Chiefs’ Mitch Holmberg nets hat trick against Hurricanes: Friday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Mitch Holmberg, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

The theme of Holmberg’s 20-year-old season of terrorizing goalies continued in a 6-2 win over the struggling Lethbridge Hurricanes. The Sherwood Park, Alta., native turned on the gas with his team down 2-1 after the first half of the game. He put the Chiefs back on top by scoring back-to-back power-play goals, both assisted by Reid Gow and Jason Fram. Later in the third period, he set up an Adam Helewka marker and completed his hatty at the 9: 29 mark. The four-point night gives Holmberg a decisive 12-point lead on Portland Winterhawks winger Oliver Bjorkstrand for the league lead in points with 22 goals and 49 points in 20 games.

It seems Holmberg is poised to follow the footsteps of former Chiefs centre Tyler Johnson. Similar to Johnson, Holmberg went undrafted in his first two years of eligibility and has a smaller frame, standing 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Moreover, just as Johnson inked an NHL entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011 after potting 115 points in his overage season, it appears Holmberg could likely receive an NHL contract sooner than later.

No. 2 star: Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

Even though it was in a 5-3 loss to the Victoria Royals, Theodore had a night to remember. The Anaheim Ducks first rounder scored a hat trick from the back end. With the Thunderbirds down by three, he scored two goals in the middle frame to bring them back into the game. He completed his hat trick at the 3:09 mark in the third period to make the last minute of the contest interesting. In addition, Theodore hit the post in the final seconds with the Seattle net empty.

Victoria goaltender Coleman Vollrath stood tall in net for 43 saves while Brandon Fushimi and Brandon Magee potted two apiece.

No. 3 star: Zachary Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Fucale shut the door on the Moncton Wildcats. The Montreal Canadiens prospect turned a side all 25 shots that came his way to lead his team to a 4-0 win. The shutout was his first on the year and fifth of his major junior career.

Following Lightning first-rounder Jonathan Drouin giving the Mooseheads a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal in the first period, Andrew Shewfelt, Brent Andrews and Connor Moynihan scored one apiece in the final 40 minutes.

Honourable mention: Zack Bowman, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Despite being outshot 43-24 against the Guelph Storm, the Whalers walked off the ice with two points thanks to an outstanding blue paint performance from Bowman. The 16-year-old rookie stopped 41 shots, including 16 in the third period, to lead the Whalers to a 3-2 shootout victory. The win was Bowman’s first of his OHL career in just his first full game.

Potent notables – Acadie-Bathurst Titan puck-stopper Jacob Brennan stopped 27 of 28 shots in a 3-1 win over the Gatineau Olympiques… Blainville-Boisbriand Armada blueliner Oliver Picard potted two goals and one assist in his club’s 5-2 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens… Philippe Desrosier turned away 28 of 29 shots in the Rimouski Oceanic’s 4-1 win over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar… Sam Povorozniouk led the Kingston Frontenaces over the Kitchener Rangers 6-5 with two goals… In a 7-3 loss, Ottawa 67’s Brendan Bell put his name on the score sheet in all of his team’s three goals against the Saginaw Spirit with two goals and one assist… Mississauga Steelheads’ Andrew Goldberg (1G-2A, +2) and Sam Babintsev (3A, +1) had three-point nights in a 6-4 win over the Belleville Bulls… Phoenix Coyotes first-rounder Max Domi scored two goals and one assist in his London Knights’ 5-4 loss to the Barrie Colts… Jake DeBrusk (1G-3A, +1) led the Swift Current Broncos to a 6-3 victory over the Brandon Wheat Kings… Los Angeles Kings prospect Patrik Bartosak earned a 19-save shutout to lead his Red Deer Rebels to a much-needed 3-0 win over the Kootenay Ice… Medicine Hat Tigers’ Cole Sanford (2G-1A, +3) and Trevor Cox (3A, +3) had three-point nights in their team’s 5-3 win over the Prince Albert Raiders... Everett Silvertips goalie Daniel Cotton stopped all 14 shots that came his way in a 2-0 victory over the Tri-City Americans.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen