Hello all! Time for the first full-on recap of the Jackets prospects taking part in the various leagues of the CHL’s playoffs.
Peter Quenneville-Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL-won series 4-1)
Series/Playoff Stats 5GP 1-3-4 -3 2PIM
Brandon opened the playoffs as the top seed in the WHL’s Eastern Conference and faced three-time defending champs: the Edmonton Oil Kings. In the second period trailing 2-0, Peter scored off a feed from Morgan Klimchuk from below the goal line to make it 2-1 in the 4-1 game one loss.
In game two, Peter helped his little brother John score his first of the playoffs when, with the Kings…uh Wheat Kings leading 6-1, John skated in and passed the puck to Peter who passed back and shot to make it 7-1 in a 8-1 win. The series then switched to Edmonton for games three through five (2-3-2 series).
Peter was held pointless in a 3-2 game three win but was still named third star in the win. In game four, in the third with the Wheaties leading 2-1, Peter took a pass from Duncan Campbell and then skated in and fired off a shot that Tristan Jarry was able to save but Nolan Patrick scored on the rebound to make it 3-1 in a 3-2 Wheat Kings victory.
In game five, Peter opened the scoring when he intercepted a clearing attempt before finding Tim McGauley in front who made it 1-0. The game ended 2-2 and went on to not one but two overtimes making it the first double overtime game for the Wheat Kings since April 2002. Peter’s brother John scored the game winner. In the next round the Kings will face off against the Regina Pats who eliminated Dillon Heatherington and the Swift Current Broncos, but more on that later.
Olivier LeBlanc-Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL-lost series 4-3)
Injured-Missed Series
Yes its odd for me to write about an injured player but the Eagles did something kinda cool. Starting off in game three, Olivier appeared on the roster but listed as an assistant coach. Now when I was told this by play by play man Patrick McNeil I figured he was helping out as an “eye in the sky” (I’d been told Olivier was on crutches) but no, Olivier was on the bench. Before a do or die game six in which the Eagles won I asked Patrick what Olivier is doing he said hes serving as motivation and is now in a walking boot.
Blake Siebenaler-Niagara IceDogs (OHL-Won Series 4-2)
Playoff/Series Stats 6GP 0-1-1 E 0PIM
Blake and the Dogs took on the Ottawa 67s in the OHL Eastern Conference’s four-five matchup. After going pointless in the first two games both in which the 67s would score eight goals Blake finally found his way onto the scoresheet in game three. In the 6-2 Dogs win Blake would pick up an assist on Carter Verhaeghe’s(try to not read that name like Mr Howell I dare you) goal making it 2-0, goal must not have been very pretty seeing as it didn’t make the highlights. The Dogs would roll winning the next three to win the series. Up next for the Dogs is a matchup with the East’s top seed the Oshawa Generals
Nick Moutrey-North Bay Battalion (OHL-Won Series 4-0)
Playoff/Series Stats 4GP 0-2-2 +2 2PIM
The Troops took on the Kingston Fronternacs in the OHL’s Eastern Conference’s three-six matchup with the Battalion earning a sweep. Nick picked up two assists in the Battalion’s 8-0 game one victory. Nick’s first assist was a good one as he drove in to the zone while being dragged down by a defender. He was able to slide a pass to a driving Nick Paul to make it 2-0 Battalion. Later in the second, as the Fronternacs goalie would “try” to play the puck, Nick bullrushed him and gathered the puck and found Ryan Kujawinski in front who fired into an almost empty net. Nick was held pointless in the series’ next three games. Up next for Nick and the Battalion is a series against the second seeded Barrie Colts.
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks (WHL-Won Series 4-2)
Playoff/Series Stats 6GP 5-7-12 +6 0PIM
Oliver and the Hawks took part in the Western Conference two-seven matchup which was another edition of the I5 Rivalry against the Seattle Thunderbirds. In game one with the Hawks trailing 2-1, Oliver drove in and stickhandled before passing to Adam Henry whose shot made it through traffic to tie the game at two in a 4-3 Winterhawks game one loss.
In game two, the Hawks scored late in the first before adding two empty net goals – the last being by our favorite Dane. Just 12 seconds after Dominic Turgeon scored, Nic Petan won the draw and sent Oliver off to the races before he snapped a shot at the red line to make it 3-0. Oliver was held pointless in a 5-2 game three loss. In games four and five, “regular season Oliver” showed up. Starting off in the first, Oliver gathered a loose puck and with a couple dekes took a shot that was poked away. Chase De Leo skated in and picked up the rebound to make it 1-0.
Later, with the Hawks leading 2-1 it appeared Oliver dumped the puck with Keoni Texeira gathering it and finding Adam Henry to make it 3-1. Just moments later Oliver got the puck to Henry from a board battle. Henry passed to Nic Petan who, after some fancy stickwork, snapped a shot home. In the third with the Hawks leading 6-3, Oliver dumped the puck again into the corner with Nic Petan gathering it and passing to Chase De Leo who sent a no look pass to Oliver who fired a one timer to make it 7-3 in a 8-5 game four win.
Up next in game five, Oliver helped open the scoring when he skated in and passed to Nic Petan who found a trailing Keegan Iverson to make it 1-0. Just under 10 minutes later, Oliver from the corner found Paul Bittner in front to make it 2-0. Later in the game, with Portland leading 4-3, Oliver scored a goal a lot like his goal from game two. Off a faceoff, Oliver went driving around a few TBirds before snapping a shot from just over the blueline to make it 5-3.
Up next in game six, Oliver opened the scoring when he picked up the rebound of a Chase De Leo shot to make it 1-0 Hawks. This goal was Oliver’s 28th playoff goal tying him for third place all time. In the second, Oliver got the puck from a battle in the corner and tried to shoot but the puck got caught in Ducks’ first rounder Shea Theodore’s feet. Ol ofiver reclaimed control the puck and fired from the goalline to make it 3-1 in what would be a 5-4 overtime win – clinching the Hawks a 4-2 series win.
Up next for the Hawks is a series with another US Division Rival, the Everett Silvertips. The series will be a long one as there will be five days off between games two and three due to both of the Winterhawks homes(they play games in both the Moda Center-Blazers home arena and Memorial Coliseum) being used by Garth Brooks and events for a craft brewers conference. Oliver is currently second in the WHL playoffs scoring behind Adam Tambellini.
Julien Pelletier-Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL-Lost Series 4-2)
Final Series Stats 6GP 0-4-4 -1 0PIM
Julien and the Huskies took on the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the six-11 match up in the QMJHL playoffs. Starting off in game one, Julien picked up an assist on Ryan Penny’s opening goal of the series in a 6-2 Huskies loss. After being held pointless in a 8-3 Huskies win, Julien had his first career multipoint playoff game when he picked up an assist on each of the two Huskie goals in a 6-2 loss. In game four, with the Huskies trailing 1-0 and the Dogs on the power play, Julien was on the point when he passed to Justin Guenette whose shot was tipped in by Alexandre Fortin to tie the game at one in a 2-1 game four win. Julien was held pointless in games five and six – both Huskie losses.
Dillon Heatherington-Swift Current Broncos (WHL-Lost Series 4-0)
Final Series Stats 4GP 0-0-0 -3 4PIM
Dillon was held pointless in a series sweep loss to Regina – he only played in only three of the games. Now I know what it says above but these stats are from the WHL site and he was on the lineup sheet for game three. I’ll let the tweets of Broncos play by play man Shawn Mullin explain “Dillon Heatherington is back in tonight. He was very, very sick last night. He took warmup and was in the lineup because they were hopeful” “Heatherington desperately wanted to play, he would have done everything he could to play. He physically just couldn’t do it. Will go today.” “Of course that means he probably won’t be quite 100% but he’s an incredible athlete and will a way to compete hard.” After the series ended April 1st, it’s likely Dillon was given a chance to get healthy before being assigned to Springfield to begin his pro career. Dillon is on an amateur tryout for the Falcons’ last four games.
There you have it folks – our journey across Canada and the Pacific Northwest covering the first round of the CHL playoffs. I’ll be back after the next round to update you on how Peter, Blake, Nick and Oliver are doing.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
