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ECHL Colorado Eagles

Ratelle Nets First Pro Hat Trick as Eagles Win 7th Straight

March 24, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UT. - Eagles forward Joey Ratelle posted his first professional hat trick, which included the game-winner in the third period, as Colorado defeated the Utah Grizzlies 4-3 on Friday. The victory now extends the Eagles win streak to seven-consecutive contests. Colorado was superb on the penalty kill, going a perfect 7-for-7 on the night, while also registering a shorthanded goal from defenseman Gabriel Verpaelst.

Ratelle put Colorado in the driver's seat just 1:05 into the contest when fellow forward Matt Garbowsky fed the puck cross-slot on a 2-on-1 rush, allowing Ratelle to tip the puck past Utah goalie Joel Rumpel and put the Eagles on top 1-0.

The Grizzlies would even things up less than five minutes later when forward Kyle Thomas was knocked down by a shot from the point, but the rebound would land right on his stick in the crease and he would shove it into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1 at the 6:04 mark of the first period.

As time ticked away in the opening frame, Ratelle would force a turnover at center ice, leading him on a 1-on-2 rush down the ice. The rookie forward would make a slick move through the right circle to shake off both defenders, positioning him to bury a wrister from the low-slot with only 46 seconds remaining in the period.

Utah would again find an answer, this time with Colorado enjoying a 5-on-3 power play. As Mitch Maxwell's roughing penalty concluded, the rookie forward hopped out of the box where he snagged an outlet pass at the red line and raced in all alone, beating Eagles goalie Joe Cannata with a wrist shot to tie the game at 2-2 at the 6:07 mark of the second period.

Later in the middle frame, Colorado would generate a shorthanded tally of its own when Verpaelst darted through the left circle before snapping a shot past Rumpel to put the Eagles back in the lead 3-2 with 2:10 remaining in the period.

Ratelle would cap off his hat trick when he fielded his own rebound on top of the crease and belted the puck past Rumpel for his 20th goal of the season. The tally put Colorado on top 4-2 at the 10:14 mark of the third period.

The Grizzlies would trim the deficit to one when forward Brendan Harms skated to the top of the right circle and ripped a shot that would light the lamp and cut the Eagles advantage to 4-3 with 6:35 remaining in the contest.

Colorado would kill off a bench minor for too many men on the ice in the final three minutes of the game and would also thwart Utah's efforts when the Grizzlies pulled Rumpel in favor of the extra attacker. Garbowsky and forward Drayson Bowman both notched two assists each in the victory.

The Eagles return to action when they take on the Utah Grizzlies at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah on Saturday, March 24th at 7:05pm MT.

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