Greetings all – I decided to post this a little later than usual so we could get a full recap of the World Junior Championships.
Starting off in Springfield as always, the Falcons opened 2015 in Portland for a game against the Pirates and ex Jacket Mike McKenna. The first period would be all Pirates as they would take a 3-0 lead before Lukas Sedlak scored his first career shorthanded goal. Almost exactly 10 minutes later, Frederic St Denis scored his second goal of the season before the Pirates notched two more to make it 5-2. Dana Tyrell got a late third period power play goal, and Austin Madaisky picked up an assist on both power play goals. Anton Forsberg made 27 saves in the loss.
Up next was a game against Worcester. The Birds spotted the baby Sharks a 2-0 lead before Marko Dano scored his seventh of the year. In the second period Trent Vogelhuber gathered a loose puck skating and was stopped but Marko picked up the rebound to make it 2-1. After another Sharks goal, Jamie Sifers scored early in the third but it was the little Irishman who would tie it. TJ Tynan skated in through three Sharks to start a sequence he would finish when Luke Adam found Tynan in front. The game went to a shootout with Kerby Rychel scoring the only goal of the shootout – clinching the victory. Oscar Dansk made 24 saves plus three more in the shootout for his fifth win of the season.
To close out the weekend the Falcons welcomed the top team in the East – the Manchester Monarchs. Adam opened the scoring with his fourth since joining the Falcons when he took a pass from Frederic St Denis. In the third period after a scramble, Lukas Sedlak passed the puck to Josh Anderson who shot and picked up his own rebound to tie the game. The pride of Dublin, Ohio Trent Vogelhuber scored the game winner deflecting or picking up the rebound(hard to tell) of a Jamie Sifers shot. Anton Forsberg made 28 saves in his 16th win of the season. Here’s Coach Bednar and Josh Anderson’s postgame comments after the Manchester game.
Blake Siebenaler-Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Season Stats 37GP 7-14-21 -5 17PIM
Blake and the Dogs came out of the Christmas break with a game against the Steelheads. In the third period with the Dogs leading 5-3, Niagara was on the power play. Off a faceoff Blake got the puck over to Aaron Hayden whose shot got through to make it a 6-3 final.
Blake had his season long point streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to Peterborough.
Up next in a game against Kitchener, Blake again picked up a point on the Dogs last goal. In the 5-1 win Blake picked up an assist on Carter Verhaeghe’s second of the game.
The Dogs’ rematch against Kitchener was a big one for Blake. Late in the first with the game tied and Niagara on the power play, Blake unleashed a bomb from the point to make it 2-1. Early in the third, Blake struck again with another blast to make it 4-3. 25 seconds later while the play by play man was still talking about the goal, Blake scored his third of the night from the exact same spot(this hat trick brought to you by Home Depot) to make it 4-4. The game would go to a shootout with the IceDogs picking up a 6-5 shootout victory. The three goals gave Blake seven on the year setting a new career high in 31 less games.
Nick Moutrey-Saginaw Spirit/North Bay Battalion (OHL)
Season Stats 36GP 15-25-40 +8 40PIM
Coming out of the Christmas break, the Spirit had a home and home with Sault Ste Marie with Nick picking up points in both games. In the game in Saginaw, Nick scored his 15th goal of the season to give Saginaw a 3-0 lead in a 5-3 Spirit victory. In the Soo, Nick picked up an assist on Mitchell Stephens shorthanded goal in a 7-2 loss. Nick had his fourth three point game of the season in a 7-2 win over Plymouth when he picked up three assists. Nick was held pointless in a 5-4 overtime win over Sarnia in what was Nick’s last game in a Spirit uniform. Sunday night it was announced that Nick had been traded to the North Bay Battalion in exchange for rookie goalie Evan Cormier and as many as six picks in the OHL Priority Selection. The picks are second-rounders in 2015, 2017 and 2019, a fourth-rounder in 2020 and conditional third- and fourth-round selections in 2018. With the trade, Nick becomes the Troops’ leading scorer. He also has the most assists of anyone on the team.
Markus Soberg-Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Season Stats 32GP 6-10-16 -2 12PIM
Markus returned from the World Junior Championships Division 1 Group A tournament and has continued his strong play of late. In a game against London, 21 seconds into the third period with the game tied at two, Markus scored his fifth of the season when Luke Kirwan curled out from the corner and fired a shot. Markus was battling in front with a Knight and picked up the rebound to pot a backhand shot to making it 3-2. After tying it two minutes later the Knights scored two goals to tie it at four. The game went to the shootout with Markus shooting in the seventh round (despite being called a Swede by the London play by play man). Markus skated in fast and after a flurry of dekes went backhand on the London goalie to win it.
In a home and home against Plymouth, Markus picked up assists in each game adding to his season long point streak. Markus scored the first of the Spitfires two empty net goals in a 6-3 win over Erie to make it 5-3. Markus did have his six game point streak snapped in a overtime win over Mississauaga.
Quickly, Julien Pelletier return to the Screaming Eagles lineup after missing most of the month with an (makes finger quotes) upper body injury. He made it into the team’s final three games of December and the first two games of January – he was held pointless in these games. Since it happened on Monday I should wait until next week, but since its just news here goes. Sunday Anthony Marcotte tweeted that Julien was on the trading block and that the team was listening to offers from the Rimouski Oceanic, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and the Sherbrooke Phoenix. So on Monday Julien was traded to…the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for goalie Alexandre Belanger and a 3rd round pick. The Huskies sit third in the West Division having 12 more points than the Screaming Eagles. Marcotte also tweeted that Julien requested the trade. This is just my theory but…Julien was homesick. This may seem odd for an athlete but Cape Breton is the other end of the league’s territory compared to Rouyn-Noranda which is on the border of Quebec.
Olivier LeBlanc-Saint John Sea Dogs/Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
Season Stats 37GP 4-18-22 +21 63PIM
To open the post break season, the Dogs opened against its rival the Moncton Wildcats in a wild one. In the second trailing 4-2 Oliver took a big hit but got the puck away with Nathan Noel gathering it and skating in to find Luke Green. Green shot and the Cats goalie got a piece of it but the puck went in. Ultimately the Dogs would fall by a score of 6-5. Olivier was held pointless in the Dogs last two games to close out 2014. In the first game in 2015, Olivier picked up an assist on Spencer Smallman’s game opening goal in a 4-1 Sea Dogs win. In what would be Olivier’s final game with the Dogs(what another?) Olivier scored his fourth goal of the season to open the scoring in a 5-4 loss to Charlottetown. Sunday night actually around the same time as the Moutrey deal (a hour and a half beforehand) it came out that Olivier was traded to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles along with Declan Smith in exchange for Jason Bell and a first round pick. Olivier should fill the exact same role with his new team as he did in Saint John – playing in all situations and with the trade of Pelletier, the Eagles have an A available. LeBlanc is the second CBJ defenseman (sorta) to join the Eagles. In the last week as a CBJ invite from last year, Alexandre Gosselin was traded to the team last week, in fact Eagles play by play man Patrick McNeil believes LeBlanc could be paired with Gosselin. Olivier’s +21 from playing on the powerful Sea Dogs will lead the team. The Screaming Eagles are 20 points below the Dogs.
Peter Quenneville-Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Season Stats 40GP 9-28-37 +3 14PIM
Peter and the Wheat Kings opened the post Christmas break with a game against Moose Jaw. In the 3-0 win Peter picked up two assists. In the first period Peter took the puck behind the net and sent a no look pass to Reid Duke (hes a no nonsense cop from the plains of…I’ll stop) who fired making it 1-0. Peter’s second assist came on little brother John’s empty net goal making it 3-0 Wheat Kings. After being held pointless in the rematch Peter did something he hadn’t done since mid November. In a game against Prince Albert with the Kings leading 3-1 Peter took a cross rink pass from Duke and fired an absolute missile to make it 4-1. To open 2015, it was off to Saskatoon for a game against the Blades. In the second period with the Kings trailing 2-1, Peter scored a goal that looked a lot like the one against Prince Albert except this time from Eric Roy. The Kings ended up winning 5-2. Peter would be held pointless in a win over Calgary.
Seth Ambroz, Mike Reilly-Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big 10)
Season Stats SA: 16GP 1-4-5 +1 12PIM MR: 16GP 4-15-19 +7 25PIM
The Gopher boys returned to the rink finally and got back to work after getting almost all of December off in their annual Marriucci Classic. Mike Reilly and Seth were the only CBJ prospects to play in Friday night’s opener against Merrimack as Ryan Collins was still taking part in the World Junior Championships (but more on that later). Seth helped open the scoring when he ran over the Warriors goalie with AJ Michaelson gathering the puck from the chaos and getting the puck to Michael Brodzinski who fired a shot to make it 1-0 Gophers. In the third period with the Gophers trailing 3-1 it was time for what I call a “Raully” goal. Mike skated the puck into the zone passing to Kyle Rau who found Connor Reilly who fired a blast to make it 3-2. Ultimately, the Gophers would lose by that score setting up the championship game against RIT. In the Championship game Ryan Collins made it back from Team USA to take part in the game. In the 3-2 overtime win, Mike scored his fourth of the season when in the second period with the Gophers on the power play, Mike fired a blast from the point to give the Gophers a 2-1 lead. Mike was named to the all tournament team with his goal and a assist.
Daniel Zaar-Lulea (SHL-Sweden)
Season Stats 34GP 5-12-17 -6 10PIM
Daniel came out of the break with two games without a point before scoring his fifth goal of the season against Djurgarden IF. In the 3-1 win Daniel would provide the insurance scoring an empty net goal. Daniel was held pointless in their next game against HV71.
Joonas Korpisalo-Ilves (Liiga-Finland)
Season Stats 20GP 10-7 2.10GAA .926Sv%
Joonas came out of the break with a 41 save win over Sport in a 3-2 victory. In their next game against TPS Joonas would be solid again just not as solid making 35 saves in a 6-4 victory. Joonas’ streak would end in their next game a 3-1 loss to Lukko in which he made 31 saves. Joonas’ next game was a rough one as he only lasted the first period stopping five of eight but the Lynxes would storm back to win the game 5-3.
now let’s take a look at our boys in the World Juniors:
Dillon Heatherington-Team Canada
Tournament Stats 7GP 0-0-0 +1 2PIM
Dillon helped the Canadians win their 16th World Junior Championship without collecting a point but Dillon is a lot like a offensive lineman when you don’t notice him he’s playing well. Dillon was one of Canada’s top penalty killers – normally being one of the first killer over the boards, Dillon also earned shifts in the final minutes of games. Dillon is the first Swift Current Bronco to win gold at the WJC since current CBJ assistant coach Brad Larsen in 1997, Dillon and Larsen are among 6 Broncos to win gold including former Jacket Tyler Wright
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Team Denmark
Tournament Stats 5GP 4-1-5 -4 PIM
Oliver and the Danes opened the week against the Czechs in a back and forth affair. Oliver scored his second goal of the tournament in the 4-3 overtime loss. In the second with the Danes trailing 2-1 Oliver started the play that he also finished. Oliver sent a pass to Mathias Asperup behind the net who would pass to Jets first round pick Nikolaj Ehlers who’d send a crossrink pass to Oliver who’d have a wide open net to fire at. But the Danes fell in overtime on Bruins 1st rounder David Pastrnak’s goal (nice when your country’s team can have NHL players on it isn’t it?). Up next the Danes took on the Swiss with a chance to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals for the first time ever and, well, the little ones in the WJC would not disappoint. Late in the first with Denmark trailing 2-0 who else does Denmark go to when they need a goal? The Great Dane himself. Ehlers skated in and faked a shot passing it to Oliver who skated past four Swiss players to fire a shot that the goalie would save…and bounce into his own net. The game went back and forth with the Danes tying it late in the second. The game would go to a shootout and Oliver Bjorkstand did his Ryan Johansen impression, this is one of those goals I cant do justice so just enjoy the shootout. In postgame fun here’s video of Denmark’s celebration including video from inside the team’s locker room. It was Denmark’s first ever WJC win in 16 games.
In the quarterfinals Denmark would play Canada and…the game would go as one would expect with the Canadians picking up an 8-0 win. Oliver was named one of Denmark’s top three players(each team gets 3 players selected by the coaches).
Ryan Collins, Sonny Milano-Team USA
Tournament Stats RC: 5GP 0-0-0 +2 4PIM SM: 5GP 2-2-4 +2 2PIM
Sonny and Ryan opened the week with a game against Slovakia, Sonny played on a line with Dylan Larkin and Hudson Fasching while Ryan would continue to dress as the team’s seventh dman. In the 3-0 victory over the Slovaks Sonny opened the scoring with the eventual game winner when he drove in not shooting until the area between the circle and the goalline on a crazy angle (wasn’t even a backhand). The US won 3-0 setting up that game with their old nemesis Canada. In the 5-3 Canadian victory Sonny picked up two assists. In the first with the US trailing 2-0 Jack Eichel passed to Sonny who’d pass it through the Canadian defense (including a certain defenseman from Alberta) to find Anthony DeAngelo to make it 2-1. After a Curtis Lazar goal Sonny and his linemates would strike. Sonny gathered a puck from a missed pass by Dillon Heatherington to Joe Hicketts (sorry Dillon) and sent a behind the back pass to Hudson Fasching who’d pass to Dylan Larkin to make it 3-2.
The loss put USA second and set up a semifinal with Russia for the second straight year and it ended pretty much the same way as the Russians would eliminate the USA for the second straight year, Sonny was held pointless in the loss. Now I haven’t talked about Ryan Collins much because he was the team’s seventh dman and I’m not even really sure how much time he saw most nights but he did catch the eye of analyst Dave Starman saying Ryan was flying under the radar along with a few other defensemen, also stating Ryan impressed Starman when friend of the blog Nate Wells noticed something different about Ryan in his first game back with Minnesota. It should be noted that Ryan is considered an under-ager this year but should return next year hopefully even better. Quickly I asked for a little help from CBSSports own(and fine American patriot) Chris Peters for his thoughts on Sonny and Ryan…
On Sonny Milano
“I thought Milano was one of Team USA’s better forwards
in the tournament. Even if that’s probably not saying much, I think he
really came to life while playing with Dylan Larkin and Hudson
Fasching. The U.S. needed him on a line away from Eichel and Tuch to
try and balance out the scoring and I think he held up his end of the
deal. He wasn’t perfect, by any means. There were some moments of
invisibility, but he was still engaged out there. Even when he was
struggling, he was a threat. I think his speed and power game are
still developing, but the hands are obviously there. I didn’t expect
him to dominate at this tournament. It’s hard for 18-year-olds to do
that. I thought he gave a good-enough performance relative to what was
required of him. Next year, he could be a force in this thing if he is
available.”
Ryan Collins
“Collins had a bit of an interesting tournament. He’s
obviously a big kid that moves well enough, but there’s still a lot of
refining left for him to do. I think he needs to be better physically
just because of his frame, but mobility was adequate. If he can get
his feet a little quicker and make decisions more quickly, he’ll have
a really good chance of playing a big role next year. There were a few
games where he outplayed Brandon Carlo, who was his main competition
for ice time, but I don’t know that either of those guys would have
been there had Steven Santini been healthy. This was a big tournament
for him and I think there were times where it consumed him. That’s
nothing to really be upset about though. A year of development could
make a big difference in how he handles the pace of the tournament and
how he handles his responsibilities. He’s an interesting prospect that
still has a lot of development ahead of him before he reaches his
ceiling. Assuming he progresses, I think he’ll make the team next
year.”
There you have it folks – a little later than usual but it was for a good cause. As for next week we should be back to our normal groove along with new team debuts and the AHL is expected to announce its All Star Game rosters. You’d have to think a few Falcons will be of to Utica later this month.
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