Spokane Chiefs head coach Don Nachbaur has become the fourth person to coach 1,000 career games in the Western Hockey League.

Nachbaur's milestone came Saturday night as his Chiefs downed the visiting Tri-City Americans 5-2.

Nachbaur has coached three WHL clubs, spanning 14 seasons, and currently is in his third year with the Chiefs. Last season he became the sixth coach in league history to earn 500 career victories.

"I've been around a real long time and been real fortunate to be on winning teams, and that's really been my longevity," Nachbaur said. "It's really about the players, not me as a coach. It's really the kids that bought into the plan we threw in front of them."

Nachbaur joins all-time leader Ken Hodge (1,411), Ernie McLean (1,067) and Lorne Molleken (1,016) on the list of people who have coached 1,000 WHL games.

"I'm just a guy that goes to work every day," Nachbaur said.

Liam Stewart scored twice for the Chiefs (17-7-1-0) while Blake Gal, Mitch Holmberg and Todd Fiddler had a goal apiece.

Jesse Mychan and Parker Bowles scored for the Americans (16-8-2), who lost for the first time in five outings.

Eric Williams made 19 saves for the win, while Eric Comrie turned aside 24-of-28 shots in a losing cause.

Neither club could score on the power play as Spokane went 0-for-5 and Tri-City 0-for-2.

The victory moves the Chiefs one point ahead of the Americans for second place in the U.S. Division standings.