SPOKANE, Wash. — August 30, 2026 — Team Gilchrist rode a four-goal first period to a 5–2 victory over Team Whitfield on Sunday at Numerica Veterans Arena, capturing the Chiefs Cup to close Spokane Chiefs’ annual training camp.
A crowd of 1,142 watched Team Gilchrist, wearing white, seize control early in the championship game. Caden Zasada opened the scoring 1:19 into the first period, before Aedan McCarry forced a turnover in the left circle and scored on his own rebound at 3:50.
Cohen Harris extended the lead with a one-timer from the slot off an Ossie McIntyre feed at 18:00. First-round Prospects Draft pick Jack Arnold then finished a rebound from a Jacob Balaberda shot with 52 seconds remaining in the period, sending Team Gilchrist into the intermission ahead 4–0.
Team Whitfield answered with second-period goals from Wesley Quanstrom and Brody Gillespie, but Rowan McCord restored Gilchrist’s momentum with a wrist shot from the top of the right circle for the game’s final goal. Goaltender Maddox Slater made 13 saves in the victory.
Harris, a returning Chiefs player, said Team Gilchrist’s ability to come together quickly made the difference during the short camp.
“I thought every guy bought into what we were trying to do with our meetings and everything,” Harris said. “It’s a short term and there’s not a lot of chemistry out there. So if you can find something and kind of stick with it, I think it’s really huge.”
Harris also pointed to the group’s commitment away from the puck as a foundation for its offense.
“Every guy came back hard. Every guy was backchecking, every guy was playing the right way defensively,” he said. “When you do that, it leads to offense.”
Chiefs head coach Brad Lauer said the level of play improved steadily as players became more comfortable over the four-day camp.
“Each day was better,” Lauer said. “As the week went along, I thought the practices got better, and obviously the games. There was a lot more compete. We talked Wednesday on consistency, attention to detail, compete level, and I was happier with all of that this week.”
Lauer said returning players will be expected to take on a greater leadership role as the club transitions from camp to preseason competition.
“Our expectations from a year ago are higher with them,” Lauer said. “The standards are going to be raised. I really liked the way they competed for the four days that were here.”
Lauer also praised Team Gilchrist’s collective approach after entering the tournament as an underdog.
“For the most part, their team game was the best through the four games that they played,” Lauer said. “They played as a team … they stuck together and they played hard together.”
In the third-place game, Team Beckman defeated Team Falk behind a five-point performance from Ethan Hughes, who recorded three goals and two assists. Marek Howell had a goal and two assists, while Tyus Sparks and Tristen Buckley each added a goal and two assists for Team Beckman. Wyatt Jones scored twice for Team Falk.
The Chiefs now turn their attention to the preseason. Spokane opens at the Preseason Classic presented by LiUNA 292 in Everett, facing Portland on Friday, Sept. 4, and Seattle on Saturday, Sept. 5. The club then travels to Kennewick for the Tri-City Preseason Tournament presented by Gesa Credit Union, where it will meet Portland on Sept. 11 and the host Tri-City Americans on Sept. 12.
Spokane’s home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, against the Tri-City Americans for Blue Moon Opening Night. Tickets are available at SpokaneChiefs.com.
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