Hello all! I’m trying to get back to our normal prospect updates on Mondays schedule, so as we do, let’s start off in Springfield (or Syracuse as it was) as the Falcons first two games were on the road against the Crunch.
The Falcons had a light start to the season playing only one game then having to play a three-in-three the next week. Mike Hoeffel scored the first goal of the season when he potted the rebound of a Denny Urban point shot. Urban (who’s an ex-Ohio Junior Blue Jacket by the way) struck when he took a pass from Dana Tyrell and fired a shot from the dot making it 2-0. 1:29 later, ex-Jacket Michael Blunden made it 2-1. Ryan Craig closed out the scoring with an empty net goal to make it 3-1, Anton Forsberg made 21 saves in the win.
A week later in the rematch, a somewhat familiar face would open the scoring when Jonathan Marchessault got the first goal followed by Dana Tyrell tying the game seven minutes later off a deflection. Early in the second, Domenic Monardo picked up the rebound making it 2-1. The Crunch would score late in the second to tie it and top prospect Jonathan Drouin scored the game winner in his pro-debut. Anton Forsberg made 35 saves in the loss – his first in North America.
Saturday, in the team’s home opener, the Falcons fell to the Hershey Bears by a score of 4-1 with Domenic Monardo scoring the team’s only goal. Anton Forsberg made 26 saves and allowed an empty net goal.
To close out the weekend it was time for a Dansk Party as Oscar Dansk earned his first pro start against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Ryan Craig opened the scoring with some help from Sean Collins and TJ Tynan, (the assist was the first point of Tynan’s pro career). Domenic Monardo scored his third of the season. After the Tigers scored two, new signee Andrew Cherniwchan would score to make it 3-2. Harry Zolnierczyk would score with 13 seconds remaining to tie it and Anders Lee had the game winner with his second of the night 41 seconds into overtime. Oscar Dansk made 34 saves in his debut.
An important side note: Anton Forsberg was called up to Columbus postgame due to Curtis McElhinney being injured.
Blake Siebenaler-Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Season Stats 9GP 1-2-3 -2 5PIM
Since our last update, Blake and the Dogs have played six games. Blake has been pointless in the first three. For the next game, the IceDogs finally got to go home after a six game road trip as the brand new Meridian Centre was being completed and they did it in style. In the home opener against Belleville – Blake picked up an assist when Cody Payne scored to make it 6-4 off a scramble in front. Blake would go pointless in the team’s next two games.
Nick Moutrey-Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Season Stats 9GP 2-6-8 +1 8PIM
Starting off the week against London, Nick picked up an assist on Dylan Sadowy’s second of the game in a 3-2 shootout loss. Up next against Peterborough, Nick achieved his first multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist. In the first, Nick won a board battle and got the puck to Jimmy Lodge who skated to the slot to make it 3-2 Petes. Later in the game, Nick scored the first of the Spirit’s two empty net goals when he outraced two Petes players and pulled off a wraparound to make it 5-3 in a 6-3 (10/12 game can’t link to video for some reason) Spirit win that they sealed with an empty net goal 49 seconds later. Nick was named third star in the win.
Nick earned another multi-point game in the next matchup against Markus Soberg and the Spitfires. With the Spirit trailing 4-1, Nick sent a cross-rink pass to Arty Art… I mean Artem Artemov who corraled the puck and fired a shot to make it 4-2. Nick’s second assist came on the Spirit’s fifth goal in a 8-5 loss.
Nick’s three game point streak was snapped in a shootout loss to Kitchener. Nick returned to the scoresheet with his second goal of the season in a 5-3 loss to Guelph.
Markus Soberg-Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Season Stats 9GP 0-3-3 -3 6PIM
In a game against Peterborough, Markus skated around the net and sent a pass to Chris Marchese who fired a shot to make it 1-0. The Spits would go on to win the game 5-4 in overtime. Markus would get points in back to back games for the first time this season when he picked up an assist in a 9-2 loss to Sarnia. Sarnia would roar out to a 8-0 lead and then, in the third, Markus skated out from the wall through the Sting to the net to take a shot with Mark Manchurek making it 8-1 Sting. Markus be held pointless in the Spits next three games.
Julien Pelletier-Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
Season Stats 13GP 5-7-12 -2 4PIM
Julien scored a goal in a 4-3 loss to Sherbooke. Pelletier’s wasthe one to make it 3-2. Julien was held without a point in the Eagles next five games, (sorry folks, no highlights for some reason).
Olivier LeBlanc-Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Season Stats 11GP 2-6-8 +16 31PIM
After being held pointless in a loss to Halifax, Olivierhad a night against Charlottetown when he picked up an assist and was a +4 in a 4-1 win. Late in the first, Olivier sprung Justice Dundas who scored on the breakaway for his first of the night. After no points in a blowout loss to Moncton, he’d pick up another assist in the rematch.
In a 7-1 win, Olivier earned an assist on Mathieu Joseph’s third period goal. The Sea Dogs loss to Moncton was their annual “Pink in the Rink” game in which Olivier served as the model for their pink jerseys. Olivier currently leads the QMJHL in +/-.
Peter Quenneville-Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Season Stats 11GP 3-8-11 -2 0PIM
After having only two assists in his first six games, Kings play by play man Bruce Luebke wrote about how a trip to Peter’s home province might get Peter going and boy did it. Starting off against Red Deer, in the second with the Kings trailing 4-2 Peter snapped a shot to make it 4-3 in a 6-4 Wheat Kings win.
Peter also opened the scoring in the Kings first regulation loss when Ryan Pilon sent a perfect pass to Peter on the doorstep (and to those who watch the highlights those are the Hitmen’s Bret ‘The Hitman” Hart 20th anniversary jerseys).
Up next against Edmonton, Peter picked up an assist. With Brandon trailing 3-0, Peter got the puck from a teammate, brought the puck in and passed to Rihards Bukarts. Bukarts would drop a pass to Eric Roy who fired a shot in what ended as a 5-2 loss.
When the Kings got back to Manitoba it was time for a CBJ prospect weekend with both Dillon Heatherington and Oliver Bjorkstrand coming to town. Against Swift Current, Peter picked up three assists in a 8-3 win, sorry don’t really see them in the highlights. In the following game, Peter had another three point night picking up a goal and two assists. Peter would pick up the two assists on the Kings first two goals; and then, in the second with the Kings leading 5-2 Peter tipped a Bukarts shot to make it 6-2 in a 10-3 Wheat Kings win.
Oliver Bjorkstrand-Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Season Stats 7GP 6-5-11 +3 6PIM
The Hawks have continued to struggle (not that Oliver is). In a 6-2 loss to Everett, Oliver picked up points on each of the Hawks goals including one he scored. In the first, trailing 1-0, Oliver took a pass from Chase De Leo in the slot to tie it at one. Later in the game with the Hawks trailing 3-1, Oliver stole the puck and found Nic Petan to make it 3-2.
In the first against Seattle, Oliver again stole puck from Ethan Bear and skated in through the defense to make it 1-0 in a 3-2 shootout loss. After the game, Hawks play by play man Andy Kemper tweeted this stat out “Oliver Bjorkstarnd has points in 100 of his 139 career WHL games – 50 single point games 50 multiple point games”.
After a 16 hour bus trip, the Hawks were in Moose Jaw for a game against the Warriors with Oliver picking up two goals and an assist. He was named first star. In a game mentioned above, Oliver picked up an assist in a 10-3 loss to Brandon when he took a cross-rink pass and started a tic tac toe play with Chase De Leo finishing it. It was announced before the Moose Jaw game that Oliver will be serving as an alternate captain this season after wearing an A since he was returned from Columbus.
Dillon Heatherington-Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
Season Stats 11GP 1-3-4 -5 0PIM
Dillon was held pointless against Victoria and Kelowna before picking up a point against Kootenay. In the 5-0 win over the Ice, Dillon earned the assist on Jake DeBrusk’s opening goal. After three games without a point, Dillon struck again – assisting on Carter Rigby’s second goal with the Broncos.
Seth Ambroz, Ryan Collins, Mike Reilly-Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten)
Ambroz 2GP 1-0-1 2PIM
Collins 1GP 0-1-1 0PIM
Reilly 2GP 0-2-2 0PIM
The Gophers took part in the annual Icebreaker Tournament held in South Bend. In the tournament opener against rival Minnesota-Duluth, only Seth and Mike played and both were pointless. In the championship game against RPI, all three of the Jackets prospects scored and Seth had the game winner with Mike picking up an assist on the goal – Seth deflecting his point shot. In the second period, Ryan Collins picked up his first collegiate point when Sabres pick Hudson Fasching deflected his point shot to make it 2-0. Mike’s second assist came when he earned a point on brother Connor’s second of the night.
Daniel Zaar-Lulea (SHL-Sweden)
Season Stats 12GP 3-7-10 +5 0PIM
After five games without a point, Daniel found his way back to the scoresheet with a two assist night against Djurgarden. Daniel picked up an assist on Lucas Wallmark’s goal when he fed Wallmark who made it 1-1. Daniel also got an assist on Jonathan Granstrom’s extra attacker goal but the Bears would fall by a score of 4-3. Daniel was held pointless in a 2-1 loss to Frolunda, a game that had him playing his second fewest minutes of the season. Daniel currently sits tied for fourth in the SHL in scoring and he is tied for the league lead in shots on goal.
Quickly Joonas Korpisalo returned to the Lynxes lineup and served as the backup for their game with JYP, Joonas had missed the previous eight games.
Elvis Merzlikins-HC Lugano (National League A-Switzerland)
Season Stats 7GP 5-1-1 .905Sv % 2.79GAA 0-3-3 4PIM(Leads goalies in Pts and PIM)
Elvis opened up against Lausanne HC, his fourth of the season. Elvis make 26 saves again AND picked up an assist on Frederick Petersson’s second period goal – that’s three on the season for those of you keeping score. After a night off Elvis went back in the crease against Geneve-Servette HC. Elvis made 26 saves in the game along with stopping four of six in a 4-3 shootout win.
That wraps up the week in prospects action. We’ll be back again next Monday with more on how all the young Jacket hopefuls are doing.
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