VICTORIA, British Columbia – Despite outshooting Victoria 49-33 and clawing back from a 3-0 first-period deficit, the Spokane Chiefs came up just short in a 4-3 loss to the Royals in Game 3 on Wednesday night. Spokane tied the game late in the third but couldn’t overcome a last-minute power-play goal from Teydon Trembecky, who completed his hat trick to give Victoria the win and a 2-1 series lead.

About halfway through the first period, the Royals struck first. On a delayed penalty, Victoria broke out of its defensive zone with speed as the extra attacker jumped over the boards, creating a 4-on-2 odd-man rush. Cole Reschny found Trembecky wide open in the slot, and he ripped a one-time wrister past Dawson Cowan to give the Royals the early lead.

Cole Reschny ➡️ Teydon Trembecky ☑️ pic.twitter.com/527KSWgoW0

— xy – Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) April 17, 2025

It didn’t take long for Victoria to find the back of the net again. Less than three minutes later on the power play, Reschny walked it in from the top of the circle, let it fly from the dot, and the puck deflected off a Chiefs player in front to beat Cowan.

Cole Reschny 👀 pic.twitter.com/DyO5iHlza8

— xy – Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) April 17, 2025

Just 66 seconds later, Trembecky tallied his second of the night. The Royals capitalized on a neutral-zone turnover by Spokane, setting up Trembecky alone in the slot, where he buried a pass from below the goal line to make it 3-0.

Teydon Trembecky has his second of the night! pic.twitter.com/emC7iuTiuF

— xy – Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) April 17, 2025

Spokane got on the board with 3:42 left in the first period, as Andrew Cristall cleaned up a rebound below the circle to cut the deficit to 3-1.

AC gets us on the board with a second-chance goal at 16:20 in the first! It’s 3-1.#GoChiefsGo | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/KH8TJD6EYI

— x – Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) April 17, 2025

After the first 20 minutes, Spokane outshot Victoria 21-11, but went 0-2 on the powerplay, and trailed 3-1.

Less than five minutes into the second period, Royals winger Brandon Boehm delivered a dangerous hit from behind on Chiefs forward Cameron Parr, nearly a full two seconds after the puck had moved away. Boehm hit Parr a couple of feet off the boards, sending him headfirst into the glass. Boehm was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct, but Spokane was unable to convert on the ensuing five-minute power play.

Physicality ramped up from both teams for the remainder of the second, but neither side found the back of the net. Cowan stood on his head for the Chiefs, turning aside all 11 shots he faced in the frame, and the Royals carried their 3-1 lead into the third.

Spokane came out buzzing in the final period. Around the 13-minute mark, the Chiefs sustained pressure in Victoria’s zone. Berkly Catton threw the puck in front, where Shea Van Olm tipped it to Cristall. After his initial shot was stopped, Cristall buried his own rebound for his second of the night to make it 3-2.

Stone Cold Cristall 🥶AC brings us within one with his second goal of the night! 3-2 VIC at 6:49 in the third.#GoChiefsGo | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/wZTe8XB0Uc

— x – Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) April 17, 2025

The Chiefs continued to grind late in the third looking for the equalizer when the hard work finally paid off. Brayden Crampton fired a shot on net from the blue line and Chase Harrington was there to bury it five-hole to tie the game at three with just under five minutes to play. 

HARRY WITH THE EQUALIZER!!! 3-3 at 15:07!#GoChiefsGo | #WHLPlayoffs | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/SIhLJgWMDW

— x – Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) April 17, 2025

But with 1:20 left in regulation, Will McIsaac took a high-sticking penalty, giving Victoria a late power play. With just 30 seconds remaining, Trembecky completed his hat trick and sealed the win, slipping a shot past Cowan to make it 4-3 as hats rained down from the crowd.

Teydon Trembecky with the hat trick! pic.twitter.com/GgCOE47419

— xy – Victoria Royals (@victoriaroyals) April 17, 2025

Victoria finished 2-for-3 on the power play, while Spokane went scoreless despite nine minutes with the man advantage. The Chiefs outshot the Royals 49-33 but couldn’t solve Victoria’s penalty kill.

Game 4 is set for Friday in Victoria, with puck drop at 6 p.m. PT, as the Chiefs look to even the best-of-seven series.