Welcome to the post where we check in on some prospects that aren’t in the AHL or ECHL and see who is still playing as the CHL enters their second round of playoffs. Unlike a lot of NHL franchises, the Lightning don’t have that many players in the CHL to begin with as only six players suited up in the WHL, OHL, or QMJHL this season, with two of those players signed by the Lightning in March.
However, those players have been successful as their teams have all made the playoffs and advanced to the second round. Only Roman Schmidt’s season has ended and he has joined the Crunch with his Kingston Frontenacs career over.
Western Hockey League
Gabriel Szturc – Kelowna Rockets – 62 games, 33 goals, 50 assists
The undrafted free agent was signed back in March. His Rockets dispatched the Wenatchee Wild four games to two in the first round, but now find themselves down two games to zero to the Portland Winterhawks. Through eight games Szturc has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists).
Ontario Hockey League
Ethan Hay – Saginaw Spirit – 58 games, 10 goals, 11 assists
After an early season trade from Flint, Hay had a solid season with the Spirit. They swept the Owen Sound Attack in the first round and are currently tied at one game a piece with the Soo Greyhounds. Hay has one assist in six games in the postseason while winning 60.3% off his face-offs. The 2023 draft pick will likely return to the Spirit next season.
QMJHL
Ethan Gauthier – Drummondville Voltigeurs – 64 games, 36 goals, 35 assists
Gauthier is having an exceptional season with the Voltigeurs and may give the Lightning a headache next training camp as the 19-year-old may compete for a spot on the roster. Drummondville advanced by sweeping the St. John Sea Dogs and currently have a two-games-to-none lead over the Sherbrooke Phoenix. The 2023 second-round pick is leading the way with six goals and five assists. His 11 points are just one off the QMJHL postseason lead.
Milo Roelens – Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 65 games, 30 games, 44 assists
Like Szturc, Roelens was a free agent signing for the Bolts this spring and should be joining the Crunch once his QMJHL career is over. The big fella (6’6″) had a breakout regular season and is continuing that trend with three goals and four assists in six games as the Titan swept Halifax, but are currently down 2-0 to Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the second round.
Dyllan Gill’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies are still playing, but Gill is out with a shoulder injury and hasn’t suited up for them in the post season. If he can stay healthy this summer, he’ll likely spend his age 20 season with the Huskies next year.
Other Hockey News
The Crunch hosted the Marlies for two games this weekend and took two of the available points as they dropped two shootout losses on Friday and Saturday. Despite not winning a game, they held onto their North Division lead as Rochester split their series with Belleville. With three games to go (one against Belleville and a home-and-home against Utica) the Crunch are still in position to claim one of the top two spots in the North and a bye in the first round.
Friday – Marlies 2, Crunch 1 (SO) [Syracuse Crunch]
Brandon Halverson continued his strong run as an unexpected back-up in Syracuse as he stopped 28 out of 29 shots in regulation and overtime. Alex Barre-Boulet had the lone goal for the Crunch with Gabriel Fortier and Jack Finley picking up the assists. The loss was the first one for the Crunch against the Marlies this season.
Saturday – Marlies 6, Crunch 5 (SO) [Syracuse Crunch]
The Marlies liked winning in the shootout so much they did it for a second night in a row. There was a little more offense in this one as Hugo Alnefelt was chased from the game after surrendering 5 goals on 19 shots. Halverson came in and stopped all 12 shots he saw through the rest of regulation and overtime. Barre-Boulet had 3 assists on the night while Gage Goncalves and Max Crozier each had a goal and two assists. Waltteri Merela, Ilya Usau, and Quinn Schmiemann had the other goals for the Crunch.
Boston College falls to Denver in NCAA Championship [BC Interruption]
Saturday night it was McKade Webster and the Denver Pioneers upsetting Eamon Powell and the BC Eagles in the NCAA title game. Both Lightning prospects were held off of the scoresheet while Minnesota prospect Riegar Lorenz and Kings draft pick Jared Wright scored the goals.
Undrafted 22-year-old goaltender Matt Davis was absolutely spectacular with 35 saves, including one that almost sent broadcaster John Buccigross into the rapture:
With the season ending, both Powell and Webster (along with UConn’s Nick Capone) have until August 15th to sign their entry-level contracts or the Lightning lose their draft rights and the players are unrestricted free agents.
Dylan Duke has another year left at Michigan, but with teammate Frank Nazar signing in Chicago and Gavin Brindley possibly doing the same in Columbus there is a chance Duke forgoes his final year with the Wolverines and signs his entry-level deal and an ATO with the Crunch.
Macklin Celebrini wins Hobey Baker Award [Boston Globe]
Jack Harvey’s teammate and the presumptive number one pick in the draft this season, Macklin Celebrini, was named the top player in college hockey as he beat out Cutter Gauthier and Jason Blake for the award. Celebrini posted 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 38 games as a freshman and likely won’t be returning to college if he is drafted top overall. San Jose has locked in the top lottery odds for the draft this season.
Kevin Shattenkirk fined maximum amount [Mass Live]
Old friend Kevin Shattenkirk was fined $2,734.38 by the league for slashing Michael Bunting (who was on the bench at the time) in their match-up on Saturday. Bunting had tripped goaltender Linus Ullmark shortly before the incident.
Team Canada outlasts Team USA [IIHF]
It took overtime to settle the goals medal game, but in the end it was Team Canada taking the Women’s World Championship as Danielle Serdachny scored in overtime for the victory.
