Greetings all and happy holidays! Starting off in Springfield as we usual we do those Falcons just keep rolling along. Beginning last Wednesday in Lehigh Valley, it was an all-AHL contract goal scoring party with Mike Hoeffel, Trent Vogelhuber, and Jamie Sifers scoring for the Falcons before Steven Delisle would put an end to Anton Forsberg’s shutout (no seriously). In the 3-2 victory Anton stopped 23 of 25.
Friday night it was off to Worchester for a game with the Sharks. Mathieu Gagnon opened the scoring before the Sharks scored two (with Anton Forsberg doing his Marc-Andre Fleury impression on the second). Marko Dano tied the game 37 seconds after the Sharks second goal when he gathered a loose puck and snapped a shot over the Sharks’ goalie’s shoulder to make it 2-2. Nathan Oystrick scored the game winner when TJ Tynan started a rush and then sent a pass to Oystrick for his first with the Falcons. Anton Forsberg stopped 33 of 35 in the Birds eighth straight win.
To close out the week, the baby birds welcomed Alexander Wennberg who was sent down from the Jackets. Another new face, the newly signed (by the Falcons) Corey Cowick opened the scoring before two thirds of the Jackets 2013 1st round (Wennberg and Dano) would get together to set up Dominic Monardo for his sixth of the season. Later in the period, Sean Collins scored his team leading ninth goal of the year. A minute later Monardo struck again to make it 4-0. Colin Miller spoiled Anton Forsberg’s shutout late in the second but the goaltender made 21 saves in the franchise record tying win. Here are postgame comments from Coach Jared Bednar, and Alexander Wennberg after the game.
In Kalamazoo…wait what, the ECHL the heck? That’s right folks last week the Wings received their first Blue Jackets prospect when Oscar Dansk was assigned before Friday’s game against Fort Wayne. In the 4-1 loss, Oscar stopped 43 of 46 shots – the most shots he’s faced since the 2012-13 season in Erie. Despite the loss, Oscar got high praise from Wings coach Nick Bootland. After a night off, Oscar went back in the crease against Orlando and well, the Wings would again only score one in a 3-1 loss in which Oscar stopped 35 of 37.
Sonny Milano-Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Season Stats 15GP 5-19-24 -8 6PIM
Sonny and the Whalers finished out the month with three games this week including two against the Windsor Spitfires and Markus Soberg. First up on Wednesday, Sonny scored his first game winner in a 4-3 victory. He also added two assists and was named first star in his fourth three point night of the season. In the rematch on Friday, Sonny earned multiple points again. In the second with the Whalers trailing 3-1, Sonny skated through the middle of the ice and passed to Matt Mistele who waited before firing to make it 3-2. Four minutes later Sonny gathered a loose puck from a board battle and stickhandled a bit before snapping off a shot to tie the game. Sadly the Whalers fell 4-3. Sonny was named second star in the loss. Closing out the week against Sarnia, Sonny picked up his 19th assist of the season on Will Bitten’s sixth of the year.
Nick Moutrey-Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Season Stats 25GP 12-17-29 +2 25PIM
Nick and the Spirit opened the week by suffering a 3-1 loss to Sarnia. Nick picked up an assist on Tye Felhaber’s fourth goal of the season. Nick was then held pointless in a 4-3 shootout win over Sault Ste Marie. In their next game Nick’s line/defense would do all of the Spirit’s damage. In a 5-3 loss to Windsor Nick scored his 12th goal and 17th assist; last year it took until January 31st for Nick to pick up his 29th point.
Markus Soberg-Windsor Spitfires
Season Stats 25GP 3-7-10 -4 10PIM
Starting off the week with a game against Sonny Milano and the Whalers, Markus scored his third of the season to make it a 3-2 Whalers (oddly enough Sonny would score six minutes later). In the rematch on Friday night, Markus picked up his 10th point of the season. Late in the first with the game tied at one, Markus skated in and sent a centering pass to Aaron Luchuk for his third of the season. The Spitfires would ultimately fall by a score of 5-4, Markus was held pointless in a 5-3 loss to Saginaw.
Olivier LeBlanc-Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Season Stats 25GP 3-13-16 +18 49PIM
Olivier picked up his first points since November 7th with two assists in a wild loss to Charlottetown in which the Islanders scored four third period goals. In the loss, Olivier got into his third fight of the season taking on Spenser Cobbold in the first period. Olivier was held pointless in the Dogs other games last week.
Peter Quenneville-Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Season Stats 28GP 5-20-25 +2 6PIM
Peter was prevented from earning any points for the Kings’ first two games last week before picking up his 20th assist in a win over Prince Albert. In the 6-3 victory, with the Kings leading 4-1, Peter found Reid Duke in the slot. Duke took advantage and, with some deking, made it 5-1.
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Season Stats 24GP 18-16-34 +11 16PIM
Another big week for The Great Dane starting off first against Victoria. In that game, Oliver opened the scoring after taking a crossrink pass from Nic Petan (who stickhandled for like 10 seconds before passing to Oliver). In the second with the game tied, Petan took a long pass from Layne Viveiros who kicked the puck to Oliver. Bjorkstrand then skated in and snapped a shot to make it 3-2. Oliver was named first star in the 4-2 win.
Up next was the Hawk’s annual Daylight Classic against Kootenay (they open up the blinds of the VMC for an afternoon game). In the first, Chase De Leo skated in and passed to Oliver who roofed a backhand to make it 1-0. In the second period, Oliver and his linemates skated in on a three on two allowing Nic Petan to send a pass to Oliver before the Ice’s goalie could slide over to make it 3-1 Winterhawks. Oliver was named second star in a 5-2 win. To close out the week is was off to Kennewick, Washington for a game with the Americans. Oliver picked up an assist on the Hawk’s first goal when he passed to Nic Petan who found Paul Bittner for his ninth of the season. In the second period, Oliver took a beautiful pass from Nic Petan to make it 2-0 in a 3-2 win. Oliver was named first star in the win.
Dillon Heatherington-Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Season Stats 27GO 1-10-11 -12 24PIM
Dillon opened the week by going pointless in a 4-1 loss to Edmonton before picking up a point against Calgary. Dillon’s point came when the Broncos were trailing 2-1. He fired a shot that the Hitmen’s goalie stopped. Coda Gordon then was able to pick up the rebound for his 14th of the season in the 6-4 loss. Dillon was again held pointless in a 6-2 loss to Red Deer. But, did get into a fight during a brawl filled third period taking on Kayle Doetzel (178 penalty minutes total in the game).
Ryan Collins, Mike Reilly-Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten)
Season Stats RC: 10GP 0-4-4 +3 0PIM
MR: 12GP 2-10-12 +6 23PIM
The Gophers were off to Boston last week for games against Boston College and Northeastern. In the Gophers 6-2 win over the Eagles, Ryan Collins picked up his first career multi-point game. He earned assists on both Sam Warning’s first period goal and Connor Reilly’s third period goal. Mike Reilly also picked up an assist in the win, his 10th of the season. The next game against Northeastern wouldn’t go as well. The Gophers fell by a score of 3-2 and Mike was thrown out only 2:39 into the game due to a checking from behind penalty that earned him 15 penalty minutes.
Daniel Zaar-Lulea Hockey (SHL-Sweden)
Season Stats 26GP 3-12-15 -4 10PIM
Daniel and the Bears have been struggling lately – they’ve lost six straight including three last week. Starting off against Orebro Hockey, Daniel and all his teammates were held scoreless in a 3-0 loss. Up next against Skelleftea AIK, with the Bear trailing 2-1, Daniel fired a shot that was stopped but Johan Forsberg picked up the rebound to make it 2-1 in a 4-2 loss. Up next in Donald Brashear’s debut with MODO (no seriously), in the 4-1 loss Daniel picked up an assist on the Bear’s only goal (you don’t really see it in the highlights).
Joonas Korpisalo-Ilves (Liiga-Finland)
Season Stats 12GP 7-4 1.73GAA .934Sv%
Opening the week against KalPa (partially owned by Scott Hartnell btw) Joonas stopped 19 of 21 shots in a 3-1 loss. After a night off against Assat, Joonas went back in the crease and made 29 saves in a 3-2 victory against the Blues.
Elvis Merzlikins-HC Lugano (National League A-Switzerland)
Season Stats 14GP 10-2-1-1 .914Sv% 2.58GAA
Elvis had the lightest week of all the prospects – the Panthers played only two games this week and Elvis only played in one. Elvis served as the backup in a 2-1 win over the Kloten Flyers before starting against SC Bern. In the 2-1 shootout loss, Elvis stopped 26 of 27 in the game but only stopped two of the four he faced in the shootout.
There you have it folks – another week in the world of Blue Jackets prospects. As for next week, stay tuned as Oscar Dansk and the Wings will be close by when they play in Cincinnati on Saturday.
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