Staff Report

ROCKFORD – Dylan Sikura netted a hat trick in the third period to spark a six-goal comeback that sent the Rockford IceHogs roaring back to defeat the Chicago Wolves 7-4 Sunday afternoon at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

The IceHogs have now won three straight games and five of their last seven contests dating to Oct. 18.

Trailing 4-2 in the third, Sikura skated in from the left on the power play and blasted a shot glove side past Oscar Dansk for his first goal of the hat trick 10:41 into the frame. Anton Wedin then centered a great feed to Brandon Hagel, who promptly lifted a shot top shelf on the doorstep for his first goal of his AHL career.

With the contest knotted 4-4, Sikura again delivered for the Hogs, this time one-timing a cross-crease pass from Highmore to complete Rockford’s comeback.

Sikura then capped the trick less than three minutes later, putting the exclamation point on his four-point night. As Highmore battled to secure the puck behind the net, Sikura’s brother, Tyler, skated in towards Dansk and navigated around a pair of Wolves. Tyler Sikura then whipped the puck to an awaiting Dylan, who capitalized with a wrister in front of the net to finish the hat trick in a span of just 5:59 and give Rockford a two-goal cushion.

That hat trick was the first of Sikura’s pro career and gives the second-year forward 22 points (12g, 10a) in his last 23 AHL games.

Highmore (2a) and Wedin (3a) joined Sikura with multi-point nights, while goaltender Collin Delia earned his second win in three starts with 21 saves on 25 shots.