Hat Trick Can’T Save Spokane Bohac Strikes Three Times, But Wheat Kings Top Chiefs Wheat Kings 5 Chiefs 3

The Spokane Chiefs’ first hat trick didn’t do the trick.

Aaron Goldade and Ryan Johnston scored 50 seconds apart in the second period for a two-goal lead, and the Brandon Wheat Kings defeated Spokane 5-3 in the Western Hockey League on Wednesday.

Brandon’s second-period scoring spree offset the effort of Chiefs center Daniel Bohac, whose three goals gave Spokane its first hat trick of its 21-game season.

Spokane (5-13-3), which lost its third consecutive game, is 0-2 on its four-game road swing.

The Chiefs lost 6-5 at Regina, Saskatchewan, on Tuesday. In that game, like Wednesday’s loss, Spokane fell behind early, rallied for a tie, then faded.

Brandon (9-10-2) led 2-0 after one period, in both cases with Goldade feeding Andrei Lupandin for goals. Goldade stole a pass in the Chiefs’ zone and passed to Lupandin on the right wing for the first goal. Lupandin then scored from the right point on a power-play goal with 38 seconds left in the period.

Lupandin has 11 goals this season.

Bohac has 10 goals. His eighth, on a power play early in the second period, was a one-timer past screened goaltender Jamie Hodson. He scored his ninth less than 4 minutes later, on a rebound of a Bobby Leavins shot.

The Wheat Kings’ go-ahead goal came at 15:40, as Goldade found the net after a rebound off the right post. League assists leader Ryan Robson picked up his 22nd on the play.

Less than a minute later, Johnston stole a clearing pass behind Spokane’s net and scored on a wraparound on the right post.

Bohac cut the edge to 4-3 on a rebound of Cole Fischer’s shot with 13 minutes left. But Johnston fed Brett Girard in the late stages to preserve Brandon’s win.

Spokane fell into a last-place tie in the West Division with Kelowna after Tuesday’s loss. Kelowna didn’t play on Wednesday.

Spokane plays at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on Friday. The Chiefs don’t return to the Arena until Nov. 20, against Portland.