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View Full Version : Former Chiefs Help Golden Bears Defend National Championship



LifelongChiefsFan
03-28-2006, 06:02 AM
from spokanechiefs.com

For the second year in a row, five former Spokane Chiefs were on the winning end of Canadian Interuniversity Sports Men’s National Hockey Championship as the University of Alberta Golden Bears earned a 3-2 victory over the Lakehead Thunderwolves in the Telus University Cup final on Sunday, March 26th

Defensemen Perry Johnson (1997-98) and Chris Ovington (2000-01) and forwards Tim Krymusa (1998-2003), Joff Kehler (1999-2004) and Scott Henkelman (2000-01) all were a part of the Golden Bears record 12th CIS title and fourth in the last eight years.

Ovington, a senior Business major, was honored as the Canada West Defenseman of the Year during the regular season and was named to the First Team All Canadian Tournament team. Ovington finished his five-year WHL career with the Chiefs playing one season, 2000-01. The Vernon, BC native played 63 games as a Chief and scored 28 points before moving on to the U of A.

Johnson, an Engineering major, was named to the Second Team All-Canadian tournament team. After finishing his five-year WHL career as a 20-year-old in Spokane, Johnson spent two seasons with the Canadian National Team and one in England before joining the Golden Bears in 2002. Johnson played 65 games for the Chiefs in 1997-98, the year Spokane hosted the Memorial Cup, and scored nine goals and 53 points.

Kehler was a two year captain of the Chiefs and over five seasons played in 279 career games. The 21-year-old was a three time winner of the Chiefs Players’ Player award. In his career, the Edson, Alberta native scored 75 goals and had 128 assists. Kehler was also awarded the Chiefs Humanitarian of the Year in 2004.

Before playing for the Golden Bears for the last three seasons, Krymusa appeared in 332 career games in a Spokane sweater from 1998-2003. The Morden, MB native is second in franchise history in games played and 11th in goals scored (104). Krymusa scored 204 career points in Spokane.

Henkelman played 30 games in Spokane in the 2000-01 season and scored 15 goals and 27 points.

Alberta, the No. 1 seed at the six-team tournament, outshot Lakehead 40-26 and outscored the opposition 16-5 over three tournament wins. The Golden Bears, with seven fifth-year players, became the first team since the 1999 and 2000 Alberta teams to win back-to-back titles.

All 20 U of A players who were on the roster in the final game had played in the Western Hockey League.

All players who play in the WHL are eligible for full academic scholarships. For each year played in the WHL, graduating players receive a full scholarship consisting of tuition, books and fees to a university, college or post-secondary institution of their choice. In addition, while playing in the WHL all costs associated with a player’s education are covered by WHL Clubs whether a player is taking high school, university or college courses.