Franson, Hamilton help Giants halt 5-game skid

VANCOUVER — Cain Franson had two goals and two assists and Joel Hamilton scored once and set up three more as the Vancouver Giants crushed the visiting Kamloops Blazers 7-2 on Sunday in Western Hockey League action.

Jackson Houck added a goal and two assists for the Giants (28-23-10), who halted a five-game slide, while Tyler Morrison, Mason Geertsen and Dominik Volek each scored once.

Matt Bellerive scored both goals for the Blazers (12-43-5), who are 1-9-0 in their last 10 outings.

Vancouver’s Jared Rathjen made 19 saves for the win as Cole Kehler turned aside 44-of-51 shots for Kamloops.

The Giants went 3 for 4 on the power play while the Blazers failed to score on three chances with the man advantage.

COUGARS 6, THUNDERBIRDS 4

KENT, Wash. — Ty Edmonds stopped 39-of-40 shots in relief as Prince George used a four-goal second period to come from behind and defeat Seattle.

Zach Pochiro scored twice for the Cougars (25-29-8), who trailed 3-0 less than seven minutes into the game, and Troy Bourke had a goal and two assists. Klarc Wilson, Todd Fiddler and Jansen Harkins each had a goal and an assist to round out Prince George’s offence.

Jaimen Yakubowski had a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds (37-18-5) while Alexander Delnov and Calvin Spencer added single goals.

Prince George’s Adam Beukeboom gave up three goals on nine shots in 6:48 of action, before giving way to Edmonds.

Seattle’s Danny Mumaugh allowed four goals on 22 shots and was replaced by Taran Kozun. Kozun picked up the loss, stopping 4-of-6 shots in 31 minutes of ice time.

CHIEFS 5, SILVERTIPS 2

SPOKANE, Wash. — Eric Williams made 35 saves and Mitch Holmberg had two goals and an assist as the Chiefs downed Everett.

Mike Aviani scored once and set up two others for Spokane (34-20-5), Marcus Messier and Dominic Zwerger each scored once and Adam Helewka tacked on three assists.

Brayden Low and Joshua Winquist scored for the Silvertips (28-23-8) and 15-year-old Carter Hart stopped 20 shots in his WHL debut.

Holmberg’s performance moves him into a tie for the WHL scoring race with Nicolas Petan of the Portland Winterhawks. Both players have 100 points.

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