Thoughts Before Camp...

Spokane Chiefs camp starts Thursday and I get excited for this time of year. It's been nearly five months since the Chiefs lost their last playoff game against Victoria.  Waiting is over and now I get to see 63 players compete at scrimmages for the next three days.  Naturally like many Chiefs fans I have some thoughts on what to expect for this year.

First off, the goalies.  It was already going to be interesting what they would do here.  Then they traded for 20 year old Jayden Sittler from Lethbridge and that had me feeling like this:

At the time that was an odd trade.  Spokane was possibly going into camp with two 19 year old and one 20 year old goalies.  However, with Petersen being traded to Everett and Verhelst going to college things have gotten much clearer.  Sittler is likely the starter with Matt Berlin likely as the backup unless Donovan Buskey can show he's ready.  Buskey is no slouch, but I think he'll get one more year in development before being brought up.

Second, the defensemen.  I think this will be the strength of the Chiefs this season.  Yes, Jason Fram is gone and losing a five year player and two year captain is a hole to fill.  But the Chiefs are deep here.  Evan Fiala and Tyson Helgesen would be a solid top line and Jordan Henderson and Dalton Hamaliuk would make a solid second line.  And anyone who has seen Ty Smith play knows that kid is legit.  I expect him to get a lot of playing time as a rookie on the third line with Toporoski, Faith, or even Trent Huitema, who played very little at the end of last season but impressed me.  They also have Jake Harrison and Matt Leduc waiting in the wings.  With this depth I wouldn't be surprised if the Chiefs traded a defensemen for a front line player or prospects.

And finally, the forwards.  The most interesting part of the forwards is the fact the Dominic Zwerger is still on the roster along with two European born players that the Chiefs drafted in the import draft this past summer.  Zwerger would fill one of the 3 overage spots as well as one of the two Euro spots.  If they keep Zwerger they would have to get rid of one of the new Euro players as well as two other overage players (assuming Sittler stays on the team).  I don't think Keanu Yamamoto is going anywhere which means Bechtold and Cardiff would be odd players out.  If that pans out Spokane would still have some good scoring from Zwerger, Kyler Yamamoto, Keanu Yamamoto, Hudson Elynuik, and Jared Anderson-Dolan.  Add Miske to the mix who played better last season and Ethan McIndoe who was a nice surprise last season and you will have some good lines up front.  Ross and Ostir should also get more ice time this season which should help them improve.  I also think that Logan Foster, Koby Morrisseau, and Eli Zummack have good shots to make the team.  Regardless of what happens with the Euro situation this team will be fun to watch.

Camp starts Thursday and runs through Saturday.  Red/ White Game is Sunday.  Good luck to all of the players attending camp this season.  I'm looking forward to watching it.