Wednesday’s 3 Stars: Shinkaruk, McNeill trade scoring feats; Rimmer too slick for Oil Kings

No. 1 star: Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

How often do you see two natural hat tricks in one game? It happened in The Hat, as Shinkaruk's hat trick cancelled out a four-goal, one-assist game by Mark McNeill in the Tigers' 6-5 win over the Prince Albert Raiders. The 17-year-old Shinkaruk, who reached the 35-goal checkpoint by the time the wild night was over, and Chicago Blackhawks first-rounder McNeill traded tallies back and forth over the game's final 34 minutes.

Shinkaruk, who clicked well with new a line combo that included Dylan Bredo and Boston Leier, opened a 4-2 second-period lead with his first goal of the night. McNeill tallied before the period was out; Shinkaruk replied just 26 seconds later. It happened again in the third, with Shinkaruk scoring a shortie that held up as the game-winning goal after McNeill tallied late. The talented left wing also had an assist for a four-point night.

The four goals were McNeill's first of the new year, although he'd had seven assists in as many January games coming into the contest.

No. 2 star: Ty Rimmer, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

The much anticipated Americans-Edmonton Oil Kings tilt was everything one could have asked for, with Tri-City taking the bonus point when Brendan Shinnimin snapped home the decider for a 5-4 overtime win. The game likely never would gone into extra time without Rimmer, who made at least a half-dozen dial 911 worthy saves among his 46 saves as he got the most out of his only scheduled game in his hometown of Edmonton. On one third-period save, Oil Kings snipers Tyler Maxwell and Michael St. Croix were 2-on-0 against Rimmer and somehow he came up with the stop. He also robbed Maxwell, in Oil Kings play-by-play man Corey Graham's estimable opinion, of at least other two goals. (Picture Maxwell afterward thinking that he was done facing Rimmer after he was traded out of the U.S. Division.) Rimmer also assisted on the Americans' first goal by Montreal Canadiens prospect Patrick Holland.

It was a terrific game and perhaps it was a sneak peek at what a best-of-7 league final between the two might be like. Oil Kings star defenceman Griffin Reinhart had two goals in his return from an injury that kept him out for two weeks.

No. 3 star: Brooks Macek, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

Macek also had a natural hat trick plus an assist, as he and linemates Victor Rask (one goal, two assists) and Brady Brassart (two helpers) helped Calgary thresh the Brandon Wheat Kings 7-2. The Detroit Red Wings draft pick's goals were the fifth, sixth and seventh after Calgary had already built a 4-0 lead. Macek also assisted on Rask's opening goal, so it's not like he only showed up after the heavy lifting was completed. The 19-year-old Winnipegger is also overdue for some recognition, since he's had 13 points this month after getting just two in December. Red Wings fans can also use a mild pick-me-up after that debacle against the Canadiens, too.

Honourable mention: Tobias Rieder, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Rieder helped the Rangers smack down league-leading London 8-3 with two goals and one assist. The Edmonton Oilers draft pick, who has eight points in his last four games, got the rout started by using his wheels to get a short-handed breakaway which he finished off for the night's first goal, then added to the Rangers onslaught with another tally on a deke. The win was every bit as thorough as the scoreline suggested, with Knights goalie Michael Houser requiring a mercy pull after 40 minutes. Star defenceman Ryan Murphy also had three points for Kitchener, while rookie Brandon Lesway scored his first two junior goals.

Honourable mention: Gabriel Girard, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

The Q's leading goaltender shut out the league's highest scoring team, making 22 saves in the Cataractes' 6-0 taming of the Victoriaville Tigres. Shawinigan, which was smarting after a loss in Gatineau last Saturday, came out flying as it retook first overall in the QMJHL over the Saint John Sea Dogs. They had five different goal scorers; Pierre-Olivier Morin was the only one do the honours twice. With the shutout, Girard lowered his average to 2.22 and upped his save percentage to .921; the next-best figures in the league are 2.52 and .913, respectively.

Potent notables — New York Rangers draft pick Shane McColgan, with a goal and an assist, factored into both Kelowna Rockets goals as they ended the Kamloops Blazers' nine-game win streak with a 3-2 shootout win ... Red Deer Rebels centre Charles Inglis had three points in his team's 4-2 win over Vancouver. Montreal Canadiens prospect Brendan Gallagher returned to the lineup but had no points ... Overage centre Steven Kuhn had a three-point night Spokane's 4-2 win over Everett ... QMJHL goal scoring leader Zach O'Brien got his 43rd in a 6-5 Acadie-Bathurst Titan win over Blainville-Boisbriand.

(Game recaps available on the news page.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (photo: The Canadian Press).