Sterling's Natural Hat Trick Sparks Wolves' Win
January 11, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
ABBOTSFORD, BC---Brett Sterling needed less than 19 minutes to notch the first Chicago Wolves hat trick of the season as the Wolves topped the Abbotsford Heat 3-1 Friday night at Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
Defenseman Brad Hunt contributed assists on Sterling's first two goals while goaltender Matt Climie (8-11-1) stopped 26 of 27 shots to earn the win for the Wolves (16-12-3-2).
Sterling stole the spotlight, but it was the Heat that struck first. Forward Ben Walter lit the lamp 4:05 into the first period, beating Climie down low on the power play.
But Abbotsford (17-11-3-4) was on its heels for the remainder of the first frame. Sterling tied the score at 10:17 with a power-play strike of his own past Abbotsford goaltender Leland Irving. Hunt and Darren Haydar earned assists.
Minutes later at 12:21, Sterling was set up by solid defensive play and tipped a flying puck into Irving's mesh as Hunt and defenseman Adam Polasek registered assists.
To complete the first natural hat trick of his career, Sterling backhanded a stray puck from the board behind Irving's net and it slipped past the goaltender's skate and into the mesh at 18:33.
Sterling recorded his first hat trick since Nov. 29, 2007. He owns five hat tricks in American Hockey League play --- all with the Wolves.
Trailing 3-1 to open the second period, the Heat made a change between the pipes and called on Danny Taylor to replace Irving (2-3-1). He finished the night with 7 saves. Taylor stopped all 20 shots he faced.
Chicago and Abbotsford meet again at 9 p.m. Saturday in British Columbia. The Wolves return to the Allstate Arena on Wednesday night to welcome the Texas Stars at 7 p.m. For tickets, call1-800-THE-WOLVES or visit ChicagoWolves.com.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from January 11, 2013
- Sterling's Natural Hat Trick Sparks Wolves' Win - Chicago Wolves
- Rampage Bounce Back against Lake Erie, 4-2 - San Antonio Rampage
- Rivermen Pull Away from Milwaukee - Peoria Rivermen
- Rivermen Pull Away from Milwaukee - Peoria Rivermen
- Three-Goal Period Propels IceHogs Past Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Stair-Vey to Heaven - Manchester Monarchs
- Monsters Come up Short in Rematch with Rampage - Cleveland Monsters
- Texas Blasts Houston 4-1 - Texas Stars
- Third Period Surge Lifts Hogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Falcons Refuse To Be Denied, Earn Point - Springfield Falcons
- Crunch Edge Admirals in Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
- Syvret Game-Winner in 500th Game - Adirondack Phantoms
- Stars Shoot Past Aeros 4-1 - Houston Aeros
- Petrecki Downs Falcons with Overtime Heroics - Worcester Sharks
- Checkers Roll over Barons - Charlotte Checkers
- Admirals Earn Point in Syracuse - Norfolk Admirals
- Amerks Cruise to 5-2 Win over Bulldogs - Rochester Americans
- P-Bruins Defeat Sound Tigers 5-4 - Providence Bruins
- Comeback Falls Short as Sound Tigers Lose 5-4 to Bruins - Bridgeport Islanders
- B-Sens Fall to Phantoms in Shootout, 3-2 - Binghamton Senators
- Amerks Down Bulldogs 5-2 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Penguins Hang on to Defeat Bears - Hershey Bears
- Wild Ride in Manchester - Albany Devils
- Thiessen, Penguins Blank Bears - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Admirals Announce Three Roster Moves - Norfolk Admirals
- Select Amerks "Men's Health Night" Jerseys to be Auctioned Online - Rochester Americans
- B-Sens Announce Details of $10 Monday Presented by Warehouse Carpet Outlets - Binghamton Senators
- Heat Recall Estoclet and Wahl from Utah - Abbotsford Heat
- Saturday's Amerks Game at Syracuse to be Televised in Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Rampage Aim High against U.S. Air Force in Obstacle Course Challenge - San Antonio Rampage
- Two Millionth Fan to be Welcomed to the BMO - Rockford IceHogs
- IceCaps-Marlies AHL Game Postponed, Rescheduled for Sunday - AHL
- Tonight's IceCaps vs. Marlies Game Postponed Due to Weather - St. John's IceCaps
- Houston Aeros Sign Rookie Defenseman Chris Reed - Houston Aeros
- The Great Skate Winterfest Returns this Weekend - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Sign Fast to PTO - Bridgeport Islanders
- Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Worcester, Game #34 - Springfield Falcons
- Veilleux Assigned to Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Rampage Stumble against Lake Erie, 5-1 - San Antonio Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
