Whew, what a two weeks to take off. Two prospects were traded to the New York Rangers, and the Lightning signed the point, goal, and assist leader in the QMJHL.
Ontario Hockey League
#12 – Christopher Paquette (F) – 0G, 2A, -3
Peterborough Petes – 22-34-3-3
9th in Eastern Conference, 11 points out of the playoffs.
Feb. 19th: @ Peterborough Petes
W 4-3 OT – 0G, 0A, -3
Feb. 22nd: vs Kingston Frontenacs
W 3-1 – 0G, 1A, +2
Feb. 24th: @ Owen Sound Attack
L 4-3 – 0G, 0A, -2
March 1st: vs London Knights
L 4-3 – 0G, 1A, +2
March 4th: @ Niagara IceDogs
L 4-2 – 0G, 0A, -2
The Petes are out of the playoffs. A season that was supposed to be a change from the usual missing the post-season or first round bounce ended as more of the same.
#12 – Boris Katchouk (F) / #14 Taylor Raddysh (F)
3G, 3A, +8 / 2G, 4A, +7
xyz – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – 52-6-2-2
1st in Western Conference, clinched 1st in division, conference, and league.
Feb. 24th: @ Windsor Spitfires
W 4-2 – 3G, 0A, +3 / 0G, 0A, +1
Feb. 25th: @ London Knights
W 6-2 – 0G, 1A, +1 / 1G, 1A, +2
Feb. 28th: @ Saginaw Spirit
W 4-1 – 0G, 0A, +1 / 1G, 0A, +3
March 2nd: vs Sarnia Sting
W 6-5 SO – 0G, 1A / 0G, 2A, +2
March 4th: vs Windsor Spitfires
W 5-2 – 0G, 2A, +3 / 0G, 1A, -1
The Greyhounds have already won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as regular season champions. With just under 10 games to go, the Greyhounds are so far ahead of the other teams no one can knock them out of 1st place.
#17 – Alexei Lipanov (F) – 0G, 0A, -2
Sudbury Wolves – 15-38-9-0
10th in Eastern Conference, 23 points out of playoffs.
March 4th: @ Saginaw Spirit
L 5-2 – 0G, 0A, -2
Lipanov was suspended until March 4th for “violating the league’s harassment and diversity policy”, he was caught using a homophobic slur during a game after the last prospect report came out. The Wolves have eight games left in the season.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
#89 – Otto Somppi (F) – 5G, 4A
x – Halifax Mooseheads – 40-16-6-1
4th overall, tied for Maritime Division lead
Feb. 19th: vs Rimouiski Oceanic
W 6-5 OT – 0G, 2A
Feb. 21st: @ Charlottetown Islanders
W 3-2 OT – 2G, 0A, +1
Feb. 24th: vs Gatineau Olympiques
W 4-1 – 2G, 1A, +1
Feb. 25th: vs Drummondville Voltigeurs
L 7-1 – 1G, 0A, -2
Feb. 28th: vs Victoriaville Tigres
L 8-2 – Did Not Play
March 3rd: @ Chicoutimi Sagueens
L 4-2 – 0G, 0A, -1
March 4th: @ Baie-Comeau Drakkar
W 5-4 – 0G, 1A, +1
Otto Somppi had a great two weeks, almost hitting ten points. The three losses in a row moved the Mooseheads out of the sole position of first in the Maritime Division. Somppi is 4th overall in the QMJHL scoring race, but he’s 29 points behind our newest Lightning prospect.
#19 – Alex Barré-Boulet (F) – 3G, 4A, +3
x – Blainville-Boisbriand Armada – 44-10-4-3
1st overall in QMJHL, 8 points ahead of 2nd.
Feb. 21st: @ Sherbrooke Phoenix
L 4-2 – 0G, 0A, -1
Feb. 23rd: @ Shawinigan Cataractes
W 3-0 – 1G, 1A, +1
Feb. 25th: vs Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
W 4-1 – 0G, 0A, +1
March 1st: vs Shawinigan Cataractes
W 6-2 – 1G, 2A, +1
March 2nd: @ Quebec Remparts
W 3-2 SO – No Points
March 3rd: @ Drummondville Voltiguers
L 4-3 SO – 1G, 1A, +1
The newest Lightning prospect, is the points (109), goals (51), and assists (58) leader in the QMJHL. The past two weeks he was out scored by Otto Somppi, but he’s still playing like the excellent player he is.
Western Hockey League
#76 – Oleg Susonov (D) – 0G, 1A, +5
Moose Jaw Warriors – 48-14-1-2
1st in East Division, 1 point ahead of 2nd
Feb. 19th: @ Brandon Wheat Kings
W 6-3 – 0G, 0A, +2
Feb. 21st: @ Swift Current Broncos
L 4-2 – 0G, 0A, -1
Feb. 24th: vs Regina Pats
W 3-2 – 0G, 1A, +2
Feb. 25th: @ Saskatoon Blades
W 4-2 – 0G, 0A, +2
Feb. 27th: @ Lethbridge Hurricanes
L 4-3 – No Points
Feb. 28th: @ Kootenay Ice
W 5-2 – 0G, 0A, -1
March 2nd: @ Brandon Wheat Kings
L 4-2 – No Points
March 3rd: vs Saskatoon Blades
W 5-1 – 0G, 0A, +1
Susonov is now all alone as a prospect in Moose Jaw. Katchouk is still there but, not here. The Warriors are battling for first in the division with Swift Current.
#25 – Cal Foote (D) – 2G, 5A, +1
Kelowna Rockets – 38-22-4-2
1st in BC Division, 5 points ahead of 2nd
Feb. 20th: vs Prince George Cougars
W 6-5 – 0G, 2A
Feb. 23rd: vs Seattle Thunderbirds
W 5-4 – 1G, 0A
Feb. 24th: vs Kamloops Blazers
W 6-5 – 0G, 1A, +1
Feb. 27th: @ Prince George Cougars
L 4-1 – Did Not Play
Feb. 28th: @ Prince George Cougars
L 7-6 – 1G, 1A
March 2nd: @ Everett Silvertips
L 4-2 – 0G, 0A, +2
March 3rd: vs Spokane Chiefs
L 4-2 – 0G, 1A, -2
Cal had his Foote on the offensive gas over the past two weeks, but last week the team could have used more defensive power, after dropping four straight games. Their previously large gap for the division lead has narrowed down to just five points.
USHL
#19 – Cole Guttman (F)
Dubuque Fighting Saints – 22-15-7-2
3rd in Eastern Conference, 3 points ahead of 4th.
Guttman is on IR for the foreseeable future.
#14 – Nicklaus Perbix (D)
Omaha Lancers – 31-12-2-1
1st in Western Conference, 4 points ahead of 2nd
Feb. 22nd: @ Youngstown Phantoms
W 8-1 – 1G, 1A, +1
Feb. 24th: @ Youngstown Phantoms
W 4-1 – No Points
March 2nd: @ Chicago Steel
W 6-4 – No Points
March 3rd: @ USNTDP
L 7-2 – 0G, 0A, -2
Perbix and the Lancers had a very good week, loss to the national team aside. Big wins moved them to the top of the conference, and in a prime playoff position.
High School
#26 – Samuel Walker – 4G, 6A
Edina High School
Feb. 22nd: vs Armstrong/Cooper
W 5-1 – 1G, 1A
Feb. 24th: vs St. Louis Park
W 6-1 – 3G, 1A
Feb. 28th: vs Wayzata
W 8-1 – 0G, 4A
Sammy helped Edina run the table through the sectional playoffs and begin their run at the State tournament on Thursday.
NCAA
#33 – Kris Oldham (G)
U. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
Overall: / Conference:
Feb. 23rd: vs Colorado College
W 4-2 – Did Not Play
Feb. 24th: vs Colorado College
T 2-2 – Did Not Play
March 2nd: @ Minnesota-Duluth
W 4-1 – Did Not Play
March 3rd: @ Minnesota-Duluth
L 4-1 – Did Not Play
The Mavericks playoff games are TBD right now.
#20 – Ross Colton (F) – 1G, 1A
U. Vermont Catamounts
Eliminated in round one of Hockey East playoffs
Feb. 23rd: @ Boston University
L 2-0 – No Points
Feb. 24th: @ Boston University
T 1-1 – 0G, 0A, -1
March 1st: @ Massachusetts
L 3-2 – 0G, 0A, +1
March 2nd: @ Massachusetts
W 4-3 – 1G, 1A, +2
March 3rd: @ Massachusetts
L 5-1 – 0G, 0A, -2
Colton’s sophomore season has ended with fewer points in more games. Now he can go back to focusing on his studies [wink].
#18 – Ryan Lohin (F) – 0G, 0A, -2
U. Mass-Lowell River Hawks
Eliminated in round one of the Hockey East playoffs.
Feb. 23rd: @ Merrimack
L 4-1 – 0G, 0A, -2
Feb. 24th: vs Merrimack
L 5-0 – No Points
March 2nd: vs Merrimack
L 2-1 – No Points
March 3rd: vs Merrimack
L 3-2 – No Points
Merrimack upset the higher seeded Riverhawks in two games – after beating them twice to end the regular season.
#16 – Johnathan MacLeod (D) – 0G, 0A, +1
Boston U. Terriers
Hosting Connecticut in the Hockey East Quarter-Finals this week
Feb. 23rd: vs Vermont
W 2-0 – 0G, 0A, +1
Feb. 24th: vs Vermont
T 1-1 – No Points
The Terriors finished off the regular season against Catamounts then got a bye to the second round of Hockey East playoffs.
#20 – Ryan Zuhlsdorf (D) – 0G, 0A, -2
U. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Eliminated in round one of Big10 playoffs by Penn State
Feb. 23rd: @ Penn State
L 5-1 – 0G, 0A, -2
Feb. 24th: @ Penn State
L 5-2 – No Points
March 2nd: @ Penn State
L 5-3 – 0G, 0A, -1
March 3rd: @ Penn State
L 6-5 – 0G, 0A, +1
Zuhlsdorf’s sophomore year ends with a first round loss, and just nine points. The Gophers will now regroup and prepare for another season next year.
Lightning prospects points
| Player | League | Points | Games | PPG | NHLe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Walker | Big 10 | 18 | 26 | 0.69 | 19.87 |
| Ryan Lohin | Hockey East | 22 | 21 | 1.05 | 31.78 |
| Alexey Lipanov | OHL | 21 | 43 | 0.49 | 12.81 |
| Cole Guttman | NCHC | 18 | 25 | 0.72 | 24.21 |
| Nicklaus Perbix | NCHC | 13 | 26 | 0.50 | 16.81 |
| Ryan Zuhlsdorf | Big 10 | 4 | 24 | 0.17 | 4.78 |
| Gabriel Fortier | QMJHL | 64 | 50 | 1.28 | 27.29 |
| Radim Salda | QMJHL | 23 | 31 | 0.74 | 15.82 |
| Alex Green | ECAC | 1 | 5 | 0.20 | 3.77 |
| Cole Koepke | NCHC | 11 | 26 | 0.42 | 14.22 |
