Recent News
Kelowna Chiefs announce new Assistant Coach and local signings
The Kelowna Chiefs are excited to announce local signings and a new Assistant Coach.
Joining the teams coaching staff is Jason Tansem, a familiar name in West Kelowna hockey world.
Tansem brings with him many years of hockey experience and was most recently the Head Mentor Coach of the Westside Minor Hockey Association.
He will join Head Coach Ken Andrusiak, GM/Assistant Coach Grant Sheridan, and Assistant Coach Matt Dyck behind the bench for the upcoming 2013-2014 KIJHL hockey season.
The Kelowna Chiefs are also pleased to announce they have once again committed to a core group of new local players.
Local players include:
Kevin Roth, Adam Beatty, Nick Gnazdowsky, Braeden Cyra, Linden Hora, and Nick Kovacik.
The new signings were in their Chiefs jerseys this past Saturday, as the Chiefs continued their mantra of ‘Building a Stronger Community’ after participating in the Rutland May Day Parade and the Valley First Grand opening BBQ.
A reminder that the Kelowna Chiefs Main Camp takes place August 26th – 29th.
Photo from Left – Right – Head Coach Ken Andrusiak, Braeden Cyra, Nick Kovacik, Linden Hora, Nick Gnazdowsky, Jordan Salahor, and Assistant Coach Jason Tansem.
Successful 2013 Spring Camp
Close to 80 players showed off their skills at the 2013 Kelowna Chiefs Spring Camp.
Coaches and staff with the Chiefs evaluated players from across the country including Alberta, Ontario, Northern BC, and the Kootenay’s.
Of the players trying out, nine of them were goaltenders.
Familiar faces from the Chiefs roster this past season were in attendance including Jordan Salahor, Chase Astorino, Alex Fortin, Mitchell Barker, and Marshall Sidwell.
Select players were invited back to the Kelowna Chiefs Main Camp, which will take place this summer during the final week of August.
Thank you
It was a season full of accomplishments for the Kelowna Chiefs.
For the first time in the history of the franchise, the team finished in first place of the Okanagan Division.
The Chiefs went 35-15-1-1 in the regular season for a total of 72 points.
Despite exiting the playoffs earlier then the team would have wanted, General Manager Grant Sheridan says they still had a solid season and the players should hold their heads high.
“We’re obviously disappointed. We had a great season and it’s an unfortunate way to end it. Looking back there were lots of highs and lots of personal goals for players that were reached.”
Just some of those personal goals include the top scorer and top defenseman positions in the Okanagan Division and KIJHL for Jordan Salahor and Braeden Hikichi.
The Kelowna Chiefs would like to thank all the media who covered the team throughout the season.
A special thanks to all of our fans, volunteers, billets, and of course family members for your hard work and support throughout the 2012/13 hockey season.
**Photo contributed Steve Dunsmoor – Dunsmoor Photographic**
Season ending loss for Kelowna
It was solid hockey action in game 6 of the Kelowna Chiefs playoff series against the Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Chiefs were defeated 2 – 1 in double overtime by the ‘Yotes, which ends Kelowna’s 2012/2013 hockey season.
Scoring the lone goal for Kelowna was Nick Josephs in the third period while Jordan Salahor and Scott Renner picked up the assists.
Tyler O’Donnell was in net for the Chiefs.
Austin Lee scored the game-winning goal for the Coyotes, his first of the playoffs.
Fans definitely got their money’s worth this playoff series, with four of the six games going into overtime.
The Okanagan/Shuswap Conference finals will now feature the Osoyoos Coyotes and North Okanagan Knights.
**Photo thanks to Steve Dunsmoor of Dunsmoor Photographic**
Chiefs defeated on home ice
It was a tough loss for the Kelowna Chiefs Monday night.
The team was defeated 5 – 4 in double overtime by the Osoyoos Coyotes in game 5 of their playoff series.
This was the first time in the series that the host team was defeated on home ice.
Osoyoos opened up scoring in the first period, but Kelowna didn’t back down. Scott Renner (1G, 1A) netted the first goal for the Chiefs then Mitchell Barker (1G, 1A) went on to score.
The game was tied 2 – 2 heading into the second period. Kelowna would score back-to-back goals within less than a minutes time apart.
It was the third period where the Coyotes would tie up the game and force the overtime periods.
Scoring the game winner for Osoyoos was Colin Chmelka at 1:33 in the second overtime period.
Also scoring for Kelowna was Braeden Hikichi (1G, 1A) and Brady Mende.
The series now shifts to Osoyoos Tuesday night with the Chiefs down 3 – 2.
**Photo thanks to Steve Dunsmoor of Dunsmoor Photographic
Chiefs defeated in Game 4
The series is once again tied between the Kelowna Chiefs and Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Chiefs were defeated 4 – 2 in Osoyoos Saturday night in game 4 of the Okanagan Division playoff series.
It looked promising for Kelowna after Nick Josephs scored the team’s two goals in the first period within a minute and a half of each other.
Scott Renner picked up a pair of assists.
The second period wasn’t kind to the Chiefs with Osoyoos’ Garrett Kucher and Liam Neary netting goals.
Kucher would go on to score two more times in the third for the hat trick, one on the empty net, to solidify the victory.
The Kelowna Chiefs and Osoyoos Coyotes will meet up again on Monday March 11th at Rutland Arena for game 5 of the series.
**Photo thanks to Steve Dunsmoor of Dunsmoor Photographic**
Chiefs take game 3 of series
The Kelowna Chiefs have taken a 2 – 1 series lead over the Osoyoos Coyotes.
The Chiefs defeated the ‘Yotes 3 – 2 in overtime in game 3 at Rutland Arena Friday night.
Osoyoos opened up scoring about half way through the first period thanks to a goal by Kenneth Orlando.
The Chiefs wasted little time and Mitchell Barker (1G, 1A) quickly tied up the game.
With just over 30 seconds into the second period, Brandon Watson scored for Osoyoos on the power play, but again the Chiefs tied it up with a goal from Jagger Bowles.
The third period was scoreless forcing the overtime period.
Scoring the game winner for the Chiefs was Braeden Hikichi with Jordan Salahor and Scott Renner picking up the assists.
Each victory for both the Chiefs and Coyotes has been on home ice so far this series.
The series now moves to Osoyoos for game number 4 on Saturday March 9th. Puck drops at 7:30PM. Game 5 will be held back at Rutland Arena on Monday March 11th.
The winner of this series will face the North Okanagan Knights in the Conference Final who defeated the Sicamous Eagles in four straight games.
**Photo thanks to Steve Dunsmoor of Dunsmoor Photo and Creative**
Chiefs defeated on road
The Kelowna Chiefs were defeated in Osoyoos Wednesday night.
The Chiefs suffered a 2 – 1 loss at the hands of the Osoyoos Coyotes in Game 2 of the Okanagan Division playoffs.
Nick Josephs scored the lone goal for Kelowna in the first period, but the team was unable to make the comeback.
The series is now tied at 1 – 1 with each team winning a game on home ice.
The Kelowna Chiefs and Osoyoos Coyotes will have a night off before meeting up at Rutland Arena Friday March 8th for a 7PM puck drop in game 3 of the series.
Chiefs open series with a win
An overtime victory by the Kelowna Chiefs.
Nick Josephs scored the game winner in the Chiefs 4 – 3 OT win against the Osoyoos Coyotes.
Also netting points for Kelowna was Dylan Jamieson, Scott Renner, and Brady Mende.
The Chiefs and Coyotes meet up again Wednesday night in Osoyoos for game two of the second round of the Okanagan Division playoffs.
Chiefs open up Round 2
Round two of the KIJHL Okanagan Division playoff series gets underway at Rutland Arena Tuesday night.
The Kelowna Chiefs welcome the Osoyoos Coyotes with a 7PM puck drop.
During the regular season the Chiefs went 5 and 3 against the ‘Yotes.
These two teams aren’t strangers to one another in the playoffs having met last season in round 1 with the fourth place Kelowna Chiefs knocking out the first place Osoyoos Coyotes.
Winner of this series will meet either the Sicamous Eagles or North Okanagan Knights in the finals.
Meanwhile, Braeden Hikichi and Jordan Salahor currently lead the Chiefs in playoff points with both collecting 7 points each.
