Chiefs’ Scott Lynch a hit on both ends of ice

Don’t get him wrong. Spokane Chief Scott Lynch is a defenseman’s defenseman.

You can see it by the way he lays hits on his Western Hockey League opponents. He’s separated several of them from their helmets this season with his well-timed bone crunchers.

“I love hitting,” admits Lynch, 20. But he also likes to put the biscuit in the basket.

Lynch is the Chiefs’ second-leading scorer this season with 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) and is tied for second in that category among WHL defensemen.

Lynch has also been a force on the team’s power play thus far, tied with Chad Klassen for the team lead with seven assists with a man advantage. His hard and accurate shot from the point has both opponents and teammates in front of the net protecting themselves when he launches it.

“Yeah, the guys up front say they don’t really like standing in there very much anymore,” says Lynch, laughing.

It’s just one of the signs that Lynch, at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, is feeling “it” in his fifth and final WHL season.

“The biggest thing is confidence,” Lynch said this week. “When you feel confident on the ice, you want the puck, want to be in on the play, and that’s what I have a ton of right now. And I don’t see it going away. So, hopefully those points will still come.”

Hockey is a team game and players are cautious about discussing individual success; it may just earn you a visit to the coach’s office. So, Lynch is his own worst critic. He got off to a quick start and has kept it going. His take?

“Actually, the first 10 games I wasn’t playing as good as I wanted to but I was still getting points,” said Lynch. “These last few games, I thought my defensive game has kind of picked up because I didn’t start out that good in that zone. Personally, I just feel a lot better now and the points are still coming, so that’s a bonus.”

Individual reward as a byproduct of sacrifice for the team is the formula coach Al Conroy stresses to players.

It is clear that Lynch, an assistant captain, not only understands that concept but practices it. To him, scoring is the perk for doing things like racing back for a loose puck and clearing it from the defensive zone.

“Just like there’s two-way forwards, I’d hopefully be classified as a two-way defenseman; do my job on defense and also create offense,” said Lynch. “Those are the packages you want in your team and you want that in all your players.”

Lynch has been in the playoffs in all five of his WHL seasons, the first three with Prince George and the last two with Spokane. Until last season when he had 39 points, he was not a scoring force. It simply appears to be the maturation of a pro prospect who is now often the go-to guy.

“Our expectations for Scott, and Scott for himself, are pretty high,” said Conroy. “He’s a very good player. He’s big, strong, he’s got the complete package. … I’ve got no doubt in my mind that he’s going to be a good pro.”

Conroy added that the physical side of Lynch’s game can change the flow of a game.

“He’s a strong skater and a pretty timely checker, too,” said Conroy. “It changes the focus for the opposition. They’re more aware of him and it generates a little energy on our side.”

That said, Conroy feels Lynch is still learning about how to consistently do the little things for 60 minutes, along with when (and when not) to take over a game.

“They (the coaches) just said, ‘we want you to keep getting points and create offense for us,’ but they want me joining the play instead of leading the rush,’ said Lynch. “That’s something that I’m adjusting to and something that I’m doing for our team.”

In return, the members of the team have shown their belief in him.

“It’s nice when your teammates have confidence in you to make the right play and, when you produce, they want you to have the puck and get it done for you,” said Lynch. “It’s nice to have that responsibility and be counted on for that.”

So, if the game’s on the line and the puck comes his way, Lynch won’t flinch from taking a pass and firing – watching for the goal judge to flip the switch.

“It still feels fantastic when you shoot the puck and see the red light go on – it’s something that gives you tingles every time you do it,” said Lynch. “You never get tired of it.”