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Spokane Chiefs

Chiefs’ Eli Zummack, Luke Toporowski get looks from NHL teams

Spokane Chiefs center Eli Zummack has been invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s development camp. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Spokane Chiefs center Eli Zummack has been invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s development camp. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)

Two forwards who played key roles for the 2018-19 Spokane Chiefs have been invited to NHL development camps.

Eli Zummack has been invited to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s 2019 Development Camp, set to take place Tuesday through Saturday at the Brandon Ice Sports Forum in Tampa, Florida.

Zummack, who set career highs in points (68) and assists (53) during the 2018-19 WHL season, is one of 25 players and 14 forwards invited. He is one of six undrafted players.

Luke Toporowski has been invited to the Winnipeg Jets’ 2019 Development Camp, set to take place through Friday at Bell MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Toporowski, who posted 21 goals and 49 points for the Chiefs during the 2018-19 regular season, is one of 22 forwards invited to the camp and one of 17 undrafted players.

Home opener vs. Tri-City

The Chiefs announced that their 2019-20 regular-season home opener at Spokane Arena will be on Sept. 28 versus the Tri-City Americans.

The game will mark the first time the Chiefs have opened at home against the rival Americans since the 2016-17 season, when they won 5-2. The Chiefs hosted Tri-City for their home opener in 12 consecutive seasons from 2005-06 to 2016-17, posting a 10-1-0-1 record including nine-straight wins beginning in 2008. Spokane went 6-5-0-1 versus the Americans during the 2018-19 regular season.

Spokane will begin the 2019-20 season on the road, playing in Kamloops on Sept. 20 and at Kelowna on Sept. 21. The Chiefs’ full regular-season schedule will be announced later this week.