Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler made history on Sunday night. The American forward scored a hat-trick during the first period of his team's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. By doing so, Wheeler became the first player in the Jets/Atlanta Trashers history to record a hat-trick in a single period.
Wheeler, 31, was drafted fifth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004. He never signed with them, as he played three years at the University of Minnesota, before signing as a free agent with the Boston Bruins in 2008. Boston later traded him to the Atlanta Trashers with defenseman Mark Stuart for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik.
In 706 games played in the NHL, he registered 522 points.
