12/31 Recap: Lemieux, Baptiste close year on high note

Brendan Lemieux added two more goals to his season haul Wednesday as Barrie barreled past Belleville 6-1. Lemieux's eighth multiple-goal effort of the season gives him 27 goals in 30 games for the Colts, equaling the total he posted in all of 2013-14 (65 games). He remains among league leaders with 27 goals (3rd), 14 power play goals (1st) and 85 PIM (2nd).



Nick Baptiste notched two goals including the game-winner plus an assist to earn the game's number one star as Erie edged Guelph 4-3. With back-to-back three-point outings, Baptiste has elevated his production to six goals and 13 points in 11 games since joining the Otters. He has totaled 12 goals and 24 points in 23 games between Erie and Sudbury.

Eric Cornel was blanked for the third consecutive game as Peterborough skated to a 3-2 win at Niagara. Cornel, who went without a goal in nine December games, has amassed 28 points (8+20) for the last-place Petes. His .85 points-per-game are slightly down from the .91 he logged in 2013-14.

QMJHL

Vaclav Karabacek (sick) did not play as Gatineau dropped their fourth straight contest 5-2 to Rouyn-Noranda. Karabacek is currently fourth in team scoring with 11 goals, while his 25 points place fifth for the struggling Olympiques.

WHL

Brycen Martin logged a plus-one rating as Swift Current got past Red Deer 4-3 in a shootout. The 18-year-old defender has two goals, 16 points and a plus-three rating through 38 games.

USHL

Christopher Brown produced one shot on goal and a slashing minor as Green Bay blanked Cedar Rapids 2-0. Brown leads the Gamblers with 12 goals on 21% shooting through 28 games. His 23 points are third on the team, two behind Minnesota commit Brent Gates, Jr.

AHL

Andrey Makarov made 30 saves to earn the game's first star and Jerome Leduc scored his second goal of the season as Rochester closed out 2014 with a 4-1 victory over Syracuse. Brodie Reid, Zac Dalpe and Brayden Irwin also scored as the Amerks again allowed the game's first goal before replying with four unanswered. Tim Schaller kept up his excellent play of late, notching one assist en route to being named the number two star. The Amerks will look to win two straight for the first time since October when they take on Iowa on Friday.

ECHL

Colin Jacobs notched a goal and two assists to earn the game's number two star as Elmira blanked Reading 4-0. Jacobs' first three-point night as a pro snapped his 12-game point drought.