Since this is the first week with a full slate of prospects playing, let’s get going.
Starting off in Springfield, the Falcons opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 2005-06 with Curtis McElhinney winning both games including a Sunday shutout against Adirondack. On Saturday night, the Falcons opened against the St John’s IceCaps winning 4-2. Leading the way was Tomas Kubalik and Matt Calvert, each having a goal and an assist; and, Tim Erixon having two assists both appearing to be on shots from the point. Picking up their first pro points were Michael Chaput and Dalton Smith with Chaput assisting on Smith’s goal. On Sunday, it was all birds as Springfield won 4-0, with McElhinney making 31 saves facing off against former OSU goalie Cal Heeter. Cal was making his pro debut for Adirondack. Scoring for the Falcons were Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and Ryan Craig, each with a goal and an assist and Cam Atkinson and Cody Bass with two assists. Ryan Johansen would score the game winner and Dalton Prout would add a early second period goal just 30 seconds in. Jonthan Audy-Marchessault is currently tied for third in AHL scoring (with a goal and two assists) with Ryan Craig, who is only signed on a AHL deal. McElhinney is top three in GAA and save percentage after this weekend.
Quickly, in Evansville, the IceMen lost their ECHL debut 6-2 to rival Fort Wayne, with Jackets prospects Anton Blomqvist and Oliver Gabriel going scoreless.
Onto the prospects that didn’t score last week, in the OHL, Josh Anderson and the Knights split last week, with the loss coming to Boone Jenner and the Generals. Gianluca Curcuruto and the Whalers went 0-2-1 with Gianluca being a -1 with two penalty minutes. Last week was also the Whalers “Pink in the Rink Night” with the whole team dying their hair pink. Here’s Gianluca’s pic from his twitter. Anyone else think of this looking at the picture? Sorry Gianluca. Ryan Murray and the Silvertips split last week winning in overtime, then losing with Ryan having a even rating. Thomas Larkin played three games last week winning 10-2 against Niagara on Tuesday, then getting swept by Miami on the weekend. Kevin Lynch played in two of Michigan’s three games last week being scratched in a exhibition against Windsor because, according to Michael Spath, Kevin is a senior and there were freshman still fighting for jobs. In the series against RIT on Thursday and Friday, Kevin was scoreless and came away even with four penalty minutes. Folks, I’m worried about Martin Ouelette. Maine played in the Icebreaker tournament with Dan Sullivan starting on Friday and losing 1-0 to Notre Dame. The next night Maine let highly touted freshman Matt Morris start and he came away with the win against Army.
Oscar Dansk-Erie Otter (OHL)
Season Stats GP 2-5-0-1 4.40GAA .884Sv%
Another week another rough week for Oscar and the Otters. Oscar a would go 0-2 last week with a 0-2 record 5.04 GAA and a .871 save percentage. Starting off the week against the second place Guelph Storm, Oscar made 33 saves allowing six goals. The next game was against the Mississauga Steelheads. Oscar again faced 39 shots this time making 35 saves in a 4-3 loss. This week you’ll be able to watch Oscar play against fellow Jackets prospect Josh Anderson and the London Knights as their game will be live on NHL Network.
Boone Jenner-Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Season Stats 10GP 9-8-17 +13 12PIM
Boone and the Generals started the week off with a Thanksgiving matinee against the Belleville Bulls. The Bulls would score in the second but Boone would tie it up 20 seconds into the third period when he let loose a blast from the Home Depot logo (wait not every rink has those) just above the circles. In the 4-3 overtime win Belleville goalie and Bruins first rounder Malcolm Subban had a rough night allowing multiple goals from more than 30 feet out. Boone has his season opening seven game point streak snapped when he went pointless in the next two both Generals losses with Boone also missing in a shootout. Boone would get back on the scoresheet in a 5-3 win Boone would score his ninth goal of the season giving him back the OHL scoring lead by a point over Vincent Trocheck and Nick Cousins.
Lukas Sedlak-Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Season Stats 11GP 4-4-8 +3 12PIM winning 65% of his faceoffs
Lukas had points in each of the Sags games last week as the team went 2-1 with Lukas having a goal and two assists. First, in a loss to Rimouski, Lukas had an assist but the amazing thing was that he went 16 of 19 in the faceoff dot. Lukas currently leads the Q in faceoff wins winning 189 of the 292 faceoffs hes taken. In the next game against Shawinigan, Lukas would score his fourth of the season in a 6-1 rout, but he only won nine of 22 draws. To close out the week, Lukas would add a assist in another rout – this time by a 7-3 score over Gatineau winning 19 of 27 faceoffs. On the weekend Lukas won 65 percent of his draws.
Seth Ambroz and Mike Reilly-Minnesota (WCHA)
Season Stats Ambroz:2GP 0-2-2 +1 2PIM Reilly:2GP 0-2-2 +5 2PIM
The Gopher boys got off to a strong start not only sweeping Michigan State, but absolutely demolishing them by out scoring them 12-2. Friday, the Gophers won 5-1 with both prospects picking up assists. Mike Reilly’s career got off to a unexpected start by taking the first penalty of the season but he would make up for it as he got the puck coming out of the box and created a beautiful two-on-one with Panthers draft pick Nick Bjugstad for his first career point, Mike’s second assist would come on Erik Haula’s first of the season. Mike was named second star in the win. Not wanting to feel left out, Seth Ambroz had a assist, and almost a goal, when he let loose a blast on a screened shot hitting the crossbar. Ambroz’s assist would come on a five on three power play where he screened the Spartans’ goalie, and got two whacks at the puck before Travis Boyd knocked it home. The next night would be another Gophers win this time by a 7-1 score with only Seth Ambroz picking up a assist on Nate Condon’s goal to make it 6-0 Gophers.
Drew Olson-Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
Season Stats 2GP 0-1-1 E 2PIM
Drew Olson and the Bulldogs hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes and earned a split. Drew Olson would go scoreless in Friday’s 6-2 victory. The next night in a 3-2 Bulldogs loss Drew would pick up a assist on Joe Basaraba’s second of the season. Here’s the Bulldogs websites take on Drew’s assist:
“With the Bulldogs trailing 2-0 and the power play struggling to generate any significant scoring chances, a hustle play by senior captain Drew Olson nearly changed the course of the contest. Olson picked up a loose puck at center, flew into the zone and eventually made a perfect pass to Joe Basaraba at the top of the circle. Basaraba snuck a wicked wrist shot under the crossbar to cut the Ohio State lead in half.”
Next week the Bulldogs travel to South Bend to face Notre Dame and fellow Jacket’s prospect TJ Tynan.
TJ Tynan-Notre Dame (CCHA)
Season Stats 2GP 1-1-2 +2 0PIM
TJ Tynan and the Irish also took part in the Icebreaker facing off against Maine on the opening night earning a 1-0 win over the Black Bears with Tynan scoring the only goal. WARNING: highlights may contain Pierre McGuire. In the third period, in a scrum in front, TJ scored on his second whack at the puck as it trickled through Dan Sullivan’s legs. In the championship game against Nebraska-Omaha, TJ Tynan would pick up an assist that could’ve been a goal. TJ intercepted a pass attempt and did a toe drag that Anthony Stolarz would get a piece of leaving Thomas DiPauli to bang it home for his first career goal. The Irish would win the Icebreaker tournament with Tynan being named to the all tournament team and named tournament MVP.
Daniel Zaar-Rogle BK (Sweden)
Season Stats J20 8GP 4-3-7 +2 0PIM SEL Stats 3GP 2-0-2 +3 0PIM
Daniel made his Elitserien debut last week against Brynas IF going scoreless but coming away with a +2 in the 4-3 loss. In his next game, Daniel showed the sniper he is, taking six shots despite his goal appearing to be on a deflection in front. During the game my feed exploded with praise for Zaar from both Jonas Lindeblad (he’s biased though since he’s my Rogle Source. Just kidding Jonas) and Uffe Bodin who is the editor and chief for hockeysverige.se claiming Zaar was Rogle’s best player. That level of performance would continue in the team’s next game. Despite it being another loss, Daniel would star again – scoring his second goal in as many games.
Anton Forsberg-Sodertalje SK (Sweden)
Season Stats 7GP 3-0-4 2.28GAA .927Sv%
SSK would go 2-0 in the team’s win over Tingsryds AIF. Anton would be given the night off. Anton got the start against Malmo and would be almost perfect stopping 29 of 30 in the 5-1 win. Anton can thank the NHL lockout a little because in the win, locked out NHLers had a goal and four assists in the win.
Joonas Korpisalo-Kiekko-Vantaa (Finland)
Season Stats 7GP 2-4 3.02GAA .902Sv%
Joonas Korpisalo was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde week last week. Joonas only played for the Fish last week instead of jumping among Jokerit, Kiekko-Vantaa or the J20 team. In a 2-1 overtime loss against Jukurit(which according to two of my translation apps means the Cincinnati Reds) Korpisalo would make 45 saves and according to the team’s twitter account, was the man of the match (I’m guessing its like in the World Juniors where instead of the three stars they do one player per team). The next game was a rough one for Joonas and I will file it under “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”. In Kiekko’s 7-4 loss to Hokki, Joonas made it only 13 minutes and two seconds into the first and put the Fish in a 3-0 hole making only two saves.
There you have it folks! As for next week we have multiple prospect match-ups to cover! I’ll see you next week.
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