Notable Canadian junior performers this week:
Connor Bunnaman (C/LW), Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
2016 4th Round Pick, 109th overall
- 9/28 – 3 shots, 6 for 7 FOW
- 9/29 – DNP
- 9/30 – DNP/
Bunnaman didn’t see much action this week, missing both Friday and Saturday’s games with the flu.
Anthony Salinitri (C), Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2016 6th Round Pick, 172nd overall
- 9/30 – 2 assists, 3 shots, 2 PIM, 2 for 3 FOW
- 10/1 – 3 assists, 1 shot, 2 for 3 FOW/
Talk about a monster weekend for Salinitri, who has quickly jumped out to 6 points (1 G, 5 A) in his first 4 games.
Morgan Frost (C), Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2017 1st Round Pick, 27th overall
- 9/28 – 2 shots, 11 for 20 FOW
- 9/29 – 2 shots, 6 PIM, 7 for 16 FOW
- 10/1 – 2 assists, 4 shots, 2 PIM, 12 for 18 FOW/
Despite being held pointless in two games this week, Frost still has 1 goal and 4 assists in his first 5 games.
Isaac Ratcliffe (LW), Guelph Storm (OHL)
2017 2nd Round Pick, 35th overall
- 9/29 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots
- 9/30 – 1 goal, 5 shots, 4 PIM, 1 for 3 FOW/
The hulking 6’6” winger collects his first 2 goals of the season this week. His first was via this excellent wrist shot.
Matthew Strome (LW), Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 106th overall
- 9/29 – 1 goal, 1 shot, 0 for 1 FOW
- 9/30 – 1 goal, 5 shots, 2 for 2 FOW
- 10/1 – 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 PIM, 1 for 2 FOW/
The hopes are high for Strome after he came off of a 34 goal season in his draft year. Two goals in his first four games is certainly a great start. You can check out one of those goals here.
Maksim Sushko (RW), Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 107th overall
- 9/29 – 1 assist, 5 shots, 2 PIM
- 9/30 – 1 goal, 2 shots, 0 for 1 FOW/
The first two points of the season for the 18-year-old from Belarus.
Carter Hart (G), Everett Silvertips (WHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 48th overall
- 9/29 – 3 GA, 35 saves
- 9/30 – 3 GA, 22 saves/
Carter Hart makes his season debut and was named 1st Star of the Game on Friday. While his numbers on Saturday don’t look promising, he did enter that game midway through after the back-up goalie, Dorrin Luding, gave up 2 goals on 10 shots.
Pascal Laberge (C), Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 36th overall
- 9/29 – 1 goal, 5 shots, 2 PIM, 5 for 11 FOW
- 9/30 – 1 goal, 1 shot, 4 PIM, 7 for 14 FOW/
This is exactly the week you want to see from Laberge, who many had hesitations on entering the 2017-18 season. This is his goal from Saturday night.
Notable European performers this week
Linus Högberg (D), Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
2016 5th Round Pick, 139th overall
- 9/28 – 7:51 TOI
- 9/30 – 8:59 TOI/
Högberg still getting 3rd pairing minutes for Växjö.
David Bernhardt (D), Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
2016 7th Round Pick, 199th overall
- 9/28 – 1 shot, 15:00 TOI
- 9/30 – 9:31 TOI/
Positives: Bernhardt got 15 minutes of actual icetime on Thursday! Negatives: Apparently he was benched for the 3rd period of Saturday night’s matchup.
David Kaše (C/W), Mora IK (SHL)
2015 5th Round Pick, 128th overall
- 9/30 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots, 19:18 TOI
- 10/1 – 1 shot, 15:43 TOI/
What a start of the season for Kaše, who has 4 points (2 G, 2 A) in his first 5 games in the SHL.
Olle Lycksell (RW/C), Linköping HC J20 (SuperElit)
2017 6th Round Pick, 168th overall
- 9/30 – no shots
- 10/1 – 1 goal/
Kudos to Alex Appleyard for the updates on Lycksell as they’re a bit hard to come by. Here is a highlight of Lycksell’s first goal of the season on Sunday.
Felix Sandström (G), Brynäs IF (SHL)
2015 3rd Round Pick, 70th overall
- 9/28 – 3 GA, 35 saves
- 9/30 – 1 GA, 25 saves/
This week is a prime example of what Sandström what he is capable of and what he must do from here on out. Competition with incumbent starter David Rautio will remain tight, but if he is able to pull off these types of wins, you will begin to see starts going in the favor of Sandström more often.
Ivan Fedotov (G), Toros Neftekamsk (VHL)
2015 7th Round Pick, 188th overall
- 9/28 – DNP
- 9/30 – 5 GA, 27 saves/
A tough loss for Fedotov this week and rough start to the season overall. The 20 year old netminder has a .891 SV% and 2.63 GAA through 6 games.
Kirill Ustimenko (G), MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
2017 3rd Round Pick, 80th overall
- 9/25 – 4 GA, 23 saves
- 9/26 – DNP/
The young Belarusian goalie struggles continued and saw his SV% drop to .894 in 7 games on the season.
