Jesse Gabrielle natural hat trick helps Wheat Kings sweep Regina: Saturday's QMJHL and WHL 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Jesse Gabrielle, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

The Wheaties sophomore had a natural hat trick over the second and third period to help East Division favourite Brandon peel away from Regina for a 6-1 road win. It was a 1-0 contest until the final four minutes of the second period, when the 17-year-old Gabrielle (3G, +2) took a feed from Peter Quenneville (2A, +2) and went in to score. In the final minute of the period, Gabrielle bulled to the net and made a finishing move in tight to push Brandon out to a 3-0 lead after 40.

Linemate Nolan Patrick (2A, +2) made sure Gabrielle completed his first Western Hockey League hat trick in the third, as they connected on a power-play goal 1:15 into the frame.

No. 2 star: Carter Hart, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

A 1-0 shutout in a U.S. Division rival's building? Nicely done. The 16-year-old Hart made 26 saves, including a big breakaway stop on Mathew Barzal, to help Everett squeak by the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Sherwood Park, Alta., was up with Everett at the end of last season and made the most of a chance to be the temporary No. 1 netminder for the 'Tips while Austin Lotz is away at the Vancouver Canucks training camp.

It was the first WHL goose egg for Hart.

No. 3 star: Adam Marsh, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Remember when the Quebec League, a couple years back, implored its teams to draft more American players? The Halifax Mooseheads might have wished Saint John and Marsh (2G-2A, +2) had not taken the message to heart. The rookie from Chicago factored into Saint John's final four goals of a 6-5 come-from-behind overtime win over Halifax. 

Marsh's highlights included wiring in a wrister to tie the game 3-3 in the second and scoring again with 6:02 left to level at 5-5. He also had the primary assist on defenceman Thomas Chabot's winner 1:04 into bonus hockey.

Honourable mention: Andrew Koep, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

The Oil Kings re-savoured their Memorial Cup victory before the home opener vs. Kootenay and then won 4-2 with help from one of their rookies. Koep (2G, +2), of Lloydminster, Alta., produced the game-winner with 3:52 left off a setup from Tyler Robertson (1G-1A, +2).

Potent notables — Jay Merkley's fourth and fifth goals of the weekend helped Swift Current beat Moose Jaw ... Steven Owre (2G, +1) helped Medicine Hat complete a home-and-home sweep of Lethbridge ... Jackson Whistle (32 saves) was No. 1 star In Kelowna's 6-1 win over Kamloops ... in the QMJHL, Sherbrooke's Simon Desbiens had a hat trick vs. Victoriavlle ... Cape Breton overage Kyle Farrell scored his league-high seventh goal during a rout of Charlottetown ... Quebec's 17-year-old Callum Booth had a 24-save, 1-0 shutout vs. Chicoutimi.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.