Clayton leads Tigers back into win column

By Ryan McCracken on March 12, 2021.

Cole Clayton scored the first hat trick of his 196-game Western Hockey League career to power the Medicine Hat Tigers back into the win column with a 6-2 victory over the Hitmen on Friday in Calgary.

Brett Kemp put the Tigers on the board when he turned into a shot from the high slot and beat Brayden Peters for his second goal of the season, 11:45 into the opening frame. Luke Rybinski — younger brother of Henrik Rybinski, who was traded from Medicine Hat to the Seattle Thunderbirds in 2019 — picked up his first career assist on the goal.

Clayton extended the lead on a power play four minutes. Kemp picked up an assist on the goal, then nearly extended it to three when he struck iron on a breakaway chance in the dying minutes of the period.

Hat goaltender Garin Bjorklund kept the lead intact after 20 minutes with 14 saves in the first.

Clayton struck again on another power play early in the third before Riley Fiddler-Schultz pushed back for Calgary — but Caleb Willms answered for Medicine Hat late in the middle frame to give the Tabbies a three-goal cushion entering the third.

Clayton completed the hat trick with another power play goal early in the final frame, putting him at a team-leading 10 points on the season.

Josh Prokop scored for the Hitmen two minutes later, but it was answered with more offence from Tabby blue line when Corson Hopwo tipped a point shot from Eric Van Impe past Peters for his fourth of the year.

Bjorklund turned away 39 shots to lock up the win. Peters stopped 27 in the loss.

Clayton cashed in on three of Medicine Hat’s four power play chances, while Bjorklund shut down all four of Calgary’s advantages.

The Tigers (3-2-0-0) and Hitmen (1-1-1-0) continue a three-game set Saturday in Medicine Hat at 7 p.m., and Sunday in Calgary at 7 p.m.