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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Beat Stockton 7-2 on Kevin Lind's Hat Trick

January 10, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Stockton Thunder 7-2 Friday night at Maverik Center as Kevin Lind recorded his first career hat trick and Connor Hardowa added two goals from the Utah blueline.

"It's unbelievable," said Lind. "My family came out to see me this weekend"

The Grizzlies had four other players record multiple-point nights in the contest as Mathieu Aubin (two assists), Mike Colavecchia (one goal, one assist), Michael Pelech (two assists) and Johnnie Searfoss (two assists) all got in on the action.

"The boys are pumped," said Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham after the Friday bounce back following a home loss Wednesday. "They obviously know they let the fans down. That they let each other down in the last game and we wanted to go out there and prove we're a good hockey club and we're better than that. I think it's important that you give guys confidence and put faith in players. Especially when they know they messed up and they're itching to get back out there and prove wrong."

Utah scored their most goals since November 30, 2012 in the contest.

Utah led 1-0 after one period as Hardowa scored on a blast five-on-three with 6:10 left in the first period from Jacob Johnston as Michael Pelech battled to hold in what looked like a sure Stockton clear.

"That's exactly what we're looking for," said Branham. "Obviously we want to get the fans into it early."

After Stockton tied the game five minutes into the second period, the Grizzlies finished the frame with three-straight; capped off by two goals in 1:46 in the final 2:11 of the period from Lind as he drove hard to the net both times to give Utah a 4-1 second intermission lead. The Grizzlies made it 2-1 on a two-on- as Brent Gwidt led a two-on-one with Searfoss and scored on the rebound 8:49 into the second period.

Utah made it 6-1 with two goals in 27 seconds on another blast by Hardowa and as Lind finished off the hat trick again driving to the net at 9:22 and 9:49 of the third.

The Grizzlies capped off the scoring with a Colavecchia power-play goal with one minute left in the game as he roofed one from between the dots for his second goal in two nights.

Goaltender Ryan Faragher stopped 24 of 26 shots for his sixth win of the year.

The Grizzlies are home again Saturday when they will host Stockton at 7 p.m. It is Star Wars Night and fans are invited to come in costume.

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