Seattle’s Troock hurts Spokane with a hat trick: Friday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Branden Troock, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

As Thunderbirds radio broadcaster Thom Beuning loves to say, "you can't handle the Troock!"

The Spokane Chiefs couldn't deal with Troock on Friday night, as the 19-year-old from Edmonton scored three goals and added an assist in Seattle's 7-3 thumping of the Chiefs.

Troock extended his point-scoring streak to five games, all Seattle victories. He has 20 points in 14 games since the start of November.

Staying healthy has been a struggle for Troock, who played just 19 games last season after being drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round in 2012. This year, he's averaging just over a point a game and has only missed one game.

Anaheim Ducks first-rounder Shea Theodore had four assists and a fight Friday, and captain Justin Hickman chipped in with two goals as Seattle set a new season high in scoring.

The T-Birds have righted the ship again after going through a slump, and have passed Spokane on winning percentage for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Adam Helewka scored twice for the Chiefs, but WHL scoring leader Mitch Holmberg was held off the scoresheet for the third time in the last four games.

No. 2 star: Nathan Pancel, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

In just his 29th game of the season, Pancel set a new career-high for goals with his 27th, an overtime tally that ended a wild 7-6 victory over Sarnia.

The Wolves outshot the Sting 64-30, but needed extra time to get the job done after Daniel Nikandrov scored with less than 10 seconds remaining the third period to tie the game.

Sarnia goalie Taylor Dupuis deserves an extra trip through the buffet line after being pelted with pucks all night, but Dupuis coughed up the puck to Pancel a minute through overtime and paid the price.

Connor Crisp and Mathew Campagna also scored twice for the Wolves, who are in first place in the Central Division despite a 14-9-3-3 record.

No. 3 star: Tim Bozon, Kootenay Ice (WHL)

The former Kamloops Blazer returned to his old home arena for the first since being traded to the ice last month and put up two goals and two assists in Kootenay's 7-3 victory.

But Bozon got no love in his former barn, as he wasn't even granted a curtain call as one of the three stars (instead, those went to Jagger Dirk, Sam Reinhart and #freejaedon).

Bozon topped two points for the first time this season, and while he's only hit the scoresheet in 14 of 32 games, 10 of those have been multi-point efforts.

Honourable mention: Alex Pawelczyk and Alexandre Grand-Maison, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

The pair had produced a grand total of two goals in 55 combined games this season, but Pawelczyk and Grand-Maison each scored twice in the Cataractes' 6-1 win over Sherbrooke.

It's been another rough year for Shawinigan, which won for just the fifth time in 30 games.

Honourable mention: Brandon Hope, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Hope turned away 43 of 46 shots as he ruined the Guelph debut of Nick Ebert and Kerby Rychel in a 5-3 win for the Attack. Ebert had a goal and an assist and Rychel had two assists in their first game since being traded to the Storm.

Owen Sound built a 3-0 lead through one period despite being outshot 16-8, and, after seeing the lead disappear, added two goals in the last 2:30 to get the win.

Guelph held a 46-22 advantage in shots on goal, but couldn't break down Hope, who made 17 third-period saves.

Honourable mention: Teagan Sacher, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

It's been a rough year for the #canetrain, who had more players flee their team this season (four) than wins (three) coming into Friday night's game against Prince Albert.

But Sacher, a 19-year-old goalie who came to Lethbridge from Regina recently, stole the show Friday in front of the giant red curtain at the Enmax Centre, stopping 31 shots in a 3-1 win over the vexing Raiders.

It was the first time all season that the Hurricanes allowed fewer than two goals in a game.