D'Alvise Nets Natural Hat Trick, Sets Standard in Stockton

STOCKTON, Calif. - All-star center Chris D'Alvise, a former Clarkson standout, scored a natural hat trick, the first in team history, and former Quinnipiac forward James Bates had three assists to help the Stockton Thunder (21-17-7, 49 points), cruise to a 4-1 victory over the host Ontario Reign, before a crowd of 5,169 at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday night.

The Thunder, who improved to 7-1-4 in the last 12 games, moved to within just six points of first place in the Pacific Division after Bakersfield lost, 3-2 at Alaska. D'Alvise's natural hat trick was the first in Thunder history and eighth all-time hat trick, scoring three goals in succession in a third period rally.

"He's a great player," coach Matt Thomas said of D'Alvise. "He's really finding his stride. He's hot lately, but we've got a lot of different guys stepping up and being the difference-maker in the game, and tonight was his opportunity to do it."

Colin Hemingway added his 17th goal of the season for the Thunder, while goaltender Andrew Perugini made 38 saves to earn his 12th win this season.

After the Thunder controlled play with an 8-3 shot-on-goal advantage from the outset, McEwan's second goal of the season at 10:15 of the first period turned the momentum for the period and put Ontario ahead, 1-0 converting Michael Pelech's backdoor pass at the right post.

Hemingway tied the game with 10 minutes left in the second period on a power-play goal, re-directing a perfect backdoor feed by Matt Robinson, who fed Hemingway from the left wing and off the rush.

Perugini and counterpart Curtis Darling traded saves in a game that opened up with scoring chances at both ends, which included a highlight-reel, diving save on Ontario's Tim Kraus shortly after Hemingway's goal. Perugini made a diving stop to his right with the paddle of his stick, stopping Kraus' bid to a nearly wide-open net.

D'Alvise then sparked the Thunder rally in the third period with his team-leading 18th goal of the year with 17:35 left in regulation for a 2-1 lead, taking Bates' pass in the slot and ripping a snap shot past Darling.

A backbreaking insurance goal, D'Alvise's second of the game with 2:41 to play, put Stockton ahead 3-1 when he took another Bates feed at the right wing, raced past the Ontario defense at the blueline and beat Darling with a deke to the left goal post.

Before Ontario managed to pull Darling for an extra attacker, D'Alvise put the finishing touches on his performance with the third goal of the period to hike the lead to 4-1 on his 20th goal of the season, collecting a relay pass by Robinson at the right circle and beat Darling over the glove with a snap shot.