Game of Interest:
Saint John (36-13-0-2) at Drummondville (21-25-2-4)- Something has to give. Both teams have winning streaks; Drummondville has a four game streak going, while Saint John is riding a five game streak. This is a definite game of interest.
Players to Watch
Jonathan Oligny (Drummondville) & Ian Saab (Saint John). Oligny and Saab are one and two respectively in penalty minutes and major penalties. Expect them to drop the gloves tonight.
Other games on the Q schedule tonight:
Moncton (23-23-3-2) at Halifax (27-16-2-3)
Cape Breton (20-28-0-2) at P.E.I. (16-31-2-2)
Rimouski (31-21-0-0) at Quebec (32-12-4-2)
Victoriaville (33-16-1-2) at Baie-Comeau (24-22-1-3)
Gatineau (19-23-4-4) at Blainville-Boisbriand (27-20-2-1)
Rouyn-Noranda (16-29-2-3) at Chicoutimi (26-16-3-6)
Val-d’Or (21-26-0-4) at Shawinigan (34-11-2-3)
Showing posts with label Huskies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Huskies. Show all posts
Friday, February 3, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The QMJHL at the Home Hardware Top Prospects Game
Well, it’s that time of the year again.
The CHL’s finest draft-eligible prospects have gathered in Kelowna, B.C. to play in tonight’s Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. The game can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet beginning at 10 p.m. EST (11 p.m. Atlantic time.)
For all the invited prospects, it’s a chance for them to get noticed by scouts in the hopes of receiving an invitation to Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the participants from the QMJHL. A total of nine QMJHL prospects will be in Kelowna, with four on Team Cherry coached by Mark Recchi, and the remaining five will play for Team Orr, led by Pat Quinn.
Team Cherry
Dillon Fournier, D, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (9-20-29, 39 GP)
Even though Rouyn-Noranda is battling with P.E.I. to stay out of the QMJHL basement for the second consecutive year, Dillon Fournier has been a shining light on defence for the Huskies.
As the first pick in the Lewiston MAINEiacs Dispersal Draft in June and the sole QMJHL defender in the Top Prospects Game, the Montréal product is enjoying a breakout season, having already doubled his offensive output in just over half the number of games.
Fournier’s increased production projects similarly to what Sea Dogs defender and Canadiens first-round pick Nathan Beaulieu experienced in 2009-10, his 17-year-old season.
Central Scouting currently has Fournier listed 138th among North American skaters, but a solid showing in Kelowna could increase the attention he gets at the Entry Draft.
Martin Frk, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (8-6-14, 16 GP)
Trailing only Mikhail Grigorenko, Martin Frk is the highest-ranked QMJHL prospect playing in Kelowna tonight.
Currently ranked 25th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, the Czech forward’s draft season was derailed in the preseason by a concussion. He didn’t make his regular season debut until Dec. 9 against P.E.I., but he’s turned it around after a slow start.
Frk may have missed an opportunity to boost his stock by opting out of playing for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Hockey Championships, but he comes into Kelowna with a hot hand, having scored 11 points during his current six-game point streak.
A strong performance from Frk in the Top Prospects Game would do wonders to elevate him toward the place where scouts thought he should be ranked prior to getting injured.
Andrew Ryan, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (5-4-9, 25 GP)
Much like his teammate Frk, Andrew Ryan has also had to battle back from a pre-season injury to regain his form.
A broken ankle at the end of August cost him the first two months of the regular season, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to impress scouts in Kelowna as he attempts to make up for lost time.
Ryan ranks 64th among North American skaters going into the game, and he’s scored just one point since the start of 2012. However, look for the St. John’s, N.L. native to come out with something to prove tonight as he looks to jump onto the radar of all scouts in attendance.
Brandon Whitney, G, Victoriaville Tigres (20-3-0-1, 2.95 GAA)
If possible, the Kentville, N.S. native has played bigger than his 6-5 stature for Victoriaville this season, which has him ranked third among all North American goaltenders in the most recent Central Scouting rankings.
He’s been a key component in Victoriaville’s efforts this season, having only lost three games while keeping his team within striking distance of Québec and Shawinigan in the TELUS East Division race.
His 20 victories are good enough to tie with Halifax’s Zachary Fucale for tops among rookie goaltenders (tied for fourth in the QMJHL), and he leads all rookie goaltenders with a 2.95 goals-against average (tied for eighth overall.)
With Central Scouting’s top-ranked North American goaltender Malcolm Subban out of the game with a groin injury, this may be Whitney’s shot to step up and put pressure on not only Subban, but also fellow Team Cherry goaltender Matt Murray, who ranks second among North American netminders.
A great performance tonight could strengthen Whitney’s argument for being the best goaltender available at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Team Orr
Francis Beauvillier, C, Rimouski Oceanic (17-7-24, 51 GP)
With teammates Jérôme Gauthier-Leduc and Alex Belzile commanding attention in Rimouski, St-Hyacinthe, Que. native Francis Beauvillier has quietly put together a solid season to date for the Oceanic.
Picked up by Rimouski in the Lewiston dispersal draft, Beauvillier ranks fourth on the team in goals (17) and sixth in points (24) through 51 games to help the Oceanic stay in the hunt for home-ice advantage in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs. His goal totals also eclipse his total from last season with the MAINEiacs, where he scored 11 times in 57 games.
Beauvillier ranks 62nd among North American skaters in the Central Scouting mid-season rankings, so this game is important if he wants to elevate his standing in the eyes of scouts.
Raphaël Bussières, LW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (16-22-38, 43 GP)
A former first-round selection of the Moncton Wildcats in the 2009 QMJHL Draft, Raphaël Bussières has steadily continued to develop as a player after being traded to Baie-Comeau.
His point production has gone up in each of his three QMJHL seasons, and he’s averaging nearly a point per game in 2011-12. He sits tied for third on the Drakkar in goals (16) and tied for fourth in points (38).
Bussières currently sits just outside the top 50 among North American skaters in the Central Scouting rankings (57th), but a strong showing tonight in Kelowna could put him back into the top 50, and it may well put him on the minds of more NHL scouts as the Entry Draft draws closer.
Mikhail Grigorenko, RW, Québec Remparts (28-36-64, 41 GP)
With Sarnia’s Nail Yakupov out of the Top Prospects Game due to injury, the door may well be open for fellow Russian Mikhail Grigorenko to shine and further fuel debate over whose name should be called first in Pittsburgh this June.
An assistant captain for Team Orr, Grigorenko is ranked as the top prospect in the ISS mid-term rankings and second among North American skaters by Central Scouting. Grigorenko has scored in bunches since coming over to North America, producing at a rate of 1.56 points per game. The numbers could have been higher if he hadn’t played for Russia at the World Junior Hockey Championships over Christmas.
The scary part? He doesn’t turn 18 until the middle of May.
Grigorenko is a big reason why the Remparts are in the hunt in the TELUS East Division, and with a good showing in the Top Prospects Game, he may well stake his claim to the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Tomas Hyka, RW, Gatineau Olympiques (17-30-47, 40 GP)
If it weren’t for the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Czech forward Tomas Hyka may have been in the Philadelphia Flyers system instead of this year’s Top Prospects Game.
The Gatineau Olympiques instead became the beneficiaries, selecting Hyka with the eighth selection in the CHL Import Draft this past summer.
Hyka must have taken some advice from Flyers star and Gatineau alumnus Claude Giroux during his time in Philadelphia’s camp, because he’s adjusted to the North American game very well. He’s scored over a point per game with the Olympiques this season compared to his 2010-11 season with his hometown under-20 team, BK Mlada Boleslav, where he tallied 31 points in 38 games.
Hyka finds himself ranked 65th among North American skaters according to Central Scouting, but if he can show flashes of the confidence he displayed in his lone exhibition game as a Flyer, or the brilliance he displays in Gatineau offensively and killing penalties, Hyka surely won’t be passed over in this year’s draft as he was last year.
François Tremblay, G, Val D’Or Foreurs (14-22-0-3, 3.78 GAA)
François Tremblay has been a workhorse for Val D’Or this season, ranking fourth among all Q goaltenders in minutes played (2,253) and saves (1,054).
In fact, his workload may well skew his other statistics toward the bottom end of the spectrum, as he doesn’t rank particularly high in save percentage (18th, .881) or goals-against average (20th, 3.78 GAA).
However, Tremblay is a technically-sound, big-bodied goaltender, which should make him a valuable commodity in Pittsburgh this June.
Tremblay currently ranks sixth among North American goaltenders, but with the aforementioned Malcolm Subban, Jon Gillies (Indiana in the USHL) and Saginaw’s Jake Paterson not playing in the game, Tremblay has a golden opportunity to shine and show scouts he’s ready to take the next step.
The CHL’s finest draft-eligible prospects have gathered in Kelowna, B.C. to play in tonight’s Home Hardware Top Prospects Game. The game can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet beginning at 10 p.m. EST (11 p.m. Atlantic time.)
For all the invited prospects, it’s a chance for them to get noticed by scouts in the hopes of receiving an invitation to Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the participants from the QMJHL. A total of nine QMJHL prospects will be in Kelowna, with four on Team Cherry coached by Mark Recchi, and the remaining five will play for Team Orr, led by Pat Quinn.
Team Cherry
Dillon Fournier, D, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (9-20-29, 39 GP)
Even though Rouyn-Noranda is battling with P.E.I. to stay out of the QMJHL basement for the second consecutive year, Dillon Fournier has been a shining light on defence for the Huskies.
As the first pick in the Lewiston MAINEiacs Dispersal Draft in June and the sole QMJHL defender in the Top Prospects Game, the Montréal product is enjoying a breakout season, having already doubled his offensive output in just over half the number of games.
Fournier’s increased production projects similarly to what Sea Dogs defender and Canadiens first-round pick Nathan Beaulieu experienced in 2009-10, his 17-year-old season.
Central Scouting currently has Fournier listed 138th among North American skaters, but a solid showing in Kelowna could increase the attention he gets at the Entry Draft.
Martin Frk, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (8-6-14, 16 GP)
Trailing only Mikhail Grigorenko, Martin Frk is the highest-ranked QMJHL prospect playing in Kelowna tonight.
Currently ranked 25th among North American skaters by Central Scouting, the Czech forward’s draft season was derailed in the preseason by a concussion. He didn’t make his regular season debut until Dec. 9 against P.E.I., but he’s turned it around after a slow start.
Frk may have missed an opportunity to boost his stock by opting out of playing for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Hockey Championships, but he comes into Kelowna with a hot hand, having scored 11 points during his current six-game point streak.
A strong performance from Frk in the Top Prospects Game would do wonders to elevate him toward the place where scouts thought he should be ranked prior to getting injured.
Andrew Ryan, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (5-4-9, 25 GP)
Much like his teammate Frk, Andrew Ryan has also had to battle back from a pre-season injury to regain his form.
A broken ankle at the end of August cost him the first two months of the regular season, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities to impress scouts in Kelowna as he attempts to make up for lost time.
Ryan ranks 64th among North American skaters going into the game, and he’s scored just one point since the start of 2012. However, look for the St. John’s, N.L. native to come out with something to prove tonight as he looks to jump onto the radar of all scouts in attendance.
Brandon Whitney, G, Victoriaville Tigres (20-3-0-1, 2.95 GAA)
If possible, the Kentville, N.S. native has played bigger than his 6-5 stature for Victoriaville this season, which has him ranked third among all North American goaltenders in the most recent Central Scouting rankings.
He’s been a key component in Victoriaville’s efforts this season, having only lost three games while keeping his team within striking distance of Québec and Shawinigan in the TELUS East Division race.
His 20 victories are good enough to tie with Halifax’s Zachary Fucale for tops among rookie goaltenders (tied for fourth in the QMJHL), and he leads all rookie goaltenders with a 2.95 goals-against average (tied for eighth overall.)
With Central Scouting’s top-ranked North American goaltender Malcolm Subban out of the game with a groin injury, this may be Whitney’s shot to step up and put pressure on not only Subban, but also fellow Team Cherry goaltender Matt Murray, who ranks second among North American netminders.
A great performance tonight could strengthen Whitney’s argument for being the best goaltender available at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Team Orr
Francis Beauvillier, C, Rimouski Oceanic (17-7-24, 51 GP)
With teammates Jérôme Gauthier-Leduc and Alex Belzile commanding attention in Rimouski, St-Hyacinthe, Que. native Francis Beauvillier has quietly put together a solid season to date for the Oceanic.
Picked up by Rimouski in the Lewiston dispersal draft, Beauvillier ranks fourth on the team in goals (17) and sixth in points (24) through 51 games to help the Oceanic stay in the hunt for home-ice advantage in the first round of the QMJHL playoffs. His goal totals also eclipse his total from last season with the MAINEiacs, where he scored 11 times in 57 games.
Beauvillier ranks 62nd among North American skaters in the Central Scouting mid-season rankings, so this game is important if he wants to elevate his standing in the eyes of scouts.
Raphaël Bussières, LW, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (16-22-38, 43 GP)
A former first-round selection of the Moncton Wildcats in the 2009 QMJHL Draft, Raphaël Bussières has steadily continued to develop as a player after being traded to Baie-Comeau.
His point production has gone up in each of his three QMJHL seasons, and he’s averaging nearly a point per game in 2011-12. He sits tied for third on the Drakkar in goals (16) and tied for fourth in points (38).
Bussières currently sits just outside the top 50 among North American skaters in the Central Scouting rankings (57th), but a strong showing tonight in Kelowna could put him back into the top 50, and it may well put him on the minds of more NHL scouts as the Entry Draft draws closer.
Mikhail Grigorenko, RW, Québec Remparts (28-36-64, 41 GP)
With Sarnia’s Nail Yakupov out of the Top Prospects Game due to injury, the door may well be open for fellow Russian Mikhail Grigorenko to shine and further fuel debate over whose name should be called first in Pittsburgh this June.
An assistant captain for Team Orr, Grigorenko is ranked as the top prospect in the ISS mid-term rankings and second among North American skaters by Central Scouting. Grigorenko has scored in bunches since coming over to North America, producing at a rate of 1.56 points per game. The numbers could have been higher if he hadn’t played for Russia at the World Junior Hockey Championships over Christmas.
The scary part? He doesn’t turn 18 until the middle of May.
Grigorenko is a big reason why the Remparts are in the hunt in the TELUS East Division, and with a good showing in the Top Prospects Game, he may well stake his claim to the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Tomas Hyka, RW, Gatineau Olympiques (17-30-47, 40 GP)
If it weren’t for the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, Czech forward Tomas Hyka may have been in the Philadelphia Flyers system instead of this year’s Top Prospects Game.
The Gatineau Olympiques instead became the beneficiaries, selecting Hyka with the eighth selection in the CHL Import Draft this past summer.
Hyka must have taken some advice from Flyers star and Gatineau alumnus Claude Giroux during his time in Philadelphia’s camp, because he’s adjusted to the North American game very well. He’s scored over a point per game with the Olympiques this season compared to his 2010-11 season with his hometown under-20 team, BK Mlada Boleslav, where he tallied 31 points in 38 games.
Hyka finds himself ranked 65th among North American skaters according to Central Scouting, but if he can show flashes of the confidence he displayed in his lone exhibition game as a Flyer, or the brilliance he displays in Gatineau offensively and killing penalties, Hyka surely won’t be passed over in this year’s draft as he was last year.
François Tremblay, G, Val D’Or Foreurs (14-22-0-3, 3.78 GAA)
François Tremblay has been a workhorse for Val D’Or this season, ranking fourth among all Q goaltenders in minutes played (2,253) and saves (1,054).
In fact, his workload may well skew his other statistics toward the bottom end of the spectrum, as he doesn’t rank particularly high in save percentage (18th, .881) or goals-against average (20th, 3.78 GAA).
However, Tremblay is a technically-sound, big-bodied goaltender, which should make him a valuable commodity in Pittsburgh this June.
Tremblay currently ranks sixth among North American goaltenders, but with the aforementioned Malcolm Subban, Jon Gillies (Indiana in the USHL) and Saginaw’s Jake Paterson not playing in the game, Tremblay has a golden opportunity to shine and show scouts he’s ready to take the next step.
Rimouski's Beauvillier wins fastest skater
Rimouski Oceanic forward Francis Beauvillier can add an accomplishment to his hockey resume being the CHL's fastest skater.
Beauvillier, 18, in his third QMJHL season and first with Rimouski, posted a time of 14.132 seconds, narrowly edging out Branden Troock of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
Gatineau Olympiques forward Tomas Hyka placed fifth out of eight skaters with a time of 14.674 seconds.
Other QMJHL players in the skills competition were:
Late addition to the Top Prospects Game, Dillon Fournier of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies hit four targets in eight attempts, finishing fifth out of eight in the accuracy shooting.
Number two ranked player in the CSS, Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts, hit three of eight targets, finishing sixth, and Halifax Mooseheads forward Andrew Ryan finished eighth out of eight, only hitting one target in eight attempts.
In the shootout competition, Baie-Comeau's Raphael Bussieres finished tied for fourth out of 12, and Halifax's Martin Frk finished eighth.
There has been no word yet whether Frk's agent Alan Walsh has scheduled a press conference to discuss Frk's poor showing.
Beauvillier, 18, in his third QMJHL season and first with Rimouski, posted a time of 14.132 seconds, narrowly edging out Branden Troock of the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
Gatineau Olympiques forward Tomas Hyka placed fifth out of eight skaters with a time of 14.674 seconds.
Other QMJHL players in the skills competition were:
Late addition to the Top Prospects Game, Dillon Fournier of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies hit four targets in eight attempts, finishing fifth out of eight in the accuracy shooting.
Number two ranked player in the CSS, Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts, hit three of eight targets, finishing sixth, and Halifax Mooseheads forward Andrew Ryan finished eighth out of eight, only hitting one target in eight attempts.
In the shootout competition, Baie-Comeau's Raphael Bussieres finished tied for fourth out of 12, and Halifax's Martin Frk finished eighth.
There has been no word yet whether Frk's agent Alan Walsh has scheduled a press conference to discuss Frk's poor showing.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Keeping an eye on the Q's Europeans
Each season a new group of European stars bring their skills to North America via the CHL Import Draft.
These players usually go on to play significant roles for their Canadian clubs. This season is no different with six European skaters in the top 30 in QMJHL scoring.
Three of these six skaters are QMJHL rookies, taken in the 2011 import draft.
These players usually go on to play significant roles for their Canadian clubs. This season is no different with six European skaters in the top 30 in QMJHL scoring.
Three of these six skaters are QMJHL rookies, taken in the 2011 import draft.
Mikhail Grigorenko leads the charge of European’s this season. Grigorenko, the QMJHL’s top prospect for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, leads all rookies with 61 points in 39 games this season.
He was ranked second amongst all North American skaters by the most recent NHL Central Scouting Service (CSS) report and has a four point lead over Halifax’s Nathan MacKinnon in the rookie scoring race. CSS ranks players based on the geography of their current league, not birthplace.
Grigorenko stands a very good chance at becoming the first QMJHL player to make the transition to the NHL as an 18-year-old since Rimouski’s Sidney Crosby made the jump in 2005. This is a very exclusive club, including Crosby, only four 18-year-olds have made the jump from the QMJHL in the past 15 years. These players are: VincentLecavalier, Pierre Marc Bouchard, and Patrice Bergeron.
He was ranked second amongst all North American skaters by the most recent NHL Central Scouting Service (CSS) report and has a four point lead over Halifax’s Nathan MacKinnon in the rookie scoring race. CSS ranks players based on the geography of their current league, not birthplace.
Grigorenko stands a very good chance at becoming the first QMJHL player to make the transition to the NHL as an 18-year-old since Rimouski’s Sidney Crosby made the jump in 2005. This is a very exclusive club, including Crosby, only four 18-year-olds have made the jump from the QMJHL in the past 15 years. These players are: VincentLecavalier, Pierre Marc Bouchard, and Patrice Bergeron.
Anton Zlobin has a lot of ground to make up if he’s going to catch Grigorenko for the European scoring crown. Zlobin is currently second in European scoring with 56 points in 48 games this season. Those five points may not seem like much, but Zlobin has played nine more games this season than Grigorenko.
Undrafted at the 2011 NHL draft and not dominating the way most would expect a 19-year-old European skater too, has dropped his draft stock in 2012. Still, Zlobin’s 31 goals lead all European skaters in the QMJHL this season and thus CSS has him projected as the 128th skater amongst players in North American leagues.
Undrafted at the 2011 NHL draft and not dominating the way most would expect a 19-year-old European skater too, has dropped his draft stock in 2012. Still, Zlobin’s 31 goals lead all European skaters in the QMJHL this season and thus CSS has him projected as the 128th skater amongst players in North American leagues.
Despite missing time due to injury and the World Junior Championships, Saint John’s Tomas Jurco sits third in team scoring and third among Europeans this season with 51 points.
Having played only 35 games, Jurco comes in with the least amount of games among Europeans in the top five. Averaging well over a point per game and having the luxury of playing for a powerhouse Saint John squad, expect Jurco to take over second spot among the top five by season's end. If anyone has the ability to challenge Grigorenko for the European scoring lead this season it will be Jurco. A late birthday delayed Jurco’s draft eligibility until 2011 where he was taken 35th overall in the second-round by the Detroit Red Wings.
Having played only 35 games, Jurco comes in with the least amount of games among Europeans in the top five. Averaging well over a point per game and having the luxury of playing for a powerhouse Saint John squad, expect Jurco to take over second spot among the top five by season's end. If anyone has the ability to challenge Grigorenko for the European scoring lead this season it will be Jurco. A late birthday delayed Jurco’s draft eligibility until 2011 where he was taken 35th overall in the second-round by the Detroit Red Wings.
A three way tie rounds out the top 30 in QMJHL scoring as well as the top five amongst Euro’s.
Sven Andrighetto, Marek Hrivik and Matej Beran each have 50 points on the season.
Andrighetto leads the three with 23 goals on the season, yet of the three, he’s the lowest ranked by CSS at 186th.
Hrivik and Beran are tied with 19goals each and are likely to be drafted this summer. Beran is ranked 59thamong North American skaters and Hrivik 65th.
Sven Andrighetto, Marek Hrivik and Matej Beran each have 50 points on the season.
Andrighetto leads the three with 23 goals on the season, yet of the three, he’s the lowest ranked by CSS at 186th.
Hrivik and Beran are tied with 19goals each and are likely to be drafted this summer. Beran is ranked 59thamong North American skaters and Hrivik 65th.
Despite various rankings, all six are playing crucial roles for their respective teams this season. Grigorenko and Zlobin are the leading scorers for two Presidents Cup contenders in Quebec and Shawinigan.
Andrighetto leads his club, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, as well. On P.E.I., Beran follows only star Ben Duffy in scoring and Jurco and Hrivik sit third on their respective teams in scoring.
Andrighetto leads his club, the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, as well. On P.E.I., Beran follows only star Ben Duffy in scoring and Jurco and Hrivik sit third on their respective teams in scoring.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Game Previews: January 22nd
SAINT JOHN AT BATHURST: Saint John comes into the game having won two straight and six of their last 10. They should not take Bathurst lightly, especially with the league’s leading scorer, Zach O’Brien on the team. Oh, and Bathurst has a streak of their own: four straight wins.
Players to Watch
Saint John: Charlie Coyle- Since joining the Sea Dogs, Coyle has four goals in three games-an impressive start for any rookie.
Bathurst: Zach O’Brien- Coming off an impressive four-goal performance against Moncton, should be interesting to see what he can accomplish against their other New Brunsiwick counterpart.
MONCTON AT CAPE BRETON: Moncton will be looking to get back on track against Cape Breton. Both teams have only four regulation wins in their last 10 games.
Interesting Fact
Both teams traded their team Captains to the Memorial Cup host Shawinigan Cataractes. Even more interesting is that both players (Ellis & Gormley) hail from P.E.I.
RIMOUSKI AT BAIE-COMEAU: Rimouski has won four straight games, and seven out of their last 10, the second best streak in the league. It’s safe to say that David Rose and the Drakkar will have their hands full in this one.
Players to Watch
Rimouski-Jerome Gauthier-Leduc- The Oceanic’s stud defensemen has had another solid year. Once thought to be surely dealt, stayed in Rimouski, and their fans have been beyond happy.
Baie-Comeau- Jonathan Lessard- To say that Lessard is a pure goal scorer is an understatement. Lessard is second in team goal scoring, but only tenth in overall points.
DRUMMONDVILLE AT BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND: The Surprising Armada are tops in their division, 10 points ahead of Drummondville. While it’s unlikely the Voltigeurs catch up to the Armada, you can bet this will be a chippy affair.
Players to Watch
Drummondville-Alexandre Veronneau- There was a lot of questions when Veronneau was acquired, and the questions continue. He has a Goals Against Average greater than six with the Volts. Should be interesting to see how many he lets in tonight.
Blainville-Boisbriand-Etienne Marcoux- The 18-year-old goalie has been one of the best this season, unlike Veronneau. Marcoux is top 10 in every major category for goaltenders this season.
VAL-D’OR AT ROUYN-NORANDA: Val-d’Or have won three straight, while their opponent has lost fourstraight. With Val-d’Or battling for first in the West, you can bet they’ll be hungry.
Stat of the Game
Foreurs’ player Mathieu Guertin is second in the league in minor penalties taken, with 38.
P.E.I AT VICTORIAVILLE: PEI wraps up its latest swing through Quebec hoping for a win. It has been an incredibly rough trip for the Rocket, who have been outscored 15-2 so far. A win may be too much to ask of the Rocket, as Victoriaville is on a four-game winning streak.
Players to Watch
P.E.I. - Ben Duffy- Earlier this season Duffy broke the franchise’s all-time points record. Duffy has been one of the lone bright spots for P.E.I. this year
Victoriaville- Matthew Hobbs- Hobbs, traded from PEI to Victoriaville last month, has been one of the Tigres' best defensemen.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
36 QMJHL players listed in midterm rankings
Quebec Remparts forward Mikhail Grigorenko tops the NHL Central Scouting's midterm rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Yesterday, the Canadian Hockey League announced that 145 CHL players appear on the list.
The domestic rankings list a total of 210 North American skaters including 120 from the CHL, also listing and additional 36 North American goaltenders which includes 25 that currently compete in the CHL.
The QMJHL has 36 representatives on the rankings, with Grigorenko at spot number two, below Nail Yakupov of the Sarnia Sting who is number one.
The highest ranked goaltender for the QMJHL is Victoriaville's Brandon Whitney at number three.
Here is the list of QMJHL players that made the rankings
NORTH AMERICAN SKATERS
RK Name Team
2 Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec Remparts
25 Martin Frk Halifax, Mooseheads
59 Matej Beran, P.E.I. Rocket
62 Francis Beauvillier, Rimouski Oceanic
64 Andrew Ryan, Halifax Mooseheads
65 Tomas Hyka, Gatineau Olympiques
87 Vladislav Shalimov, Val-d'Or Foreurs
89 Ryan Culkin, Quebec Remparts
93 James Melindy, Moncton Wildcats
96 Charles Hudon, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
102 Liam O'Brien, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
116 Justin Hache, Shawinigan Cataractes
126 Tomas Pavelka, P.E.I. Rocket
128 Anton Zlobin, Shawinigan Cataractes
130 Taylor Burke, Gatineau Olympiques
138 Dillon Fournier, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
168 Loic Leduc, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
173 Tomas Filippi, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
177 Raphael Corriveau, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
186 Sven Andrighetto, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
190 Alexandre Leclerc, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
193 Jeremie Fraser, Acadie-Bathurst Titan
196 Luca Ciampini, Halifax Mooseheads
207 Domenic Poulin, Chicoutimi Sagueneens
NORTH AMERICAN GOALTENDERS
RK Name Team
3 Brandon Whitney, Victoriaville Tigres
6 Francois Tremblay, Val-d'Or Foreurs
13 Etienne Marcoux, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
16 Francois Brassard, Quebec Remparts
18 Maxime Lagace, P.E.I. Rocket
25 Jacob Brennan, Acadie-Bathurst Titan
30 Roman Will, Moncton Wildcats
33 Philippe Trudeau, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Full list can be viewed here.
nolan@theqspot.ca
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Screaming Eagles active on trade floor today
There were a few moves made today during a pretty quiet trade period so far.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles were very active today, making three trades.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles sent 18-year-old goaltender Alexandre Veronneau to the Quebec Remparts for a seventh-round pick in 2012.
The Laval, Que. native has posted an 8-26 career record with the Screaming Eagles along with a 4.71 goals-agaist-average.
The Screaming Eagles made another deal on the day, sending 19-year-old Belarusian defenceman Raman Hrabarenka to the Drummondville Voltigeurs for a sixth-round pick in 2013, originally owned by Blainville-Boisbriand.
Hrabarenka skated in 80 career games for Screaming Eagles, collecting three goals and 15 points.
Last but not least for Cape Breton, they sent 17-year-old Samuel Hodhod to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for 19-year-old goaltender William Racicot.
Hodhod was a second-round pick by the Shawinigan Cataratces in 2010 and had seven goals and 16 points in 47 with Shawinigan last season.
Racicot, has posted an 8-9-1 record for a 3.43 goals-against-average with the Armada this season.
The Saint John Sea Dogs acquired forward Maxime Villemaire from the Drummondvile Voltigeurs in-exchange for a second-round pick in 2012 and a sixth-round pick in 2013.
Villemaire, 19, has played 90 career games with the Volts, collecting 14 goals and 27 points.
The Sea Dogs sent their first-round pick in 2012 to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies for Saint John's second-round pick in 2012, Quebec's fourth-round pick in 2012 and Rimouski's first-round pick in the 2012 CHL Import Daft.
For a list of trades, click here.
Photo courtesy of Cape Breton Post.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Huskies acquire O'Brien from Oceanic
The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies have acquired Liam O'Brien from the Rimouski Oceanic in exchange for draft picks.
The Huskies send their first round pick in the the 2012 CHL Import Draft along with a second-round pick in 2012 and Saint John's third-round pick in 2012.
Rouyn-Noranda also acquired Rimouski's first round pick in the 2012 CHL Import Draft along with a fifth-round pick in 2014.
O'Brien had seven goals for 16 points in 40 games this season with the Oceanic. The Halifax, N.S. native was selected 10th overall by the Oceanic in the 2010 Entry Draft.
The Huskies send their first round pick in the the 2012 CHL Import Draft along with a second-round pick in 2012 and Saint John's third-round pick in 2012.
Rouyn-Noranda also acquired Rimouski's first round pick in the 2012 CHL Import Draft along with a fifth-round pick in 2014.
O'Brien had seven goals for 16 points in 40 games this season with the Oceanic. The Halifax, N.S. native was selected 10th overall by the Oceanic in the 2010 Entry Draft.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The Q back in action tonight
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First on the list is the struggling P.E.I. Rocket (8-24-2-2) visiting the Halifax Mooseheads (22-11-1-2) at 7 p.m.
Next on the board is the Victoriaville Tigres (21-13-0-2) visiting the Drummondville Voltigeurs (14-18-2-3) at 8 p.m. Atlantic Time.
Third on the night is the Quebec Remparts (28-6-2-1) hosting the Rimouski Oceanic (22-17-0-0) at 8 p.m.
Fourth on the list is Shawinigan (25-9-2-2) hosting the Armada (20-14-2-0) at 8 p.m.
Next up is the Chicoutimi "Sags" (17-11-3-5) visiting the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (19-15-1-1) at 8 p.m.
And finally, the Val-d'Or Foreurs (15-19-0-4) visit their arch-rivals, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (12-25-1-1) at 8 p.m.
Trade updates
On Dec. 21, Saint John acquires Danny Chiasson (1992-09-23) and 12th round pick in 2012 from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar for an 11th round pick in 2012.
On Dec. 21, Acadie-Bathurst traded defenceman Garrett Clarke (1992-11-03) to the Gatineau Olympiques for a fifth-round pick in 2012 (via P.E.I) and a ninth-round pick in 2012.
On Dec. 20, Gatineau acquired Olivier Daoust from Moncton for Baie-Comeau's 2012 third-round pick.
To view a list of transactions so far, click here.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Busy weekend heading into Christmas break
There are quite a few games slated for this weekend as we enter the final week of action before the league breaks for Christmas.
Tonight, there are eight games in action tonight, combining for 16 of the the league's 17 teams.
First on tonight's schedule are the mighty Saint John Sea Dogs (26-10-0-1) visiting the struggling Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (14-20-0-1) at 7 p.m.
Second on tonight's schedule is the Halifax Mooseheads (21-10-1-2) visiting the Moncton Wildcats (17-16-2-0) at 7 p.m.
The P.E.I. Rocket, the other Maritime Division team in action tonight, are in Quebec to take on Patrick Roy and Mikhail Grigorenko's Remparts. The Rocket are in last place with an 8-22-2-2 record, as the Remparts are in first with an impressive 26-6-2-1 record. Gametime is 8 p.m.
Other Quebec teams in action tonight consist of the Gatineau Olympiques (16-14-2-3) visiting the Drummondville Voltigeurs (13-17-2-3) at 8 p.m, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (17-15-1-1) at Victoriaville Tigres (21-11-0-2), Chicoutimi Sagueneens (16-10-3-5) visiting the Rimouski Oceanic (20-17-0-0), Blainville-Boisbriand Armada(18-14-2-0) at Rouyn-Noranada Huskies (12-23-1-1) and the Shawinigan Cataractes (23-9-2-2) visit the Val-d'Or Foreurs (15-17-0-4).
The schedule loosens up on Saturday with only five games on the board.
The P.E.I. Rocket travel to Rimouski to battle the Oceanic, the Acadie-Bathurst Titan (17-17-2-2) travel to Victoriaville, the Olympiques host the Drakkar, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies host Shawnigan and the Armada visit the Foreurs.
On Sunday, only three games are on the schedule with Bathurst visiting Quebec, Halifax in Cape Breton, and Saint John visiting arch-rival Moncton Wildcats.
The trading period opens up on Monday Dec. 19.
In other news, it has been reported that Charlie Coyle will be reporting to the Saint John Sea Dogs. Coyle has left Boston University and is likely to sign with the Sea Dogs. Coyle's departure is due to academic issues.
Coyle, an East Weymouth, M.A., native had three goals and 14 points in 16 games with Boston University this season. The 19-year-old was selected 28th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. His rights were traded to the Minnesota Wild.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Rocket acquire Bernard
The P.E.I. Rocket have acquired 20-year-old forward Jessyko Bernard from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
Going the other way is P.E.I.'s eighth-round pick in 2014.
The Dalhousie, N.B. native had 25 goals last year with the Huskies and has recorded seven goals and 16 points in 18 games with the Huskies this season.
P.E.I. will be Bernard's third stop in his QMJHL career after spending time with the Huskies and the Halifax Mooseheads.
Going the other way is P.E.I.'s eighth-round pick in 2014.
The Dalhousie, N.B. native had 25 goals last year with the Huskies and has recorded seven goals and 16 points in 18 games with the Huskies this season.
P.E.I. will be Bernard's third stop in his QMJHL career after spending time with the Huskies and the Halifax Mooseheads.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Saturday night results
Quick recap of the scores from last night.
All home teams were victorious last night, opposite of what happened on Friday night.
Baie-Comeau were 5-1 winners over the Shawinigan Cataractes. Lukas Cingel (2-0), Raphael Bussieres (2-0), Tomas Filippi (0-2) and Felix Girard (0-2) all had two points in the Drakkar win. Yannick Veilleux had the lone goal for Shawinigan.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles had a big 9-4 win at home over the Rouyn-Noranada Huskies. Morgan Ellis had two goals and two assists. David Rose (1-2), Kyle Farrell (0-3), Logan Shaw (1-1), Denis Kindl (2-1) and William Carrier (1-2) also had multiple points on the night.
In Moncton, the Wildcats were 4-3 winners over the Victoriaville Tigres. Teams were tied 3-3 after the first period until Allain Saulnier scored a powerplay goal for the Wildcats and they would hold on to win.
In Gatineau, the Olympiques came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in overtime. Mathieu Gagnon (1-1) had the overtime winner for Gatineau.
Lastly, the Quebec Remparts thumped the Halifax Mooseheads 6-1. Mikhail Grigorenko had a goal and an assist for the Remparts, as Nathan MacKinnon had an assist for the Mooseheads.
All home teams were victorious last night, opposite of what happened on Friday night.
Baie-Comeau were 5-1 winners over the Shawinigan Cataractes. Lukas Cingel (2-0), Raphael Bussieres (2-0), Tomas Filippi (0-2) and Felix Girard (0-2) all had two points in the Drakkar win. Yannick Veilleux had the lone goal for Shawinigan.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles had a big 9-4 win at home over the Rouyn-Noranada Huskies. Morgan Ellis had two goals and two assists. David Rose (1-2), Kyle Farrell (0-3), Logan Shaw (1-1), Denis Kindl (2-1) and William Carrier (1-2) also had multiple points on the night.
In Moncton, the Wildcats were 4-3 winners over the Victoriaville Tigres. Teams were tied 3-3 after the first period until Allain Saulnier scored a powerplay goal for the Wildcats and they would hold on to win.
In Gatineau, the Olympiques came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-3 in overtime. Mathieu Gagnon (1-1) had the overtime winner for Gatineau.
Lastly, the Quebec Remparts thumped the Halifax Mooseheads 6-1. Mikhail Grigorenko had a goal and an assist for the Remparts, as Nathan MacKinnon had an assist for the Mooseheads.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday night preview
There are five games on the schedule tonight for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
The first game on the schedule is the Shawinigan Cataractes (17-7-1-2) at the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (12-11-0-0) at 5 p.m. AST.
Anton Zlobin leads the Cataractes in scoring with 22 goals and 32 points in 25 games.
Leading scorers for the Drakkar are Carl Gelinas and Alexandre Durette with 24 points each in 23 games.
Shawinigan is 1-0 against the Drakkar so far this season with a 3-2 win back on Oct. 27.
The second game on the scoreboard is the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (7-17-1-1) visiting the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (10-13-0-1) at 7 p.m.
Leading the way for Huskies is Zurich, Switzerland native, Sven Andrighetto with 12 goals and 27 points in 25 games.
Jonathan Brunelle leads the Screaming Eagles in scoring with eight goals and 27 points in 24 games.
This is the first time these two teams have met this season and will also play again tomorrow night.
Third on the scoreboard is the Victoriaville Tigres (17-8-0-1) visiting the Moncton Wildcats (14-11-1-0) at 7 p.m.
Yanni Gourde leads the Tigres in scoring with an impressive 14 goals and 43 points in 26 games.
Moncton is led by Alex Saulnier with 16 goals and 39 points in 26 games.
Victoriaville and Moncton have not met yet this season.
The next game on the schedule is the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (12-12-1-0)visiting the Gatineau Olympiques (12-10-1-1) at 8 p.m.
Armada rookie Christopher Clapperton leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points in 25 games, along with Jess Tanguy who has eight goals and 27 points in 24 games.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau leads the 'Piques with 18 goals and 31 points in 17 games.
Both teams have met each other twice so far this season and each team has won a game.
Past results: Sept. 16, GAT 0 @ BLB 7, Sept. 23, BLB 2 @ GAT 6.
The last game on the night is the the Halifax Mooseheads (14-6-1-1) visiting the Quebec Remparts (18-4-2-1) tonight at 8 p.m.
League superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax, and Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec, will go head-to-head.
MacKinnon leads the Mooseheads in scoring with 12 goals and 34 points in 22 games.
Grigorenko leads the Remparts with 18 goals and 39 points in 25 games.
Halifax won the last meeting between the two clubs on Oct. 22 in Halifax in 4-3 overtime win.
The first game on the schedule is the Shawinigan Cataractes (17-7-1-2) at the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (12-11-0-0) at 5 p.m. AST.
Anton Zlobin leads the Cataractes in scoring with 22 goals and 32 points in 25 games.
Leading scorers for the Drakkar are Carl Gelinas and Alexandre Durette with 24 points each in 23 games.
Shawinigan is 1-0 against the Drakkar so far this season with a 3-2 win back on Oct. 27.
The second game on the scoreboard is the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (7-17-1-1) visiting the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (10-13-0-1) at 7 p.m.
Leading the way for Huskies is Zurich, Switzerland native, Sven Andrighetto with 12 goals and 27 points in 25 games.
Jonathan Brunelle leads the Screaming Eagles in scoring with eight goals and 27 points in 24 games.
This is the first time these two teams have met this season and will also play again tomorrow night.
Third on the scoreboard is the Victoriaville Tigres (17-8-0-1) visiting the Moncton Wildcats (14-11-1-0) at 7 p.m.
Yanni Gourde leads the Tigres in scoring with an impressive 14 goals and 43 points in 26 games.
Moncton is led by Alex Saulnier with 16 goals and 39 points in 26 games.
Victoriaville and Moncton have not met yet this season.
The next game on the schedule is the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (12-12-1-0)visiting the Gatineau Olympiques (12-10-1-1) at 8 p.m.
Armada rookie Christopher Clapperton leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 27 points in 25 games, along with Jess Tanguy who has eight goals and 27 points in 24 games.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau leads the 'Piques with 18 goals and 31 points in 17 games.
Both teams have met each other twice so far this season and each team has won a game.
Past results: Sept. 16, GAT 0 @ BLB 7, Sept. 23, BLB 2 @ GAT 6.
The last game on the night is the the Halifax Mooseheads (14-6-1-1) visiting the Quebec Remparts (18-4-2-1) tonight at 8 p.m.
League superstars Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax, and Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec, will go head-to-head.
MacKinnon leads the Mooseheads in scoring with 12 goals and 34 points in 22 games.
Grigorenko leads the Remparts with 18 goals and 39 points in 25 games.
Halifax won the last meeting between the two clubs on Oct. 22 in Halifax in 4-3 overtime win.
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