Chiefs host Hawks for two

WHL: The Spokane Chiefs’ next two home games are against the team with the longest losing streak in the Western Hockey League’s U.S. Division.

The Portland Winterhawks, who play at the Arena tonight and Friday, both at 7:05, have dropped three consecutive games.

Most WHL teams would consider that a minor dip in their season, but before those three games Portland had won 14 consecutive games and owned a 37-5-1-0 record.

The Winterhawks’ latest loss came Monday, 5-2 against Spokane (29-16-2-0, 60 points), which had been 0-3 against Portland this season.

Portland is in no danger of losing its first-place spot in the division. Second-place Spokane is 16 points behind. But the Winterhawks’ hold on the No. 1 ranking in the Western Conference is down to five points over Kelowna (71 points), which has won 11 of its last 12 games.

Spokane’s Todd Fiddler (33 goals) leads the WHL in goals scored after netting a hat trick against Portland on Monday.

Spokane will host Medicine Hat at 7:05 Saturday night. Medicine Hat’s Cam Lanigan is the Canadian Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Week after stopping 54 of 55 shots last week.

The Chiefs have lost five of their last seven home games.

Chris Derrick

Trio of EWU players honored

College Football: Three Eastern Washington University players were selected to the College Sports Journal NCAA Football Championship Subdivision All-Freshman team Tuesday.

Safety Jordan Tonani, quarterback Vernon Adams and kick returner Shaquille Hill were named to the 63-man squad that represents the only all-freshman team in the FCS.

Tonani started seven games for the Eagles, finishing with 68 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions.

Adams, the College Sporting News FCS Freshman of the Year, started nine games for Eastern, winning eight. In 12 appearances he completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 1,961 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Hill finished the season 17th in FCS at 26.8 yards per kickoff return.