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Regina’s Dyson Stevenson fires Turkey Day hat trick: Thanksgiving Monday 3 Stars

Neate Sager

No. 1 star: Dyson Stevenson, Regina Pats (WHL)

At least one team in Regina finished off scoring opportunities over the holiday weekend. Stevenson (3G, +1), an overage wing, got his second Western League hat trick to help Regina pull away from the rival Brandon Wheat Kings for a 5-1 win. The teams were engaged in a one-goal game until early in the third when Regina began stuffing the net behind the Wheaties' Connor Honey, tallying three goals in a span of 4:05.

Stevenson got the dagger goal 3:47 into the frame for his second of the night, then finished off a three-way passing play from Chandler Stephenson (3A, +2) and Calgary Flames first-rounder Morgan Klimchuk (1G-3A, +3). That all but sealed a thorough Turkey Day thumping for the Pats, who have won four in a row under new head coach Malcolm Cameron to get above .500 (6-5-0-0).

No. 2 star: Alex Moodie, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Moodie and the new-look Blades are also having a modicum of early-season success, having won four in a row after sneaking out of Moose Jaw with a 2-1 victory. The 18-year-old goalie stopped 40-of-41 Warriors shots, yielding only an early power-play goal to the game's second star, Sam Fioretti. The Blades did not leave their goalie hanging in the wind, but Moodie had to step up after a few breakdowns, thwarting Josh Uhrich just before the end of the second period to preserve the lead and foiling Todd Fiddler on a partial breakaway late in the game.

All told, Moodie has stopped 133-of-139 shots during the Blades' current win skein. Overage Nathan Burns (2A, +1) assisted on both Blades goals on Monday.

No. 3 star: Barclay Goodrow, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

The captain ensured the Bats avoided going winless in their first homestand by scoring the late third-period equalizer and shootout winner to help North Bay nip the Niagara IceDogs 5-4. The young 'Dogs, led by those potent pups Brendan Perlini (2G, +1) and Carter Verhaeghe (1G-1A), went ahead with 13:30 remaining. With 8:49 to play, Jamie Lewis made a veteran move by finding Goodrow behind coverage for a breakaway pass. The overage from Aurora, Ont., snuck a shot just past by 'Dogs goalie Chris Festarini to force OT. In the top of the third round in the shootout, Goodrow veered out right and beat Festarini over the shoulder.

Honourable mention: Chase Souto, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Souto (1G-1A, +2) copped first-star honours as the Blazers collected a building-block win by blowing out the Lethbridge Hurricanes 7-1. Seven Blazers had two-point nights. Souto, who turned 19 last week, got the icebreaker goal 17 seconds into the second period and also started a three-way passing play with Montreal Canadiens third-rounder Tim Bozon and Cole Ully for the Blazers' 3-1 goal.

Aspen Sterzer sniped a pair for Kamloops, including a short-hander.

Potent notables — Sixteen-year-old Regina rookie Austin Wagner got his first WHL point ... In the OHL, Columbus Blue Jackets second-rounder Oscar Dansk got his second shutout in a row by fielding 19 shots during Erie's 7-0 rout over Mississauga ... Philadelphia Flyers second-rounder Anthony Stolarz (36 saves) got first-star honours during London's 3-2 overtime loss at Kitchener. The Rangers' tying and winning goals came on a power play awarded after a boarding major by the Knights' Josh Anderson. Dallas Stars first-rounder Radek Faksa already has seven goals in as many games after tallying just nine in 39 games during an injury-marred 2012-13 campaign ... Detroit Red Wings goalie prospect Jake Paterson stopped 35-of-36 shots and 3-of-4 shootout attempts to help Saginaw beat Oshawa.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.