIHL) from 1982 to 1985. In their final year, the Chiefs were the regular season champions of the WIHL. [2] The current franchise was granted in 1982 to Kelowna, British Columbia, as the Kelowna Wings. In 1985, the team relocated to Spokane, Washington, and became the Chiefs.[ citation needed ]
Spokane continued to support the team, consistently averaging 6,000–7,000 fans per game, one of the top figures in the Western and Canadian Hockey Leagues. The Chiefs are also known for a goal celebration often called the 'best in junior hockey.' [3]
The Chiefs and the Portland Winterhawks made history again in the playoffs in 2010, as Portland beat Spokane in the Western Conference quarterfinals, four games to three. It is the only series in Western Hockey League history in which the home team did not win a game. [4]
On May 4, 2010, the Chiefs announced Hardy Sauter's contract was not extended, ending his two-year stint as the team's head coach. [5] Weeks later, former Tri-City coach Don Nachbaur unexpectedly resigned from a coaching position in the AHL and was named the new head coach of the Chiefs hours later. [6]
The WHL's first outdoor hockey game was played in Spokane on January 15, 2011, between the Chiefs and the Kootenay Ice. Weather played a critical role in the lead up to the game and on game day itself. Initial forecasts called for arctic temperatures and more than a foot of snow falling on January 15. That changed the week of the game, when a warm Pacific storm went through the northwest and melted nearly a foot of snow already on the ground in Spokane. The temperatures on game day reached 50-degrees and there was no snow. Moments before the puck dropped, the sky turned cloudy and hid the sun allowing for optimal conditions. In the end, the game was played at Avista Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd of 7,075. While they enjoyed the experience, many fans complained about the view from their seats at Avista Stadium. Fans who bought front-row tickets discovered they were eye-level with the side boards, making only the upper-part of the players' bodies visible and making it impossible to see the puck. [7]
Updated March 30, 2024. [8]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties OTL = Overtime losses Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
1985–86 | 72 | 30 | 41 | 1 | - | 373 | 413 | 61 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semi-final |
1986–87 | 72 | 37 | 33 | 2 | - | 374 | 350 | 76 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semi-final |
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 | Out of playoffs |
1989–90 | 72 | 30 | 37 | 5 | - | 334 | 344 | 65 | 4th West | Lost West Division semi-final |
1990–91 | 72 | 48 | 23 | 1 | - | 435 | 275 | 97 | 2nd West | Won WHL championship and Memorial Cup |
1991–92 | 72 | 37 | 29 | 6 | - | 267 | 270 | 80 | 2nd West | Lost West Division semi-final |
1992–93 | 72 | 28 | 40 | 4 | - | 311 | 319 | 60 | 5th West | Lost West Division semi-final |
1993–94 | 72 | 31 | 37 | 4 | - | 324 | 320 | 66 | 5th West | Lost West Division quarter-final |
1994–95 | 72 | 32 | 36 | 4 | - | 244 | 261 | 68 | 5th West | Lost West Division semi-final |
1995–96 | 72 | 50 | 18 | 4 | - | 322 | 221 | 104 | 1st West | Lost WHL finals |
1996–97 | 72 | 35 | 33 | 4 | - | 260 | 235 | 74 | 3rd West | Lost West Division semi-final |
1997–98 | 72 | 45 | 23 | 4 | - | 288 | 235 | 94 | 2nd West | Lost West Division final & Lost Memorial Cup |
1998–99 | 72 | 19 | 44 | 9 | - | 193 | 268 | 47 | 7th West | Out of playoffs |
1999–00 | 72 | 47 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 272 | 191 | 100 | 1st West | Lost WHL finals |
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 semi-final |
2002–03 | 72 | 26 | 36 | 6 | 4 | 216 | 261 | 62 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semi-final |
2003–04 | 72 | 32 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 200 | 215 | 75 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
2004–05 | 72 | 24 | 38 | 8 | 2 | 192 | 230 | 58 | 5th U.S. | Out of playoffs |
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
2005–06 | 72 | 25 | 39 | 5 | 3 | 193 | 254 | 58 | 5th U.S. | Out of playoffs |
2006–07 | 72 | 36 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 232 | 217 | 80 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
2007–08 | 72 | 50 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 251 | 160 | 107 | 2nd U.S. | Won WHL championship and Memorial Cup |
2008–09 | 72 | 46 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 246 | 145 | 95 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semi-final |
2009–10 | 72 | 45 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 240 | 179 | 95 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
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 semi-final |
2012–13 | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 269 | 230 | 90 | 2nd U.S. | Lost Western Conference semi-final |
2013–14 | 72 | 40 | 26 | 3 | 3 | 244 | 213 | 86 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
2014–15 | 72 | 34 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 219 | 229 | 72 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
2015–16 | 72 | 33 | 30 | 5 | 4 | 223 | 245 | 75 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
2016–17 | 72 | 27 | 33 | 8 | 4 | 235 | 272 | 66 | 5th U.S. | Out of playoffs |
2017–18 | 72 | 41 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 282 | 240 | 88 | 3rd U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
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. | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
2020–21 | 21 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 79 | 17 | 4th U.S. | No playoffs were held |
2021–22 | 68 | 24 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 188 | 289 | 53 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference quarter-final |
2022–23 | 68 | 15 | 43 | 4 | 6 | 195 | 314 | 40 | 5th U.S. | Out of playoffs |
2023–24 | 68 | 30 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 268 | 263 | 66 | 4th U.S. | Lost Western Conference Quarter-finals |
Spokane Chiefs games are broadcast on AM 1510 KGA throughout Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho and parts of British Columbia. [12]
Season | Total attendance | Average [13] | Games | WHL rank |
1996–97 | 281,743 | 7,826 | 36 | 2nd |
1997–98 | 289,735 | 8,048 | 36 | 2nd |
1998–99 | 259,150 | 7,404 | 36 | 2nd |
1999–00 | 255,974 | 7,110 | 36 | 1st |
2000–01 | 231,960 | 6,443 | 36 | 2nd |
2001–02 | 229,308 | 6,369 | 36 | 3rd |
2002–03 | 219,586 | 6,099 | 36 | 3rd |
2003–04 | 226,550 | 6,293 | 36 | 3rd |
2004–05 | 225,002 | 6,250 | 36 | 4th |
2005–06 | 219,802 | 6,105 | 36 | 5th |
2006–07 | 220,019 | 6,112 | 36 | 4th |
2007–08 | 236,056 | 6,557 | 36 | 3rd |
2008–09 | 239,620 | 6,656 | 36 | 3rd |
2009–10 | 243,370 | 6,760 | 36 | 3rd |
2010–11 | 231,811 | 6,439 | 36 | 3rd |
2011–12 | 231,946 | 6,442 | 36 | 2nd |
2012–13 | 229,232 | 6,368 | 36 | 3rd |
2013–14 | 219,662 | 6,101 | 36 | 4th |
2014–15 | 209, 836 | 5,829 | 36 | 5th |
2015-16 | 5,765 | 36 | 4th | |
2016-17 | 209,225 [14] | 5,812 | 36 | 5th |
2017-18 | 5,741 | 36 | 3rd | |
2018-19 | 5,959 | 36 | 2nd | |
2019-20 | 5,709 | 31 | 3rd | |
2020-21 | Season Cancelled | 21 | 4th | |
2021-22 | 4,419 | 34 | 4th | |
2022-23 | Ongoing | 5,342 | 5th |
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