Chiefs’ seven-game winning streak comes to big halt

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Spokane Chiefs’ seven-game winning streak came crashing down in less than 6 minutes on Friday.

The Victoria Royals scored four times during the final 7:40 of the second period and wiped away the Chiefs’ season-high winning streak with an emphatic 8-1 Western Hockey League victory at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Two days after scoring a season-best 10 goals against Tri-City, the Chiefs allowed a season high for goals. Prince George scored six goals against Spokane in the fourth game of the season.

The Chiefs, behind Adam Helewka’s team-high 19th goal 3:11 into the game, were protecting a 1-0 lead when Greg Chase scored with 13 seconds left in the first period.

The 1-all tie held up until Chaz Reddekopp’s goal at 12:20 of the second. The Royals extended the lead to 5-1 by the 18:11 mark and added three goals in the third period.

Spokane starting goalie Garret Hughson exited once he allowed Brandon Magee’s goal 51 seconds after Reddekopp’s score. The night was no better for backup Tyson Verhelst, who allowed a power-play goal to Jack Walker and Taylor Crunk’s score during the first three shots he faced. Victoria goalie Coleman Vollrath finished with 32 saves.

Spokane (21-13-3-0, 45 points) dropped three points behind Everett for first place in the U.S. Division.

The Chiefs defeated the Royals (19-18-2-1) 4-2 in their previous meeting, Nov. 26 at the Arena. Victoria had lost eight of its last 12 games.

Spokane’s Kailer Yamamoto assisted on Helewka’s goal but had his five-game goal-scoring streak end.