Chiefs throttle Blazers

KAMLOOPS, British Columbia - Spokane's Kyle Beach completed his second hat trick in three games, Mitch Wahl added two goals and the Spokane Chiefs won their fifth straight game, 7-0 over the Kamloops Blazers in front of 3,874 at the Interior Savings Centre on Wednesday night.

"It was a great 60-minute effort by our group," Spokane coach Hardy Sauter said. "Our guys had good intensity and did not let up once. It was a sign of a mature group tonight."

With the win, Spokane climbs to within one point of Portland for third place and two behind Everett for second place in the U.S. Division.

James Reid had 26 saves for his fourth shutout of the year for the Chiefs (36-20-3-1 76 point), who travel to Cranbrook, B.C., on Friday to face the Kootenay Ice.