Time for another week in the world of Blue Jackets prospects! It was a light week with the International break happening along with college hockey taking its Christmas break (Minnesota is done until next year) so let’s begin where we always do – Springfield – where the baby birds are still playing.
Starting off on Wednesday, The Falcons pulled off a pair of things they hadn’t done in a long time. First the team lost for the first time in 11 games and they were also shutout for the first time since October 24th. In the 2-0 loss, Anton Forsberg stopped 23 of 24 with ex-Jacket Mike Blunden adding an empty net goal.
After that, it was time for the longest bus trip of the season according to play by play guy Andy Zilch when the team headed to Norfolk, Virginia. On Friday night, with Ilya Bryzgalov in net for the Admirals, Marko Dano opened the scoring when he picked up a rebound off an Austin Madaisky point shot. Bryz got a piece of it with his stick but the puck ended up in the net. In the second with the game tied at one, Dano struck again scoring just seconds into a power play. The goal came off a scramble with Dano gathering the loose puck to make it 2-1. Sean Collins scored an empty net goal for his 10th of the year. Forsberg had 26 saves including one on a late game penalty shot.
In the rematch, this time with Scott Munroe taking over the Falcon’s crease, Trent Vogelhuber opened the scoring with his first two goal game since March of 2013. Josh Anderson’s breakaway set up Trent’s second shorthanded goal before the Admirals would score four straight. With only seven seconds remaining, Anderson scored his first pro goal when he picked up the rebound of…it’s hard to tell looks like Josh picked up his own rebound…but Corey Cowick also got an assist. Of note, it was Alexander Wennberg‘s faceoff win set the play in motion.
Down in Kalamazoo, the Wings went 2-1 this week and guess who was in net for the loss…I don’t mean that the way its sounds, but in the two wins the Wings scored six goals including a 2-0 victory. But when Oscar Dansk was in net on Saturday the Wings decided to be silly and score two for the first time with Oscar in net (I know I’m overthinking this but…I got nothing really). In the 5-2 loss to Toledo, Oscar stopped 23 of 28.
Blake Siebenaler-Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Season Stats 31GP 4-9-13 -5 15PIM
Blake and the Dogs opened the week against Peterborough and Blake snapped a 10 game pointless streak. With the Dogs trailing 4-2 after allowing four goals in just over four minutes, Blake fired a point shot that bounced off the back wall. Graham Knott pickied up the rebound to make it 4-3. Blake picked up another assist on Josh Ho-Sang’s goal to make it 6-4 in a 7-4 victory. Up next in a game against the top team in the CHL, Blake did most of the work on Christopher Paquette’s goal when he skated down the wing through pretty much the entire Generals lineup to find Paquette in the slot to tie the game at two in a 5-3 Dogs win. Blake was held pointless in a blowout loss to Nick Moutrey and Saginaw.
Sonny Milano-Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Season Stats 20GP 8-23-31 -8 6PIM
Despite rumors of the teams pending move next season, the Whalers continue on. Starting off the week against Sault Ste Marie, Sonny was held pointless in a 5-1 loss. Up next against London Sonny picked up his fifth three-point game of the season. Starting off trailing 1-0, Sonny worked a pretty passing sequence with Victor Crus-Rydberg before skating in and passing to Matthew Campagna to tie it. Later, with 1:43 remaining, it was all Sonny when he took a pass from Matt Mistele, skated in and put the puck past the Knights keeper. Later in the game, trailing 5-3, Sonny took a pass from a keep in at the blueline that became a two on one with Mistele finishing it. To close out the week it was the defending OHL Champ Guelph Storm coming to town. Sonny scored his eighth of the season to open the game in the second period of a 3-2 overtime loss. Next week it’s off to Boston (may get awkward) as that is where Team USA’s World Junior Selection Camp will take place.
Nick Moutrey-Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Season Stats 29GP 13-20-33 +4 38PIM
A light week for Nick and the Spirit as they only played two games this week against Erie. Nick picked up an assist in the 6-4 loss. Up next was a game against Blake Siebenaler and Niagara. In the first, Nick shoved Vince Dunn and got the puck before passing to Mitchell Stephens. Stephens then skated in for his first of the night. Nick also assisted on Stephens’ hat trick goal in the third just 14 seconds before adding his own goal. Nick took a crossrink pass from Dylan Sadowy and fired a rocket from just above the circle to make it 5-1. Nick was named third star in the 7-1 victory.
Olivier LeBlanc-Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Season Stats 31GP 3-16-19 +18 51PIM
The Sea Dogs embarked on a three game Quebec road trip with Olivier going pointless in the first two before picking up an assist in a 4-2 loss to Val-d’Or. The assist came on Thomas Chabot’s power play goal.
Peter Quenneville-Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Season Stats 34GP 7-24-31 +2 8PIM
Peter and the Kings had three games this week. In a shootout loss to Moose Jaw and a win over Swift Current, Peter was held without a point before collecting an assist in a 4-0 win over Red Deer. Peter picked up an assist on little brother John’s first period goal.
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Season Stats 28GP 21-19-40 +15 23PIM
Oliver Bjorkstrand is in Kindersley Saskatchewan with Team Denmark playing in the World Junior A Challenge. Oliver has been given a leadership role – he’s wearing an A for the Danes. The Danes defeated the SVHL’s Rosetown Red Wings 6-0 in an exhibition but unfortunately, I can’t find stats for the game. In their tournament opening game against Canada West (Canada sends two teams) Oliver picked up an assist on Nikolaj Ehlers first goal. The game ended as a 3-2 victory for the Danes. Hockey media said this duo of Bjorkstrand and Ehlers could be very dangerous together actually saying the Danes could stay up with this team.
Per THN’s Ryan Kennedy “Fair warning for WJC teams as I watch Denmark at World Jr A Challenge: Ehlers (WPG) and Bjorkstrand (CBJ) are scary good together”
Daniel Zaar-Lulea (SHL-Sweden)
Season Stats 30GP 4-12-16 -5 10PIM
Last week Lulea finished its Champions Hockey League quarterfinal against Finland’s Lukko Rauma. The 2-1 win gave the Bears a sweep and a win by aggregate. Up next in the CHL is two games against SHL rival Skelleftea AIK.
After that Daniel and the Bears closed out the first half with two games last week going 1-1. In the 3-2 overtime win over Leksands, Daniel was held pointless. Up next was the Chainsaws (HV71 – google it). In the 5-4 loss Daniel opened the scoring with his first goal since late September. He scored when he took a crossrink pass and fired his usual rocket into an almost wide open net. The SHL is now done until the day after Christmas. In the first half, Daniel leads the Bears in assists and shots on goal and is tied for the team lead in power play goals.
Quickly, let’s talk International Hockey. First up in the World Juniors Division 1 Group A, Markus Soberg and Norway opened the tournament against the host nation Italy with the Polar Bears picking up a 3-0 victory. Markus picked up an assist on the team’s first goal. Meanwhile in Toronto, Dillon Heatherington is taking part in Canada’s Selection Camp – he missed the team’s first practice due to travel problems. The team played two games against a group of CIS All Stars (Canadian Interuniversity Sports). In a 10-3 Canada win Dillon added two points – his goal made the score 8-3 and he also added an assist on Madison Bowey’s goal. Dillon was paired with Red Wings undrafted free agent signing Joe Hicketts. In Sunday’s rematch, Dillon paired with Ducks first round pick Shea Theodore. He was held pointless in the 6-0 Canada win. Dillon survived the camp’s first round of cuts on Sunday. The team cut five players, two of which were defensemen, including would be returner Chris Bigras.
There you have it folks another week in the world of CBJ prospects. Next week will be a light week again with the WHL’s last games before the break being the 17th.
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