Spokane Chiefs drop close one to Tri-City

KENNEWICK – Evan Fiala scored late in the third period to draw the Spokane Chiefs within one goal, but the Tri-City Americans held on for a 6-5 win in Western Hockey League action on Saturday.

Tri-City’s Morgan Geekie gave the Americans (17-11-2-0, 34 points, second in U.S. Division) a two-goal lead with his 12th of the season with just under 4 minutes to play.

Fiala scored less than one minute later, but the Chiefs (11-11-4-1, fifth in U.S.) weren’t able to find the equalizer to force overtime.

Tri-City got out to a 3-1 lead early in the second period but the Chiefs kept chipping back as Ethan McIndoe – with his second of the game – Keanu Yamamoto (11) and Pavel Kousal all tallied in the second period.

Yamamato extended a goal-scoring streak to four games and points streak to eight.

The Chiefs host Victoria on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. at the Arena.

Junior hockey

Carter Jones scored twice to help the visiting Spokane Braves beat the Beaver Valley Nitehawks 5-4 in KIJHL action.

Elliot Plourde, Niko Corsaro and Valerii Slavkin all added goals for the Braves.