Photo courtesy Candice Ward / Calgary Hitmen

By Scott Roblin

Three-Goal Cole

Clayton’s first WHL hat-trick guides Tigers to blowout win over Hitmen

Mar 12, 2021 | 10:48 PM

TSUUT’INA NATION, AB – Cole Clayton’s WHL career has spanned four years, but his performance on Friday night stands above the rest.

The Medicine Hat Tigers overage defenceman netted his first career hat-trick in a 6-2 victory over the Calgary Hitmen, opening a three-game weekend series with a win.

Clayton was a force on the man advantage for the visiting Tabbies, scoring all three of his goals on the power play in the victory.

It was Brett Kemp opening the scoring for Medicine Hat however, with his second goal of the season being assisted by defenceman Luke Rybinski in his first career WHL game.

Clayton registered his first goal of the night with 4:10 left in the first period, before finding the back of the net with an unassisted marker two minutes into the second.

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Riley Fiddler-Schultz brought Calgary within two goals a few minutes later, but that paved the way for Caleb Willms to restore Medicine Hat’s three-goal lead.

Clayton’s crowning night came true early in the third with another power play marker to cap off the hat-trick in style.

Josh Prokop and Corson Hopwo exchanged goals to close out the night, with Medicine Hat snapping a two-game losing streak in the process.

Tigers goaltender Garin Bjorklund starred in the win for the visitors with 39 saves on 41 shots against, while Brayden Peters didn’t have as fun of an evening with six goals allowed on 33 shots.

Improving to 3-2 on the 2021 WHL season, the Tigers and Hitmen meet back in Medicine Hat on Saturday at 7:00 pm.