Hudson Elynuik’s hat trick powers Chiefs’ fifth consecutive win

KELOWNA, B.C. – The Spokane Chiefs won their season-high fifth consecutive game on Saturday night, defeating the Kelowna Rockets 4-2.

Hudson Elynuik led the way with three goals for Spokane. After a first-period goal, he scored the go-ahead goal with 1 minute, 14 seconds remaining in the third period and finished off the hat track with an empty-netter.

The Chiefs are 38-21-3-2 for 81 points and remain two points behind Portland, which is in second place in the WHL’s U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League. Portland defeated Tri-City 5-0 on Saturday.

Elynuik’s first goal opened the scoring seven minutes into the game and Spokane led 1-0 after the first period. Kelowna tied it on a power-play goal in the final minute of the second period. Ty Smith scored five minutes into the third for a 2-1 lead for the Chiefs, but Kole Lind scored for Kelowna with 6:19 remaining before Elynuik wrapped up the scoring.

The Chiefs are 3-0 to open their six-game road trip. The next two games are Tuesday and Wednesday at Victoria, both at 7:05 p.m.