McClennon fuels Ice’s comeback win over Hitmen in WHL action

WINNIPEG – Connor McClennon had a hat trick and the Winnipeg Ice used a run of four unanswered goals in the third period to claw their way back and top the Calgary Hitmen 7-6 on Thursday.

Zack Ostapchuk, Matthew Savoie, Carson Latimer and Owen Pederson each contributed a goal for Winnipeg (39-7-1). Mason Beaupit gave up four goals on 11 shots before making way for Daniel Hauser, who stopped 20-of-22 shots in 36:41 of action.

Oliver Tulk, with two goals, Tomis Marinkovic, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Ethan Moore and Sean Tschigerl scored for Calgary (23-21-5-2). Brayden Peters made 34 saves.

Down 4-2 early in the second period, McClennon made it a one-goal game at 17:21 of the frame and again at 2:11 of the third period.

The latter kick-started the Ice’s comeback, in which he also added the go-ahead goal, his third of the night, at 5:57 before Pederson made it a 7-5 game seven seconds later.

This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2023.