This week’s linkorama includes updates on nine recruits and six alumni plus three YouTube videos for your viewing pleasure.
Recruits
The Coquitlam Express (BCHL) posted a highlight video of Alex Petan with some of his nifty moves from this year. It’s quite exciting watching that video and realizing that he will be wearing a Huskies sweater next season:
[youtube width=”600″ height=”365″ video_id=”jknRIGAqPFw”]
Pheonix Copley had another good weekend for his new team, the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL). In a game on Friday versus the Indiana Ice, Copley allowed 3 goals on 40 shots as Des Moines won 4–3. Two days later Copley followed that up with an even better performance, stopping 41 of 43 shots to help Des Moines defeat Waterloo 4–2. That was good enough to be recognized as the 2nd star of the game.
C.J. Eick scored a shorthanded goal for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) to help them secure a 7–2 victory over Team USA. C.J. Eick is also featured in this week’s edition of Future Huskies.
Tyler Heinonen scored another goal for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) but it wasn’t enough as the ‘Jacks fell to Team USA 6–4.
Max Vallis had a big game for the Omaha Lancers (USHL) getting a goal and three assists in a 7–0 thrashing of Cedar Rapids. Vallis was honored with the 2nd star of the game. He followed that up by scoring the first goal in Omaha’s 6–3 loss to Sioux City.
Jamie Phillips helped the Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL) win their first round matchup in the OJHL playoffs. He allowed just 7 goals on 114 shots in the Jr. Canadiens three wins over North York.
Chris Leibinger participated in 3 games during the NAHL Top Prospects Tournament. He created some buzz after recording three points (1G, 2A) in the first game.
Reid Sturos now has a four-game goal streak after scoring in both of the Alexandria Blizzard (NAHL) games over the weekend.
Joe Schuldt and the Minnetonka Skippers (MSHSL) were selected as the top seed in the Section 6AA tournament. They begin their quest for a Minnesota Class AA title tonight on their home ice at Pagel Ice Arena.
Alumni
John Scott has now played in five straight games for the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL) including four wins as the Blackhawks try to beef up their defense. Over that span, he also managed to get two fighting majors. First on Saturday night versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, Scott destroyed Derek Dorsett. According to this blog entry, Scott was actually pretty annoyed with having to fight Dorsett because he was finally getting some minutes and Dorsett picked a fight with him. Dorsett’s decision was even mocked by deadspin of all places. The fight was chosen as Hockey Fight of the Day by fighters.com. The next night in Chicago, John Scott got into a fight with Ryan Reaves of the St. Louis Blues during a whistle. The ref got them up and let them go at it. John Scott lost his balance on one of the first punches and fell to the ice, before the officials could break it up, Reaves took a cheap shot at Scott while he was laying on the ice.
Fight with Derek Dorsett:
[youtube width=”600″ height=”365″ video_id=”6bFa9MKE0i4″]
Fight with Ryan Reaves:
[youtube width=”600″ height=”365″ video_id=”sehwBeOPvJI”]
Chris Conner scored his first goal in over a month to help the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) defeat the Hamilton Bulldogs 4–2.
Due to an injury to one of the goalies on the Minnesota Wild, Rob Nolan was once again called up to the Houston Aeros (AHL) to be a backup goaltender to Darcy Kuemper.
Eric Kattelus helped get Kalamazoo (ECHL) out to a 3–0 lead versus the Gwinnett Gladiators by scoring a goal with only 45 seconds left in the first period but the Gladiators scored three goals to tie the game and won it in a shootout, 4–3.
Riley Nelson scored a goal to help the Colorado Eagles (ECHL) defeat the Ontario Reign 6-–4. That goal was Riley Nelson’s 726th point in his professional career.
Malcolm Gwilliam scored first for the Evansville IceMen (CHL) and they never looked back, defeating the Arizona Sundogs 5–2.
Other Items
Here is a direct link to the February 20 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, in his weekly column, brings up a good point about enjoying the moment. It is a wonderful feeling in Houghton, to be able to say the Huskies will not finish in last place and with only 4 games remaining, they still have a shot at hosting a playoff series for the first time since 1993.
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 (NR), Bleacher Report (TBD)†
WCHA/Michigan Power Rankings: Hockey State of Mind (8 ↔), Goon’s World (7 ↔), Pride On Ice (7), College Hockey News (TBD)†, Michigan College Hockey (6 ↑)
*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.
