It's December, so it's time to once again fire up the Draft Stuff.
Adam Mascherin used his bullet of a shot to cash two power play goals Friday as Kitchener rolled past Ottawa 5-1. The second overall pick in the 2014 OHL draft, Mascherin has already surpassed his previous year totals with 14 goals and 31 points in 24 appearances. He began the season with points in his first 11 games, and now has six goals in his last six outings.
First-round candidate Luke Kunin scored his fifth goal as a collegian as Wisconsin coughed up a three-goal lead to take a 6-4 loss to Michigan. His teammates gave him a nice gift on his 18th birthday as Kunin finished off a pretty passing play with a quick rising shot from in front to extend his point streak to three games. Kunin has 10 points through his first 13 NCAA contests.
Brett Howden struck for a pair of goals in a span of four minutes in the middle frame as Moose Jaw cruised past Saskatoon 6-1. Howden, who displayed his quick release on his second of the night, has clawed his way back to a point-per-game pace with 13 goals and 15 assists in 28 WHL games.
Kieffer Bellows (BU) scored off one of his eight shots on goal as Team USA U18 stormed past Sioux City 5-2. Fellow Terrier commit Clayton Keller remained one of the hottest players in the draft class with two assists and a game-high nine shots on goal. Zach Walker, an Idaho product by way of the Colorado Thunderbirds, scored twice for the NTDP. Jake Oettinger (BU) remained undefeated with a 32-save shutout.
Stocky scorer Dmitry Sokolov used his quick left-handed shot to snatch a pair of goals in Sudbury's 6-4 loss to Barrie. After a cool November that saw him score in just one of 11 games (okay, so it was hat trick), Sokolov has started December with goals in two straight. Sololov has 22 points (12+10) in 28 games.
Julien Gauthier continued his Cy Young campaign with a third-period marker as Val-d'Or outgunned Acadie-Bathurst 7-5. The 6-foot-4 winger has collected 24 goals and eight assists in 28 games this season. Earlier this week, Gauthier was one of three draft eligibles invited to Canada's World Junior Selection Camp.
Halifax Mooseheads winger Maxime Fortier notched a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to Rouyn-
Noranda. Fortier, a "C" rated prospect by Central Scouting, has 16 goals and 36 points at the 30-game mark.
Another C skater in Central's Players to Watch list, Benjamin Gleason connected for a career-high two goals plus a helper as Hamilton downed Guelph 7-4. The Michigan-born defenseman has seven goals and 15 points in 24 games since an early season trade from London.
Alex Debrincat failed to score in regulation for just the ninth time in 27 games, but connected for the only goal in the shootout as Erie edged Owen Sound 3-2. Smallish but fearless, Debrincat has crushed the OHL this season with a league-leading 32 goals and 58 points. I'm not going to tell you what he's on pace for, but it's a lot. Fellow sub-six-footer Kyle Maksimovich scored his 11th of the year for the Otters.
William Knierim scored his fourth goal of the year and assisted on the game-winner in the final minute of play to help Dubuque to a 3-2 win over Omaha. The banging 6-foot-4, 207-pounder is committed to Miami University for 2016-17. He has 10 points in 19 USHL games.
In the BCHL, Tyson Jost (North Dakota) had two assists as Penticton blanked Vernon 3-0. Jost sits with 24 goals and 60 points through 30 games. Puck-moving defender Dante Fabbro (BU) contributed one helper for the Vees to give him 39 points (7+32) through 24 contests.
Tyler Benson connected for two assists to earn the game's first star as Vancouver skated to a 4-0 win over Kootenay. Benson has points in three straight to boost his season total to 15 (5+10). Ty Ronning, son of former NHL forward Cliff, scored his 17th goal for the Giants.
