Pannek scores 'surreal' hat trick in one shift

Most hockey players will never score a natural hat trick in their careers. Kelly Pannek did it in one shift.

With three consecutive goals in a span of 22 seconds, the Benilde-St. Margaret's sophomore set a state record last Tuesday during a 9-2 win over Totino-Grace.

It broke the previous record of 54 seconds, according to a tweet from Let's Play Hockey.

That's quicker than most TV commercials. It happened so fast, head coach Dave Herbst couldn't even comprehend the situation.

"It was so surreal," he said. "We looked around and were like, 'What just happened?'"

The sophomore forward started the spree 57 seconds into the third period. She buried another 14 ticks later. And just 8 seconds later, she completed the trifecta.

"They were really good goals, too. She sniped them," Herbst said.

Pannek finished the game with four goals and one assist. Through Friday night's 5-1 win over Lakeville North, she has accumulated 32 goals and 16 assists in 17 games. She finished with 52 points in 24 games last year as a freshman.

"Even she looked at me like and was like, 'I don't know. I don't know what happened,'" Herbst said.

Chanhassen storms to 6thChanhassen girls' basketball jumped from ninth to sixth in the latest Class 4A state rankings. The Storm is getting it done with a balanced scoring attack. Lauren Shifflett, Becca Smith and Tori Shear are all averaging double figures in points. Mikki Prince almost makes four. Chanhassen leapfrogged Minnetonka and Robbinsdale Cooper. The third-year school faces fifth-ranked Eden Prairie (11-2) on Tuesday night.

January on a Richfield rollRichfield's Jessica January scored at least 20 points for the sixth consecutive game last Tuesday during the Spartans' 67-48 statement victory over Hill-Murray.

Richfield is ranked third in Class 3A, while the Pioneers were at No. 4. January is averaging 21.8 points per game as a junior.

The Spartans take on Mahtomedi, Edina and Tartan this week.