CHL Daily: Eagles’ Johnson completes the hat-trick in overtime

CHL Three Stars

Cape Breton Eagles overage left-wing Samuel Johnson takes home first-star honours after finishing with four points. That performance counted a hat-trick capped off with the third tally coming with just nine seconds remaining in the bonus frame.

Second-star recognition goes to Seattle Kraken prospect Tucker Robertson of the Peterborough Petes who collected his first hat-trick of the season as part of a four-point night in a 6-2 road win in Kitchener.

Falling to an early deficit, the Brandon Wheat Kings scored 11 unanswered to top Moose Jaw 11-2 on the road. Third star Zakhar Polshakov scored once and added three assists in the big win.

Nightly notes

OHL

• Ottawa 67’s rookie blue-liner Henry Mews impressed with his second two-goal performance of the season in a 5-1 takedown of Kingston.
• A four-goal final frame lifted the Saginaw Spirit to a 7-4 road win in Flint. Leading scorer and Anaheim Ducks 2022 first rounder Pavel Mintyukov collected two more points in the victory.
• Mississauga Steelheads second-year skater Zander Veccia netted his sixth of the season to play the overtime hero in a 4-3 road win in Hamilton.
• Rookie left-wing Malcolm Spence registered his sixth goal of the season to lift the Erie Otters to a 4-3 overtime win in Niagara.
• Seven different skaters found the back of the net as the London Knights came away with a 7-5 victory in Sarnia. Second-year centre Denver Barkey closed out the night with three points.
• The Sudbury Wolves tallied twice in the frame to come away with a 3-2 win versus rival North Bay. Veteran right-wing Landon McCallum netted the eventual game winner on the man advantage.
• Rookie netminder Joey Costanzo impressed as he turned aside 33 shots to guide the Windsor Spitfires to a 3-2 road win in Guelph.
• 2023 NHL Draft hopeful Beau Akey notched the overtime winner as the Barrie Colts prevailed with a 5-4 road win in Owen Sound.

Declan McDonnell puts it on a tee for Beau Akey and the 2023 #NHLDraft prospect wins it in overtime for the @OHLBarrieColts 🎥 pic.twitter.com/6MToB2s6R9

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 31, 2022

QMJHL

• Montreal Canadiens draftee Riley Kidney finished with a goal and three assists as the Acadie-Bathurst Titan doubled up Saint John 6-3.
• Sophomore right-wing Thomas Auger finished with a trio of assists as the Moncton Wildcats came away with a 6-2 road win in Charlottetown.
• Veteran right-wing Xavier Sarrasin secured the victory in overtime as the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada downed Gatineau 3-2 on the road.
• Only 37 seconds into the extra frame, Stéphane Jr Huard cashed in on the man advantage as the Shawinigan Cataractes picked up a 6-5 road win in Sherbrooke.
• Rookie netminder Kyle Hagen turned aside all 27 shots to notch his second shutout of the season as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies prevailed 5-0 in Val-d’Or.

Barbashev pots his team-leading 16th from Lounsbury. https://t.co/J00ErNufo4 pic.twitter.com/zlpbKc1Cmi

— Moncton Wildcats (@monctonwildcats) December 31, 2022

WHL

• New York Rangers prospect Jayden Grubbe led the way with a goal and two assists as the Red Deer Rebels picked up a 6-2 road win in Edmonton.
• Blue-liner Luca Cagnoni shined with three assists as the Portland Winterhawks came away with a 5-1 road win versus rival Everett.
• The 2023 Memorial Cup presented by Kia host Kamloops Blazers doubled up rival Prince George 4-2. Third-year right-wing Dylan Sydor closed out the night with two tallies.
• The Seattle Thunderbirds pushed their undefeated in regulation streak to 12 games following a 4-1 road win in Kelowna. Calgary Flames up-and-comer Lucas Ciona lit the lamp twice.
• Tanner Brown was the overtime hero as the Regina Pats came away with a 4-3 decision versus Prince Albert. Brown also added two assists on the night.
• Berkly Catton netted the eventual game winner as the Spokane Chiefs downed rival Tri-City 2-1.
• Third-year centre Mathew Ward secured three assists including a helper on the game winner as the Swift Current Broncos defeated Lethbridge 4-3.
• The Vancouver Giants prevailed 4-3 in the shootout versus rival Victoria. Vegas Golden Knights draftee Jesper Vikman stopped 28 shots to record his 12th victory of the season.
• Netminder Daniel Hauser turned aside all 23 shots to record his second shutout of the season and guide the Winnipeg ICE to a 2-0 victory over Saskatoon.

🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥

The finest of dishes presented by Zakhar Polshakov.@bdnwheatkings | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/YP67fBeOUH

— The WHL (@TheWHL) December 31, 2022

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