Chiefs whip Vancouver

SPOKANE - Collin Valcourt recorded the first hat trick of his career, all coming in the third period, to lift the Spokane Chiefs past the Vancouver Giants 5-2 in Western Hockey League play Saturday night in front of 5,597 at the Spokane Arena.

Brenden Kitchton opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period for Spokane. Todd Fiddler scored in the second for a 2-0 lead.

Vancouver cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the second.

Valcourt scored the first of his three goals 1:53 into the third and scored again at the 10:05 mark to give Spokane a 4-1 lead and capped the scoring on an empty-netter from center ice with one second remaining.

The Chiefs (6-2-0-0, 12 points) outshot Vancouver 34-24 and will face Seattle on Tuesday at the ShoWare Center in Kent.