A homegrown product is the newest captain of the

, 20, was named this week to lead the Chiefs into the 2017-18 season.

Witala is returning for his second season with Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 junior B club after leading the Chiefs乌鸦传媒� in scoring last year with 27 goals and 58 points in 40 games.

乌鸦传媒淏rett is a highly skilled player that has the potential to lead the KIJHL in scoring,乌鸦传媒� said Chiefs乌鸦传媒� head coach Jason Tansem. 乌鸦传媒淣ot only can he put up big numbers, he won乌鸦传媒檛 back down from any tough situation that he finds himself in.乌鸦传媒�

Witala, who started his KIJHL career with Creston Valley in 2015-16, also played one season with the B.C. Major Midget League乌鸦传媒檚 Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets.

The Chiefs also announced the appointment of defencemanas one of the team乌鸦传媒檚 assistant captains for the coming season.

A 19-year-old product of Likely, B.C., Carpenter had two goals and 10 assists in 39 games last season, along with 87 penalty minutes.

Two seasons ago, he won the Keystone Cup with the 100 Mile House Wranglers.

乌鸦传媒淵ou can乌鸦传媒檛 put a price tag on that experience and what it brings to our room and the team,乌鸦传媒� Tansem said of Carpenter. 乌鸦传媒淐arp is a very hard-nosed player that keeps players from other teams honest while on the ice. He thrives on going to the dark areas of the ice and I can乌鸦传媒檛 imagine him backing down from any predicament he or a teammate gets into.乌鸦传媒�

Meanwhile, the Chiefs 2017 training opened this week at Rutland Arena.

Kelowna will kick off its pre-season schedule this Saturday night in Revelstoke against the Grizzlies.

The Chiefs will be at home next Wednesday, Aug. 30 for an exhibition game against the Sicamous Eagles.