From Heather Park Elementary School to Washington State, Chase Harrington has covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time for the Spokane Chiefs.
The 16-year-old from Prince George enjoyed a brief homecoming as the Chiefs split a doubleheader against the Cougars at CN Centre.
A 5-4 overtime victory by Spokane on Friday was followed up by an extra-time defeat at the hands of the Cougars the next night (Saturday).
Harrington notched a goal and a fight in the first half of the double dip in front of 50 friends and family.
The 8th overall selection in the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft has 18 points in 52 games this season, including a stretch where Harrington has tallied points in three of his last four outings.
“I was in a little bit of a drought to start the year, but I am picking it up a bit and starting to find the back of the net, which is nice.”
“I am trying to do everything I can to help the team win, if I have to fight I will fight, if I have to score, I will score. I got it to do what I got to do.”
The PG kid gets the Chiefs on the board! Its the 5th of the year for Harry right off the faceoff!#GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/lSz9xPBY4z
— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) March 2, 2024
While Harrington is no stranger to racking up the points, he is being brought along at a steady pace by the Chiefs due to their top line that includes overagers Conner Roulette and Chase Bertholet along with top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft Berkley Catton.
Harrington admits the demands of the WHL schedule has probably been the biggest obstacle since joining the Chiefs full-time.
“You are on the road every week. We haven’t been home in a while so it’s a little tough not seeing your family and the older players are a little more experienced and know what they are doing so it’s a tough challenge.”
“It’s a little harder mentally to be there every single game especially just learning things but I am starting to pick it up a little bit more.”
Chiefs head coach Ryan Smith, who was a star forward for the St. James Canadians in the early 1990’s in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League agreed that the adjustment and steep learning curve for any rookie can be daunting.
“Chase is trying to find his way. It’s not an easy league for 16-year-olds. Off the start, it took him a while to find his feet and now he has settled in. Structure-wise he is really good.”
“It’s tough. There are a lot of older players who have played in the league and his time is coming. He is a part of what we are doing now and is part of the future so we are excited for Chase – he needs a little bit of patience himself, which he has shown.”
“He has matured a lot over the year,” added Smith.
Spokane currently sits eighth in the Western Conference with a record of 25-28-5-1 and if the regular season ended today – the Cougars and Chiefs would lock horns in the first round of the playoffs.
Even though the Cougars currently sit as the top speed, Harrington is optimistic the upstart Chiefs can hang with them.
“When we are playing our game there is not a team that is better than us. We will do anything for each other.”
Harrington, who starred in Prince George Minor Hockey, played the past three seasons at the Delta Hockey Academy. Last year, he tallied 37 points in 23 games and was part of Team BC, which included signed PG Spruce Kings goalie prospect Ryder Green and Cameron Schmidt.
The 16-year-old also notched three goals in seven games during the fall for Team Canada Red and the World Under 17 hockey challenge.
Spokane is back in action on Tuesday when they host the Victoria Royals.
When Chase Harrington was in elementary school at Heather Park he gave drawings to some of his teachers and told them one day they would be worth money.
It seems they listened, because they kept the art and got Chase's signature on them after last night' game.@spokanechiefs pic.twitter.com/LcrBZXYPth
— Will Peters (@WillPeters_1) March 2, 2024
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