For decades, the Spokane Chiefs have been part of Spokane’s local identity, connecting families, youth hockey programs and small businesses across the city.
As members of the Western Hockey League, the Spokane Chiefs bring players from across North America, but the organization’s work extends beyond the game. Through youth programs, school partnerships and local outreach, the Chiefs’ association emphasizes community involvement and the lives of players as much as competition.
Jake Toporowski, former player of the Chiefs from 2014-2017 and now assistant coach, talked about his time playing and how it led to his current position.
“When I was playing junior hockey, it was some of the best years of my life,” Toporowski said. “Just from the guys you play with to the Spokane community and everything along the way, it was an awesome experience here.”
When asked about returning to the Chiefs, Toporowski mentioned the time between 2017 to now.
“After playing I went home [to Bendorf Iowa] and I opened a business that was coaching hockey, and I ran our youth association,” he said. “It was one of those things when you’re growing up, except you’re in your formative years and you’re in junior hockey. I was playing here at 16,17,18, it just felt like home because it was my life.
“And you just add on the chiefs organization, the Brett family owning it and everyone from here. They really make it feel like such a great spot to play, great spot to work, and then obviously Spokane, such a fantastic spot to live. Even now I’ve got a great family who I get to raise here, and there’s nowhere else we’d rather do it.”
Jay Stewart, Vice President of the Chiefs, added on to the infliction of the ownership team.
“Our ownership group bought the team back in 1990, so we’ve been a part of Spokane since then, you know, 36 years,” Stewart said. “Since they have had the team, it’s always been a focus to give back to the community. Support the community that supports us.”
Stewart also talked about the reality that the players tend to face and how the staff works together to ensure success in every department.
“A majority of our players are 16 to 19,” he said. “Half of them are in high school, half of them are in college. They’re the elite of the elite at this level of hockey and they’ve been given a lot of different opportunities that not everyone has, but they also don’t get to experience some things… like high school and getting a job and x, y, z.
“So we want to give our players real world experiences, not only to show the impact that they have in the community, but also to show that this is how the real world lives,” he said. “They can impact the community, but the community can also impact them.”
That sense of mutual impact of players shaping the community while also being shaped by it is something defensive player Will McIsaac recognizes.
“I think everyone loves the community,” said McIsaac. “Like, we do miss out on normal experiences but it’s a sacrifice. And we get to play in front of 10,000 fans every once in a while so I think a lot of us would choose that for what it is.”
When asked about their impact on the community, McIsaac shared his gratitude for the fans.
“It’s important to us,” he said. “They always come to support our games, so whenever we have the chance to do anything for them then, yeah, we’re always happy to do it.”
