By John Langdon
Twitter @JohnLangdon84
The Erie Otters’ youth continue to impress, the Portland Winterhawks make a statement, and Mikhail Grigorenko goes to work. Here is the CHL Weekend Mashup.
DANSK-ING THE NIGHT AWAY
Oscar Dansk stopped 86 of 90 shots in two games, including a remarkable 49-save performance against Oshawa to lead the Erie Otters to back-to-back wins this weekend. The Columbus Blue Jackets prospect is no stranger to a heavy workload, as Dansk has faced 35 or more shots in 14 of 17 appearances, while posting 40+ saves in six games this season. To steal a line from Don Cherry, "This guy has seen more rubber than the Trans-Canada highway."
Staying with the Otters, Connor McDavid extended his OHL rookie scoring lead with three goals and 5 points this weekend, including this slick shorthanded goal against the Peterborough Petes.
There’s been plenty of attention on the 15-year-old prodigy, but the hype transcends fans and media, as one OHL general manager recently told me, "He’s the best 15-year-old player I’ve ever seen. Most rookies take time adjusting to major junior, but the way he’s [adjusted] at his age is incredible."
MAKE IT A DOZEN
The Portland Winterhawks extended their win streak to 12 games with three wins in as many nights this weekend, but with last night’s victory, the Winterhawks made a statement. Portland knocked off the top team in the WHL with a 3-1 win over Kamloops to pull within two points of the Blazers for the WHL lead. After a three-point performance on Saturday, Oliver Bjorkstrand displayed his wrist shot not once but twice with two beautiful power-play goals against Kamloops. The Danish product leads WHL rookies with 11 goals and 20 points.
NOT ONE, NOT TWO, NOT THREE…
Mikhail Grigorenko scored all four goals for the Québec Remparts in their 5-4 shootout win against Cape Breton on Sunday. The Russian forward, who showcased his talents nationwide last week in Game 1 of the Subway Super Series, sits third in QMJHL scoring with 36 points in 18 games.
CATENACCI ATTACKS
Dan Catenacci continued his hot November by adding three goals and eight points in two games. The Owen Sound forward lit-up his former team with a goal and four assists in the Attack’s 7-5 win over the Soo Greyhounds on Saturday. Catenacci will try to carry that momentum into tonight’s Subway Super Series, as team OHL faces team Russia in Game 2.
