Texas Stars
The Stars finally got themselves back into the win column last week with two wins in three games (points in all three games). Texas had been riding a five game losing streak so it’s good to see them back and successful again.
Jack Campbell was the man of the week as he started two games and played a majority of the third game. Cris Nilstorp started the first game of the week but suffered an injury 25 minutes into the game and had to leave. Campbell stepped in and stopped 17 of 18 shots en route to 4-3 win.
Campbell would stop 48 of 54 shots the rest of the week and went 1-0-1. He’s going to see a lot of time as long as Nilstorp is out.
Scoring during the week was pretty well-rounded. Nine different players saw the puck hit the back of the net (multiple times for three players) and Matt Fraser led the way with three goals during the week.
Texas still maintains a four-point lead in the Western Conference and is just one point behind the Syracuse Crunch for the league lead in points. There’s just one point left in the season.
Mar. 19 – San Antonio Rampage @ Texas Stars
Mar. 22 – Rochester Americans @ Texas Stars
Mar. 23 – Charlotte Checkers @ Texas Stars
CHL Prospects
Radek Faksa – Kitchener Rangers
Faksa ended the regular season on a bit of a roll. He had a goal and an assist in two games last week and ended the season on a three-game points streak.
The Rangers opted to rest Faksa for the last game of the season and are now gearing up for a playoff series against the Guelph Storm.
Season totals: 39 games, 9 goals, 22 assists, 26 PIM, -1 rating
Mar. 22 – Guelph Storm @ Kitchener Rangers
Mar. 24 – Guelph Storm @ Kitchener Rangers
Mar. 26 – Kitchener Rangers @ Guelph Storm
Mar. 28 – Kitchener Rangers @ Guelph Storm
Mar. 29 – Guelph Storm @ Kitchener Rangers
Mar. 31 – Kitchener Rangers @ Guelph Storm
Apr. 01 – Guelph Storm @ Kitchener Rangers
Brett Ritchie – Niagara IceDogs
Ritchie had a quiet finish to the season with one goal in two games last week. The goal extended his points and goals streak to seven games before that was snapped in the second game of the week.
Ritchie sat out the last game of the week to rest for the playoffs and ends the year with career highs across the board. It was a breakout year for Ritchie and he’s going to be able to continue to show his stuff in the playoffs.
It’s going to be tough to beat the IceDogs if Ritchie stays in form. Their first-round opponent is the Oshawa Generals.
Season totals: 53 games, 41 goals, 35 assists, 40 PIM, +35 rating
Mar. 22 – Niagara IceDogs @ Oshawa Generals
Mar. 24 – Niagara IceDogs @ Oshawa Generals
Mar. 26 – Oshawa Generals @ Niagara IceDogs
Mar. 28 – Oshawa Generals @ Niagara IceDogs
Mar. 29 – Niagara IceDogs @ Oshawa Generals
Apr. 01 – Oshawa Generals @ Niagara IceDogs
Apr. 02 – Niagara IceDogs @ Oshawa Generals
Gemel Smith – Owen Sound Attack
Smith finished the regular season with a flourish. He had one goal and four assists in three games last week and is playing his most productive hockey at the perfect time for the Attack.
After very little scoring for much of January and February, Smith closed out the regular season four goals and five assists in the last seven games of the year. He’s entering the playoffs playing very well.
Owen Sound takes on the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in their first round matchup.
Season totals: 61 games, 23 goals, 29 assists, 54 PIM, +17 rating
Mar. 21 – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds @ Owen Sound Attack
Mar. 23 – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds @ Owen Sound Attack
Mar. 25 – Owen Sound Attack @ Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Mar. 27 – Owen Sound Attack @ Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Mar. 29 – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds @ Owen Sound Attack
Mar. 31 – Owen Sound Attack @ Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Apr. 02 – Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds @ Owen Sound Attack
Matej Stransky – Saskatoon Blades
Stransky ended the season on a rather quiet note when compared to how he’s done in the past month and a half. He had just two assists in three games last week.
Matej has been the MVP of the WHL since the beginning of February and carried the Blades to a number two seed in the playoffs. He had 16 goals and 16 assists in the final 23 games of the year and only Ritchie can boast a season as impressive as what Stransky had.
The Blades will take on the Medicine Hat Tigers in the first round.
Season totals: 72 games, 40 goals, 45 assists, 88 PIM, +32 rating
Mar. 21 – Medicine Hat Tigers @ Saskatoon Blades
Mar. 22 – Medicine Hat Tigers @ Saskatoon Blades
Mar. 26 – Saskatoon Blades @ Medicine Hat Tigers
Mar. 27 – Saskatoon Blades @ Medicine Hat Tigers
Mar. 29 – Medicine Hat Tigers @ Saskatoon Blades
Mar. 31 – Saskatoon Blades @ Medicine Hat Tigers
Apr. 02 – Medicine Hat Tigers @ Saskatoon Blades
Mike Winther – Prince Albert Raiders
Winther had one assist in three games last week for the Raiders and ends the season with a thud.
Winther has only had 10 total points since the beginning February (21 games) and hasn’t registered points in consecutive games this month. If Prince Albert wants to make it past the first round against the Red Deer Rebels, Winther has to show up on the scoresheet.
Season totals: 68 games, 22 goals, 28 assists, 61 PIM, +15 rating
Mar. 22 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Red Deer Rebels
Mar. 23 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Red Deer Rebels
Mar. 26 – Red Deer Rebels @ Prince Albert Raiders
Mar. 27 – Red Deer Rebels @ Prince Albert Raiders
Mar. 29 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Red Deer Rebels
Mar. 31 – Red Deer Rebels @ Prince Albert Raiders
Apr. 02 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Red Deer Rebels
Branden Troock – Seattle Thunderbirds
Seattle had three games last week but Troock wasn’t a part of them. He missed all of them with an injury.
It’s been a tough, injury-riddled year for Troock. He’s played in only 19 games this season and none in the final two months of the year. January was the only month in which he played more than four games.
He’s been injury prone in his career (only nine games played two years ago) and that bug hit him again this season.
The Thunderbirds made the playoffs, but don’t expect Troock to show up in the lineup.
Season totals: 19 games, 5 goals, 6 assists, 19 PIM, -5 rating
Troy Vance – Prince Edward Island Rocket
Vance had his third pointless week in a row to finish out the regular season. It wasn’t a bad year for the kid though as his combined numbers either tied or surpassed his previous career highs.
The playoff schedule hasn’t been fully released yet for the QMJHL, but Vance and the Rocket will take on Val-d’Or Foreurs in the first round. PEI holds home-ice advantage.
Season totals: 39 games, 3 goals, 15 assists, 41 PIM, -6 rating (With Victoriaville)
28 games, 1 goal, 7 assists, 16 PIM, +18 rating (With PEI)
Maxime Lagace – Prince Edward Island Rocket
Lagace didn’t play in any of the Rocket’s three games and rode the bench to close out the season.
Season totals: 33 games, 13-12-1-0, 106 goals allowed, 4.05 GAA, .869 SV%, 1 shutout
