Ethan Bear had a hat trick to lead the Seattle Thunderbirds to a 5-1 Western Hockey League victory over the Spokane Chiefs on Friday night at the ShoWare Center.
Bear has nine goals and 24 assists on the season for 31 points. He leads the WHL in scoring by a defenseman.
Keegan Kolesar had a goal and two assist in the game. Ryan Gropp and Jerret Smith each had two assists in the game.
Seattle goalie Logan Flodell had 25 saves on 26 shots and his record is now 11-5-2-0.
The T-Birds, who improved to 11-0-1-0 at home, are in first place in the U.S. Division, three points ahead of the Chiefs and four points ahead of the Everett Silvertips.
Seattle (18-9-2-0) took a 1-0 lead at 8:17 of the first period on a power-play goal by Bear.
Jamal Watson gave the T-Birds a 2-0 lead 1:45 into the second period.
The T-Birds went in front 3-0 on a tic-tac-toe passing play that ended with Bear putting the puck into an empty net for a power-play goal.
Spokane (16-11-2-1) cut the T-Birds lead to two goals at 14:31 of the second.
Kolesar scored his 16th goal of the season to give the T-Birds a 4-1 lead at 1:43 of the third period.
Bear completed the hat trick at 18:13 of the third. Gropp and Kolesar won the puck in a battle alone the left boards. Gropp crossed the puck to Bear in enter ice and he skated down the slot and wired the puck over Tyson Verhelst’s glove.
Seattle outshot Spokane 10-7 in the third period and 38-26 in the game.
Verhelst made 33 saves on 38 shots and his record is now 13-6-0-1.
On deck: ‘Tips
The Silvertips are at ShoWare Center at 7:05 Saturday night.
Game tickets are available online at the T-Birds website and at the ShoWare Center box office. The ShoWare Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday game days at 10 a.m. and Sunday game days at noon.
Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
SCORING SUMMARY
First period – 1, Seattle, Bear 7 (Gropp, Smith), 8:17 (pp). Penalties – Bear, Sea (delay of game), 4:15. Bechtold, Spo (slashing), 7:19. Ke. Yamamoto, Spo (tripping), 16:28.
Second period – 2, Seattle, Watson 6 (Eansor, Bear), 1:45. 3, Seattle, Bear 9 (Kolesar, True), 12:12 (pp). 4, Spokane, Ke. Yamamoto 7 (Elynuik, Sozanski), 14:31. Penalties – Fram, Spo (elbowing), 8:10. Hauf, Sea (roughing), 8:10. Bechtold, Spo (roughing), 8:10. True, Sea (tripping), 8:18. Whittingham, Spo (interference), 11:14. Gropp, Sea (), 20:00. Whittingham, Spo (), 20:00.
Third period – 5, Seattle, Kolesar 16 (Smith, Tyszka), 1:43. 6, Seattle, Bear 9 (Gropp, Kolesar), 18:13. Penalties – Schuldhaus, Sea (cross checking), 18:30.
Shots on goal – Seattle 11-17-10 38, Spokane 9-10-7 26. Goalies – Seattle, Flodell 26 shots-25 saves (11-5-2-0); Spokane, Verhelst 38-33 (13-6-0-1). Power plays – Seattle 2-4; Spokane 0-3. A – 4,050. Referees – Ryan Benbow, Curtis Marouelli. Linesmen – Zach Brooks, Brendon Creyke.
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