Northwest Notes June 28, 2012

| June 28, 2012 9:15 PM

Rimmel selected 41st

by Chiefs in import draft

Mikulas Rimmel, a 17-year-old forward from the Czech Republic, was selected by the Spokane Chiefs with the 41st overall selection in the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft on Wednesday.

Rimmel recorded 11 goals and 29 points in 38 games for HC Vitkovice’s under-18 team last season. He will be eligible for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

“Mikulas follows a pattern with the import draft in that he is a young player and will have the chance to develop with our organization,” Spokane general manager Tim Speltz said. “We are comfortable with the process of committing to young players and having a big part of their development.”

Spokane’s last four import selections, including Marek Kalus who will be playing his third season as a Chief next season, and five of the last six, have played three seasons in the WHL; Michael Grabner (2004-07), Ondrej Roman (2006-09), Stefan Ulmer (2007-10), Dominik Uher (2009-12) and Kalus (2010-present).

Also, the Chiefs released their 2012-13 schedule that features 26 home weekend dates, including 15 on Saturday nights. Spokane opens the season at Tri-City on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Spokane will open the home portion of the regular season on Sept. 29 when Tri-City visits the Spokane Arena and the two teams will play each other 12 times.

Tickets for individual games will go on sale Sept. 6 at 9 a.m., and ticket packages are on sale now at the Chiefs office by calling (509) 535-PUCK.

Included in the 26 weekend dates will be 10 Friday nights and one Sunday. The Chiefs will play four Tuesday nights and six Wednesday. Tuesday through Saturday night home games will begin at 7:05 and the Sunday, Feb. 10 game against Victoria will begin at 6:05.

The regular season will end on Sunday, March 17 when Spokane visits Portland.

College of Idaho to join

Frontier Conference

CALDWELL — The College of Idaho will join the Frontier Conference as a football-only member in the fall of 2014 following a vote of the conference’s Council of Presidents, commissioner Kent Paulson announced.

The addition of the College of Idaho will bring the conference to nine football-playing schools. In the fall, Dickinson State will officially join the conference in all sports, while Southern Oregon enters in football only.

The College of Idaho is reviving its program after a 35-year absence.