Filip Mesar scores a hat trick in less than 40 minutes

Before the season started, we wondered whether Filip Mesar would spend the year in Laval or in junior (with Kitchener). We had a feeling the player didn’t want to go back to junior… but finally, Kent Hughes convinced him.

In an interview with a Slovak media outlet, Hughes explained that he justified his decision to Mesar by pointing out the examples of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Mike Matheson, who spent an extra year in junior (or in the NCAA for the latter two) before making the jump to the pros, and it paid off.

Interview with Kent Hughes written in English, in which he talks about Slafkovsky, Mešár, and the future of the team.

“We have some good offensive players in our group and we need more. Do we need a star?“@HabsOnReddit https://t.co/cXxUZaLfj2

– Martin Toth-Vaňo (@Totik96) November 21, 2023

And since the start of the year, Mesar has had the knife between his teeth. Prior to today’s game, Mesar had amassed 18 points in 10 games, a fine haul for him.

But even though he’s mostly been collecting assists all year, Mesar decided to show off his scoring skills tonight. Against the Erie Otters, the young Slovak scored a hat trick… in less than 40 minutes.

Here are the three goals from his first career OHL hat trick:

FIRST #OHL HAT-TRICK FOR MEŠÁR @OHLRangers | #GoHabsGo | @CanadiensMTL pic.twitter.com/t6TeHtuGrT

– Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) November 22, 2023