On Oct 21, 1:41pm, Deron Treadwell wrote: > So what is the definition of a "natural hat trick"? Is it three > goals in a row, regardless of period, three goals in succession in > the same period, or is it just three goals in a period? The definition I've heard, and the one I've always used myself, is: three goals scored in succession by one player, uninterrupted by scores from other players on either team. Thus, these two hypothetical hat tricks by Smith of Team A: Period 1 TEAM B Franklin (Peters), 4:15 TEAM A Smith (Jones, McDonald), 7:30 TEAM A Smith (Jones), 17:50 Period 2 no scoring Period 3 TEAM A Smith, 5:25 TEAM B Robinson (Thompson), 6:45 Smith has a natural hat trick, regardless of the fact that the goals were not scored in the same period. Period 1 TEAM A Smith (Jones, McDonald), 7:30 TEAM A Smith (Jones), 10:50 TEAM A Jones (Smith, McDonald), 14:25 TEAM A Smith, 17:40 Not a natural hat trick. Smith scored three times, but Jones' goal after Smith's second broke up the natural. Bill Fenwick [log in to unmask] HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.