Carson Rehkopf’s Hat Trick Fuels Firebirds Past Barracuda in Tight Battle
Palm Desert, Calif. - The Coachella Valley Firebirds are riding a serious wave right now, and rookie forward Carson Rehkopf is at the heart of it. The 19-year-old notched his first professional hat trick on Wednesday night, powering the Firebirds to a 4-3 win over the San Jose Barracuda at Acrisure Arena - their sixth straight victory.
It didn’t take long for Coachella Valley to set the tone. Just 1:08 into the opening period, Tyson Jugnauth lit the lamp with his sixth of the season, giving the Firebirds a quick 1-0 edge.
Rehkopf followed that up just four minutes later, doubling the lead with his sixth goal of the year. Despite trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, San Jose actually outshot the Firebirds 11-7 in the first - a sign of the pressure they were generating, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it yet.
The Barracuda came out with urgency in the second, and it paid off. Less than a minute in, Colin White got San Jose on the board with a power-play snipe from the right circle - his tenth of the season.
Then, at 5:15, Oliver Wahlstrom pounced on a misplay by Firebirds goalie Victor Östman and buried the equalizer, also his tenth of the campaign. Just like that, it was a brand-new hockey game.
But Rehkopf had more to say. With under four minutes left in the second, he struck again - this time restoring the Firebirds’ lead with his second of the night. The rookie’s timing was clutch, halting San Jose’s momentum and giving Coachella Valley a 3-2 cushion heading into the third.
In the final frame, Rehkopf completed the hat trick at 8:01, finishing off a breakout performance that showcased his scoring instincts and composure. That goal would ultimately stand as the game-winner, even as the Barracuda refused to go quietly.
San Jose kept pressing, and with just under five minutes remaining, Cam Lund made it a one-goal game with a five-hole finish - his sixth of the season. The Barracuda turned up the heat in the final minutes, generating sustained offensive zone time and quality looks, but Östman stood tall, slamming the door shut to preserve the win.
The Barracuda outshot the Firebirds 29-18 and finished 1-for-3 on the power play. Laurent Brossoit stopped 14 shots in the loss, while Östman turned aside 26 to earn the victory.
For Coachella Valley, this win extends their hot streak and highlights the emergence of Rehkopf as a legitimate offensive threat. For San Jose, it’s a tough loss in a game where they controlled large stretches of play - but one that also showed their fight and ability to claw back when trailing.
Two teams, both in the playoff hunt, gave us a back-and-forth battle with no shortage of storylines. And if Rehkopf keeps finding the net like this, the Firebirds might just keep soaring.