The Blue Jackets had three prospects play in the OHL and WHL’s Western Conference Finals – two moved on while the other’s season came to an end.
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otters (Lost OHL Western Conference Final to Guelph 4-1)
Conference Finals Stats 2GP 0-1 6.93GAA .795Sv%
Final Playoff Stats 3GP 0-1 6.79GAA .797Sv%
Regular Season Stats 42GP 29-9-1 2.39GAA .909Sv% 6SO
Oscar and the Otters faced off against the Guelph Storm in the OHL Western Conference Final that ended with the Storm picking up a 4-1 series win. Oscar played all of game two because, despite nine days off and playing in only one game, Erie coach Kris Knoblauch thought Devin Williams needed “rest”. In the 7-2 loss, Oscar stopped 23 of 30 shots in the loss. Erie beat writer Victor Fernandes opined that the Otters’ D abandoned him that night. In game three, Williams returned to the crease and made it into the third period but after allowing five goals on 27 shots, Oscar entered the game and…allowed a goal on the first shot he faced, (but it was to Kerby Rychel!) In the 7-1 loss Oscar stopped 12 of 14 in the third period – Fernandes again pointed out it wasn’t all the Otters’ goalies fault. The Otters would win game four but lost game five and thus the series.
I asked Victor for his thoughts on Oscar during the season and playoffs along with if his play at the World Juniors had any bearing on his struggles.
“Oscar’s season unfolded in similar fashion to last season. He started strong, left Erie to play for Sweden in the World Juniors and then wasn’t the same goaltender in the second half of the year. Last year, it was because his rhythm was thrown off by not seeing any game action at World Juniors. This season, he may have been mentally and physically tired after playing so well at World Juniors. He played reasonably well after coming back, but he really struggled down the stretch and again in the playoffs. He was pulled four times in his last 11 appearances, and could have been pulled in Game 3 against Guelph after allowing 7 goals.
I don’t buy into the theory that was affected by the loss to Finland in the gold-medal game. He was the best goaltender in that tournament, and played a great game against Finland. Actually, even with the loss I thought he would come back to Erie better for it.
The most noticeable change in his game in the second half, especially late in the year, was his lack of aggressiveness. He played really deep in his net as his struggles started after appearing aggressive and confident in the first half.
Guelph figured that out in the conference finals. Nearly every goal against Oscar was scored to the top half of the net, especially over his glove.
Obviously, the defense can impact how a goaltender plays. But in this case, I think the team in front of him lacked confidence when he was in net. They were a different team – a more confident team – with Devin Williams in net, because Devin played consistently well all year.”
Now being the stat geek I am I looked at Oscar’s number pre-WJC and post-WJC
Pre-WJC 21GP 16-3-1 2.17GAA .919Sv% 4SO
Post-WJC(no playoffs) 21GP 13-6-0 2.64GAA .897Sv% 2So
Post-WJC(inc playoffs) 24GP 13-7-0 3.04GAA .883Sv% 2SO
In good news for Oscar, Victor reported that he heard that Oscar was heading for Columbus to work with the Blue Jackets staff (even though this was reported the day before game six so I’m not sure if he still did this). Victor also reported that Oscar could sign with the CBJ in the very near future.
Kerby Rychel-Guelph Storm (Won OHL Western Conference Final 4-1)
Series Stats 5GP 6-4-10 +5 4PIM
Playoff Stats 15GP 8-15-23 +12 12PIM (Tied for OHL points lead)
Kerby and the Storm faced off against the Erie Otters in the OHL Western Conference Final. The Storm won the series 4-1 with Kerby continuing to lead the charge. Starting off in game one, Kerby struck late in the second when with the Storm trailing 3-2, Robby Fabbri started a three on two with Kerby and Zack Mitchell. Fabbri sent a cross rink pass to Mitchell who backhanded a pass to a driving Kerby who slammed the puck past Devin Williams. The Storm won game one 5-4.
In game two Kerby would have his best game of the series. Midway through the first Kerby won a board battle and got the puck to Nick Ebert who passed it to Scott Kosmachuk who fired a shot to make it 1-0. Almost three minutes later Kerby struck when he took a pass from Kosmachuk, skated in and fired a laser past Williams. Midway in the second period, Kerby again got on the scoresheet when, with the Storm leading 3-1, Kerby started the action by getting the puck high to the pointman who passed to Michell. He found Rychel in front who snapped another shot past Willams. The Storm won game two by a score of 7-2.
In game three the Storm brought home another victory with Kerby again picking up multiple points. In the third period with the Storm leading 5-1, Kerby scored after picking up the rebound of a Nick Ebert point shot. 10 minutes later Kerby picked up an assist on Robby Fabbri’s hat trick goal to make it 7-1 Storm. In game four the tables turned with the Otters winning by a score of 5-2. Kerby picked up a point on each of the Storm’s goals. 1:15 into the first Kerby started the rush with Zack Mitchell and gathered the dump in to find Mitchell in front. Later in the first with the Otters leading 3-1, Robby Fabbri skated in and attempted a wrap around with the puck going to Kerby who tapped it past Williams to make it 3-2.
In game five Kerby opened the scoring by taking a cross crease pass from Nick Ebert and then read War and Peace and did his taxes before finally shooting to make it 1-0. Early in the second, Kerby chipped the puck out of the zone and sent Zack Mitchell on a breakaway to make it 4-0. The Storm won the game 5-0. The Storm also won the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference Champions and, because it’s what you do nowadays, here’s the Storm’s locker room “selfie“. Kerby was named OHL Player of the Week because of his performances in games three, four and five.
Up next for Kerby and the Storm is the OHL finals where they will face off against the North Bay Battalion for a spot in the Memorial Cup. Kerby has only played against the Troops once and he scored his 29th goal of the season in the March matchup.
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks (Won WHL Western Conference Final 4-10)
Series Stats 5GP 6-3-9 +3 0PIM
Playoff stats 14GP 15-13-28 +13 2PIM
Oliver and the Hawks took on the Kelowna Rockets in a matchup of the Western Conference’s top two teams and, well, the series probably was over quicker than most expected. Starting off in game one, Oliver opened the scoring 33 seconds into the game when, off a rush, he backhanded the rebound of a Chase De Leo shot to make it 1-0. A little over five minutes later, Oliver struck again when, after a pretty passing sequence he received a pass in the slot and shot to make it 2-0. After taking a 3-0 lead, the Hawks ended up losing game one 5-4. Up next in game two Oliver was part of a second period that produced four goals for the Winterhawks. When the team trailing 3-2, a Rockets defender decided to try and play volleyball when he spiked the puck and it went to Derrick Pouliot who backhanded it to Chase De Leo who got the puck to Oliver. He scored to make it 3-3 and the team would go on to win 5-3.
After game two, the series shifted to Portland, Oliver starred again when he scored two goals in a 4-3 overtime win. In the second Oliver potted a goal when he picked up the rebound of a Taylor Leier shot. Late in the third, with the Hawks trailing 3-1, Oliver banged home a loose puck with only three minutes left to make it 3-2. In game four, after the Rockets made it 1-0, it was all Winterhawks in a 5-1 win. In the second, with Portland shorthanded, Oliver gathered the puck, chipped it around a Rockets defender and was off to the races scoring his 15th goal of the postseason. That goal made it 3-1 in a 5-1 win. After scoring six goals in games one through four Oliver decided “hey maybe I’ll pass the puck this time” and collected three assists in a 7-3 win. With Portland leading 1-0, Oliver stickhandled to Petan at the point. He sent a crossrink pass to Brendan Leipsec down low who finished off the one timer. In the third, Oliver drove to the net, gathered the rebound and found a streaking Matt Dumba to make it 4-2. Later in the third, Oliver again gathered the puck behind the net and passed to Taylor Leier who passed to Chase De Leo to make it 6-1 in a 7-3 series clinching win.
The win clinched the Hawks’ fourth straight Western Conference title making them only the fourth team ever to do this joining the Flin Flon Bombers (1968-71), the original Edmonton Oil Kings (1969-72), and the New Westminster Bruins (1975-78). Their next opponent will be a familiar one as they will face the Edmonton Oil Kings for the third straight season. Oliver was held scoreless in the team’s meeting earlier this season.
Quickly – Alexander Wennberg was with the Blue Jackets for game four, five and six and also gave an interview to Fox Sports Ohio. While he didn’t win the SHL Rookie of the Year award he did win the EliteProspects award for best junior player in the SHL. Where the SHL award is voted by team captains this one is voted on by media after a fan vote narrows the candidates down to a list of five. One other prospect related note – TJ Tynan was voted the fifth best Notre Dame player by Sportsbeat 1960, the radio station that has covered all Notre Dame games since the station came on air in 1994.
There you have it folks – I’ll be back when the League finals are over and hopefully I’ll be talking about two more CBJ prospects participating in the Memorial Cup along with Josh Anderson and the host London Knights.
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