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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Bear has nine goals and 24 assists on the season for 31 points. He leads the WHL in scoring by a defenseman.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Keegan Kolesar had a goal and two assist in the game. Ryan Gropp and Jerret Smith each had two assists in the game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Seattle goalie Logan Flodell had 25 saves on 26 shots and his record is now 11-5-2-0.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Seattle (18-9-2-0) took a 1-0 lead at 8:17 of the first period on a power-play goal by Bear.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Jamal Watson gave the T-Birds a 2-0 lead 1:45 into the second period.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Spokane (16-11-2-1) cut the T-Birds lead to two goals at 14:31 of the second.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Kolesar scored his 16th goal of the season to give the T-Birds a 4-1 lead at 1:43 of the third period.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Seattle outshot Spokane 10-7 in the third period and 38-26 in the game.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Verhelst made 33 saves on 38 shots and his record is now 13-6-0-1.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n