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Hofer scores twice as Blazers earn convincing win over cellar-dwelling Chiefs

Blazers outgun Chiefs

Ryan Hofer scored twice and Logan Stankoven had three assists Saturday, pacing the Kamloops Blazers in a 5-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs in front of a sellout crowd at Sandman Centre.

Daylan Kuefler, Hofer (2), Olen Zellweger and Kyle Masters were the goal scorers for the Blazers. Berkly Catton and Ty Cheveldayoff scored for Spokane.

The Chiefs hung around for the first 40 minutes, trailing 3-2 after two periods. Hofer and Masters scored in the third to make it a 5-2 final.

Matthew Kieper made 22 saves on 24 Spokane shots to earn the win in net in his first start as a Blazer. Cooper Michaluk was solid in net for the Chiefs, making 48 saves on 53 shots in a losing effort.

Neither team scored on four power-play opportunities apiece.

Announced attendance at Sandman Centre was 5,440.

With the win, the Blazers improve to 25-8-4-2 on the season, still tops in the WHL’s B.C. Division and second in the Western Conference, eight points back of the first-place Seattle Thunderbirds (30-7-1-1), who lost 4-2 on Saturday in Saskatoon.

The loss moves the Chiefs to 8-28-1-2 — dead last in the U.S. Division and the Western Conference.

The Blazers are back in action next weekend, when the Tri-City Americans (17-16-3-1) visit Sandman Centre for games on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop both nights is 7 p.m.



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