Cranbrook, BC – Swift Current forward Matt Tassone had a hat-trick in an 8-5 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Saturday night.
Swift Current opened the scoring as Geordie Wudrick batted in a loose puck near the crease.
ICE tied it as defenseman Brayden McNabb fired a snap shot into the top corner.
Then on the power-play the ICE took a 2-1 lead with Andrew Bailey cruising through the slot and picked the top corner with a wrist shot.
Broncos scored 2 goals in less than a minute to regain the lead. Matt Tassone found a loose puck near the net and chipped it in.
Wudrick notched his 2nd of the period with a slap shot from the top of the circle that went through the goalies’ legs.
Broncos made it 4-2 on the power-play as Eric Doyle long slap shot beat the goalie through a screen.
Then on a 2-on-1 Jordan Peddle made it 5-2.
ICE changed goalies as Todd Mathews replaced Nathan Lieuwen.
Broncos scored on another power-play as Keegan Danserau received a behind the net pass fromJustin Dowling and had an open net.
Late in the 2nd period ICE forward Tylan Stephens backhanded a bouncing puck near the crease to make it 6-3 after 2 periods.
ICE scored 2 goals 71 seconds apart early in the 3rd period. On the power-play Matt Fraser scored on a forhand wrap-around.
Then Christian Magnus found a wide open Jesse Ismond in the slot and one-timed a slapshot.
Tassone completed the hat-trick with a breakaway and empty net goal in the final 3 minutes of the game.
The ICE will host Saskatoon on Sunday.
Game Summary
Swift Current 26-21-0-1 Kootenay 21-19-2-4
1st Period
1. Swift Current, Wudrick 16 (Stickland, McAvoy) 3:45
2. Kootenay, McNabb 5 (Antilla) 8:25
3. Kootenay, Bailey 18 (Pacovsky, Barteaux) 11:52 pp
4. Swift Current, Tassone 25 (Dansereua, McAvoy) 15:07
5. Swift Current, Wudrick 17 (2) (Eakin, Negrin) 15:58
Penalties – Negrin SC (interference) 8:40,
2nd Period
6. Swift Current, Doyle 9 (Wudrick, Eakin) 3:25 pp
7. Swift Current, Peddle 8 (Doyle) 10:21
8. Swift Current, Dansereau 26 (Dowling, McAvoy) 17:44p
9. Kootenay, Stephens 14 (Cassivi, Ismond) 19:33
Penalties – Martin Ktn (hooking) 2:31, Hewitt SC (cross checking) 4:10, Eakin SC (tripping) 6:30, Fraser Ktn (high sticking) 13:20, Ismond Ktn (high sticking) 16:31,
3rd Period
10. Kootenay, Fraser 9 (Bailey, McNabb) 3:25
11. Kootenay, Ismond 8 (Magnus) 4:36
12. Swift Current
Penalties – Bench SC (too many men) 2:35, Brown SC (slashing) 7:58, Barteaux Ktn (interference) 12:42,
Shots on goal by
Swift Current – 17 - 6 – 12 = 35
Kootenay - 11 – 12 – 10 = 33
Goal (shots-saves) – Swift Current: Travis Yonkman (W 14-9-0-1) Kootenay: Nathan Lieuwen (21-16) Todd Mathews (10:21 second) (L 3-9-0-1) (13-11)
Power plays (goals-chances) – Swift Current: 2/4 Kootenay: 2/6
Referee – Derek Herman
Linesmen – Andrew Barker, Kelly Reitenbach
Attendance – 3,036