Hat trick leads Americans to victory
Tri-City's Ty Comrie fends off a Seattle Thunderbird defender at the Toyota Center.
KENNEWICK - Brian Williams recorded his second career hat trick, providing all the offense the Tri-City Americans needed to defeat the Seattle Thunderbirds, 3-0, last week in WHL hockey.
Eric Comrie recorded a 30-save shutout. It was Comrie's first shutout of the season and the sixth of his WHL career. The outing also dropped his GAA down to 2.68 in six games this season.
Tri-City got on the board in the second period, taking advantage of its second power play opportunity at the 6:34 mark. Williams took a feed from Connor Rankin, skated around a Seattle defender, and slid the puck past Myles on the back hand, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead.
Tri-City found itself in penalty trouble for an extended period of time. One minute after Tri-City returned to full Strength in the second period, Williams snapped home his second goal of the game, taking a pass from Rankin on the side boards, and beating Myles with a high wrist shot at 12:29 of the second period.
Williams would complete his natural hat trick just 18 seconds into the third period, making the Thunderbirds comeback attempt that much more difficult with a 3-0 deficit to overcome.