Hat Tricks Outlast Motor City in Overtime

Fraser, MI- For only the second time in the young season, the Hat Tricks hit the road and met the Motor City Rockers. In the first ever meeting between these franchises, the game went the distance, only ending with the Hat Tricks' second overtime win of the season. 

The night belonged to the two goaltenders, Trevor Babin of the Rockers and Brian Wilson of the Hat Tricks. While Danbury controlled the shot counter in all three regulation periods, 16-9, 12-9, and 21-13, Wilson still made a plethora of ten-bell saves and a game total of 33. Babin outdid him in volume, stopping 49 of the 52 shots he faced in the Motor City net. These two authored much of the game's story, but the skaters determined the scoring. 

Brendan Dowler opened the scoring with his first Hat Tricks goal on the power play at the 6:30 mark of the second. Only fourteen seconds passed before Scott Coash evened the score at one goal apiece. 

Jonny Ruiz potted a tally 1:27 into the third stanza. Danbury looked to hold onto the lead but surrendered a goal with Motor City's net empty. Ross Bartlet did the honors with 41 seconds left in regulation. 

For the third time this season, the Hat Tricks required an overtime. For the second time this year, Danbury emerged victorious. Derek Makimaa took a tripping minor in the extra session and on the power play, Captain Jonny Ruiz tipped in his second goal of the game and ninth of the season to end the scoring at 3-2 in victorious fashion for the Hat Tricks. 

Danbury improves to 8-0-1 and remains the only squad in the FPHL without a regulation loss. 

The Hat Tricks complete the weekend series in Fraser against the Rockers on Saturday night. Puck drops at Big Boy Arena at 7PM.