Back again all for another week in the world of CBJ prospects with some international news sprinkled in.
Starting in Springfield, the Falcons had every player’s favorite: a three in three, including a back to back with the Manchester Monarchs and a game against the Connecticut Whale. Starting on Friday in Manchester, the Falcons would be overly nice and spot the Monarchs a three-goal lead before Nick Holden would score his second of the season on an innocent looking shot that Martin Jones just couldn’t get. Matt Calvert would score a pretty one to make it 3-2 when he took a cross-rink pass from Cam Atkinson with Calvert firing a one timer from the face-off dot. The Monarchs would get another one but then it’d be all Falcons, scoring three straight with Dalton Smith scoring his third goal of the season just 11 seconds after the Monarchs scored from down in front. AHL only signed Ryan Craig would score two goals to finish the comeback with the first being the 100th of his AHL career, Curtis McElhinney would make 25 saves in the win. Friday night in Springfield Cam Atkinson would score the Falcons only goal in a 2-1 loss when he’d tap the puck past Monarchs goalie Peter Mannino, Paul Dainton would make 27 saves in the loss. Sunday to finish the weekend the Birds would travel to Connecticut to take on the Whale the last time the Whale hosted the Falcons would be a Springfield 10-2 win and tonight wouldn’t be much different. Cam Atkinson would open the scoring just two and half minutes in tapping in a JAM rebound for his team leading 10th goal of the season, Ryan Johansen would score his seventh of the season off a give and go with Audy-Marchessault deep in the Whale’s end to make it 2-0 Falcons. To close out the period Matt Calvert would score off a John Moore blast from the point (somehow hard to tell from the video) for his sixth of the season. Sean Collins would score his fifth of the season when he’d intercept a pass at the blueline before rifling a shot over Jason Missiaen’s shoulder; again, it’d be Ryan Craig finishing off the scoring off a pretty passing play for his fifth of the season to make it 5-0. Curtis McElhinney would stop all 34 shots he faced for his franchise record tying fifth shutout of the season and 11th win of the season. On the weekend, it was Ryan Craig leading the way with three goals and an assist, among CBJ prospects it’d be Cam Atkinson and Matt Calvert with each scoring two goals and an assist. Nick Drazenovic would have three assists; Nick Holden would have a goal and an assist and David Savard, Andrew Joudrey and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault each having two assists with Savard’s two assists being in the final game of his eight game point streak where he scored two goals and eight assists.
Down in Evansville the IceMen would go 2-2 with a Jackets prospect playing for the team for the first time since November 18th. First on Wednesday, the IceMen would be in Cincinnati where they’d lose 4-1. On Friday a semi familiar face to CBJ fans would make his season debut with Allen York getting the start in Friday night’s game for his first game action since April 3rd against Phoenix and well…Allen might have still been a bit rusty allowing a goal just 56 seconds into the game. It wouldn’t get much better with the Cyclones scoring four more times three on Allen, he’d get the hook during the second intermission stopping 18 of 23. The IceMen would win on Saturday against the KWings with Allen on the bench but he’d get the start on Sunday making 36 saves in a 3-2 win over Toledo and named third star.
As always let’s quickly cover the prospects who didn’t score last week and it’ll be very quick, as only two didn’t pick up a point. Lukas Sedlák was held off the score sheet for the first time in seems like forever the Sags would go 1-3 last week with Lukas winning 53% of his face-offs Some good news for Lukas as he’s been invited to the Czech Republic’s World Junior selection camp and should make the team. Seth Ambroz would go scoreless in the Gophers split with Nebraska-Omaha.
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otters (OHL)
Season Stats 25GP 7-14-1-3 3.64GAA .905Sv%
It was another rough week for the Otters, which would include the firing of coach Robbie Ftorek. On Wednesday fellow Jackets prospect Gianluca Curcuruto and the Plymouth Whalers would come to visit with the Whalers winning 4-3 in overtime, Oscar would get the start stopping 28 of 32. According to an article, Otters GM Sherry Bassin was visibly upset after the Otters would squander a late lead that would lead Bassin to fire coach Robbie Ftorek and hire Kris Knoblauch. Knoblauch was most recently the head coach of the WHL’s Kootenay Ice, and Yahoo’s Kelly Friesen thinks he should still be there. Apparently, part of the reason for his dismissal was he interviewed with a Canadian university while still under contract with Kootenay. In Knoblauch’s debut the Otters would travel to the Soo to take on the Greyhounds in the 6-4 loss Oscar would face 53 shots making 48 saves with the team also allowing an empty net goal. To close out the week the Otters would continue north heading to Sudbury to face the Wolves, in the 2-1 loss Oscar would stop 30 of 32. In international news, Oscar was named to Sweden’s selection camp for the World Juniors and is pretty much being a lock to make the team, as teams can carry three goalies and only three were named to the camp.
Josh Anderson-London Knights (OHL)
Season Stats 30GP 8-14-22 +6 31PIM
Josh and the Knights would keep on rolling as it extended its winning streak to 15 games going 4-0 again last week. Josh was held scoreless in a win over Kitchener but scored the game winner in a 5-3 win over Barrie; Seth Griffith would do most of the work for one of his four assists, as Josh would bang home a rebound for his eighth of the season. Josh again would be held off the game sheet in the Knights 3-1 win over Guelph the Knights game on Sunday would be a wild one. London would travel to Mississauga to take on the Steelheads with Josh adding to his already career high in assists when he’d take a shot on the Heads (?) goalie and he kick it right out to Chris Tierney to make it 3-1 Knights but the fish would storm back forcing overtime and a shootout and what a shootout it was. The shootout would take 19 rounds with Seth Griffith scoring twice to including the game winner. Josh would score in the shootout when he went left and rifled a shot past the Mississauga goaltender.
Boone Jenner-Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Season Stats 30GP 27-19-46 +13 28PIM
A five point week for Boone helped the Generals go 2-1 starting on Tuesday the Gens would travel to Peterborough to take on the Petes, in the 3-2 Gens win Boone would tie his career high when he’d score his 25th of the season in the second period that’d end up being the game winner. Friday night the Generals would continue their road trip, heading to Kingston to face the Frontenacs. In the 4-2 win Boone would pick up his first point just 2:34 into the first when he assisted on Tyler Biggs’ 15th goal of the season. It came on a nice spin move away from a Fronts defender to get the puck to a d-man whose shot was tapped in by Biggs on the rebound. Boone would set a new career high scoring his 26th goal of the season with an empty net goal after Scott Sabourin’s shot missed and all Boone had to do was tap it in. The Generals closed out the week at home, with the Sarnia Sting coming to town and taking a 3-0 lead going into the first intermission. Boone would pick up an assist on Scott Sabourin’s 11th goal of the season in the second period. With Boone flying down the wing, he would fire a shot and all Sabourin had to do was flip it in. Boone would score his third goal in as many games at the 10 minute mark of the third period for his 27th goal of the season when he’d sort of pass it to himself dumping it in and no one controlled it and Boone flew in and blasted it past the Sting’s goaltender from the slot, Oshawa would lose 3-2. Boone would be named to Canada’s World Junior Selection camp and could be one of six returnees from last year’s team, one of only two that aren’t NHL (remember that?) first round picks.
Gianluca Curcuruto-Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Season Stats 27GP 1-10-11 +5 16PIM
Gianluca would pick up two assists, as the Whalers would go 2-0-0-1. Starting off against Oscar Dansk and the Erie Otters Gianluca would pick up an assist his usual way off a blast from the point on Garret Meurs power play goal in the second period. The Whalers would score late in the third period and win it in overtime 4-3. Friday night the Whalers would face the Ottawa 67’s winning it 4-1, Gianluca would pick up his 10th assist of the season on Stefan Noesen’s 16th goal of the season in the second period when Noesen would deflect it past the 67’s goaltender. Gianluca would be held scoreless in a 5-4 shootout loss to Kitchener on Saturday.
Thomas Larkin-Colgate (ECAC)
Season Stats 16GP 2-3-5 28PIM
Thomas and the Red Raiders would split last week against St Lawrence and Clarkson. First against St Lawrence Colgate would lose 4-2 with Thomas picking up no points being a -1 with 2 penalty minutes. Saturday night the Red Raiders would face off against the Golden Knights of Clarkson. After storming out to a 3-1 lead the Raiders would let Clarkson, get back into it, with the Raiders on a five on three power play after a nice passing play Thomas would get the puck at the right circle where he snapped it past the Knights’ goaltender. The Raiders would win 5-4 with the game winner coming with only 46 seconds left in overtime.
Martin Ouellette-Maine (Hockey East)
Season Stats 7GP 1-4-2 2.41GAA .911Sv%
Martin and the Black Bears would welcome Vermont to town with Friday’s game being on CBS Sports Network, in Friday’s 2-1 loss Martin would stop 31 of 33 and be named third star continuing his strong play of late. In Saturday’s rematch, Martin would stop 19 of 21 in a 2-2 tie. Next Week will be another light week for the Bears only playing one game against Boston University.
Kevin Lynch-Michigan (CCHA)
Season Stats 15GP 4-5-9 20PIM
Kevin and the Wolverines would stay in state facing off against the Ferris Stats Bulldogs, first on Friday night it’d be all Bulldogs with the Wolverines losing 5-0. Saturday night it’d go a little better with the Wolverines picking up a 4-3 shootout win, Kevin would pick up an assist on Lindsey Spark’s goal when Sparks tipped in a Lynch shot. Kevin would shoot in the shootout with Ferris State’s CJ Motte making the save. Michigan is off next week before facing Western Michigan the next week.
Mike Reilly-Minnesota (WCHA)
Season Stats 15GP 1-7-8 6PIM
The Gophers welcomed the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks to town earning a split against them. Friday night Mike (along with Seth Ambroz mentioned above) would be held off the score sheet in the Gophers 3-2 loss. On Saturday night with the game tied at zero Mike would find a fresh off the bench Erik Haula who’d slide a backhand past Mavericks goalie John Faulkner for Haula’s seventh goal of the season. Minnesota next week will travel to Colorado College to face the Tigers. Sticking with our International news updates, Mike was named to the US’s World Juniors selection camp. Of the five prospects heading to WJC camps, Mike appears to be the lone question mark of making his nations team. However, most experts believe his offensive capabilities and his performance during the summer will have him wearing the red white and blue in Ufa, Russia.
Drew Olson-Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
Season Stats 14GP 1-3-4 14PIM
Drew and the Bulldogs would face-off against Michigan Tech with the Dogs laying a hurting on the Huskies winning 7-3 on Friday night. Drew would pick up his first multi-point game of the season picking up two assists. Drew’s first assist would make it 4-0 Bulldogs on Mike Seidel’s ninth of the season; Drew’s second would come in the third period on Joe Basaraba’s power play goal. Drew would be held off the score sheet in the Bulldog’s 4-4 tie, next week the Bulldogs close out its home schedule for 2012 when the Bemidji State Beavers come to town.
TJ Tynan-Notre Dame (CCHA)
Season Stats 15GP 3-7-10 10PIM
TJ would pick up his first multi-point games of the season having two points in each of Irish’s wins last week. First in Friday’s 3-1 win TJ would earn two assists. TJ would pick up his first assist when he would get it over Robbie Russo whose blast from the point that was tipped in by Mario Lucia, TJ’s second assist would be a bit prettier when he did a drop pass to Russo whose blast was tipped again, this time by Mike Voran. Saturday would be a rough one for Lake Superior State with the Lakers losing 6-1. TJ’s first point would be the game winning goal when he’d take the puck after two Lakers tried to check an Irish player leading to a two on two that TJ blasted by the LSSU goalie for his third of the season. TJ’s next point would be on a Mario Lucia goal when TJ’s blast from the point went high but bounced to Lucia for his fourth goal in six games since returning from an injury.
Daniel Zaar-Rogle BK (Sweden)
Season Stats (J20 Team) 14GP 6-8-14 +2 6PIM
Daniel would play one game with the main club picking up no points in a 7-1 loss to Linkopings. Zaar would spend the rest of the week with the J20 team helping the team go 1-1 starting on Saturday in a 6-5 loss to Tingryds AIF Daniel would pick up his seventh assist on Sebastien Akesson’s goal to make it 1-1. On Sunday, Växjö Lakers HC would come to town with Rogle handing them a 6-2 loss with Daniel scoring his scoring his sixth goal of the season making it 4-0 adding his eighth assist on Jesper Adolfsson’s third period goal.
Anton Forsberg-Södertälje SK (Sweden)
Season Stats 16GP 10-6 2.19GAA .925Sv% 1 Shutout
It was a light week for Anton and SSK with the team going 2-0 and Anton only playing on one game. On Tuesday, Almtuna IS would come to town (just days before it was announce Jackets center Mark Letestu would sign with the team) and Anton would be given the night off in a 4-1 SSK win with Sebastien Idoff earning the win. Anton would get the start against Troja/Ljungby in the 4-1 win Anton would face a season high 42 shots stopping 41 for his ninth win of the season.
Joonas Korpisalo-Jokerit Organization (Finland)
Season Stats 13GP 4-8 3.20GAA .891Sv%
Last week was rough for Joonas, spending it with Kiekko-Vantaa and going 0-2 including one game where he didn’t even make it through the first period. On Friday against Jukurit Joonas would make 22 saves in a 4-3 loss. Saturday would be the rough one, as Joonas would only make it 5:16 into the first before being pulled. Joonas’ backup would not fare much better as he was pulled in the third period after allowing two more goals. I wish I could give you stats folks on the game…actually, I’m kind of glad I can’t but with Joonas playing twice the box score/game sheet is confusing. This week Joonas would get some good news as he was named to Finland’s World Junior Selection Camp and with his recent performance at the 4 Nations Tournament it’s believe that Joonas should be the Lions (look at a Finnish National team jersey) starting goalie.
Next week could be the last week with a full slate of prospect updates with the WJC camps beginning the week of the 10th with the World Juniors starting December 26th.
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