Mitch Holmberg had 2 goals and an assist to lead the visiting Spokane Chiefs past the Victoria Royals 6-2 Tuesday night.
The Chiefs held period leads of 3-1 and 4-2 before adding a pair in third for their 2nd win of the season. The Royals dropped their 2nd straight at home and will look for revenge tonight (Wednesday) in the back half of the two game set.
Spokane outshot Victoria 17-7 in the third, and 42-36 overall as Mike Aviani and Jason Fram both chipped in with a pair of helpers. Victoria got goals from Logan Nelson and Brandon Fushimi.
The Chiefs power play went 2 for 4, now 4 for 9 in their first two games. The Royals went 1 for 5.
20 year old Eric Williams made 34 saves for his 2nd win of the season for Spokane. Patrik Polivka got the start for Victoria going 19 for 23, and split the duties with Coleman Vollrath who kicked out 17 of 19.
The Royals were without some key contributors in defenseman Joe Hicketts (day to day), 19 year old forwards Brandon Magee (day to day) and Steven Hodges (lower 4-6 weeks) and big defenseman Keegan Kanzig (Flames Camp).
The Royals wrap up their 3 game home stand against the Chiefs Wednesday night before heading out on the road for 4 games against the BC Dvision rivals, Kelowna, Prince George for a pair and Kamloops.
-Marlon Martens
Spokane Chiefs 6 at Victoria Royals 2 - Status: Final
Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena - Victoria, BC
Spokane 3 1 2 - 6
Victoria 1 1 0 - 2
1st Period-
1, Spokane, Holmberg 4 (Fram, Gow), 9:22 (PP).
2, Spokane, Oneschuk 1 (Fram, Bechtold), 15:06.
3, Victoria, Nelson 1 (Cote), 19:15 (PP).
4, Spokane, McIntosh 1 (Aviani, Holmberg), 19:48.
Penalties-Gagnon Vic (hooking), 8:23; Carroll Vic (high sticking), 11:06; Bechtold Spo (roughing), 18:45; Walker Vic (roughing), 18:45; Fram Spo (holding), 18:58.
2nd Period-
5, Spokane, Proft 1 11:49.
6, Victoria, Fushimi 1 (Soy), 12:34.
Penalties-Cardiff Spo (delay of game), 1:15; Aviani Spo (interference), 17:04; McIntosh Spo (holding), 19:00.
3rd Period-
7, Spokane, Holmberg 5 (Aviani), 8:38.
8, Spokane, Helewka 1 13:02 (PP).
Penalties-Aviani Spo (roughing), 11:16; Soy Vic (roughing), 11:16; Carroll Vic (roughing, 10-minute misconduct), 12:30; Crunk Vic (slashing), 14:57; Zwerger Spo (major - checking to the head, game misconduct), 17:23; Fisher Vic (roughing), 17:23.
Shots on Goal-
Spokane 16-9-17-42.
Victoria 11-10-7-28.
Power Play Opportunities-
Spokane 2 / 4;
Victoria 1 / 5.
Goalies-Spokane,
Williams 2-0-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves).
Victoria, Polivka 1-2-0-0 (23 shots-19 saves);
Vollrath 0-0-0-0 (19 shots-17 saves).
A-3,141
Referees-Adam Griffiths (36), Pat Smith (12).
Linesmen-Riley Friesen (76), Kirk Van Helvoirt (107).
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