A’MACE’ING VICTORY
Brooks Macek netted his first WHL career hat trick in the 7-2 Hitmen harvest of the Brandon Wheat Kings on Wednesday night.
“I’ve had a couple games where I’ve had two, I just couldn’t find the third. So it was just one of those nights where you’re doing the little things right and the team has success and you have personal success,” said Brooks Macek.
It was a four-point (3g,1a) night for the 19-year-old right winger, whose trio of goals were scored in back-to-back fashion in the second half of the game.
“We were moving our feet, we were getting pucks deep, just playing as a team and we came out prepared,” said Macek on the scoring onslaught.
Wednesday’s win boosts the Hitmen to the sixth place position in the tight Eastern Conference standings. Calgary, as well as the fifth place Saskatoon Blades, each have 59 points while Regina sits one point back and Kootenay one point ahead.
A slick back-and-forth exchange between Victor Rask and Brady Brassart started the HItmen scoring frenzy and would be Rask’s 21st of the season.
“I liked our start, I thought we were sharp and played quite simple,” commented Hitmen head coach, Mike Williamson.
Seven minutes later, the Hitmen extended their lead to 2-0 as a centering pass by team captain, Cody Sylvester found Spencer Humphries who ripped a sure-fire shot over the blocker of Corbin Boes.
The offence did not back down as Trevor Cheek charged down the boards and sent the puck sailing past the Wheat Kings’ backstop, closing out the stanza with a three goal lead.
“Through the first two (periods), it was hard to find a guy that wasn’t ready to play,” said Williamson.
Three goals in the second frame and an exclamation point by Macek in the third capped off the Hitmen 7-2 win.
“I was hoping Rask was going to get me the puck,” said Macek, referring to the pass that set up his hat trick goal.
The Wheat Kings thwarted the shutout for Hitmen netminder, Brandon Glover as they solved him twice in the final frame.
A total of 11 Hitmen recorded at least a point in the win. Victor Rask managed three points (1g,2a) while Brady Brassart and Cody Sylvester each put up a pair of helpers.
Brandon Glover made 23 saves for Calgary as the Hitmen outshot the Wheat Kings 39-25.The Hitmen, now 28-17-2-1 on the season, have won 11 of their last 12 games. This was the final game of the season series against the Wheat Kings, as Calgary closed the set with a 3-1 record. The Hitmen end the month with a pair of home games and one road contest. Calgary welcomes the Vancouver Giants Friday, January 27 at 7:00 p.m. for the Husky Hitmen 7th Man game. The Hitmen will then travel to Medicine Hat on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. matchup followed by a Sunday afternoon home ice contest against the Tri-City Americans. Puck drop is 4:00 p.m. on Sunday for the Wendy’s Novice Development Day game.
Three Stars
1. CAL – 11 Brooks Macek
2. CAL – 27 Brady Brassart
3. CAL – 9 Jaynen Rissling
