Holmberg’s hat trick ignites Chiefs

LETHBRIDGE, Alberta – Once they stopped fighting, the Spokane Chiefs showed a lot of spark. Western Hockey League scoring leader Mitch Holmberg had his third hat trick of the season and the Chiefs scored five unanswered goals Friday during a 6-2 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Spokane’s Dominic Zwerger and Lethbridge’s Brady Ramsay earned 5-minute major fighting penalties 9 seconds into the game. The Chiefs drew seven infractions and the Hurricanes picked up five during the 1-all first period. Holmberg’s first goal, with 1 second left on a power play and assisted by Reid Gow and Jason Fram, tied the game at 2 in the second and keyed the rally. The same three players teamed on a power-play goal at 3:27 of the third that gave Holmberg his league-best sixth winning goal. Holmberg leads the league with 49 points and 22 goals. Gow has 24 assists, No. 3 in the league. Spokane (14-6-0-0, 28 points) improved to 9-3 on the road and 6-1 against the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes (2-15-1-2) lost their eighth straight game.