Hat Trick Grants This Duck Baby Naming Privileges

ANAHEIM, CA — Anaheim Ducks center Derek Grant earned his first career hat trick, and the rights to name his oldest friend's baby, thanks to a friendly bet. This week, Grant scored his first-ever three consecutive shots in one game against the St. Louis Blues. The baby naming bet happened earlier, over the summer, and a lighthearted conversation with a lifelong friend.

Friends of Grants have been in the process of trying to have their first child, a Ducks spokesperson said.

Over the summer, during a round of golf, Grant was challenged that if he shot a hole-in-one on the course, he'd get baby naming rights for their firstborn. Grant, no golfer by his assessment, declined that bet.

"I'm not quite as good a golfer," he laughed. "So my friend made it real for me, that if I get a hat trick this year, I'll get to name their first child."

No hole-in-one was scored on the links. Now, just months into the 2019/20 season, Grant succeeded with the difficult feat of an NHL center scoring three shots in one game. That happened, Saturday, against the St. Louis Blues.

Not known for goal scoring, with just 21 goals in his first 221 games. Scoring the hat trick was a feat Grant will not soon forget, just like the bet.

Naming his best friend's baby was the first thing he mentioned in his interview at the end of the game, Saturday.

Days later, after the event had a chance to percolate, Grant revealed that his friends are "fully on board."

"It's pretty funny," Grant told the Ducks' spokesperson. "We played hockey together, growing up, and stayed close friends. His fiancee is great. At first, (she) was skeptical, but she agreed to it, so I guess I'll take it."

On Saturday, Grant scored a goal in each of the three periods.

"It was cool for sure," Grant said of the feat. "Shooting a hat trick is something guys in my position don't get to do too often. It was a good accomplishment."

Now, fans are weighing in their baby name ideas, including Aly, Grant, and Hattie, to name a few.

What would you name the baby? Let us know in comments!