Wednesday. . . .

The Spokane Chiefs play three games in as many nights this weekend and go in having won eight straight games for the third time in franchise history. The Chiefs are at home to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday and the Vancouver Giants on Saturday and close it out in Seattle on Sunday. . . . Spokane’s franchise record for consecutive victories (12) was set in 1995-96. . . .

C Riley Holzapfel of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who has been out with a concussion since Oct. 14, may return to action Friday against the host Regina Pats. Holzapfel, who has missed six games, was injured when hit by Regina D Colten Teubert, who served a two-game suspension for the check. . . .

The Kootenay Ice will be without C Ben Maxwell for at least six weeks. That was the word after the club got back results of an MRI on a thigh injury. “Our first and foremost goal is to get Ben back into our lineup healthy and we’re not going to push it,” Ice head coach Mark Hollick told Jeff Bromley of the Kootenay NewsAdvertiser. “When he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go but I wouldn’t expect him for at least six weeks.” . . . That means Maxwell almost certainly will miss the ADT Challenge game (WHL versus a Russian team) set for Cranbrook on Nov. 28. . . .

When the Red Deer Rebels lost 4-3 to the Tigers in Medicine Hat on Tuesday, it was their 10th one-goal loss this season. In fact, the Rebels have lost six straight games, each of them by one goal. . . . The Rebels will be without RW J.D. Watt (knee) for perhaps two weeks. . . .

The CHL’s Top 10, as voted on by a panel of NHL scouts:
1. Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (14-4-1-0) 3 5
2. Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds (12-3-1-0) 1 6
3. Calgary Hitmen (11-5-0-1) 2 6
4. Kitchener Rangers (11-2-0-0) 6 4
5. Windsor Spitfires (11-3-0-2) 4 5
6. Tri-City Americans (12-4-0-0) 5 6
7. Halifax Mooseheads (11-3-0-2) 7 4
8. Baie-Comeau Drakkar (12-4-0-2) 10 4
9. Spokane Chiefs (11-2-1-1) - 1
10. Medicine Hat Tigers (11-3-2-0) - 1

This poll begs on comment: Where are the Vancouver Giants? . . .

WEDNESDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
In Saskatoon, the Blades halted a six-game losing skid as they dumped the Kootenay Ice 3-2 in the night’s lone game. . . . The Blades (4-10-1-0) were playing their first home game after losing five straight on a U.S. Division swing. . . . RW Kevin Philp, playing his eighth WHL game, won this one with his first goal, breaking a 2-2 tie on a breakaway at 5:20 of the third period. . . . Just over two minutes earlier, the 6-foot-7 Philp had taken an interference penalty. . . . The Ice (7-10-2-0) had ended a four-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory in Prince Albert on Tuesday. . . . Captain Steve Da Silva, who is from Saskatoon, had the Ice’s first goal. He has six goals in his last seven games. . . . Saskatoon G Braden Holtby stopped 32 shots. That included a second-period stop on Jason MacDonald on a penalty shot attempt with the Ice leading 2-1. . . . The Ice outshot the Blades 13-2 in the third period.