A couple of nice compliments rolled in for the Spokane Chiefs after their effort on Sunday, a 3-2 win over Everett, in what was a meaningless game for them on the last day of the Western Hockey League season.

First, though, some sad news to pass along. The son of former Chiefs goalie Troy Gamble was killed in Afghanistan. The story is below.

As for the Chiefs' win that gave Tri-City the Western Division title, Americans' captain Jarrett Toll told Annie Fowler of the Tri-City Herald: "There was a pretty big eruption when Spokane won. It¹s an unbelievable feeling. Spokane already had their playoff position locked up and we were really expecting them to sit their better guys, but they played them. Kudos to them."

Long-time WHL writer Gregg Drinnan of Kamloops, a respected observer of the league, said on this blog: "It says something about Spokane head coach Hardy Sauter, his coaching staff, the players and the entire organization. After losing their leading goal scorer in Kennewick, they easily could have lost to Everett, thus having a say in who finished atop the Western Conference and U.S. Division standings. The Chiefs didn’t do that, and it looks good on them!"

The Spokane Chiefs would like to extend their condolences to the Gamble family who lost their son, Garrett W. Gamble, while serving in the Marines in Afghanistan.  Gamble died after he stepped on a mine-type device while patrolling during combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Gamble was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

 

 

Garrett’s father Troy was a goaltender for the Chiefs from 1986-88 winning 53 games in two seasons.  In 1987-88, Gamble won the Western Conference’s Goaltender of the Year Award while winning 36 games and appearing in a record 67 games.  He posted a 3.69 goals against average that season.  In total, Troy played four seasons in the WHL including the first two-and-a-half years of his career in Medicine Hat from 1984-86.  He won 115 games in total.

 

Lance Cpl. Gamble was a 2008 graduate of Stephen F. Austin High in Sugar Land, Texas.  Gamble, a sportsman and hockey player, first explored joining the U.S. Marines while a junior in high school, his friend Bryce Ritzen said.

 

 

“He was a cool guy,” Ritzen, who enlisted alongside Gamble in June 2007, said. “Everyone liked Garrett.

 

“I always felt Garrett was going to be fine,” said Ritzen, who is on leave but will return to Afghanistan in a few months. “To lose him … I felt like I lost my entire family at once.”

 

 

Gamble is survived by his mother, Michelle Greer; father, Troy; step-father, Brad Greer; and younger brothers Cody Gamble and Gunner Greer.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked donations be made to Houston Marine Moms at houstonmarinemoms.org.

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