WHL Tri-City Americans

Fast Nets Hat Trick, Americans Roll Past Rebels 6-1

Published on February 29, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Tri-City Americans News Release


RED DEER, AB - Leap years come around once every four years, but it's safe to say that at least two Americans' skaters will remember this February 29.

T.J. Fast capped off a 19-point month of February with his first career WHL hat trick. Chet Pickard stopped 20 shots to become the first Americans' goaltender to win 40 games in a season. And the Tri-City Americans (46-14-2-2, 96 pts) rolled past the Red Deer Rebels (17-41-4-3, 41 pts) 6-1 in front of 5,780 fans at the Enmax Centre. For the Americans, it marks their second straight victory and improves their record to 5-1 against the Central Division. It also puts Tri-City firmly into first place in the U.S. Division, as they made up their game-in-hand on the Spokane Chiefs. Meanwhile, it was the third straight loss for the Rebels and second straight to the Americans.

The Americans have scored 14 goals in the past three games and they wasted no time getting started on Friday night. Only 5:48 into the contest, and on the power play, Taylor Procyshen knocked in a T.J. Fast shot, past Rebels netminder Morgan Clark, for the early 1-0 lead. For Procyshen it was his third goal in as many games and his 27th of the season.

However, seven minutes later, the Rebels tied the game at 1 while on the power play. Red Deer defenseman Mark Louis redirected a Troy Ofukany shot past Pickard for his fifth goal of the season. However, it would prove to be Pickard's only blemish on the night, as he would soon become just the 15th goaltender in WHL history to reach 40-wins in a season.

Less than two minutes later, Jason Reese knocked the puck free from a Rebels defenseman and broke into the Red Deer zone all alone. Reese beat Clark under his glove to put Tri-City back on top and the Americans would never look back.

It remained a 2-1 game until late in the second period, when the Americans connected on another power play opportunity. Fast let a shot go from the left circle and beat Clark for his first goal of the night and the lone marker in the second period.

In the third frame, rookie Adam Hughesman used his skate to redirect an Eric Mestery shot for his 13th goal of the season and eighth goal in his last six games. Then, 22 seconds later, after splitting two defensemen and beating Clark high over his blocker, Fast notched his second goal of the night. Finally, with just over two minutes remaining in regulation and on the power play, Fast completed the hat trick and wrapped up the scoring with his 17th goal of the season. Clark ended the game with 32 saves. The Americans ended the game going 3-for-6 on the power play, while the Rebels finished 1-for-5 on the man-advantage.

Tri-City will wrap-up their swing through the Central Division tomorrow, Saturday, March 1, when they face-off against the Kootenay Ice in Cranbrook, BC. Game time is 6:00 p.m. (PST). The Americans have struggled at the Cranbrook Recreational Centre recently, going 2-7 over the past five seasons. However, Tri-City boasts one of the better road records in the WHL. You can catch all the action live on NewsTalk 870 AM, starting with the Budweiser Warm-up show at 5:45 p.m. (PST). You can also catch all the action live, via WHL WebTV, at the Americans' home away from home, R.F. McDougall's in Richland.

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Western Hockey League Stories from February 29, 2008


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