We’re back with a look at the week that was in Jackets’ prospects.
Starting off in Springfield as usual, the Falcons just kept rolling along going 2-0 in the week. This gives the team its best start ever at 5-0-0-0. Starting off on Friday against the Providence Bruins, the Falcons nabbed a quick two goal lead when Tim Erixon and Lukas Sedlak scored 46 seconds apart with Erixon also adding an assist on Sedlak’s goal. The Bruins would score in the second to make it 2-1 but in the third it would be almost all Falcons. Freshly signed to a PTO, Jacques-Francois Jacques made it 3-1 early in the third with Erixon picking up yet another assist. Midway through the period, Jack Skille would score his first with the team. Four minutes later the Bruins would score to make it 4-2, and Alex Aleardi would score an empty net goal to seal the deal. Jeremy Smith made 39 saves for the win and Tim Erixon would end the night with four points – his second four point night.
Saturday night it was off to Glen Falls, New York for a game with the Adirondack Phantoms. The Falcons would allow the Phantoms a 2-0 lead before Broc Little scored his first North American pro goal late in the second period. Midway through the third period, Will Weber would strike for his first of the season (this is not a typo) to tie the game. The game would go to a shootout taking six shooters with Sean Collins scoring in round four to tie the shootout and Cody Goloubef winning it in round six. Mike McKenna made 33 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped five of six in the shootout.
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otters (OHL)
Season Stats 10GP 8-1-1-0 2.10GAA .919Sv% 2SO
Oscar and the Otter continued their recent hot streak with Oscar picking up another shutout on Canadian Thanksgiving. Oscar made 19 saves against Mississauga for his second straight shutout and second career shutout. On Friday night, the Belleville Bulls would come to Erie with Oscar making 18 saves in a 4-3 win during which Oscar’s shutout streak ended at 170:48. Oscar made 14 saves in a 6-2 win over Ottawa, his eighth of the season, after winning only 11 games last year. Oscar went 3-0 last week with a .911 save percentage and a 1.67 GAA and a shutout. The Otters have won eight straight with Oscar winning seven of them.
Josh Anderson-London Knights (OHL)
Season Stats 11GP 7-4-11 +1 28PIM
It was a rough week for the Knights but not for Josh as he scored three goals. Starting off on Thanksgiving in a matinee against the Kitchener Rangers, with the Knights on the power play (too much man for the Rangers), Josh fired a shot and his linemates would get a few whacks at it before Josh banged it home to make it 1-0 Knights; unfortunately, the Knights would end up losing 3-2 in overtime. Josh got into two fights in this game, first demolishing Ben Thomson in the first period after a big hit. The second fight would be after Josh took a major for boarding. This earned him a game misconduct with Matia Marcantuoni standing up for his teammate.
In the Knights next game, Josh was held scoreless in a 5-3 loss to Oshawa while again wearing an alternate captain’s A, appears he wears it at home games. Saturday night it was off to Windsor for a match-up with the Spitfires – a game I was in attendance for. With the Knights trailing 2-1 and a big time missed call by the refs, Brett Welychka fired a shot and new Spits goalie Alex Fotinos would get a piece of it but Josh would bang home the rebound to tie it at two. Josh scored a late third period goal to make it 4-3. He potted this goal again on the power play giving him five this season which already equals his total of all last season. Josh was named third star in the loss.
Quickly, Gianluca Curcuruto only played in one Whalers game this week – leaving in the first period according to the North Bay TV crew and the Whalers twitter account.
Nick Moutrey-Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Season Stats 13GP 3-4-7 -5 8PIM
Nick and the Spirit would go 1-2 last week with the win coming by shootout. Nick was held scoreless in the shootout win over Oshawa. In the 6-3 loss to Sarnia, Nick would pick up an assist. The point came with the Spirit leading 2-1 when Nick sent a long pass to 2013 OHL 1st rounder Mitchell Stephens who’d snap it past the Sting goalie for the first of the career. Nick would be held scoreless in the rematch on Saturday.
Kerby Rychel-Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Season Stats 11GP 8-11-19 +4 9PIM
A fairly light week for Kerby and the Spitfires as they split their two games this week. Starting off against Guelph, with the Spits trailing 2-1, Josh Ho-Sang would send a shot on net that the Guelph’s goalie would get a piece of it but Kerby was there on the doorstep to bang home the rebound for his eighth of the season. Windsor would lose the game 3-2.
Saturday night, Windsor welcomed the London Knights (and myself) to WFCU Centre. Early in the first Kerby would send a pass to Remy Giftopoulis who’d find Josh Ho-Sang who then took the shot and banged home the rebound for his seventh of the season. Kerby’s assist would be the 200th point of his OHL career (96-105-201 in 209 games). Later in the game, with Spitlfires leading 3-2, Kerby would win a board battle getting the puck out to Cristiano DiGiacinto who’d send it over to Eric Diodati who’d fire a blast to make it 4-2. The Spits would win the game 4-3.
As an aside, on the trip to Windsor the arena – despite not being very old – is semi low tech holding 6500 if full. I estimate the arena was 75% full for a Saturday night affair. Interesting tidbit – one time CBJ assistant coach Bob Boughner’s father and Kerby Rychel’s grandfather run the team store in which I ordered my Kerby Rychel Mickey Renaud style jersey (if me buying a jersey shocks you, you must be new here).
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Season Stats 11GP 13-9-22 +9 2PIM
The Great Dane keeps on rolling. Oliver picked up four points in three games this week. Opening against Tri-City, Bjorkstrand scored his 11th goal of the season into an empty net. With 1:15 remaining the Americans pulled their goalie and Oliver would gather the loose puck, skate just above the red line and fire a backhand to make it 4-1. Friday night, Dillon Heatherington and the Swift Current would invade Moda Center with Oliver picking up a goal in the 5-4 win. 21 seconds after the Hawks took a 2-1 lead, Chase De Leo sent a pass to Taylor Leier who fired a shot with Oliver picking up the rebound to make it 3-1. Ultimately, the Winterhawks would win the game 5-4. To close out the week against Tri-City, with the Hawks leading 3-1, Oliver would take a pass from Taylor Leier then, working a two on one with Chase De Leo, Oliver sent a cross crease pass which De Leo finished for the goal. Oliver scored the extra point to make it 7-1 when he’d again bat in a rebound for his 13th of the season. The Hawks ended up winning 8-1.
Dillon Heatherington-Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Season Stats 13GP 1-7-8 +7 13PIM
Dillon and the Broncos are off on their bi-yearly US Division road trip opening against Spokane. The Broncos fell 5-1 with Dillon picking up an assist on their only goal. The point came with the team trailing 3-0 when Dillon fired a shot and corralled the rebound before finding Tanner LeSann who scored his third of the season. Two nights later, it was off to Portland to face the Winterhawks. With the Hawks leading 5-3 Dillon sent a pass to Coda Gordon who snapped a shot past Brendan Burke that Burke got a piece of. Dillon would be held scoreless in a 6-3 loss to Seattle but he did engage in a fight with Justin Hickman.
Martin Ouellette-Maine (Hockey East)
Season Stats 3GP 1-2 2.69GAA .913Sv%
Martin and the Black Bears had a light week only playing one game facing Bentley (if you wanna google if that’s a real school, I’ll wait). The Black Bears picked up their first win of the season with Martin making 24 saves and being named first star. Next week Martin and the Bears face off against UMass.
Mike Reilly-Minnesota (Big Ten)
Season Stats 4GP 2-1-3 2PIM
Mike and the Gophers faced off against the Bemidji State Beavers with the Gophers picking up a sweep. Seth Ambroz would be held scoreless in it while Mike would score his second of the season on Saturday. Friday night the Gophers would win 6-3, Saturday night with the Gophers leading 3-1 Mike would walk the blueline, and fire a shot through a screen to make it 4-1. Mike talked with Fox Sports North after the game.
TJ Tynan-Notre Dame (Hockey East)
Season Stats 4GP 1-3-4 4PIM
Due to the football team playing USC, I’m guessing that’s why the Irish had a Friday, Sunday series with Michigan Tech. Starting on Friday, TJ had his best game so far picking up a goal and an assist. TJ picked up the assist on Robbie Russo’s second of the season. In the third period, TJ scored the game winner when Mario Lucia dropped a pass to TJ who snapped it past the Huskies goaltender. TJ was named first star in the win. On Sunday, in the rematch, TJ picked up an assist on the team’s opening goal when he sent a pass to Vince Hinostroza for the one timer. The Irish won a rough one as the Huskies accumulated 85 penalty minutes in the 7-3 loss – a new Irish opponent record win.
Peter Quenneville-Quinnipiac (ECAC)
Season Stats 4GP 0-2-2 2PIM
Peter and the Bobcats opened their home schedule raising their banners from last year’s success on Saturday night. In the 3-1 win over UMass-Lowell, Peter picked up an assist on Jordan Thomas-Samuels’ second period goal to open the scoring. On Saturday, Peter was held scoreless leaving the game for a bit after blocking a shot and going down the tunnel for a bit of time.
Anton Forsberg-MODO (SHL)
Season Stats 7GP 4-3 .923Sv% 2.21GAA
Another week of two game rotation for Anton and Linus. Anton played a game last week so he started the team’s week by opening game against Brynas. In the 3-2 win Anton would make 34 saves to pick up his fourth win of the season. Anton would get the night off in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Vaxjo Lakers.
There you have it folks! Another week in the world of Jackets prospects. As for next week, we’ll see if Oscar Dansk and the Otters can keep rolling along next week. The next seven days will also include two matchups between two Jackets prospects as they’ll face Plymouth and London. In the NCAA world, Minnesota is now the number one team in the country and will welcome Boston College to St Paul for a matchup so it promises to be interesting times!
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