Monday, December 15, 2008

Prospects: Week of 12.8.08

The Amerks had a big, big week thanks to goaltender Mike Brodeur. Brodeur's name isn't in the Panthers' organization yet, but if he keeps up his recent play, it will be.

Rochester won three of five games -- in six nights -- including back-to-back wins Saturday and Sunday against Lake Erie and Syracuse, respectively.

During the week, the Amerks were without Tanner Glass and Michal Repik due to NHL callups, and the team added veteran forward Greg Classen. Classen, however, has yet to play due to visa issues. As for Noah Welch, the defenseman was a huge addition during his seven game stay, providing solid defense in every situation and adding three assists as well. His presence will be missed up north.

The week started with a 3-2 loss to the suddenly red-hot San Antonio Rampage. Jason Garrison assisted on the two goals (Stefan Meyer - 7, Kenndal McArdle - 4) but the team only managed 15 shots and couldn't help out their goaltender. After a bus ride to Houston, the Amerks took on the Aeros for the second time (they beat Houston for their second win of the season on November 8th). Dan Collins' fourth of the year and Mike Brodeur's 26 saves on 27 shots took the game to a shootout. All three Amerks' shooters scored (Janis Sprukts, Jacob Micflikier, Karl Stewart) and the Amerks picked up a win.

A day off followed before Rochester was host to the Peoria Rivermen. Stopping 26 of 28 was Brodeur, but none of the Amerks' 17 shots got through and a terrific outing in goal was spoiled. The next night, Rochester fell behind Lake Erie early, but scored three unanswered goals (Mike Duco - 6, Micflikier - 2, David Brine - 2) to beat the Monsters for the second time this season, 3-1. Brodeur was strong in goal again, facing 21 and stopping 20.

Capping off a long week and the third game in three nights was a home victory against the Syracuse Crunch. Only one goal was scored in the game and it came off the stick of Kenndal McArdle. McArdle led the team with three points this week (2G, 1A) along with Garrison (3A) while Sprukts, Meyer, Duco, Brine, Micflikier and Welch each had two points in the five games and Franklin MacDonald, Dan Collins and Drew Larman each had one.

As for Brodeur, his play has earned him AHL player of the week honours. In five games, he posted two shutouts and stopped 130 of 137 shots (95%). The Amerks have won 4 of 6 since he arrived. Look to see one of David Shantz or Chris Beckford-Tseu (probably Shantz) getting moved sometime soon if/when they decide to give Brodeur a contract.


ECHL

Tyler Plante and the Dayton Bombers took on the last-place Reading Royals and fell by a 5-4 score on Wednesday night. Plante faced 29 shots and 14 of those came in a four-goal Reading first period -- all four of those goals occurring within 3:22. Two of the goals came on power plays. Plante didn't play in either of the two weekend games, although Dayton won both.


Juniors

A.J. Jenks had an assist in each of the Plymouth Whalers' two wins this week, but the Whalers' alternate captain was blanked, along with the rest of his teammates in a nasty 7-0 loss to Guelph in between. They've won seven of the past ten and have climbed back to .500. . . Corey Syvret played in the Guelph victory and was a comfortable +2. The Storm lost to Owen Sound on Saturday and shut out the Kitchener Rangers on Sunday, Syvret on the blueline for both. . . On Wednesday, Saginaw trailed Plymouth 3-0 in the third before Adam Comrie helped set up two quick goals in the period to draw the Spirit to within one. But the two assists wasn't enough and the Spirit lost, 3-2. Saginaw would lose in a shootout 2-1 on Friday, and Comrie added an assist to the third goal of a 3-2 win against Erie on Saturday. The three assists bring Comrie's count to 11, and a total of 17 points through 26 games. . . James DeLory received a misconduct during Oshawa's obliteration at the hands of the Ottawa 67's on Friday night. After a cross-checking minor late in the second, DeLory was called for cross-checking and slashing and handed a ten-minute misconduct all at once early in the third. Ottawa won the game, 10-0. DeLory scored his third goal of the year on Sunday, though, helping Oshawa to a 5-4 win against Peterborough. . . Colby Robak got involved in some of the rough stuff at the end of a 6-3 loss to Moose Jaw on Tuesday (Brandon led 2-0, then went in to the third tied at 3). Three Warriors goals sparked roughing calls, fights and the unsportsmanlike incidents at the end of the game. The next night, Brandon was beat further down by Saskatoon, losing 5-1, but the Wheat Kings won Friday's game (3-1) and Saturday's (5-4) with Robak adding an assist in each of the two games. . . Brady Calla had an assist on Tuesday as Kamloops defeated Lethbridge by a score of 3-1 and he assisted on one of the Blazers' three goals in their 8-3 loss to Kootenay on Wednesday. He also received a roughing penalty and a ten-minute misconduct in the game, and on Saturday (2-0 loss to Swift Current), it was a fighting major and ten-minute misconduct, giving Calla a total of 29 penalty minutes in the two games.


CCHA

Ohio State defenseman Matt Bartkowski had three shots on goal and one assist in a 10-1 rout of visiting Bentley University and on Sunday, he played on OSU's top pairing, going a +2 in the 3-2 overtime win. The Buckeyes are still unranked, but they are now 11-6-1 and are receiving more votes this week, as well. . . Both Michigan and Western Michigan were off this week, with the Wolverines moving from #12 to #11 in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll.


WHCA

The Denver Pioneers pulled a weekend sweep against Minnesota State, extending their win streak to seven games. John Lee was in the middle pairing for both games, going +3 on Saturday. Meanwhile, goaltender Marc Cheverie stopped 21 of 23 shots in each game (42 of 46 -- 91%) and improved his record to 13-5-1. Beyond that, the Pioneers have maintained their #5 national ranking. Denver doesn't play again until January. . . North Dakota Fighting Sioux defenseman Derrick LaPoint also played as a second pairing defenseman this weekend as the Sioux won both games against St. Cloud State. LaPoint even scored his first goal of the season in Saturday's game. The Sioux, however, remain unranked.


Hockey East

Matt Duffy (pictured) scored a goal Friday night as Maine defeated Union, 3-1. It was his second of the season, and only half of his offensive contribution for the weekend. Duffy added an assist in the second game on Saturday, another Maine victory (5-1). The senior now has five points (2G, 3A) on the year. Maine will play again on December 27th-28th on the west coast of Florida for the Florida College Classic in Estero (home of the Everblades). I imagine it's a good bet that former Black Bear Andrew Sweetland will be in attendance as he played with this team only a year ago. . . Brian Foster was replaced mid-game in New Hampshire's game against Holy Cross after allowing four goals on sixteen shots. The Wildcats, however, won the game by a score of 9-4.


Sweden

Jacob Markström came in late in Monday night's game against Frölunda after Anders Lindbäck started to cramp up. Jacob faced five shots and turned them all aside, though Brynäs was on the losing end of a 4-2 final. On Thursday, they took on Victor Hedman and MODO, and Markström again played well enough to give his team a chance, but it was Hedman scoring the game winner in overtime, MODO winning, 2-1. On Saturday, Brynäs scored three goals on seventeen shots, but allowed thirty-seven shots to come against Markström. He turned aside 34 of the 37 shots and Brynäs played to a 3-3 draw with Djurgårdens. Brynäs doesn't play again until December 26th, but at that time, the IIHF World Junior Championships will be starting and Jacob will be in Canada representing Sweden.


Russia

I still haven't seen the final roster for Russia, but I would say the odds are pretty good that you can expect to see Evgeni Dadonov and Sergei Gayduchenko on the Russian national team at this year's tournament. They're both on the preliminary roster as it is now.

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