Sunday, October 11, 2009

10/10 Recap: Crawford piles helpers; Adam jamming

In the OHL, fourth-year defenseman Nick Crawford posted a career-best four assists on Saturday as Saginaw cruised past Belleville, 8-3. The 6'1 Crawford now has 12 points in nine games. Josh Shalla ('10) had a hat trick for the Spirit, while summer camper Adam Payerl connected on the power play for the Bulls. Marcus Foligno finished -1 as Sudbury was handed a 9-2 beatdown by Plymouth. Tyler Seguin ('10) had an even strength hat trick and two assists for the Whalers. At 6'1, 190 pounds, the 17-year old center leads the OHL with 14 goals, three hatties, and 11 assists in 10 games, and would be an ideal first-round target for the Sabres next June. In the QMJHL, Luke Adam extended a career-best six-game point streak with a pair of assists as Cape Breton lost to Saint John, 5-2. The big pivot paced the Eagles with six shots on goal and four hits, and continued to show improvement at the dot by taking 13 of 18 draws, but his club was forced into multiple turnovers by the hard skating Sea Dogs. Adam, who had a nice center ice collision with Dog dman Simon Despres (PIT), will enter Sunday's rematch as Cape Breton's leading scorer with 13 points (4+9) including eight in his last three games. Jordon Southorn (+2) assisted on both Rocket goals as PEI edged Rouyn-Noranda, 2-1 in OT. With Southorn putting forth a sound effort at both of the ice, Sabres Prospects continues to be impressed with undrafted Rocket, Adam Polasek. The import defenseman can skate with the puck, makes smart decisions, and likes the physical game. PEI was playing their first game under new head coach Eric Lavigne after the firing of Guy Chouinard earlier in the week. In Saturday college action, Corey Tropp had two power play assists as Michigan State swept Clarkson with a 4-3 win. The junior right wing had back-to-back multi-point efforts for the first time in his NCAA career, and seems to be clicking on the Spartans first line with Nick Sucharski and former BCHLer Derek Grant. Sophomore Connor Knapp was sharp in his first start of the year, stopping 20 shots to earn his third career shutout in Miami's 2-0 blanking of St. Cloud. Knapp directed the puck well, but was rarely tested by the Husky forwards. The #1 RedHawks will continue their Friday/Saturday goaltender rotation when they travel to New Hampshire next weekend. In Grand Forks, Brad Eidsness made 16 saves as North Dakota pushed off to a 2-0 season start with a 3-2 win over Merrimack. The Warriors were a little more active around the NoDak goalmouth, but Eidsness held his ground with good rebound cpntrol. Corey Fienhage was again a scratch for the Sioux as Dave Hakstol dressed a pair of freshmen ahead of him this weekend. Drew MacKenzie had an assist as Vermont defeated Denver, 6-4. Summer camper Brayden Irwin (#1 star) had two goals to lead the Catamounts, who earned the weekend split with the win. In the KHL, Vjacheslav Buravchikov was +1 as Ak Bars lost to Atlant, 4-3.