Bellerive rallies Canes

Coming into the 2018 portion of the season, Lethbridge Hurricanes captain Jordy Bellerive had yet to record his first career Western Hockey League hat trick. Following a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings Saturday night at the Enmax Centre he now has two. And how. The thirdyear forward scored a natural hat trick — his 35th, 36th, and 37th of the season — in the final 4:44 to help the Hurricanes rally from a 20 deficit and post a win that improves the team to 25-21-6-0, their second win in 24 hours after a 5-2 decision over the Swift Current Broncos Friday night.

Bellerive, who netted his first career hat trick Jan. 19 in a 6-2 win over Prince George Cougars in Prince George, got the Hurricanes on the board at the 15:16 mark of the third period when it looked like the visitors were poised to hit the road with a shutout win.

The property of the Pittsburgh Penguins then tied it at 2-2 1:59 later and then, with Oil King Tomas Soustal off for charging, completed the natural hat trick with exactly one minute to go, having anyone who made an early exit kicking

themselves in the parking lot.

The Oil Kings led 1-0 after the first period on a goal from Brett Kemp and went up 2-0 after the second period on Trey Fix-Wolansky’s 22nd of the season.

Brad Morrison drew assists on Bellerive’s first and third goals for a two-point night as Lethbridge’s power play went 2-for-6 after scoring three man advantage goals Friday night against the Broncos.

The win moves the Hurricanes within three points of Central Division-leading Medicine Hat Tigers (26-21-7-0), who were tied 33 with the Vancouver Giants after the second period Saturday in Vancouver.

The Canes also move seven points

clear of the third place Kootenay Ice (23-25-2-0) in the Central Division.

Hurricanes goaltender Reece Klassen made 25 saves to improve his record to 4-4-0-0.

Lethbridge now heads out on a two-game Saskatchewan road trip as they take on the WHL-leading and Canadian Hockey League second-ranked Moose Jaw Warriors Friday before stopping in Regina Saturday to face the Pats.

The Hurricanes travel to Cranbrook Feb. 12 to take on the Ice and are back at the Enmax Centre Feb. 13 when the Tri-City Americans come to town.

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