Thursday results: Hat-tricks help Texas and Topeka win big

Wichita Falls 0 @ Texas 6 - The Texas Tornado scored three power-play goals—all of which came in the first period—as they coasted to a 6-0 victory over the Wichita Falls Wildcats on Thursday night. Jack Prince had a hat trick, while Jordan Greenberg added a goal and three assists.  Hunter Leisner earned his first shutout as a member of the Tornado, stopping all 16 shots that came his way.  The first marker of the period came on a snapshot from the left-wing circle by Marc Biggs. Two and a half minutes later, Prince took a shot that was stopped. Drew Allen was right on the doorstep to slam it home, though, to score his second goal in as many games and give Texas a 2-0 lead.  The first of Prince’s three goals also came on the power-play, coming at 8:34 of the opening period. Then, in the final minutes of the first, Prince scored again, but this time it was shorthanded.  Texas picked up right where it left off in the second period, continuing to dominate play in all three zones. Jordan Greenberg gave the Tornado a 5-0 lead as he skated into the zone on the left wing, waited as long as he could for Allen to join the rush, and snapped a wrist shot over the glove of Matt Leon, who started the second period in goal for Wichita Falls.  In the later stages of the second period, Prince struck again, giving him his 29th goal and fourth hat trick of the season.  Prince recorded a power play, shorthanded and even strength goal in the win. Boxscore

Corpus Christi 2 @ Topeka 8 – Ryan White recorded his first hat-trick and 13th multi-point game of the season as Topeka cruised to a 8-2 victory at home to sweep Corpus Christi and remain in 2nd place in the South Division.  White and the RoadRunners scored early and often taking a 4-1 lead after two period with two goals from White and others from Brian Christi and Cory Ramsey.  Four more goals in the 3rd period sealed the IceRays fate, who got goals from Beau Walker and Eric Purcell.  Anders Schultz, Andrew O’Leary and Sean Gaffney also scored for Topeka. Boxscore

Kalamazoo 2 @ Jamestown 3 – Joe Gladnick made 32 saves and Bryan Watt’s power play goal late in the 1st period proved to be the game-winner as Jamestown helped their playoff chances with a 3-2 home win over the visiting K-Wings.  Blake Kelley got the scoring going just 1:29 into the game for the Ironmen, but that was quickly answered by a goal from Kalamazoo’s Jacob McDowell.  After two more Ironmen goals from Steve Frangione and Watt, the Ironmen led 3-1 after the 1st period. Alex Brooks scored in the 2nd period for the K-Wings, but that is as close as they would get as Gladnick shut the door the rest of the way. Boxscore

Kenai River 5 @ Dawson Creek 2 – The Rage jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Brown Bears stormed back to score five unanswered goals in a 5-2 win on the road in Dawson Creek.  The win moved Kenai River into the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. After opening goals from Scott Fellnermayr and Shawn Mueller, the Rage were looking good.  However, Kenai River came back with three goals from Brett Lubanski, Vincent Stefan and Bobby Murphy in the period to take a 3-2 lead into the lockerroom.  Two more goals from Chris Nuth in the 3rd period put the game away for the Brown Bears. Boxscore