Tanner Cochrane is proving to be quite the pickup for the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League’s North Okanagan Knights.
The 20-year-old forward from Kamloops turned the natural hat trick, and drew an assist on the Knights’ other goal as they doubled the host Nelson Leafs 4-2 Friday night.
Cochrane, who played last season with the BCHL Chilliwack Chiefs, has 6-1-7 in five games with North Okanagan.
It was the 13-11-0-1 Knights’ fourth straight win, and the league-leading Leafs’ (20-2-1-3) second regulation loss all season.
North Okanagan, who slid past the Summerland Steam and into third in the Okanagan Division, visited the Castlegar Rebels (12-10-1-3) Saturday night at the Castlegar Complex.
Mitch Profeit backed the Knights with a 16-save effort Friday, while Blake Culbert chipped in with 2+1. Brett Hawrys and Mat Lambert also drew helpers.
Travis Wellman and Alec Wilkinson responded for Nelson.
North Okanagan visits Summerland (12-11-1-1) Tuesday before entertaining the Princeton Posse (7-16-0-3) Friday at Nor-Val Sports Centre.
