The Spokane Chiefs clicked twice on the powerplay en route to a 4-1 Western Hockey League win over the host Kelowna Rockets Tuesday night in front of 6,237 fans at Prospera Place.
Special teams were the story of the night as the Rockets were 0-for-5 with the man advantage while Spokane capitalized twice on eight opportunities.
Brett Bulmer had the lone goal for the Rockets, scoring late in the third period to extend his point streak to 10 games. 15-year-old affiliate player Justin Kirkland drew the assist, his first WHL point.
Adam Brown was solid in net in a losing cause, as the Rockets were outshot 37-23.
Mitch Holmberg scored twice for the Chiefs while Collin Valcourt and Marek Kalus also scored.
Kelowna visited the Tri-City Americans Thursday, and will entertain the Calgary Hitmen in a 2 p.m. New Year’s Day matinee at Prospera.
In other WHL play, Mark Ferner’s last-place Everett Silvertips have points in four straight games after they dropped a pair of shootout decisions in a home-and-home with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
After falling 2-1 to Seattle at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. Tuesday, the Tips bowed 4-3 Wednesday night at Comcast Arena.
Vernon-born Ryan Harrison led the Everett offence with two goals and an assist, and was a plus-2, in the second tilt. Luke Lochhart fired two goals for Seattle.
n In BCHL action Wednesday night, Paul DeJersey’s four-point night vaulted him into a share of the league scoring race as the Prince George Spruce Kings doubled the host Chilliwack Chiefs 4-2 at Prospera Centre.
DeJersey (27-34-61), who recorded a goal and three assists, is now tied with Connor Reilly (26-35-61) of the Penticton Vees. The West Vancouver native set up each of Michael Colantone’s three goals in the third period, helping his linemate record the natural hat trick.
De Jersey, a former Salmon Arm SilverBack, added an empty-netter.
Spencer Graboski answered for the Chiefs, who are third in the Interior at 19-11-0-2.
The fourth-place Spruce Kings (16-13-2-3) sit two points ahead of the Vernon Vipers (16-12-1-2) for the final Interior playoff spot. Vernon has three games in hand.
The Snakes visited the 11-16-0-6 SilverBacks Thursday night at the Shaw Centre (formerly Sunwave Centre), and will entertain the Gorillas tonight at Wesbild Centre.
In Coastal Conference play Wednesday, Jacob Charles collected 2+2 as the Cowichan Valley Capitals thrashed the host Langley Rivermen 6-1.
Vernon’s Trevor Fitzgerald buried a goal as the Nanaimo Clippers bowed 5-2 to the Coquitlam Express.
Visit www.vernonmorningstar.com and click on Vipers Central for a recap of tonight’s tilt with the SilverBacks.
