Sunday, January 2, 2011

1/2 Recap: McNabb hits mark; Sutch scratches itch

Brayden McNabb scored his 9th goal of the year Sunday to extend his point streak to 11 games as Kootenay downed Edmonton, 2-1. The point-shot through traffic was McNabb's 136th career point in an Ice uniform, allowing him to become the franchise's all-time leader in points for a defenseman. Mark Pysyk (+1) assisted on the lone Oil Kings goal, and has now gone 17 straight games rated "even" or better. Edmonton (19-17-0-2) will visit Medicine Hat on Tuesday while McNabb and Kootenay (26-11-1-2) are off until Friday when they host Moose Jaw.

Elsewhere in the WHL, Kevin Sundher scored his 12th goal of the year as Chilliwack lost to Vancouver, 6-2. Sundher now has 36 points on the season including a team-best 24 assists. After playing Sunday's contest with just nine forwards and 15 total skaters, the last-place Bruins (17-17-2-1) will regroup for Friday's meeting with the team three points ahead of them, Kamloops.

Corey Fienhage (+1) earned an assist as Kamloops defeated Kelowna, 5-1. Five of Fienhage's 10 season points have come in his last seven games. The perfectly .500 Blazers (19-19-1-1 and 5-5 in their last ten) will play Medicine Hat on Tuesday before battling Sundher's Bruins.

Matt MacKenzie (-1) picked up his team-leading 19th assist as Calgary lost in a shootout to Regina, 4-3. The 6'2 defender will carry a three-game point streak into Tuesday when the Hitmen (12-24-2-1) travel to Saskatoon.

In the OHL, Gregg Sutch and his mates were shut down as Mississauga was blanked by Saginaw, 4-0. The checking forward did log his fifth fighting major of the season, taking out some frustration on rugged Anthony Camara ('11) with two minutes to play in the game.

Just 3:53 into the first period with Saginaw already holding a 1-0 lead, Sutch earned a double-minor when he and Ben Chiarot tackled each other.




With the game out of hand in the waning minutes, Sutch looked to send a message by engaging Camara, who has now dropped the gloves with two Sabres prospects this season after grappling with Zack Kassian back in November.





The Majors (29-6-0-1) are off until Friday when they battle the Soo Greyhounds.

In NCAA action, Justin Jokinen (+2) earned an assist as Minnesota State earned the Shillelagh Tournament Championship by trouncing Brown, 7-3. The junior, who now has 10 points this season after entering the year with nine in 48 career games, hasn't scored since netting a hat trick back on November 26th (seven games). The Mavericks (8-8-4) will next play a weekend set with American International College of the Atlantic Hockey Conference.

Drew MacKenzie played even as Vermont defeated Harvard, 3-1. Vermont (3-10-4) will play Boston University on Sunday.