Aviani scores four times as Chiefs romp again
The Western Hockey League season couldn't have started any better for the Spokane Chiefs, who are 3-0-0-0 after Wednesday night's 6-1 victory at Victoria, British Columbia. Spokane defeated Tri-City 6-2 to open the season on Saturday and posted an identical score during Tuesday's win at Victoria. The Chiefs are off to a blazing start without having played a home game. That will change Saturday at the Arena against the Tri-City Americans. Read story
The Chiefs stopped a penalty shot for the second consecutive night. Eric Williams did the trick on Tuesday and Garret Hughson followed suit on Wednesday by stopping Brandon Fushimi. Chiefs goalies have stopped 76 of 81 shots this season.
"Their goalie (Hughson) made saves tonight and their power play was better than ours," Victoria head coach Dave Lowry said to Cleve Dheensaw of the Victoria Times Colonist.
Spokane struggled with power-play opportunities for chunks of the 2012-13 season, but the Chiefs have converted half of their 14 attempts this year.
Mitch Holmberg (six) and Mike Aviani (five) are running 1-2 in league scoring this season. Reid Gow leads the WHL with seven assists, including assists on the Chiefs' first three goals on Wednesday.
Connor Chartier scored his second goal of the season in the third period. Chartier had just six goals in 64 games last season.
Jason Fram had his fourth assist for Spokane. He had 14 in 60 games last season.
The Royals played without Keegan Kanzig, who is expected to return Thursday from the Calgary Flames; Joe Hicketts and Brandon Magee, who are injured; and Steven Hodges, who had surgery and will be gone for several more weeks.
