Notable Canadian junior performers this week:
Morgan Frost (C), Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2017 First Round Pick, 27th overall
- 3/21 – 2 assists, 9 shots, 23 for 32 FOW
- 3/23 – 1 goal, 2 assists, 6 shots, 2 PIM, 18 for 28 FOW
- 3/25 – 0 shots, 15 for 24 FOW/
The Greyhounds are up two games to one on Owen Sound in the first round of the OHL playoffs. Frost has five points (1 G, 4 A) in his first three playoff games.
Isaac Ratcliffe (LW), Guelph Storm (OHL)
2017 Second Round Pick, 35th overall
Guelph has taken a two game to none lead in their first round against Kitchener where they’ve out-scored the opponent 11-2. Ratcliffe picked up three points (1 G, 2 A) in two games so far.
Matthew Strome (LW), Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
2017 Fourth Round Pick, 106th overall
Hamilton got the unfortunate draw of having to face powerhouse Ottawa in the first round of the playoffs. Despite a couple goals from Strome, Hamilton is down 2-0 in the series and have been out-scored 14-5. Games three and four of the series are Tuesday and Wednesday.
Maksim Sushko (RW), Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
2017 Fourth Round Pick, 107th overall
Sushko and company are down 2-1 in the series to Sault Ste. Marie. Sushko had an impressive first game which lead to their only victory thus far. Games four and five are Wednesday and Friday.
Wyatte Wylie (D), Everett Silvertips (WHL)
2018 Fifth Round Pick, 127th overall
Wylie hasn’t factored into the scoring so far in this first round against Tri-City. However, Everett is up two games to none with games three and four on Wednesday/Thursday.
Yegor Zamula (D), Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Undrafted Free Agent
Zamula picked up an assist in Game One’s 3-2 OT loss to Lethbridge. Calgary also dropped Game Two to go down 2-0 in the series. Games three and four head back to Calgary on Tuesday and Thursday.
Notable European performers this week
Linus Högberg (D), Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
2016 Fifth Round Pick, 139th overall
No points and just a lone shot, but Hogberg and Vaxjo knocked out Orebo in the best of three series in the first round 2-0. Unfortunately, they are now down two games to none in the second round against Lulea.
David Bernhardt (D), Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
2016 Seventh Round Pick, 199th overall
See above. Bernhardt might have put more shots on, but didn’t factor into the scoring.
Marcus Westfält (C), Karlskrona HK (Allsvenskan)
2018 Seventh Round Pick, 205th overall
Not much to report other than Westfalt getting five games in the Allsvendskan playoffs and not recording a point and finishing with a plus/minus of -2.
Felix Sandström (G), HV71 (SHL)
2015 Third Round Pick, 70th overall
It sounds as though Sandstrom might be hurt/ill, which is why he hasn’t even dressed for any of HV71’s playoff games so far.
Samuel Ersson (G), Västerås IK (Allsvenskan)
2018 Fifth Round Pick, 143rd overall
- 3/20 – 2 GA, 18 saves/
Through five playoff games, Ersson has a .938 save percentage. He finished the regular season with .933. He was also invited to Team Sweden’s national team for the upcoming World’s against Hungary and Slovakia.
Kirill Ustimenko (G), MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
2017 Third Round Pick, 80th overall
Ustimenko and Dynamo made it to the second round of the MHL playoffs. Through six games Ustimenko has a .916 save percentage after finishing with a .927 in 46 games in the regular season.
Notable collegiate performers this week
Wade Allison (RW), Western Michigan University
2016 Second Round Pick, 52nd overall
Allison didn’t play the deciding game last Monday (3/18) and WMU fell to Colorado College in the best of three series. Allison finishes his junior season with 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 22 games. It was a disappointing year given the recovery from a Torn ACL and a number of minor injuries along the way. Now we play the waiting game to see if Allison signs an entry-level contract with the Flyers or decides to play out his senior season in 2019-20.
Joel Farabee (LW), Boston University
2018 First Round Pick, 14th overall
Farabee wasn’t available for last Friday’s Hockey East Championship game against Northeastern. Boston U lost 2-1 in overtime and didn’t make the Frozen Four Tournament. Farabee finished his freshman year (and only collegiate season) with 36 points (17 G, 19 A) in 37 games.
Tanner Laczynski (C/W), Ohio State University
2016 Sixth Round Pick, 169th overall
Despite losing the Big Ten Tournament, Ohio State was selected to participate in the Frozen Four. They will be squaring off against Denver in the semi-final match-up on Friday. Laczynski has 30 points (10 G, 20 A) in 26 games for his junior season. He’ll also be a candidate to watch to see if he returns to college or signs an entry-level contract with the Flyers.
Jay O’Brien (C), Providence College
2018 First Round Pick, 19th overall
It’s unclear if O’Brien is actually healthy (he sat out against the series against Boston College in the Hockey East Tournament), but if he is he will be facing off against Minnesota State in the Frozen Four on Saturday.
Noah Cates (LW), University of Minnesota-Duluth
2017 Fifth Round Pick, 137th overall
Minn-Duluth took care of business, beating Denver on Friday (3-0 win) and St. Cloud State (3-2 Double OT win) to win the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Tournament. In doing so, Minn-Duluth was selected for the Frozen Four and will play Bowling Green on Saturday. Noah Cates has 22 points (9 G, 13 A) in 36 games for his freshman season.
