Portland @ Kelowna
While it was hard for Mike Johnston to sit back and watch the Portland Winterhawks, he did gain a different perspective on his club.
Johnston feels Dominic Turgeon is his team’s most improved player. NHL Central Scouting must think that way too, he jumped 37 spots from the mid-term to the final rankings.
According to Portland broadcaster Andy Kemper, Brendan Burke had the best GAA and save percentage in the WHL since January 1st, 2014 going into the Kelowna series.
From their 2013 championship team, the Hawks lost defencemen Seth Jones to Nashville, Tyler Wotherspoon to Calgary and Troy Rutkowski to the AHL.
The Portland powerplay is so deep, Minnesota first rounder Mathew Dumba can’t get on the first unit.
Despite requests from fans, the Hawks will not open the upper bowl at Moda Center. Ticket demand is something the business side felt was imperative and it’s hard to argue with the success the Winterhawks have had in attendance regardless of what building they play out of.
The difference in this game was about 1/100th of a second. That’s the amount of time Portland needed on the clock in the first period for a last second goal to count. That would’ve given the Winterhawks a 4-2 lead after one and taken the wind out of Kelowna’s sail.
A Madison Bowey slump earlier in the year had him change stick patterns to a Drew Doughty curve. Bowey set the Rockets record for most goals by a defenceman in a season with 21 in 2013-14.
Detroit prospect Mitchell Wheaton has settled into his role well as a stay-at-home defenceman. He gets constant reinforcement from the Red Wings to stick to his game. That’s not easy for junior-aged kids. Most of them think they have to be big point producers in order to take the next step.
Jesse Lees is a converted defenceman that looked great playing up front, and didn’t miss a beat when moved back to his original spot on the PP.
It’s not often a 16-year-old player can pull himself out of a funk mid-game, but that’s what Nick Merkley did. The Kelowna rookie turned pucks over, missed passes, mishandled the puck and was flat-out awful for 40 minutes, but in the third period, there wasn’t a better player on the ice. That is why he will be a high first round pick in 2015.
Justin Kirkland has all-world skill and with a frame that can handle more weight and strength he has big-time sleeper potential in the 2014 draft.
Around the CHL
Ran into St. Louis scout Jesse Wallin before the game. A year out of the CHL spent with his family gave him a new perspective as to how all-consuming a GM/Head Coach’s role really is. The Blues tailored the job for Wallin, who still loves being a part of the game, but has much better balance with his family.
The boxscore from Tuesday’s game seven between Blainville-Boisbriand and Rimouski is worth a look. The Oceanic scored four goals in a span of four minutes and three seconds towards the end of the first period, spelling the end of the night for Armada netminder Etienne Marcoux. The teams combined to score four more goals in a three-minute, 22-second span near the start of the second frame. By the 6:35 mark of the third, Philippe Desrosiers was lifted and the Armada held a 6-5 lead. Rimouski took the lead with 3:46 left only to have Nikita Jevpalovs tie it at seven, less than a minute later. Jevplaovs ended it 12:59 into the extra frame.
JF Houle and Joel Bouchard deserve a boatload of credit. They’ve been faced with an inordinate amount of injuries, have had to deal with the Matteau situation, play with a smaller, energetic team and just upended what many QMJHL experts said was the best team in the league heading into the playoffs.
The OHL announced London goalie Anthony Stolarz will not have to serve the final two games of his suspension during the Mastercard Memorial Cup. Stolarz received 8 games for a stick swinging incident that involved Windsor’s Josh Ho-Sang.
Through two games against Val d’Or, Montreal Canadiens prospect Zachary Fucale allowed eight goals on 41 shots.
Apparently there is no goaltending controversy in Erie. Devin Williams will start game four against Guelph because, “I believe Devin Williams is our best goaltender,” according to head coach Kris Knoblauch.
The non-renewal of Mike Williamson’s contract in Calgary came as a surprise. This move is the first that really puts GM Mike Moore’s stamp on the hockey club. Moore took over as GM, replacing Kelly Kisio June 11, 2013. As one former WHL head coach put it to me, “they fire you one day and the next day they’re looking to hire someone just like you.”
IIHF U-18
No surprise Jake Virtanen and Brendan Perlini are leading the way for Canada. Both are projected top-15 picks in the 2014 draft.
Good to see Mason McDonald start against Russia. One year ago, he didn’t play at all, as Julio Billia was the starter.
Calgary’s Travis Sanheim has had an unbelievable second half and has continued his fine play in the worlds.
Interesting tactic employed by Russia as it switched goalies for the shootout. Head coach Pavel Baulin removed Max Tretiak in favour of Alexander Trushkov, who didn’t allow a goal, giving Russia a 3-2 victory.
Depending on the status of Brayden Point, Canada’s offence may take a serious hit. Point was hit from behind by Danil Vovchenko in the first period.
Stat Trick
The North Bay Battalion lead the Oshawa Generals 2-0 in their OHL Eastern Conference Championship Series. The numbers aren’t pretty, but a defence-first mentality has served the troops well.
Completely Off Topic
I’d love if just once Guy Fieri would take a bite of something on his Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show and say, “that wasn’t very good.”
Friday Night Hockey
TBD, but check the link above for the latest.
More CHL
Be sure to check out the latest from Patrick King.