Sunday, February 8, 2009

2/7 Recap: Ennis runs up 10; Brennan awaits word

In Western Hockey League action, Tyler Ennis scored an even strength goal as Medicine Hat outshot Moose Jaw 42-17 en route to a 5-2 victory. Ennis' 27th goal of the year gives him points in ten straight games (10+8), as the Tigers forward has marked in all but two of his 14 games since returning from Team Canada. Tyler Myers (+1) had an assist in Kelowna's 5-1 win over Kamloops. The Calgary native now has five goals and 30 points in 40 games. In an afternoon QMJHL tilt (glog), Paul Byron had three assists in Gatineau's wild 7-5 win over Montreal. All of Byron's assists came on the power play as the Ottawa native ups his season point total to 82. Montreal's Luke Adam and T.J. Brennan each had an assist, with Brennan being tossed in the second period after an elbow on Gatineau's Craig England. England was taken off on a stretcher, while Brennan received a major and a misconduct on the play and may very well be subject to league discipline for the hit. J.S. Allard set-up Mikhail Stefanovich's third goal of the game and 32nd of the season as Quebec defeated Val-d'Or, 6-3. Allard now has 12 goals and 41 points in 51 games (.80 ppg) after averaging .90 ppg in 2007-08. Jordon Southorn was -2 as PEI lost to Acadie-Bathurst, 5-3. A 2009 prospect of mild intrigue, 6'1, 210-pound Benjamin Casavant registered a Gordie Howe Hat Trick for the Rocket with two goals, an assist, and a third period fight. The left wing also had six shots on goal. Ranked 185th on Central Scouting's mid-term list of North American skaters, Casavant has power forward tools with a good knack around the net. His skating needs more attention, but his developing package is one that will likely move up the board before June. He is currently 14th in Q scoring with 61 points (29+32), and is carrying a solid +26 for a team with a .364 winning percentage. Rounding out the QMJHL slate, Jacob Lagacé was -2 with four shots on goal as Chicoutimi struggled in a 5-0 shutout loss to Moncton. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was +2 as Saginaw won at Erie, 5-2. Crawford now is +15 on the season, which ranks second on the Spirit roster. Drew Schiestel was -1 as Niagara was shellacked by Windsor, 6-1. Schiestel went without a point for the second straight game, and has yet to endure a three-game drought this season. In a light night on the NCAA circuit, Nick Eno let in four goals on 12 shots, including two shorthanders, as Bowling Green lost to Northern Michigan, 4-1. In five appearances since returning from a high ankle sprain, the sophomore is 0-4 with a 4.33 GAA and .820 save percentage. Matt Generous (-1) had two shots on goal as #20 St. Lawrence lost to Clarkson, 3-1.