Hello, Lightning fans!
The CHL playoffs are kicking off as the NCAA are winding down. Our final college boy, John MacLeod, has left the post-season and returned to classes, so we’re down to the USHL and CHL kids still playing.
Ontario Hockey League
#12 – Boris Katchouk (F) / #14 Taylor Raddysh (F)
1G, 3A, +3 / 2G, 1A, +3
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Leads series vs Saginaw 2-0
March 23rd: vs Saginaw Spirit
W 5-2 – 0G, 2A, +2 / 2G, 0A, +2
March 25th: vs Saginaw Spirit
W 8-0 – 1G, 1A, +1 / 0G, 1A, +1
The Greyhounds are off to the expected start and anything less than a sweep of Saginaw would be underperforming. The series moves south to Michigan with the Greyhounds leading in a combined score of 13-2.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
#89 – Otto Somppi (F) – No Points
Halifax Mooseheads
Leads series vs Baie-Comeau 1-0
March 23rd: vs Baie-Comeau Drakkar
W 5-2 – No Points
March 24th: vs Baie-Comeau Drakkar
W 5-3 – Did Not Play
The Mooseheads won both games, but lost Somppi in the first period of game one after he suffered what the team is calling an upper body injury.
Alex Barré-Boulet (F) – 2G, 2A, +6
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Leads series vs Val d’Or 2-0
March 22nd: vs Val d’Or Foreurs
W 3-2 OT – 1G, 1A, +3
March 23rd: vs Val d’Or Foreurs
W 5-1 – 1G, 1A, +3
The Armada took the first two games of their series, but came close to being the first ever #1 seed to lose a game to the #16 seed with game one going to overtime. This series should wrap up Wednesday night in Val d’Or.
Western Hockey League
#76 – Oleg Susonov (D) – No Points
Moose Jaw Warriors
Series vs Prince Albert tied 1-1
March 23rd: vs Prince Albert Raiders
L 5-3 – 0G, 0A, +1
March 24th: vs Prince Albert Raiders
W 3-2 OT – 0G, 0A, -1
The Warriors got off to a rough start, letting the 2nd wild card team win game one and take them to overtime for game two. With the series heading away from home, the Warriors will need to dig deep to get control of the series.
#25 – Cal Foote (D) – 1G, 3A, -3
Kelowna Rockets
Trails series vs Tri-City 2-0
March 22nd: vs Tri-City Americans
L 5-0 – 0G, 0A, -2
March 24th: vs Tri-City Americans
L 9-7 – 1G, 3A, -1
The Rockets are starting the playoffs even worse than the Warriors, losing games one and two by a combined score of 14-7.
USHL
#19 – Cole Guttman (F)
Dubuque Fighting Saints
Guttman is on IR for the foreseeable future.
#14 – Nicklaus Perbix (D) – 0G, 1A, +1
x – Omaha Lancers – 32-16-2-3
3rd in USHL Western Conference, 3 points back of 1st
March 22nd: @ Fargo Force
L 7-1 – No Points
March 23rd: @ Fargo Force
L 8-2 – No Points
March 25th: vs Tri-City Storm
W 2-1 OT – 0G, 1A, +1
The Lancers have clinched a playoff spot with three weeks left in the USHL season. They sit third right now, but a good win streak and they’ll take over first in the conference.
NCAA
#16 – Johnathan MacLeod (D)
Boston U. Terriers
March 24th: vs Cornell
W 3-1 – Did Not Play
March 25th: vs Michigan
L 6-3 – Did Not Play
The Terriers have been eliminated from the NCAA tournament, as Terriers were no match for Wolverines. MacLeod’s senior year ends with only three assists in 23 games. The Lightning now have until August 15th to sign him. After that he will be a free agent.
Completed Seasons
#20 – Ross Colton (F)
U. Vermont Catamounts
#18 – Ryan Lohin (F)
U. Mass-Lowell River Hawks
#20 – Ryan Zuhlsdorf (D)
U. Minnesota Golden Gophers
#33 – Kris Oldham (G)
U. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
#12 – Christopher Paquette (F)
Peterborough Petes
#17 – Alexei Lipanov (F)
Sudbury Wolves
Lipanov has joined the Syracuse Crunch on an Amateur Try Out contract.
#26 – Samuel Walker
Edina High Schoo
#16 – Johnathan MacLeod (D)
Boston U. Terriers
