Beach hits milestone
Scores 50th goal in Chiefs’ victory
KENT, Wash. – Kyle Beach reached a milestone no Chief had visited in 16 years and helped guide Spokane to a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Thunderbirds in the process during Western Hockey League play Saturday night at ShoWare Center.
Beach gave Spokane a 2-0 lead at the 8-minute, 25-second mark of the first period with his 50th goal of the season.
The last Chief to score 50 goals in a season was Ryan Duthie in 1993-94.
The only other 50-goal scorer in the WHL in the last four years was Joel Broda, who had 50 while playing for Moose Jaw and Calgary last season.
The Chiefs wasted no time in grabbing the lead against the T-Birds.
Blake Gal found the net – with assists from Beach and Mitch Wahl – just 14 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead. It was Gal’s ninth tally of the season.
Beach stretched the lead on a power-play goal with assists from Jared Cowen and Tyler Johnson.
Johnson capped the scoring for Spokane with a goal at the 6:45 mark of the final period. Levko Koper assisted on Johnson’s 33rd goal of the year.
Beach capped things off with an empty-net goal with 58 seconds left to play.
Spokane (42-21-3-2) outshot Seattle (17-38-7-5) 41-20 and held them to one shot in the second period.
Lindsay Nielsen spoiled goalie James Reid’s bid for a shutout with a goal at 17:56 in the third period.