Welcome back! After three weeks off for the winter break I’m back writing, everyone is back on the ice and things are happening! The biggest news is that four Tampa Bay Lightning prospects won the gold medal with Canada at the World Juniors in Buffalo, and I have more individual stuff on that below.
The second biggest news is Taylor Raddysh being traded from the rebuilding Erie Otters to the #1 team in the OHL, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he joins fellow Team Canada and Lightning prospects forward Boris Katchouk.
Ryan Lohin had a huge game for UMass-Lowell, putting up four points, Sammy Walker did his thing and went 2 PPG, and Otto Somppi helped the Mooseheads entertain the fans and keep their games high scoring. Let’s dive right into things!
Ontario Hockey League
#12 – Christopher Paquette (F) – 0G, 0A, -4
Peterborough Petes – 16-21-2-1
Dec. 28th: @ Guelph Storm
L 3-1 –0G, 0A, -1
Dec. 30th: vs Ottawa 67’s
W 5-4 – 0G, 0A, +1
Jan. 1st: vs Kitchener Rangers
L 5-4 OT – No Points
Jan. 3rd: @ Hamilton Bulldogs
L 7-2 – 0G, 0A, -3
Jan. 4th: vs Windsor Spitfires
L 2-1 – 0G, 0A, -1
Jan. 6th: @ Ottawa 67’s
L 3-2 – No Points
The Petes and Paquette continued their season of disappointment one win since returning from the Christmas break. I’d hope the Petes are trying to get their 4th and 5th year players a trade to a contending team. As the trade deadline approaches the Petes are in a three way tie for 6th in the Eastern Conference and one point away from missing the playoffs entirely.
#12 – Boris Katchouk (F) / #17 – Taylor Raddysh (F)
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
At World Jrs
Katchouk and Raddysh had the weekend off after returning from the winning gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships. The two celebrated Raddysh’s move in the Team Canada dressing room with Taylor donning a Greyhounds jersey for a photo.
The two had good tournaments, Raddysh scoring two goals with three assists and Katchouk with three goals, three assists. At the trade deadline the Greyhounds have a 15 point lead for first overall in the OHL. Raddysh should make his Greyhounds debut this Wednesday against the Saginaw Spirit.
Jan. 7th: @ Guelph Storm
W 7-3 – 1G, 2A
#17 – Alexei Lipanov (F) – 0G, 1A, -1
Barrie Colts
Dec. 28th: vs Sudbury Wolves
W 4-2 – No Points
Dec. 30th: @ Owen Sound Attack
W 4-3 SO – No Points
Dec. 31st: vs Owen Sound Attack
W 4-1 – Did Not Play
Jan. 2nd: @ Kitchener Rangers
L 3-0 – Did Not Play
Jan. 4th: vs London Knights
L 5-3 – 0G, 1A, -1
Jan. 6th: vs Kingston Frontenacs
L 6-4 – No Points
Lipanov’s down play continues after Christmas as he only had one assist in four games. The Colts came out for the second half of the season strong with three wins, but then lost that ground by losing the next three. They currently have a two point lead over the Niagara IceDogs for first in the Central Division.
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
#89 – Otto Somppi (F) – 1G, 6A
Halifax Mooseheads – 23-10-4-1
Dec. 28th: vs Charlottetown Islanders
L 2-0 – No Points
Dec. 30th: vs Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
W 5-2 – 1G, 1A
Dec. 31st: @ Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
W 4-1 – 0G, 2A, +2
Jan. 2nd: @ Moncton Wildcats
W 4-3 OT – 0G, 2A
Jan. 6th: @ Saint John Sea Dogs
W 5-4 OT – 0G, 0A, -2
Jan. 7th: @ Acadie-Bathurst Titan
W 6-5 – 0G, 1A
After losing their first game back, Somppi and the Mooseheads would go on an offensive winning streak where they would score no less than four goals per game, and giving the fans some real exciting action. Somppi walked away with seven points, good for a point per game.Right now the Mooseheads sits first overall in the Q, but two teams are just one point behind them, and one is two back. It’s a close race.
Western Hockey League
#21 – Brett Howden (F) / #76 – Oleg Susonov (D)
At World Juniors / 1G, 0A, +4
Moose Jaw Warriors – 33-6-1-2
Dec. 27th: @ Swift Current Broncos
L 5-4 SO – No Points
Dec. 28th: vs Swift Current Broncos
W 8-2 – 1G, 0A, +2
Dec. 30th: @ Brandon Wheat Kings
W 7-4 – 0G, 0A, +3
Dec. 31st: vs Brandon Wheat Kings
W 6-2 – 0G, 0A, -1
Jan. 3rd: @ Red Deer Rebels
W 6-3 – 0G, 0A, +1
Jan. 5th: @ Calgary Hitmen
W 5-3 – 0G, 0A, -1
Jan. 6th: @ Edmonton Oil Kings
W 7-2 – No Points
With Howden away the Warriors had to work to make up for losing his offense, but they seemed to know how to make it work. They’re currently on a 7 game win streak, scoring no fewer than five goals in any of those games. Oleg Susonov played his part well, and the Warriors kept a minimum two goal gap between them and the opponent in all of their games. The Warriors are currently first overall in the WHL, with a 10 point lead over second place Swift Current Broncos.
#25 – Libor Hajek (D)
Saskatoon Blades – 21-17-2-1
Hajek was one of the top defenders at the world juniors, scored eight points (1G, 7A) and in my opinion lost a name recognition contest with Cale Makar and Rasmus Dahlin for a spot on the all-star team. The Blades are currently sitting in the first eastern wild card spot, and eight points behind the Brandon Wheat Kings for the final East Division playoff spot.
#25 – Cal Foote (D)
Kelowna Rockets – 24-12-2-1
Foote was a solid defender for Canada at the world juniors. He didn’t appear on the score sheets often but his play helped Canada keep their goals against to eleven goals against in seven games. His rockets are currently tied for first in the BC Division with the Vancouver Giants.
USHL
#19 – Cole Guttman (F) – Injured
Dubuque Fighting Saints – 13-9-3-1
Dec. 27th: @ Green Bay Gamblers
W 3-2 SO – Did Not Play
Dec. 28th: vs Cedar Rapids Roughriders
W 4-3 OT – Did Not Play
Dec. 30th: @ Chicago Steel
L 4-2 – Did Not Play
Jan. 5th: vs Muskegeon Lumberjacks
L 3-2 – Did Not Play
Jan. 6th: vs Muskegeon Lumberjacks
W 4-3 – Did Not Play
Guttman has been injured since he played for Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge. The Saints are currently second in the Eastern Conferece, five points behind the Green Bay Gamblers for first.
#14 – Nicklaus Perbix (D) – 0G, 2A
Omaha Lancers – 16-8-2-0
Dec. 28th: vs Waterloo Black Hawks
L 3-0 – No Points
Dec. 30th: @ Fargo Force
W 4-3 SO – No Points
Dec. 31st: @ Sioux City Musketeers
L 2-1 OT – 0G, 1A
Jan. 5th: vs Waterloo Black Hawks
W 3-2 – 0G, 1A, -1
Jan. 6th: @ Tri-City Storm
W 4-1 – 0G, 0A, +1
The Lancers are 3-1-1 after the break and Perbix has played well, if not offensively. The Lancers are currently tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with the Sioux Falls Stampede.
High School
#26 – Samuel Walker – 7G, 6A
Edina High School
Dec. 26th: @ Minnetonka
L 5-2 – 1G, 0A
Dec. 27th: @ Centennial
W 5-2 – 1G, 1A
Dec. 28th: @ St. Michael-Albertville
W 5-1 – 1G, 1A
Jan. 2nd: vs Burnsville
W 6-1 – 0G, 1A
Jan. 4th: vs White Bear Lake
W 4-3 – 2G, 1A
Jan. 6th: vs Holy Angel
W 9-0 – 2G, 2A
Minnesota is in luck with Walker next season. This kid can’t go a game without at least getting an assist. Since the break he’s scored 13 points and Edina has gone 5-1.
NCAA
#33 – Kris Oldham (G) – 32sh, 29sv, .906sv%
U. Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
Overall: 10-9-1 / Conference: 3-7-0
Dec. 29th: vs Union
W 5-1 – Did Not Play
Dec. 30th: vs Union
W 5-3 – 32sh, 29sv, .906sv%
Jan. 5th: @ North Dakota
W 4-1 – Did Not Play
Jan. 6th: @ North Dakota
L 7-0 – Did Not Play
Oldham got a game! Just his sixth of the season, he helped the Mavericks sweep Union for the weekend. He’s still the back up but isn’t getting much time behind Evan Weninger.
#20 – Ross Colton (F) – 1G, 0A, -2
U. Vermont Catamounts
Overall: 4-13-3 / Conference: 1-7-2
Dec. 29th: vs St. Lawrence
L 3-2 – 0G, 0A, -2
Dec. 30th: vs Harvard
L 4-1 – 1G, 0A
Jan. 5th: @ U-Mass Lowell
L 6-0 – No Points
Colton and the Catamounts lost another three in a row. The offense in Vermont is lacking from everyone, not just Ross but the defense is the bigger issue at hand.
#18 – Ryan Lohin (F) – 2G, 4A, +2
U. Mass-Lowell River Hawks
Overall: 12-9 / Conference: 8-6
Dec. 29th: vs Harvard
W 5-2 – 0G, 1A
Dec. 30th: vs Saint Lawrence
L 3-0 – 0G, 0A, -1
Jan. 5th: vs Vermont
W 6-0 – 0G, 1A
Jan. 6th: vs U. Massachusetts
W 8-3 – 2G, 2A, +3
It was a scoring frenzy here at the Tsongas Center tonight, as the River Hawks skated past the Minutemen, 8-3! Check out the highlights from tonight’s game! #HockeyEast #UnitedInBlue pic.twitter.com/s7EdGe0fwD
— UMass Lowell Hockey (@RiverHawkHockey) January 7, 2018
A huge win for the River Hawks over U. Mass, and Ryan Lohin had four points in it, his biggest game as a River Hawk.
#16 – Johnathan MacLeod (D)
Boston U. Terriers
Overall: 8-11-1 / Conference: 6-7-1
Jan. 5th: vs USNTDP-U18
Cancelled due to weather
Jan. 6th: @ Maine
L 3-0 – No Points
MacLeod made it into the game but couldn’t stop the Black Bears who have come out of hibernation lately.
#20 – Ryan Zuhlsdorf (D) – 0G, 0A, +7
U. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Overall: 13-10-1 / Conference: 4-7-1
Dec. 29th: vs Army
W 3-0 – 0G, 0A, +2
Dec. 30th: vs Army
W 4-1 – No Points
Jan. 6th: @ St. Cloud State
W 5-2 – 0G, 0A, +4
Jan. 7th: vs St. Cloud State
W 2-0 – 0G, 0A, +1
The Gophers are on a 4 game win streak coming out of the break and Zuhlsdorf’s defense has been a big part of it.
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 |
