Schroeder gets hat trick for Moose in playoffs

"It's been a while since I had a hat trick," Jordan Schroeder said after scoring three goals on Monday for the Manitoba Moose in a 7-2 rout of the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Moose still trail two games to one in the North Division semifinal series after losing the first two games to Hamilton 2-0 and 8-2.

But in the third game in Winnipeg, before 7,546 at the MTS Centre, Schroeder scored two power-play goals in the first period to put the Moose ahead 2-0. Then early in the second period, he scored again to make it 4-0.

"He [Schroeder] is pretty good," said linemate Guillaume Desbiens, who had one goal and three assists.

In 11 regular-season games with the Moose, Schroeder had four goals and five assists for nine points. He was scorelss in the Moose's first two playoff games before his four-point game.

To listen to Schroeder and his coach Scott Arniel go to http://www.moosehockey.com/

Schroeder appears to be trying to grow a beard for the playoffs -- or he hasn't shaved in a couple days. Still needs to work on it.

Sophomore center Jack Connolly was named Minnesota Duluth's MVP on Sunday at the team's awards banquet. He had 18 goals and 31 assists for a team-high 49 points. Connolly also was picked the fans' favorite player. He was a first team all-WCHA pick and second-team All-America West pick by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Junior wing Rob Bordson, who recently signed with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks, was named the Most Improved Player. He went from zero points in 15 games as a sophomore to 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points last season.

Senior center and team captain Drew Akins, a former Minnetonka High School player, was named the Most Inspirational. He also received the Bulldogs' award for community service. He had six goals and 11 assists for 17 points.