Hello, all! I’m back again for the week in review that for the first time with pretty much everyone in action.
Let’s start off in Cleveland, with the Monsters home opener, that had the team wearing their fancy new CLE alternate jerseys. After a scoreless first, the Wild struck when Michael Keranen scored on the power play. Later in the second, TJ Tynan picked a Wild’s (Wild?…nevermind) pocket and chipped a pass to Kerby Rychel whose shot trickled by (former Jacket) Jeremy Smith to tie the game. In the third, the Monsters went on a three-on-two with Andrew Bodnarchuk picking up his own rebound to make it 2-1. Justin Falk scored against his old team with an empty net goal from just over the center line. Just over a minute later a misplay by a Wild Dman at the point, led to an empty net goal that Rychel would get credit for. That three point night Friday earned Rychel a callup to Columbus and this one stuck after his quick morning trip the day before. Anton Forsberg made 31 saves in the win.
Saturday Night, with your friendly neighborhood prospect geek in attendance, the Monsters and Wild put on a goaltending clinic with Leland Irving of the Wild being the busier netminder with 37 saves. Joonas Korpisalo made his season debut for the Monsters and stopped 20 shots – many of which were spectacular – for his first North American shutout. The Monsters fell in a six round shootout with Sonny Milano and Oliver Bjorkstrand as the only ones to score.
As for the Q experience, it is true they put on a good show but you can tell who pays the bills; the Monsters only get a corner in the upstairs of the team store and there really were not many ads regarding the Monsters. Yes I know a) it’s minor league and b) the players haven’t been in Cleveland long but I’m looking forward to the Monsters gaining more and more of a foothold publicly in and around the Arena. As for next week, it’s off to Canada for two games with the newly reborn Manitoba Moose.
Kole Sherwood-London Knights (OHL)
Season Stats 9GP 4-7-11 +7 8PIM
Kole and the Knights opened the week with a Thanksgiving game against Hamilton in which Kole continued his point streak. Just minutes after the Bulldogs scored, Kole took a faceoff win from Christian Dvorak and fired a rocket to tie it at one. Later in the first, Kole helped Robert Thomas score his first OHL goal when Kole and Robert worked a give-and-go in front of the net with Thomas finishing it. Kole was named third star in the 8-6 win.
Up next against Saginaw, Kole added another assist, this time starting the rush by passing to Victor Mete who took a hit allowing Kole to gather the shot before Mete took a whack at the puck. That allowed Aaron Berisha to score his second of the night. Kole ultimately had his 5 game point streak snapped against Sault Ste Marie, but during the streak Kole scored two goals and six assists.
Olivier LeBlanc-Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
Season Stats 10GP 0-8-8 +6 29PIM
Olivier opened the week with some news as he was named to Team QMJHL for the upcoming Canada-Russia Series that he also took part in when it was known as the Subway Super Series. As for the Eagles, Olivier was held pointless in a 7-4 loss to Moncton which snapped a three game assist streak for him. Closing out the week against Acadie-Bathurst, Olivier picked up an assist in a 5-2 victory by earning the helper on Yannick Bertrand’s third period goal.
Paul Bittner-Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Season Stats 8GP 3-2-5 -1 13PIM
Paul and the Hawks opened the week with a 4-0 loss to Prince Albert before bouncing back against Everett. Paul opened the scoring when Ryan Hughes curled around and shot with Brett Clayton collecting the rebound and firing. The rebound off that shot went right to Paul who made it 1-0. Later in the game, with the Hawks leading 4-1, Paul sent the puck into neutral ice with Evan Weinger who drove into the zone, shot, and then picked up his own rebound to make it 5-1.
Sam Ruopp-Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Season Stats 7GP 1-1-2 +5 6PIM
Sam and the Cougars welcomed the defending WHL Champion Kelowna Rockets to town and earned a split in the series. In the first game, Sam scored his first of the season when, out of a scramble behind the net, the puck got to Sam who fired a shot that trickled past the Rockets goalie to make it 3-0 Cougars. Sam was held pointless in a 6-2 loss in their “pink in the rink” night.
Keegan Kolesar-Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Season Stats 7GP 5-7-12 +3 4PIM
This was a good week for Keegan as he collected five points in two TBirds wins. First up against Karmloops, Keegan opened the scoring when after a check he skated into the slot to snap a shot that made it 1-0. That goal came as part of the Hawks going three for three on shots to open the game. Later in the game with the Birds leading 5-0, Mathew Barzal seny the puck deep to Ryan Gropp who found Keegan in the slot for his second of the game in a 7-2 win.
Quickly, in off ice antics, the Birds have four players that’s names start with J so they’ve been posting videos of players trying to guess questions about them so heres Keegan in Jerret, Jarret, Jared & Jamal.
As for the team’s next game against Victoria, it was another big night for Keegan and his linemates. First, to open the scoring, Ethan Bear carried the puck before sending it low to Keegan who then found Mathew Barzal to make it 1-0. In the second, after a faceoff, Keegan started a scramble in front with Ryan Gropp finishing to make it 2-0. Three minutes later Mathew Barzal stole the puck and dropped a pass to Keegan who fired to make it 3-0 in a 4-2 TBirds win. Here’s coach Steve Konowalchuk’s and Keegan’s postgame comments.
Zach Werenski-University of Michigan (Big 10)
Season Stats 2GP 0-2-2 +4 0PIM
Zach and the Wolverines opened the season against the Mercyhurst Lakers with Zach picking up an assist in each game. First on Friday night, in a back and forth affair, Zach picked up an assist late in the second when he got the puck to Cooper Marody who went off to the races and shot to make it 4-4. It first looked like the goalie had it but the puck trickled past him. The Wolverines won the game 6-4. In the rematch, Zach picked up another assist this time on on freshman Kyle Connor’s 3rd of the weekend.
Kevin Stenlund-HV71 (J20 SuperElit Sodra)
Season Stats 5GP 2-7-9 +5 27PIM
Another scoreless week in the SHL for the young Stenlund, but he did garner seven plus minutes of ice time in both games (this is an improvement). In his one game with the J20 team, Stenlund picked up a goal and an assist in a 6-5 overtime loss to Rogle BK.
Gabriel Carlsson-Linkoping HC (J20 SuperElit Sodra)
Season Stats 6GP 2-3-5 +3 6PIM
Much like Kevin, Gabriel went scoreless in two games last week playing 11:15 and 11:16 in a pair of Lions wins. In a 7-2 win over Orebro, Gabriel scored the first of two goals with the J20 team which led to this photo from teammate Petter Hansson.
Veeti Vainio-KeuPa HT (Mestis-loaned by Blues)
Season Stats 4 0-3-3 +2 14PIM
Veeti Vainio is finally playing hockey and appears to be back to his scoring ways. Starting off last week against Roki, Veeti had two assists in a 5-2 victory. Veeti was then held pointless in a 2-1 loss to Jukurit.
Markus Nutivaara-Oulu Karpat (Liiga)
Season Stats 15GP 2-2-4 -2 8PIM
It’s been a busy four game week for Markus and the Stoats. Maarkus opened up the week by picking up an assist on Ivan Huml’s goal in a 4-2 victory over the Blues when he played a season low 13:35. Next up in a game against the Pelicans (no, seriously,) Markus scored his first goal since opening night when 2016 top draft prospect Jesse Puljujarvi came from around the net, gathered a loose puck and found Markus who blasted a shot to make it 2-1 in a 4-3 Karpat win. Markus was then held pointless in the team’s next two games, but against HPK, he did lead the team in ice time playing 23:23 in the 2-1 loss.
Elvis Merzlikins-HC Lugano (National League A)
Season Stats 11GP 5-2-2-1 .934Sv% 2.26GAA 1SO
Elvis opened the week by falling prey to 2016 NHL Draft wunderkind Auston Matthews twice before being pulled after stopping 20 of 24 in the second game. After a night off, and, well, that game didn’t go much better for backup Daniel Manzato, Elvis returned to the Panther’s crease and had his best night of the year so far. Against Lausanne HC, Merzlikins stopped all 34 shots he faced for his first shutout of the season.
There you have it folks! We’ll be back next week as always with updates including Peter Quenneville welcoming the CBJ’s propsectless ECHL affiliate when the Kalamazoo Wings travel to Cincinnati to take on the Cyclones.
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