Northwest Notes May 7, 2022
Courtesy photo Bear Hughes
Chiefs' Hughes named Ken Rabel Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year
SPOKANE — Spokane Chiefs captain Bear Hughes was named the organization’s Ken Rabel Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year.
Hughes, a Post Falls native who recently signed a tryout agreement with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, finished his 20-year-old season as the Chiefs’ leading scorer with 24 goals and 67 points.
The Chiefs’ recognition is named after Ken Rabel, a former security guard who manned the Chiefs’ bench going back to the team’s years in the Spokane Coliseum and became a friend to the players. Rabel always appreciated the players who would play the game in an honest and hard fashion.
In two full seasons as a Chief, Hughes scored 42 goals and dished out 74 assists for 116 points in 127 career games. The Washington Capitals selected him native in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
At the end of the season, the league awards the Most Sportsmanlike Player of the Year with the Brad Hornung Trophy. Tyler Johnson is the last Chief to win the league honor, in 2011.
Rice, Lloyd to help coach USA Basketball teams
Boise State men’s basketball head coach Leon Rice was named an assistant coach for the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team, which will compete this summer at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Men’s Championship, the organization announced Friday.
Rice is joined on the staff by Colorado head coach Tad Boyle and Oklahoma State head coach Mike Boynton Jr., who will serve as head coach and assistant coach of the U18 squad, respectively.
Assisting as court coaches during training camp, aiding in on-court skills and drills, are Tommy Lloyd (Ariaona), Matt Langel (Colgate) and Rob Lanier.
Following a pre-competition training camp in Houston, the U18 National Team will compete in the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas U18 Championship June 6-12 in Tijuana, Mexico. The U.S. finished first in the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship and has won gold at nine of 11 FIBA Americas U18 Championships held since the event’s inception in 1990.