Chiefs fall 2-1 at Seattle for third straight loss

KENT, Wash. – Nolan Volcan scored the winning goal early in the second period, and the Seattle Thunderbirds defeated the Spokane Chiefs 2-1 Tuesday in Western Hockey League play.

Volcan took advantage of a Chiefs’ turnover in the defensive zone to put the T-birds (17-21-4-1, 39 points) in front 24 seconds into the second session.

Volcan also assisted Matthew Wedman for Seattle’s opening goal four minutes into the game.

Jake McGrew fired in the Chiefs’ goal from the left faceoff circle on the power play with 15 seconds left in the first. Spokane had chances to pull even but could not beat T-birds goaltender Roddy Ross, who made 34 saves.

Bailey Brkin stopped 32 shots for the Chiefs (24-15-2-3, 53 points), who suffered their third straight loss.

Larson remains out

Chiefs forward Cordel Larson is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury on the latest WHL Weekly Report. Larson was checked into the boards by an illegal hit Saturday against Tri-City. The team hopes he will return by the end of January.