This Week’s edition of Linkorama is a few days late due to Winter Carnival. The news here is still just for hockey news through Thursday, February 9. We have updates on 10 recruits and 5 alumni.

Recruits

Alex Petan continued to put up points in three games last weekend for the Coquitlam Express (BCHL). He had five points including a goal and three assists in a 6–5 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Petan remains top ten in the BCHL in total points.

Jujhar Khaira and the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) had two games over last weekend. Khaira managed five points in those two games including a three-point performance to lead the Spruce Kings to a 4–3 win over Salmon Arm. His performance was good enough to earn the 1st Star of the game. Khaira followed up that big performance with another goal and assist to help the Spruce Kings sweep Salmon Arm by a 6–4 score. The Spruce Kings have been climbing the standings and, behind Khaira, hope to continue their rise. Khaira also remains in the top ten of the BCHL in total points.

Walker Hyland had two goals this week for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL). He gave the Bulldogs a 1–0 lead on a power play goal against the Vernon Vipers, but the Vipers responded and defeated Hyland and the Bulldogs 5–2. Hyland’s effort was good enough for the 3rd Star of the game. Hyland also scored a power play goal to help the Bulldogs to a 6–1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Hyland was featured in last week’s edition of Future Huskies.

Pheonix Copley had a week with a full range of events. He helped the Tri-City Storm (USHL) defeat Des Moines 5–4 by stopping 35 of the 39 shots he faced and stopping three of the five skaters he faced in the shootout. Then he was traded to Des Moines while THG was in the process of trying to interview him for next week’s edition of Future Huskies. In his first game with his new team, he allowed only one goal on 24 shots but the Buccaneers failed to score any goals and lost 2–0.

Tyler Heinonen continued his hot streak in 2012 for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) with a goal in the 6–1 win over the Chicago Steel. Heinonen now has seven points in his last eight games after scoring seven in his first 19 games for the Lumberjacks.

Max Vallis recently committed to Michigan Tech. Shortly before he committed, Vallis scored the first goal for the Omaha Lancers (USHL) to help them to a 6–2 win over the Fargo Force.

Jamie Phillips stopped all 28 shots he faced in goal for the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) as they defeated Pickering 5–0. Phillips was recognized as the 3rd Star of the game.

Reid Sturos was recognized as the NAHL Player of the Month after recording 14 points in 9 games during the month of January for the Alexandria Blizzard.

Joe Schuldt and Minnetonka are currently ranked second among Minnesota high school teams according to Let’s Play Hockey. The Skippers only had one game last week, but it was a big 5–4 overtime win versus the fifth-ranked Edina Hornets.

An interesting twist on Pheonix Copley’s trade from Tri-City to Des Moines was the fact that as part of the trade, Tri-City acquired the rights to another future Husky, Joel L’Esperance.

Alumni

Rob Nolan, Colorado Eagles

Clay Wilson had three points including the game-winning goal just 22 seconds into overtime as the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) defeated the Rochester Americans 3–2. That was good enough for the 2nd Star of the game. Wilson also had a goal in a 5–2 loss to the Toronto Marlies.

Rob Nolan was traded from the Toledo Walleye (ECHL) to the Colorado Eagles where he will join fellow alumnus Riley Nelson. Nolan says he’s ready for a fresh start with the Eagles.

Before Rob Nolan joined Riley Nelson with the Colorado Eagles (ECHL), Nelson had a five-point weekend while captaining his team to a two-game sweep of the Bakerfield Condors. In the first game, Nelson had three assists in a 6–3 win and followed that up with a goal and an assist in the second game, a 5–3 win.

Tyler Shelast was released by the Florida Everblades  (ECHL) on Monday but on Tuesday he was claimed by the South Carolina Stingrays.

Malcolm Gwilliam had three points in three games for the Evansville IceMen (CHL). In a 5–2 loss, Gwilliam had the IceMen’s first goal to tie things early in the first period, but it wasn’t enough. Later in the week, he had a goal early in the third period but the IceMen gave up the tying goal and needed a shootout to get the 5–4 win.

Other Items

Here is a direct link to the February 6 edition of the Mel Pearson Show on Mix 93 (broadcast live every Monday at 8:30 AM on 93.5FM WKMJ and rebroadcast every Monday at 5:30PM on 920AM WMPL).

Stephen Anderson (@steander), Michigan Tech hockey beat writer for The Daily Mining Gazette, posted his weekly column discussing Michigan Tech’s recent issues with slow starts on Friday nights.

Polls and Rankings*

Polls: USCHO.com Poll (NR ↓) , USA Today Poll (NR ↓)

Computers: KRACH Rankings (30 ↓), Pairwise Rankings (NR ↓), USHSHO.com (30 ↑/ 33 ↓)

NCAA Power Rankings: Inside College Hockey (NR), College Hockey Weekly (NR [1 vote]), Bleacher Report (NR)

WCHA/Michigan Power Rankings: Hockey State of Mind (6), Goon’s World (6 ↑), Pride On Ice (6), College Hockey News (6 ↔), Michigan College Hockey (5 ↔)

*Michigan Tech’s ranking and their change in ranking from the previous week is in parentheses

†Not updated yet; we’ll update the links when it becomes available

Tim Braun
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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.

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