Linkorama is back for week 21, with updates on seven recruits and six alumni.
Recruits
Alex Petan is on a hot streak: he has scored a goal in his last five games and has at least a point in his last six games. Since last week, Petan has five goals and five assists in four games for the Coquitlam Express (BCHL). In the second game of the weekend for the Express, Petan lead the way with two goals and an assist in a 3–2 win over the Powell River Kings. Petan was recognized as the 1st star for his efforts. The following night, Petan had a goal to help the Express sweep the Kings by a 3–1 score. In a weekday game versus the Nanaimo Clippers, Petan once again led the way with four points, including a goal, helping the Express to a 6–3 win and earning another 1st star. Alex Petan now sits 6th in scoring (74) in the BCHL and 7th in goals (30).
Jujhar Khaira has been almost has hot as Petan, scoring a goal in each of his last five games racking up nine points over that span (6–3–9). Khaira has helped the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) win their last three games and creep their way up the BCHL standings. In the first game of the week, Khaira had two goals to help the Spruce Kings defeat the Trail Smoke Eaters 4–1. Khaira earned the 2nd star of the game in that win. Khaira had a goal in each of the other two wins by the Spruce Kings, a 4–2 win over the Smoke Eaters to complete the sweep and an 8–2 win over Salmon Arm. Jujhar Khaira now sits 9th in scoring (66) in the BCHL and 11th in goals (27).
Walker Hyland had a four-assist performance over the weekend to help the Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) destroy the Victoria Grizzlies 10–3.
Pheonix Copley, as we touched on a little in this week’s edition of Future Huskies, has looked good so far with his new team, the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL). He’s played three games since last week’s linkorama, allowing 8 goals on 86 shots and going 2–1–0 in those three games. In the first game of the week, Copley allowed just 1 goal on 24 shots to earn the 3–1 win over Sioux Falls and was recognized as the 1st star of the game. In Saturday night’s game, Copley allowed 3 goals on 31 shots and stopped both skaters he faced in the shootout to help Des Moines to a 4–3 win over Sioux City.
Tyler Heinonen now has a four-game point streak after scoring two goals and two assists in three games over the weekend for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL). Heinonen had a goal and assist in a 6–5 OT loss to the Indiana Ice and had a goal and scored in the shootout in a 4–3 win over the Youngstown Phantoms.
Kent McPherson and the Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL) finished the regular season in first place of the East Division, finishing one point short of the best record in all of the OJHL. McPherson led all defensemen with 18 goals and was recognized as a 2nd team OJHL all-star.
Reid Sturos continued to tear up the NAHL with two goals over the weekend for Alexandria (NAHL). Sturos scored first to give the Blizzard the lead and they never looked back, defeating Bismarck 4–2. The following night, Sturos scored the game-tying goal early in the third period before Alexandria eventually scored the go-ahead goal to win 3–2 over Minot.
Alumni
Andy Sutton agreed to a one-year extension with the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) and he’s ecstatic about remaining in Edmonton.
Chris Conner was featured in an interview on The Production Line.
Eric Kattelus scored the first goal in back-to-back games for the Kalamazoo Wings (ECHL) as they won both games against Gwinnett (4–3) and Cincinnati (4–3). Kattelus was recognized with the 2nd star of the game versus the Cyclones.
Riley Nelson had three goals in four games for the Colorado Eagles (ECHL) over the last week. His best game was versus the Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday, in which he had a goal and assist in a 5–1 win, which was good enough for the 3rd star of the game.
Tyler Shelast scored his first goal for his new team, the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL), in a 5–3 loss to his last team, the Florida Everblades.
Malcolm Gwilliam scored first for the Evansville IceMen (CHL) and they never looked back in beating Rio Grande Valley 3–1, a 3rd star result for Gwilliam. Earlier in the week, Gwilliam scored another goal in a winning effort against the Dayton Gems (3–2).
Other Items
Here is a direct link to the February 13 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 covering Steve Yzerman and the disappointment surrounding Winter Carnival.
Polls and Rankings*
Polls: USCHO.com Poll (NR) , USA Today Poll (NR)
Computers: KRACH Rankings (32 ↓), Pairwise Rankings (NR), USHSHO.com (32 ↓/33 ↔)
NCAA Power Rankings: Inside College Hockey (NR), College Hockey Weekly (TBD)†, Bleacher Report (NR)
WCHA/Michigan Power Rankings: Hockey State of Mind (8 ↓), Goon’s World (7t ↓), Pride On Ice (TBD)†, College Hockey News (TBD), Michigan College Hockey (7 ↓)
*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 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.
