With the NHL lockout looking like it’s on for the long haul, the hockey focus will be on the Stars prospects and overseas players. This is the schedule for those players this week and a few updates on how those players performed in the previous week.
Texas Stars
The Stars finished their preseason last week with a 3-0-0 record and outscored their opponents 14-3. Their regular season finally gets underway on Oct. 13 against the San Antonio Rampage.
Oct. 13 – Texas Stars @ San Antonio Rampage
Oct. 14 – Charlotte Checkers @ Texas Stars
Hamburg Freezers
Jamie Benn played his first two overseas games last week with the Freezers. His debut game was pretty quiet as he had just three shots without any points. His latest game went much better (though his team lost) as he had a goal and an assist on nine shots. The goal that he had was pretty much on an open net. He also had a shootout goal (using his usual sweeping move from the right-hand boards) as the game went into a shootout.
The Freezers have two games this upcoming week, both on the road.
Oct. 12 – Hamburg Freezers @ Iserlohn Roosters
Oct. 14 – Hamburg Freezers @ Straubing Tigers
HC Kladno
Jaromir Jagr had himself a pretty quiet week as he went pointless in two games with Kladno. His team has two games this week.
Oct. 11 – Kladno @ Plzeň
Oct. 14 – Litvínov @ Kladno
Severstal Cherepovets
Tom Wandell played his first game with his new team last week and had a TOI of 16:35. He went pointless, but had three shots and was his team’s leader in face-offs (he took 22 and won 11).
His team only has one game this week.
Oct. 9 – Donbass Donetsk vs Severstal Cherepovets
Rauman Lukko
Philip Larsen had a pretty busy week in the Finnish League. He played three games and had three points (one goal and two assists). He has another three game week this week.
Oct. 9 – Saipa vs Rauman Lukko
Oct. 12 – TPS Turku vs Rauman Lukko
Oct. 13 – Rauman Lukko vs TPS Turku
Kitchener Rangers
Radek Faksa had a goal and an assist in the Ranger’s two games this past week (both losses). He’s had a great start to the season so far and is among the team leaders in just about all categories, which was to be expected. The Rangers play two games this week.
Oct. 12 – Kingston Frontenacs @ Kitchener Rangers
Oct. 14 – Ottawa 67’s @ Kitchener Rangers
Saskatoon Blades
Matej Stransky (and his team) had a very tough week, losing all three of their games by a combined 19-5 score. He went pointless last week as well. The Blades play four games this week, including three in three days on the road.
Oct. 10 – Portland Winterhawks @ Saskatoon Blades
Oct. 12 – Saskatoon Blades @ Kootenay Ice
Oct. 13 – Saskatoon Blades @ Lethbridge Hurricanes
Oct. 14 – Saskatoon Blades @ Medicine Hat Tigers
Niagara IceDogs
Brett Ritchie continued his hot start to the season with four more assists in the IceDogs three games last week. He now has nine assists on the year, leading the OHL, and is in the top-10 in points (with 10). The IceDogs play four games this week and it’ll be interesting to see how many more assists Ritchie racks up, especially against weaker teams this week.
Oct. 9 – Niagara IceDogs @ Peterborough Petes
Oct. 11 – Ottawa 67’s @ Niagara IceDogs
Oct. 13 – Niagara IceDogs @ Sarnia Sting
Oct. 14 – Niagara IceDogs @ Windsor Spitfires
Owen Sound Attack
One of the more intriguing prospects in the Stars system, Gemel Smith, had himself a great week. Smith had a goal an three assists in two games this past week and doubled his season totals (through seven games).
Oct. 10 – Plymouth Whalers @ Owen Sound Attack
Oct. 13 – Petersborough Petes @ Owen Sound Attack
Prince Albert Raiders
Mike Winther has been dealing with injuries and missed all four of the Raiders game last week. It doesn’t seem like he’ll return anytime soon but the Raiders have three games this week.
Oct. 9 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Lethbridge Hurricanes
Oct. 12 – Portland Winterhawks @ Prince Albert Raiders
Oct. 13 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Moose Jaw Warriors
Seattle Thunderbirds
Branden Troock didn’t play in either of the Thunderbird’s games this past week, probably due to injury. He had some injury issues throughout his career so hopefully he’ll be back on the ice soon.
Oct. 12 – Seattle Thunderbirds @ Vancouver Giants
Oct. 16 – Spokane Chiefs @ Seattle Thunderbirds
Oct. 19 – Seattle Thunderbirds @ Spokane Chiefs
Oct. 20 – Seattle Thunderbirds @ Portland Winterhawks
Victoriaville Tigers
Troy Vance had an okay week with two assists in four games (though his team lost three of those games) to bring his assist total to six on the season. He’s been more involved in the offense this year and it’s showing on the stat sheet.
Oct. 10 – Baie-Comeau Drakkar @ Victoriaville Tigers
Oct. 13 – Drummondville Voltigeurs @ Victoriaville Tigers
Oct. 14 – Victoriaville Tigers @ Blainville-Boisbriand Armada
Prince Edward Island Rocket
Goalie prospect Maxime Lagace played 1 1/2 of PEI’s three games last week and had some big difficulties. He allowed 10 goals on 43 shots and was pulled midway through PEI’s game on Sunday. His team has three games this week, though at best he’ll play in two in them.
Oct. 10 – Saint John Sea Dogs @ PEI Rocket
Oct. 12 – Acadie-Bathurst Titan @ PEI Rocket
Oct. 13 – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies @ PEI Rocket
