Curtis Lazar showed in his rookie season he can score goals, but this year he's taking his production up a level.
The 17-year-old scored his first career hat trick as the Edmonton Oil Kings defeated the visiting Red Deer Rebels 6-2 on Sunday afternoon in Western Hockey League action.
Last season Lazar scored 20 goals in his rookie campaign, including three two-goal performances.
Michael St. Croix scored twice for the Oil Kings (2-0-0) while Stephane Legault, T.J. Foster and Cody Corbett chipped in with two assists each.
Klarc Wilson added a single goal to round out Edmonton's scoring.
Chad Robinson and Cory Millette scored for the Rebels (0-0-2), who have now dropped five straight decisions to the Oil Kings dating back to last season.
Edmonton's Laurent Brossoit made 18 saves for the victory while Patrik Bartosak stopped 47-of-53 shots in a losing effort.
Edmonton went 1 for 7 on the power play while Red Deer failed to score on four chances with the man advantage.
Elsewhere in the WHL, it was: Prince George 7 Everett 6 (SO); and Portland 4 Tri-City 2.
At Edmonton, St. Croix opened the scoring 1:29 into the first period.
Millette tied the game for Red Deer at 13:49, but Lazar scored shorthanded at 15:48 to give the Oil Kings a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Lazar added his second goal 18 seconds into the second period and St. Croix scored again at 8:10, while on the power play.
Robinson cut into Edmonton's lead at 13:20, however Lazar's third goal of the day, which came less than a minute later, restored a three-goal lead for his club heading into the final period.
Wilson added one more goal for the Oil Kings at 15:27 of the third period.
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Cougars 7 Silvertips 6 (SO)
At Everett, Wash., the Cougars scored three unanswered goals in the third period to force extra time before Prince George (2-0-0) eventually beat the Silvertips (0-1-1) in a shootout.
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Winterhawks 4 Americans 2
At Kennewick, Wash., Chase De Leo and Nicolas Petan each scored twice to lead Portland (2-1-0) past Tri-City (0-2-0).
