Swift Current Broncos’ Jake DeBrusk nets a hat trick in crucial win: Friday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 Star: Jake DeBrusk, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

The smallest market in the WHL is taking over BTN’s three stars feature. DeBrusk joins Colby Cave and Landon Bow as No. 1 stars in the last two weeks.

The 6-foot, 171-pound winger (3G-1A, +1) earned the top star with a clutch four-point effort in a crucial 5-3 win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The victory guarantees the Broncos a playoff spot if they capture a single point tomorrow night against Lethbridge or the Moose Jaw Warriors lose their final game against the Brandon Wheat Kings.

DeBrusk sniped a critical goal on the power play just 58 seconds into the second period to cut Lethbridge’s lead in half. He wrapped up the middle frame with three points after he set up a marker from Jay Merkley (1G-1A, +1) and lit the lamp for a second time. He completed his hat trick roughly midway through the third period when he notched Swift Current’s fifth consecutive goal.

The Edmonton, Alta., native, who is regarded as a top 45 prospect of the 2015 NHL draft class, has 42 goals and 78 points in 71 contests. He is the fourth Bronco since 2000 to post 40 or more goals in a single season.

No. 2 Star: Ryan Gropp, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

With the regular-season wrapping up, Gropp picked a good time to heat up. He found the back of the net four times as the Thunderbirds defeated the Spokane Chiefs 7-2.

The Kamloops, B.C., native netted the first goal of the game at the 6:39 mark in the opening frame. He notched his second of the night just 35 seconds into the third before Matthew Barzal (3A, +4) set him up for back-to-back goals near the midway point of the period.

Gropp’s big night broke a cold streak on his stats sheet. The 2015 NHL draft prospect only potted one goal in his last 11 games before tonight.

No. 3 Star: Mason Kohn, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

The sophomore winger stepped up for the Rangers when it really counted. He netted his first two-goal game, which included the overtime winner, of his major junior career in a 4-3 win over the Plymouth Whalers.

Kohn got the ball rolling for Kitchener 10:13 into the first period when Nick Magyar (2A, +1) set him up for the first goal of the contest. He sniped his second of the game and seventh of the year just over two minutes into extra time.

With Owen Sound beating Guelph 4-3, the Rangers remain three points back of the Attack in fifth spot in the OHL’s Western Conference. They need Owen Sound to lose their final game and win their remaining two matches in order to jump ahead of them in the standings.

Honourable mentions: Matt Rupert and Aaron Berisha, London Knights (OHL)

Rupert and Berisha racked up two markers and one helper apiece as the Knights knocked off the Saginaw Spirit 8-6.

Down 3-1 just 10 minutes into the game, the veteran forwards pulled up their socks and went to town in the offensive zone. They both scored with time winding down in the opening frame and sniped their second goals just 26 seconds apart in the middle frame.

Mitchell Marner (2A, -1) made his last effort to win the OHL’s scoring race. His 126 points gives him a sizeable lead on the Otters’ Dylan Strome (121) and Connor McDavid (118), but with two games left on Erie’s schedule, it would be premature for Marner to write his acceptance speech tonight.

Honourable mention: Alex Dubeau, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

The overage goaltender stymied Nikolaj Ehlers, Timo Meier and the rest of the Halifax Mooseheads. He posted a 27-save shutout in the 3-0 victory.

Dubeau’s perfect effort was his first since Dec. 10. It also ended a two-game stretch where he gave up four goals in both matches.

Potent notables: Montreal Canadiens pick Daniel Audette (2G-1A, +1) led the Sherbrooke Phoenix to a 6-3 win over the Val’Dor Foreurs… Francais Brassard turned aside 22 pucks as the Gatineau Olympiques knocked off the Drummondville Voltigeurs 5-1… Kingston Frontenacs netminder Lucas Peressini stopped 34 shots in a 2-1 win against the Oshawa Generals… New Jersey Devils prospect Ryan Kujawinski (2G, +1) scored a key insurance goal for the North Bay Battalion in a 6-3 victory against the Mississauga Steelheads… Arizona Coyotes draft choice Brendan Burke made 29 saves as the Calgary Hitmen beat the Kootenay Ice 2-1… Everett Silvertips forward Remi Laurencelle (1G-2A, +3) helped his club knock off the Victoria Royals 4-3… Winnipeg Jets pick Eric Comrie turned away 43 pucks as the Tri-City Americans beat the Portland Winterhawks 4-2… Regina Pats defenceman Colby Williams (1G-2A, +1) came up big in a 5-4 win over the Prince Albert Raiders… Riley Sheen (2G-1A, +3) lifted the Red Deer Rebels to a 6-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings… Moose Jaw Warriors overage Tanner Eberle (1G-2A, +2) was a difference-maker in a 6-5 overtime win against the Brandon Wheat Kings… Ty Edmonds stood tall in the blue paint with a 36-save performance as the Prince George Cougars beat the Kamloops Blazers 3-1… Edmonton Oilers prized pick Leon Draisaitl (1G-3A, +1) was on the ice every time the Kelowna Rockets found the back of the net in a 4-3 overtime win against the Vancouver Giants.

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