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WHL Saskatoon Blades

Crnkovic Nets Hat-Trick in Third Period Comeback

February 10, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Saskatoon Blades News Release


SASKATOON, SK - Kyle Crnkovic gave the fans more to cheer about on Winning Wednesday netting his second hat-trick this season, helping the Saskatoon Blades come back to defeat the Calgary Hitmen 4-2 at SaskTel Centre.

The alternate captain's three-goal performance pushes him into sole possession of the league leader in points with 66, sitting one-up on Rebels Arshdeep Bains. The highlight of the night came with just 2:49 left on the clock when Crnkovic showed off his hand-eye coordination in a 'highlight of the night' candidate goal. It also served as the game-winner, Crnkovic's fifth of the season.

Alternate captain Rhett Rhinehart also lit the lamp, his sixth of the season, tying the game late in the third. The veteran also had a helper in the contest, while captain Aidan De La Gorgondiere, Tyler Parr, Trevor Wong and Tristen Robins also collected assists.

Blades netminder Nolan Maier stopped 30 of 32 shots, helping the Bridge City Bunch improve to 24-16-1-1 on the campaign. This win is Maier's 111th - now sitting four games back of Griffin Outhouse for eighth place on the all-time WHL wins list.

Hitmen goalie Ethan Buenaventura made 27 stops in a loss which drops Calgary's record to 18-17-5-2.

Saskatoon now sits four points back of the Moose Jaw Warriors, who lost to Lethbridge, for second place in the East Division.

Zac Funk got the ball rolling for the Hitmen early, going short-side on Maier just over six minutes in.

But Saskatoon got it back with five minutes to go in the frame after Crnkovic found the back of the net thanks to a De La Gorgendiere drop pass and a partial screen from Robins in front.

Calgary had the lone second-period marker where Englefeld, SK product Cael Zimmerman tipped home a Funk shot to help the Hitmen retake the lead. The visiting squad rolled into the third period holding a 2-1 edge, thanks to several quality stops from Buenaventura along the way.

But with less than seven minutes to play, Rhett Rhinehart ripped a blast from the point that gave Blades fans reason to leave their seats. The alternate captain took a cross-ice pass from Wong, and found a hole through the wickets of the Hitmen netminder, tying the game, and breathing life into the home team.

Less than two minutes later, Crnkovic took over.

The Chestermere, AB product whacked a loose rebound out of midair, scoring his team-leading 28th of the season, to give Saskatoon its first lead of the hockey game. He followed up with an empty-netter, sealing his third career hat-trick and a critical two points for his team.

The Blades are back at home for the fourth meeting of their five-game homestand on Friday night, welcoming the Lethbridge Hurricanes to SaskTel Centre for the first time since February 1st, 2020.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2022


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