SWX Right Now-Sports News for Washington and IdahoChiefs in search of more mental toughness

Chiefs in search of more mental toughness

Jared Frank
SWXRightNow.com

SPOKANE, Wash. - After a stretch on the road that lasted nearly three weeks and two wins at home to close out the month of January, the Spokane Chiefs are ready for a new start - one that will hopefully help them climb the conference standings.

The team practiced at the Arena on Tuesday.  Sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference, the Chiefs admit they haven't been consistent as of late, and they need to get things going to stay competitive.

"Maybe it's a little bit of mental toughness.  Maybe it's some more enthusiasm," said head coach Hardy Sauter, talking about what his team needs to do to improve. " I think some nights we come into the rink a little stale.  I'm not sure why, but I think we need a rally point of some sort and we haven't quite found it yet."

Sauter hoped taking two out of three games from Everett would do the trick.  They lost to the Silvertips back on Jan. 24 but play them at home on Wednesday and again on the road on Saturday.  In between those two games the Chiefs have a meeting with Kamloops at the Arena on Friday.

Addressing the recent road trip, center Tyler Johnson said he thought the team played "alright" but needs to get a lot better from here on out.

"I think we're pretty close, we're almost there," said Johnson at practice. "We have some very good periods and some good shifts, and then we have some let-downs as well.  If we minimize those let-downs or eventually not have those anymore we're going to be a very solid team and the team to beat."

Johnson agreed with coach Sauter, saying they need to come out more mentally prepared for each game so they can use their team specialty - their speed - to their advantage.

The Chiefs play two home games this week: Everett on Wednesday and Kamloops on Friday.  They then play at Everett on Saturday evening.