Brooks Maxwell’s 4-goal effort propels Rebels over Blades: Wednesday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 Star: Brooks Maxwell, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)

The veteran forward sniped the first hat trick of his WHL career and added a fourth for good measure in a 6-4 win against the Saskatoon Blades.

Maxwell gave the Rebels a key 2-0 lead at the 12:21 mark in the first period when he completed a give-and-go with Myer Neil (1A, +1) on the penalty kill. After scoring his second of the night later in the opening frame on the man advantage, Nelson Nogier (2A) and Riley Sheen (3A) set him up for a pair of markers in the third period.

The Raymond, Alta., native has proven to be a valuable offensive threat for the Rebels in his overage season. He has developed into a top-six forward on his way out the door with 26 goals and 47 points in 66 matches.

With one less game in hand, the Rebels are only three-points back of the Calgary Hitmen and Medicine Hat Tigers for top spot in the Central Division.

No. 2 Star: Maxim Lazarev, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)

The Russian import (3G, +3) found the net early on against the Saint John Sea Dogs to lead the Eagles to a pair of crucial points in the tight Maritimes Division.

In the 8-3 affair, Lazarev netted the first goal of the game at the 3:34 mark in the first period. He scored a couple of markers in the middle frame to complete his hat trick and give Cape Breton a commanding four-goal lead.

The 29-29-3-3 Eagles are now just two-points back of the Halifax Mooseheads for fourth spot in their division. The Chicoutimi Sagueneens are also within their grasp with a five-point advantage.

No. 3 Star: Coleman Vollrath, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Tyler Soy (3G) had the best stats, but Vollrath’s 44-save effort was the biggest reason why the Royals knocked off the powerhouse Kelowna Rockets 6-3.

The 19-year-old netminder stopped 16 shots in the opening frame while his club only put eight pucks on Jackson Whistle at the other end of the ice. He turned aside 14 pucks in each of the remaining periods, including several key saves late in the game, to seal the victory.

Vollrath’s impressive showing bolds well for him heading into the post-season as he’s in a battle with Justin Paulic, whom the Royals acquired from the Moose Jaw Warriors at the trade deadline, for the starting spot. The No. 1 job seems to be his to lose because of how he has started four of Victoria’s five games this month.

Honourable mention: Devin Williams, Erie Otters (OHL)

With the regular-season winding down, Williams posted his first shutout of the year. He turned away all 23 shots that the Niagara IceDogs threw at him in a 3-0 victory.

He had a relatively easy opening frame with six saves, but his workload increased in the following 40 minutes. He stopped 17 pucks in the final two periods and helped kill two Niagara power plays.

Most of Erie’s offense came from Alex DeBrincat (2G) while Connor McDavid had his 27-game scoring streak snapped.

Potent notables: Christophe Boivin notched a pair of goals for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan in a 5-2 win against the Charlottetown Islanders… Jake Smith turned aside 33 pucks as the North Bay Battalion defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-2… 2015 NHL draft prospect Jesse Gabrielle (2G, +1) helped the Regina Pats knock off the rival Swift Current Broncos 4-1… Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Oliver Bjorkstrand continued his scoring tear by netting two goals in the Portland Winterhawks’ 6-1 win over the Everett Silvertips.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen