OHL

It’s always great to see Barrie Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk. I would venture a guess that he’s one of the most unassuming Hall of Famer’s you could ever meet.

I loved his resolve after Barrie’s loss, saying “it’s only one game.”

And then of course, his team would respond winning Game 2 after relinquishing a two-goal lead and then leaning on netminder Mathias Niederberger to make 65 saves in a double-overtime affair.

Goalie Coach Mike Rosati seems like he’s on the right track in terms of blending technique and athleticism with his two keepers.

Barrie forward Ivan Telegin can bring you right out of your seat and Mark Scheifele is super-skilled and can play at both ends of the ice.

Will Ottawa go deep enough into the spring to get John McFarland back?

It seems like Ottawa 67’s defenceman Marc Zanetti is a much bigger piece to the Ottawa picture than many would’ve guessed two years ago and Tyler Graovac was a great late round pick by Minnesota, just another in a long-line of top prospects.

Tyler Toffoli continues to score big-goals for the 67’s, as he has a point in every playoff game so far.

—Goaltending is at the fore of the Kitchener-Plymouth series.

—Don’t think that the Saginaw Spirit will go quietly, especially with the way Brandon Saad has been playing.

—Brampton is doing its best, but the Battalion may be a little over-matched against the high-flying Niagara IceDogs. Niagara goalie Mark Visentin has stopped 66 of 68 shots in the series.

—Interesting to see the final verdict on the OHL draft being moved up by about a month. My guess is, it will be moved back, not all the way, but by about two weeks.

QMJHL

Game 2 of the Quebec Remparts-Halifax Mooseheads series had it all; Quebec responding every time Halifax took the lead, including on the power play in the final minute, forcing the game into overtime.

Five of the seven goals were scored with the man advantage.

Mikhail Grigorenko and Nathan MacKinnon played big parts for their respective teams.

Finally, a home-team (Quebec) win in front of more than 12,000 people.

Halifax Assistant Coach Jim Midgley said Game 2 felt like it was being played at old Chicago Stadium.

—The Shawinigan Cataractes went to Alex Dubeau to start Game 2 in goal and it worked. He stopped 22 of 24 shots against. In the six Mastercard Memorial Cups I’ve called, no team has won it while playing both goalies when the games meant something.

—The Moncton Wildcats have had no issues scoring goals, with13 in two games. It doesn’t hurt that Brandon Gormley has five points in two games.

—Theres no surprise that the Saint John Sea Dogs have been dominant in their first two games versus Baie-Comeau, although Le Drakkar should have a little better push back at home.

—The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada/Rimouski Oceanic series heated up in Game 2. Armada goaltender Etienne Marcoux stopped all 29 shots, then things got ugly in the third frame of Blainville-Boisbriand’s 2-0 win. It should be fun when the series moves to Rimouski, where the fans don’t miss a beat.

WHL

The Moose Jaw Warriors took full advantage of the Emerson Etem-less Madicine Hat Tigers in Game 2 and flexed its muscles, scoring six, basically all in the second half of the game.

Warriors’ Cam Braes has a point in every playoff game, and James Henry in five of six. Alan Millar acquired both of those guys for this time of year and it looks like he was right on the money.

Moose Jaw goalie Luke Siemens has been the benefactor of a big-tough defensive corps. The Warriors have held the opponent to 20 or fewer shots in five of seven playoff games. The Tigers have just 32 shots in the first two games combined.

—As expected, the Edmonton Oil Kings can win in a variety of ways; low-scoring, quick-strike, rough and tumble and on special teams. Kristians Pelss has scored three of Edmonton’s six goals in the series.

—If the Portland Winterhawks have found the right chemistry, and if there’s desire in the room that will last, they will win the Western Conference and quite possibly the Ed Chynoweth Cup. On-paper, Portland is on par with the Saint John as the two most talented teams in the CHL.

—Keep an eye on when Cole Cheveldave returns for the Kamloops Blazers, although it may not matter if Sven Bartschi continues to play the way he has through two games.

—Tri-City Americans’ Ty Rimmer had a bit of a letdown in January, but other than that, he’s been the best goalie in the WHL.

—Eric Williams and Mike Aviani continue to play well for the Spokane Chiefs. Not the duo I thought Spokane would’ve leaned-on going into the playoffs, but good for them.

Under-18

I did a quick drive-by before Canada’s Under-18 team left for the Czech Republic…

—Despite an injury-riddled season where his team failed to qualify for the playoffs, Red Deer Head Coach Jesse Wallin is a winner.

—Didn’t know P.E.I Rocket head coach Gordie Dwyer was bilingual.

—Nice pinch-hit appearance by Red Deer Rebels play-by-play voice, public relations specialist and all-around good-guy Cam Moon, filling in for Keegan Gooderich for the tournament.

—Team Canada has a great group of forwards that includes little known draft-eligibleplayers such as Mike Winther (Prince Albert), Branden Troock (Seattle), and Troy Bourke (Prince George).

—Great choice by Hockey Canada head scout Kevin Prendergast to take defenceman Warren Steele of Kingston. He’s a rather unusual pick, but definitely worthy.

—The tournament kicks off April 12th when Canada takes on Denmark.

Other

—Keep an eye on the ’95 born goalie class. Just to throw a few names out at you: Spencer Martin (Mississauga), Eric Comrie (Tri- City), Zachary Fucale (Halifax), Austin Lotz (Everett), Tristan Jarry (Edmonton), Alex Fotinos (Barrie), Domenic Graham (Drummondville, late ’94), Charlie Graham (Belleville) and Jordan DeKort (Windsor). Theres more than enough talent here to go around.

—NHL Central Scouting has released its final rankings for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, you can find them here.

Stat-Trick

How much does scoring first in a game mean? Here’s the breakdown:

*of note, losses include overtime and shootout losses

QMJHL Regular Season win % when scoring first: (.682), playoffs (.619).

OHL Regular Season win% when scoring first: (.703), playoffs (.706).

WHL Regular Season win% when scoring first: (.677), playoffs (.773).

In all games played during the 2011-12 season in the CHL through April 9th, the winning percentage for a team scoring first is (.684%)

Friday Night Hockey Continues….

This Friday, FNH returns to the WHL where we’ll take in Game 5 of the Edmonton-Brandon series, if necessary. If not, check Sportsnet.ca for updates.

For more on the CHL, be sure to check out Patrick King right here at sportsnet.ca

By Patrick King, Sportsnet.ca

Russian forwards must be getting sick and tired of seeing Karl Alzner patrolling the Canadian blue line.

Unfortunately for the Russians, they will have to deal with Alzner at least one more time as the newly-appointed Calgary Hitmen captain has been selected to play for the Western Hockey League team in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge. Alzner has suited up for Canada most recently at the SuperSeries against the Russians while he was also a part of the Canadian team which defeated the Russians to take gold at last year’s world junior championships.

The ADT Canada-Russia Challenge is a six-game competition, which sees two games in each of the three leagues in the Canadian Hockey League. The challenge is used as a scouting tool for the Canadian world junior team in preparation for the 2008 World Junior Championships.

Alzner is one of only two players on the WHL roster who suited up for Canada at last year’s world junior team, with goaltender Leland Irving being the other. However, Alzner and Irving are two of 12 players who played for Canada at the SuperSeries. Other members of Team WHL who played in the SuperSeries are forwards Zach Boychuk, Colton Gillies, Zach Hamill, Brandon Sutter and Dana Tyrell and defencemen Keaton Ellerby, Thomas Hickey, Nick Ross, Luke Schenn and Ty Wishart.

Team WHL will be represented by: goaltenders Irving (Everett) and Tyson Sexsmith (Vancouver); defencemen Alzner (Calgary), Ellerby (Kamloops), Hickey (Seattle), John Negrin (Kootenay), Ross (Regina), Schenn (Kelowna), Colton Teubert (Regina), Wishart (Prince George) and Ben Wright (Lethbridge); forwards Andrew Bailey (Kootenay), Brennan Bosch (Medicine Hat), Boychuk (Lethbridge), Jordan Eberle (Regina), Tyler Ennis (Medicine Hat), Mitch Fadden (Lethbridge), Gillies (Saskatoon), Hamill (Everett), Bud Holloway (Seattle), Riley Holzapfel (Moose Jaw), Spencer Machacek (Vancouver), Ben Maxwell (Kootenay), Justin McCrae (Saskatoon), Levi Nelson (Swift Current), Matt Robertson (Prince Albert), Mark Santorelli (Chilliwack), Sutter (Red Deer), Tyrell (Prince George) and Ryan White (Calgary). Head coach of Team WHL is Curtis Hunt (Regina) with assistants Don Hay (Vancouver) and Willie Desjardins (Medicine Hat).

The two WHL games will be played in Cranbrook, B.C. on Nov. 28 and Medicine Hat, Alta. on Nov. 29. All the action can be seen on Rogers Sportsnet.

Bulls lead OHL charge

The Belleville Bulls edged out the Oshawa Generals and Niagara IceDogs for the most representatives from Ontario Hockey League teams in the upcoming ADT Canada-Russia Challenge.

The OHL announced the rosters and coaching staff for their two games against the Russian Selects which will take place in Kitchener, Ont. on Nov. 22 and Sudbury, Ont. on Nov. 26. The Bulls lead the way with five participants, one more than both Oshawa and Niagara.

The Bulls, who also have the most representatives among any Canadian Hockey League team, will be represented by forwards Matt Beleskey, Shawn Matthias and Bryan Cameron and defencemen Shawn Lalonde and P.K. Subban. The Generals’ participants will be headlined by phenom John Tavares, who was the CHL’s Player of the Year last year at the tender age of 16.

Six players on Team OHL represented Canada at the SuperSeries in September while none of them were at last year’s world junior tournament. Those six players are: goaltender Steve Mason; defencemen Josh Godfrey and Drew Doughty; forwards Tavares, Stefan Legein and Cory Emmerton.

Team OHL will be represented by: goaltenders Trevor Cann (Peterborough) and Mason (London); defencemen Matt Corrente (Niagara), Tyler Cuma (Ottawa), John de Gray (Brampton), Michael Del Zotto (Oshawa), Michael D’Orazio (Owen Sound), Doughty (Guelph), Godfrey (Sault Ste. Marie), Mark Katic (Sarnia), Lalonde (Belleville), Alex Pietrangelo (Niagara) and Subban (Belleville); forwards Justin Azevedo (Kitchener), Joshua Bailey (Windsor), Beleskey (Belleville), Cameron (Belleville), Luca Caputi (Niagara), Logan Couture (Ottawa), Emmerton (Kingston), Matt Halischuk (Kitchener), Dustin Jeffrey (Sault Ste. Marie), Legein (Niagara), Matthias (Belleville), Brett MacLean (Oshawa), Jamie McGinn (Ottawa), Dale Mitchell (Oshawa), Wayne Simmonds (Owen Sound), Nick Spaling (Kitchener), Steven Stamkos (Sarnia), Tavares (Oshawa) and Chris Terry (Plymouth). Head coach of Team OHL is Craig Hartsburg (Sault Ste. Marie) with assistants Peter DeBoer (Kitchener) and Nick Foligno (Sudbury).

Former NHL bench boss joins Erie

The Erie Otters, who have lost nine straight, made a coaching change Monday when they hired former National Hockey League coach Robbie Ftorek. The 55-year old Ftorek takes over for Peter Sidorkiewicz, who has been relegated to join Ftorek’s support staff, along with Mike Stapleton and Mike Nelson.

Ftorek made three coaching stops in his NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. He has also been an assistant in the NHL as well as a head coach in the American Hockey League prior to joining the Otters. Ftorek’s job won’t be an easy one. The Otters have been the league’s doormat the last two seasons and currently have the worst record in the OHL at 3-12-0-0. Known for his defensive coaching style, the Otters are hoping Ftorek can turn a team around which has yielded a league-high (tied with Kingston) 83 goals in 15 games.

Mior joins record books

Gatineau Olympiques goaltender Ryan Mior became the sixth goaltender in Québec Major Junior Hockey League history to play in 200 career games on Friday. Mior, who became the first goaltender from an Atlantic province to achieve 200 career games in the QMJHL, is within striking distance of the all-time record.

The career record for games played as a goaltender in the QMJHL is held by Jacques Cloutier who suited up in 222 games for the Trois-Rivières Draveurs from 1976 to 1980. The Draveurs franchise has since moved to Sherbrook, Que., then to Lewiston, Maine where they are now known as the MAINEiacs.

Noteworthy: Rimouski Océanic forward Michael Frolik was named the QMJHL’s offensive player of the week while the St. John’s Fog Devils goaltender Timo Pielmeier was named the league’s defensive player of the week. … Kitchener Rangers defenceman Yannick Weber was named the OHL’s player of the week. … Tri-City Americans forward Jason Reese was named the WHL’s player of the week. … Moncton Wildcats governor Jean Brousseau was elected as the new president of the QMJHL’s board of governors. … The Medicine Hat Tigers acquired defenceman Patrick Kozyra from the Spokane Chiefs for a draft pick. … The Vancouver Giants set a new franchise record for shots on goal in a game on Friday when they peppered Joey Perricone with 57 shots in a 4-3 overtime win over Moose Jaw. … Moncton Wildcats forward Matt Marquardt was suspended one game by the QMJHL after spearing an opponent in a 4-2 loss to Lewiston on Sunday.