Area roundup: Cougars land linebacker Chandler Leniu

Washington State head football coach Mike Leach announced Tuesday that linebacker Chandler Leniu has signed a financial-aid agreement to play for the Cougars this fall.

Leniu, a 6-foot-2, 230-pounder, originally signed a letter of intent with the California Golden Bears.

Leniu, who played at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, had 238 tackles as a senior – sixth most in the country.

He was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com. He was the 11th-ranked inside linebacker prospect in the U.S.

Leniu helped St. John Bosco – the top-ranked team in the nation by MaxPreps – post a 16-0 record and win a California Open Division State title. He was a two-time Trinity League defensive player of the year and earned first-team All-Southern Section Pac 5 Division honors as a junior and senior.

Junior hockey

The Spokane Chiefs are scheduled to play seven preseason games in upcoming Western Hockey League play it was announced by the league.

The Chiefs will open the preseason with a game against the Portland Winterhawks in Everett, Washington, on Aug. 29.

In the lone preseason game at home, Spokane will host the Tri-City Americans on Sept. 11.

The Chiefs will also take part in a pair of tournaments – one in Everett where they will play three games (Aug. 29-31) and one in Kennewick where they will play a pair of games (Sept. 4-6).

Spokane will conclude its preseason action with a game against the Americans in Kennewick on Sept. 13.

The regular-season schedule will be released today.