In the NCAA, Corey Fienhage earned his first point of the year and finished a game-high +3 as host #4 North Dakota defeated Ohio State, 4-1, at the Subway Holiday Classic in Grand Forks. Playing on the third pair, Fienhage picked up an assist when he made a nice keep at the blueline and used good vision on a pass to Darcy Zajac for the Sioux's first goal. Brad Eidsness made 22 saves to help North Dakota improve to 8-4-1.
Game highlights:
In the early game at Grand Forks, Connor Knapp watched as #1 Miami was upset by #6 Bemidji State, 3-2. The sophomore is expected to get the nod opposite Eidsness when the RedHawks take on North Dakota on Saturday.
In East Lansing, Corey Tropp scored his 10th goal of the year and added an assist as #8 Michigan State got throttled by #15Wisconsin, 7-3, as part of the College Hockey Showcase. The junior has now a career-high 19 points through the first 15 games of the Spartans' schedule.
Brayden McNabb scored a goal and an assist in his return to the Kootenay lineup as the Ice scored five third period goals to earn a 6-5 shootout win over Kamloops. McNabb, who garnered an assist in Team WHL's Subway Super Series win on Thursday, missed the previous eight games with a knee injury.
In the OHL, Nick Crawford posted three assists as Barrie downed Mississauga, 5-2. Crawford, who finished the night +3, has one goal, nine assists, and a +10 in seven games since being traded to the Colts.
Zack Kassian was held without a point as Peterborough dropped a 3-2 shootout to league stud, Windsor.
Finishing the QMJHL wrap, Luke Adam was -2 in Cape Breton's 3-0 loss to Bathurst. With the Eagles struggling and lacking intensity, the generally mild-mannered Adam displayed his unhappiness on the bench during the chippy contest, at one point throwing his stick in disgust.
Jordon Southorn was +1 as PEI defeated Lewiston, 6-4.
Elsewhere in the NCAA, Nick Eno made 31 saves as Bowling Green was defeated by Notre Dame, 2-1 in overtime.
Drew MacKenzie was scratched as #18 Vermont edged Northeastern, 3-2. Catamounts coaching staff Kevin Sneddon was looking to send a message after Tuesday's 6-2 loss to Massachusetts, and barring injury/illnes, it appears that the sophomore defenseman was one of the examples being made.
Justin Jokinen was also a scratch in Minnesota State's 5-2 win over Michigan Tech.
In the USHL, Mark Adams did not play in Chicago's 4-2 win over Team USA. The 6'2 defenseman registered one shot on goal in the Steel's 2-1 overtime loss to Green Bay on Wednesday.
