Huether's unlikely hat trick keeps Oshawa on top of the OHL standings: Sunday's 3 stars

No. 1 Star: Kenny Huether, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Huether – the 19th-leading scorer on his own team – erupted for his first career hat trick to pace the league-leading Generals to a 6-3 win over the London Knights on Sunday. The 17-year-old rookie now has seven goals (and no assists) this season, with six of those coming over his last six games.

Light-scoring teammate Joe Manchurek assisted on all three of Huether's goals, providing an unexpected one-two punch as the Generals maintained their spot atop the OHL standings just ahead of Erie and Sault Ste. Marie.

No. 2 Star: Josh Ho-Sang, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)

One day short of the one-year anniversary of his first and only OHL hat trick, Ho-Sang went out and did it again, scoring three times and adding two assists in the Ice Dogs’ 7-4 win over Barrie.

The lights went out in St. Catharines early in the first period, causing a delay of nearly a half hour. But Ho-Sang provided plenty of electricity with the first five-point game of his career. The win pushed Niagara's unbeaten-in-regulation streak to 10 games, and the Ice Dogs have come out of nowhere to pull into fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

No. 3 Star: Kay Schweri, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

Schweri picked a heck of a way to break out of a goal-scoring slump, registering a natural hat trick in the third period and overtime to bring Sherbrooke back from a two-goal deficit to beat Blainville-Broisbriand 4-3.

The 18-year-old who represented Switzerland at the world junior championship hadn’t scored since Nov. 29, but connected three times on the power play to give the Phoenix a big road win. Schweri pulled the Phoenix within 3-2 with 12:12 left in regulation, tied the game with 1:16 remaining, then won it 2:53 into overtime.

Schweri has 54 points in 39 games in his first season in North America, but wasn’t listed as a draft prospect by Central Scouting last week.

Honourable mention: Jacob Brennan, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

The overage goalie has been under siege since joining the Steelheads earlier this month after his release by Acadie-Bathurst of the QMJHL, and he put the Trout on his back Sunday with a 47-save effort in a 2-1 win over Kitchener. Brennan, who had lost his five previous decisions, faced at least 40 shots for the fifth time in seven games with the Steelheads.

Bryson Cianfrone and Everett Clark scored third-period goals for Mississauga, which was outshot 48-18 by the Rangers

Honourable mention: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

The Winterhawks might have taken a slight step backward this season, but dynamic forwards like Bjorkstrand ensure that Portland remains one of the scariest teams in the WHL.

The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect and Denmark world junior star scored a highlight-reel goal in the first period —deftly maneuvering around two Tri-City defenders before roofing a backhand — then added two third-period goals as Portland held off the Americans, 7-5. Bjorkstrand has 31 goals in 37 games this season.    

Honourable mention: Jérémy Grégoire, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

Injuries have limited the Canadiens prospect to only 13 games so far this season, but he broke out with his best perfomance of the season Sunday with two goals and three assists in a 6-3 win over Rouyn-Noranda. Grégoire scored the game-winner in the second period, then assisted on both third-period goals as the Drakkar won their fifth straight game.

Oh, by the way: Connor McDavid and Dylan Strome, Erie Otters (OHL)

McDavid (1G-4A) and Strome (1G-3A) combined for nine points in the Otters’ 7-3 shellacking of Owen Sound, but I don’t think they’re hurting for recognition these days. Alex DeBrincat also scored twice for Erie, giving him 34 goals this season.