As a 16-year-old, Ben Humphreys had 15 points in 40 games for the Spokane Braves. His play during his rookie season of junior hockey in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League earned him a camp invite with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs.
In the Chiefs’ Red-White scrimmage game to conclude camp, Humphreys scored the first two goals for Team Falloon. However, Team Grabner scored five straight goals to win the Chiefs Cup 5-4 Sunday in front of a lively crowd who escaped the late-summer heat inside a cool Spokane Arena.
“I’m just very grateful for the opportunity to come out here,” Humphreys said to Dave Nichols of the Spokesman-Review. “Knowing this could be my last time ever wearing a Chiefs jersey, like, it’s a true honor.”
The experience was a dream come true for the player who grew up attending Chiefs games.
“Coming here watching the games as a little kid, it’s a great, great arena, you know, and my brothers Josh and Derek came out here to camp before me, so I had an idea (of what to expect) … but just performing like I did, that’s just by the grace of God.”
“Credit to him, he’s put some work in. He had a good camp for us,” first-year Chiefs coach Brad Lauer said. “He worked hard, and again, happy to see a local kid do well. I think that’s always, always great to see.”
Along with averaging 0.38 points-per-game last season, had a game-winning goal and four power-play points, including two goals.
Written with files from Dave Nichols – Spokesman-Review
