Northwest Notes July 1, 2026

Chiefs select three players in 2026 CHL Import Draft

The Spokane Chiefs made three selections in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, choosing forward Matěj Tománek from Czechia in the first round, German Jonas Schwarz in the second and Jan Brabenec, also from Czechia, in the third.

Tománek, a 5-foot-8 left winger, was one of two players under the age of 18 to finish in the Top 30 in scoring in the Czechia U20 league. He scored 70 points, including 30 goals and 40 assists, on the HC Plzen U17 team. He also played for Team Czechia at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. Tománek was taken 36th overall. Born on Sept. 20, 2008, he will be eligible for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.

“He’s a dual threat winger who plays with relentless energy every shift," Spokane Chiefs European Scout Janik Beichler said. "A quick skater who can both set up his teammates and bury the puck himself with a quick release. With his high energy and compete level, he can play up and down the lineup and contribute in all situations.”

Schwarz, a 5-11 center, has played for the Lukko U16, U18, and U20 clubs in Finland the past three seasons. Last year he recorded 47 points with 19 goals and 28 assists in 38 games. He represented his home country of Germany at the 2025 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup. He was the 97th overall selection. Schwarz, a 2009 birth year, will also be eligible for the 2027 NHL Entry Draft.

“Schwarz is a dynamic, highly skilled forward whose explosive skating, high-end puck-handling ability, and confidence with the puck make him a constant threat,” Beichler said. “His creativity, deception, and ability to generate scoring chances off the rush gives him exciting upside."

Schwarz will start the season in Finland playing with his club team, but the Chiefs are hoping to add him at some point during the upcoming season, Beichler said.

Brabenec, a 6-4 center born in 2007, spent the 2025-26 season playing for HC Kometa BRNO U20 team in the Czechia U20 league, tallying 47 points, including 13 goals, and 34 assists in 44 games. Brabenec was the 158th overall selection.

“Brabenec brings an intriguing blend of size and hockey sense. He has some physical runway to develop into a strong presence in our league, but he also has good playmaking vision and is smart around the net,” Beichler said.

WSU, Colville Tribes announce partnership

PULLMAN — Washington State University Athletics and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation announced a five-year partnership Tuesday.

The $8.43 million agreement includes a $250,000 donation to the Cougar Athletic Excellence Fund in year one. It extends beyond sporting competition to include youth clinics in tribal communities, regional basketball development opportunities, and an AAU tribal tournament.

Under the agreement, the largest annual sponsorship in WSU Athletics history, all Cougar uniforms will feature a Colville Tribe jersey patch.

Chiefs announce full 2026-27 regular season schedule

The Spokane Chiefs have announced their 2026-27 game schedule with 34 home and 34 road games spanning late September through March.

Spokane will open the season on the road at the Tri-City Americans on Saturday, Sept. 19 with their first of eight games against their U.S. Division rival.

The Chiefs’ home opener at the Numerica Veterans Arena is slated for Saturday, Sept. 26, also against Tri-City.

Spokane’s home schedule will consist of 26 weekend games, 14 on Saturdays, 11 on Fridays, and one Sunday home start, as well as four games on Wednesdays and four more on Tuesdays.

Select promotional nights have been tentatively scheduled with the full promotional schedule to be announced at a later date.

The annual Teddy Bear Toss game is Saturday, Dec. 5. Wenatchee

Full schedule: spokanechiefs.com 

Kellen Moore to get a statue at Boise State

BOISE — Boise State Athletics announced plans to honor former Bronco quarterback Kellen Moore with an 11-foot bronze statue outside Albertsons Stadium.

Randy and Lisa Hales along with Capital Eleven provided the support for the statue with a transformative gift to Boise State Athletics.

The statue was unveiled in concept during the Pac-12 Launch Party on Tuesday night.

Local sculptor Ben Victor is contructing the statue, which will stand near the northeast entrance of Albertsons Stadium adjacent to the Bleymaier Football Center and in front of the new north end zone.

The target date of installing the Moore statue is during the upcoming football season.

Moore’s statue is the second around Albertsons Stadium as it joins Lyle Smith’s statue in front of the Allen Noble Hall of Fame.