Walleye's Hedden scores hat trick

10/7/2010

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Toledo forward Mike Hedden tallied a hat trick in the Walleye's preseason opener Wednesday night.

Hedden scored two goals in the second period and added another in the third as Toledo defeated Wheeling 4-3 in the exhibition contest played at Johnstown's Cambria War Memorial Arena.

Brian Potacco, a rookie center who played at Bowling Green State University last year, scored Toledo's other goal.

Wheeling tallied two first period goals to take a 2-0 lead. But Hedden scored his first goal at 16:36 of the second period. The veteran left winger then scored again less than two minutes later to tie it.

Potacco gave the Walleye the lead at the 19:26 mark of the second period.

After the Nailers tied it 2:33 into the third period, Hedden struck for his third a little more than five minutes later. All three of Hedden's goals came on the power play.

Toledo's Robin Richards, Adam Keefe, Jay Holladay, and Chris Fraterrigo all collected fighting majors.

The Walleye were outshot 33-20.

Goalies Tom Schaul and Joe Palmer split time in net for Toledo.

The Walleye will play another exhibition game tomorrow in Kalamazoo before hosting the Wings on Saturday night at the Huntington Center at 6 p.m.