Linkorama is back. This week includes updates on nine recruits and six alumni. We also have a summary of this week’s Mel Pearson Show.
Recruits
Alex Petan was injured during a game with Alberni Valley (BCHL) due to a blind-side forearm check from Turner Popoff. Despite the injury, Petan remains ninth in the BCHL with 53 points and should return soon. Coquitlam lists him as day-to-day.
Walker Hyland had two assists for Alberni Valley as they split two games over the weekend. His offensive output has increased pretty significantly since Alberni Valley made a change at head coach in December.
Jujhar Khaira was the highest ranked player (80th) from the BCHL in the recently released North American Skaters Midterm Rankings from the NHL Central Scouting Service. Khaira currently sits tied for tenth in the BCHL with 52 points and tied for fourth in points per game at 1.7.
C.J. Eick had two assists to help the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) defeat the Chicago Steel 7–1. Eick has been a big part of Green Bay’s fourth-ranked penalty kill.
Jamie Phillips was traded from the Powell River Kings (BCHL) to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL). It seemed like an odd trade considering Phillips has out-performed his former teammate, Sean Maguire, in just about every statistic, but Maguire has been getting most of the playing time since the holiday break. In Phillips’ only action after the break, he allowed no goals in over 87 minutes, including his league-leading fifth shutout versus the Langley Rivermen. Phillips also leaves the BCHL sitting at third in Wins (16), first in GAA (2.01) and third in SV% (.921) among all goaltenders.
Alaska native Pheonix Copley was featured in a Fairbanks Daily News article about his commitment to Michigan Tech and the conference reshuffling that will allow Copley to play some games at “home” just 19 miles from North Pole, Alaska, at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
Kent McPherson had two assists in Trenton’s (OJHL) first game after the holiday break, a 5–4 victory over Wellington.
Reid Sturos led all scorers with four points (including two goals) as the Alexandria Blizzard defeated the Minot Minotauros 5–3. That performance was good enough to earn him the 3rd Star.
Joe Schuldt and the Minnetonka Skippers (MSHSL) picked up two big victories including a 5–3 win at Moorhead (ranked eighth) and a win in their first conference match against Hopkins. Minnetonka returned to the #2 spot in this week’s Let’s Play Hockey Rankings, but has some tough games coming up in the next week including Benilde-St. Margaret’s and Holy Angels.
Alumni
Clay Wilson made his Calgary Flames (NHL) debut last week in a 3–1 win over the Minnesota Wild. He may have been named an AHL all-star but his focus is finding a way to stay with the Flames. So far, he’s been impressing the Flames with his efforts.
Chris Conner was sent back down to the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) and didn’t take long to reestablish himself as a scoring threat. In his first game back with the Griffins, he had a goal and an assist and was awarded the 2nd star in a 3–2 shootout loss to the Houston Aeros.
Rob Nolan made his debut for the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) versus the Trenton Titans and made 33 saves in a losing effort.
Tyler Shelast had a goal and assist in his debut for his new team, the Florida Everblades (ECHL), in 7–2 win over the Chicago Express.
Malcolm Gwilliam helped the Evansville IceMen (CHL) defeat the Bloomington Blaze 6–2. Gwilliam tallied a goal and two assists in the victory, good enough for the 3rd Star of the game.
Colin Murphy was featured in his hometown paper, the Fort McMurray Today, for taking his hockey career to Germany.
Other Items
Chris Dilks at Western College Hockey took a look at potential players for Team USA’ 2013 World Junior Roster in Russia. He mentioned Blake Pietila as a possibility among many other forwards. If Pietila makes the team, it would be the first time a current Husky participated in a World Junior tournament since 1993 when Liam Garvey and Pat Mikesch were both on Team USA.
Stephen Anderson (@steander), Michigan Tech hockey beat writer for The Daily Mining Gazette, series preview is up, discussing the line-up for this weekend’s series with Alaska-Anchorage and more.
The January 9 edition of the Mel Pearson Show on Mix 93 is not available for replay (broadcast live every Monday at 8:30 AM on 93.5FM WKMJ and rebroadcast every Monday at 5:30PM on 920AM WMPL).
Here is a summary of part of the show:
A lot of things have to happen before we can win, but need to come out this weekend winning. Home ice is a real goal for this team. Need to back to basics, get pucks and bodies to the net. That was emphasized in practice last week. Want guys to shoot to score. Need to get Jordan Baker and Jacob Johnstone going, both are still sitting on 3 goals. When players aren’t scoring, they need to make sure they’re doing other things right. Need guys to be more hungry around the net to score.
Players: McCadden is very valuable. He’s been a healthy scratch lately, was off to a rough start, not scoring, and defensively wasn’t playing as well as he could. McCadden knows that and he’ll get back in the lineup. McCadden is a good PK player, but a good PK player has to be smart, and know what the other team is doing and take it away, plus be willing to block shots. Reddick is intriguing to Coach Pearson. He skates and can shoot. He needs to play with confidence. If he does that, he might be able to have a breakout second half. Rix looks good, works hard and scored in junior hockey. He can score more at this level. Kero is not 100%. Huskies are hopeful he will be this weekend. His shoulder is getting better/stronger.
Other Items: The Power Play has been pretty good. We’ve made small tweaks, but overall pleased with PP. It’s top 20 in country. There are key moments in a game when we need a goal. Can we do it? This weekend is a very important series against Alaska–Anchorage. The Huskies want second half to get off to a good start, and need to take care of home ice. It’s kind of like starting over again. Blue line luncheon at noon on Friday, Perason will speak about where the Huskies are at they head into the second half of the WCHA.
*Featured image shows Reid Sturos with the Alexandria Blizzard.
Tim is a 2004 graduate of Michigan Tech. He is a co-founder of both Mitch’s Misfits and Tech Hockey Guide. With recent additions to the staff, Tim is again able to focus on his passion, recruiting. He currently works as an environmental engineer and resides in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area.
