SPOKANE - Three Chiefs off last year's roster are spending some of their summer at NHL Development Camps. Kyle Beach, Chicago's first round pick in 2008, is at the Blackhawks' camp, Levko Koper, a seventh round pick of the Atlanta in 2009, is attending the Thrashers' camp while Tyler Johnson will take part in the Minnesota Wild's camp.
Beach scored 52 goals last season in Spokane, the first Chief to crack the 50 goal barrier in 17 seasons, and was named a WHL Western Conference First Team All-Star. Beach joined the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago's American Hockey League Affiliate, following the season and was with the Blackhawks during their run to the Stanley Cup Championship. The 20-year-old has signed an entry level contract with Chicago and will be a part of their organization this season. Friday was the first day of the Blackhawks' camp.
Koper has played the past four seasons in a Spokane jersey, including last year where he scored a career high 24 goals. In 248 games, Koper has 62 goals and 136 points. Koper scored a goal and was named Team WHL's Player of the Game on November 25th in the Subway Super Series in a 2-1 win over Team Russia. Atlanta's camp began on Thursday and will run through Tuesday, July 13th.
In three seasons as a Chief, Johnson has scored 67 goals, including a career high 28 last season. In January, he won a gold medal with the United States at the World Junior Hockey Championship. It was his second appearance with the National team. Johnson was also named to Spokane's Top 25 Chiefs in 25 Years during their 25th Anniversary season. This will mark the second year in a row that Johnson has attended the Wild's camp. The Spokane native attended the Phoenix Coyotes Camp in 2008. Minnesota's camp begins on Tuesday, July 13th
Both Koper and Johnson were members of the Chiefs 2008 Memorial Cup Championship team.
Eighteen-year-old Blake Gal is attending the Philadelphia Flyers Rookie Camp in Voorhees, New Jersey. Gal is one of 35 players, including 18 forwards, attending the camp. Gal scored a career high eight goals and 31 points in 61 games last season. The Lethbridge, Alberta native will be entering his third season in a Spokane jersey. He is attending the camp as a free-agent invitee.
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