Jake McGrew’s hat trick leads Chiefs to road win over Seattle

KENT, Wash. – Jake McGrew scored three goals and added an assist as the Spokane Chiefs defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds 5-3 on Friday.

After the Chiefs (18-11-2-2, 40 points) surrendered a short-handed breakaway goal to Nolan Volcan midway through the first, McGrew took over, tying the contest with a minute left in the opening period and then scoring again 1:35 into a wild second period.

After Volcan tied it on another breakaway for the Thunderbirds (11-15-3-0, 25) at 8:15, McGrew assisted Adam Beckman for another Spokane lead at the 9:36 mark.

Seattle’s Payton Mount leveled the score a third time at 17:32 before a turnover by T-birds goalie Liam Hughes set up Eli Zummack to score the winner with 15 seconds remaining in the period.

It was Zummack’s team-leading fourth winner of the season.

McGrew completed the scoring with an empty-netter with 29 seconds left. It was his second career hat trick, and he set a career high with four points.

The Chiefs have won four straight over Seattle.

They will host the T-birds Sunday as their season reaches the halfway point.