9/22 Recap: Jacobs begins with career best

Colin Jacobs posted a career-best five points Saturday as Prince George opened the regular season with a 6-0 blowout of Everett.

Jacobs got the ball rolling for the Cougars with a penalty shot goal at 6:43 of the first period. He later struck on the power play in the final minute of the second. The five-point night (2+3), which eclipsed Jacobs' previous high (4) set in December 2010, was a first for a Sabres prospect since Kevin Sundher's one-goal, four-assist performance last October. The Cougars and Silvertips will engage in a rematch Sunday.




Joel Armia scored his third goal of the year as Assat defeated HPK 4-1. The mark, which came in the opening minute of the second period, tied the game 1-1 as Assat began to take control of the game. The Aces get back at it Tuesday when they host HIFK.


In Sweden, Linus Ullmark came on in relief of Daniel Hansen, stopping seven of eight shots in 39:57 of work as Mora rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Djurgardens 5-4 in a shootout. Ullmark, who was making his Mora debut, allowed a power play goal off a quick feed from behind the night shortly after entering the game but held firm from there while his team carried the play over the final twenty minutes to force extra time. Mora returns to action Tuesday against Vasteras.

Elsewhere, Dan Catenacci notched a goal and an assist as Owen Sound defeated Saginaw 5-2. Catenacci has four points (2+2) after two regular season games. The Attack continue play Thursday at Barrie. Justin Kea finished -1 for the Spirit, who kick off their home schedule Thursday versus Sudbury.


Brady Austin was -2 as Belleville needed a shootout to defeat Plymouth 3-2. The Bulls take on the Battalion Friday night in Brampton.

In the WHL, Logan Nelson picked up a pair of even-strength assists in Victoria's 3-2 win over Vancouver. Nelson showed off his speed and passing on the second helper, breaking into the Giants zone and deftly sending a cross-ice saucer feed to Alex Gogolev. The Royals are off until Friday when they begin a two-game set with Kamloops.



Andrey Makarov made 25 saves as Saskatoon lost their home opener 5-2 to Prince Albert. The Blades made ti tough on themselves from the start, surrendering three goals in the top half of the first period including two on the power play. The Blades next take the ice Wednesday at Brandon.

9/20 Recap: Catenacci opens with goal

Dan Catenacci had an active third period Thursday, recording a Gordie Howe hat trick in a span of 5:26 as Owen Sound opened the 2012-13 season with a 6-1 win over Windsor. The Attack has Friday off before returning to work Saturday versus Saginaw.

Catenacci followed up his own rebound on the power play to give the Attack a 4-0 lead at 1:36 of the middle frame. At 5:05 he earned an assist on another man advantage marker. Just under two minutes later, Catenacci was cited for his second career fighting major after his cross check set off a minor melee.


Elsewhere, Alex Lepkowski finished +2 as Barrie got past Ottawa 6-4. Mark Scheifele (WIN) and Andreas Athanasiou (DET) paced the winners with two goals apiece. The Colts continue opening weekend Friday at Kingston.

At the USHL Fall Classic, Judd Peterson notched an assist as Cedar Rapids edged Lincoln 4-3. Denver commit Landon Smith scored a hat trick for Cedar Rapids. The RoughRiders close the preseason Friday afternoon when they take on Tri-City.

Ullmark impressive in final tune-up

Linus Ullmark stopped 44 of 45 shots sent his way Sunday as Modo J20 earned a 2-1 overtime win over Skelleftea J20.

The 6'3" Ullmark came up big throughout, including many big saves as Gustav Possler (’13) served a five-minute major for a check to the head late in the game. MODO opens the SuperElit regular season schedule Saturday when they hosy Brynas.

In the OHL, Dan Catenacci's Owen Sound Attack throttled Erie 9-4 in their second-to-last preseason contest. The Attack will close out their exhibition schedule Tuesday with a game against Mississauga. Catenacci sustained an undisclosed injury and did not play.

Alex Lepkowski's Barrie Colts defeated Kitchener, 5-2. The Colts close out the preseason Friday with a rematch against the Rangers.

Austin, Kea get helpers; Jacobs bounced

Brady Austin picked up his second assist of the preseason Saturday as Belleville avenged the previous night's loss with a 6-5 decision over Kingston. Winnipeg prospect Austen Brassard pocketed a pair of goals for Belleville. The Bulls get back to action Tuesday when they take on Oshawa.

Justin Kea notched an assist for the second straight game as Saginaw improved their preseason record to 3-0 with a 5-1 win over Sault Ste. Marie. The Spirit will next visit Sarnia on Thursday.

In the WHL, Colin Jacobs failed to collect a point but earned his second game misconduct of the preseason as Prince George dropped a 4-1 decision to Edmonton. Jacobs, who last week was bounced for instigating a scrap in the final five minutes of the Cougars win over Red Deer, was whistled for a check to the head and fighting major with just two ticks left on the clock in Saturday's loss. The Cougars are off until Friday when they visit Kamloops.

Logan Nelson scored the first goal of the shootout as Victoria earned a 3-2 win over Kelowna. The 6'1 forward will look for his first regulation tally on Friday when the Royals take on Vancouver.

Dan Catenacci did not register as Owen Sound downed Mississauga, 5-3. The Attack will travel to Elmira, Ontario on Sunday for an afternoon tilt with Erie.

In the USHL, Judd Peterson did not play as Cedar Rapids was defeated for the second straight game by Dubuque, 4-2. The RoughRiders are off until Friday when they travel to Waterloo.

Lepkowski chips in

In Monday preseason action, Alex Lepkowski notched an assist as Barrie edged Owen Sound 4-3 in a shootout. The 6'4 defender made a nice board pass in the first period to send Brendan Bell in for the game's first goal.

Lepkowski is hoping to be more comfortable starting the transition game in what should be his final year of junior. After just three assists in all of 2011-12 and a total of 10 in his three-year OHL career, the simple play is a good start.

Dan Catenacci did not score for Owen Sound, who falls to 0-2 in the exhibition season after back-to-back losses to the Colts.

Next up for Barrie is a game with Guelph on Friday. The Attack are off until Saturday when they battle the newly minted Mississauga Steelheads.

OHL open for business

Dan Catenacci got his first preseason skate in Sunday as Owen Sound dropped a 3-1 decision to Barrie. The speedy forward is the top returning scorer on the Attack roster after scoring 33 goals and 72 points a season ago. The 2012-13 Barrie blueline will be anchored in part by 19-year old Alex Lepkowski, who emerged as a top stay-at-home presence in last spring's playoffs. The two clubs will go back at it Monday night in Barrie.

Justin Kea did not point as Saginaw won 2-0 at London. The two-way Kea is competing for second line center duty this season behind Panthers prospect Vincent Trocheck. Sunday's game featured more fights than goals (three) as some bad blood spilled over from last spring's Western Conference semi-final. Jake Paterson (DET) earned the shutout for Spirit, who are now off until Thursday when they take on Sarnia.

In the WHL, Colin Jacobs did not play as Prince George buried Medicine Hat, 5-0. Chase Witala ('13) paced the Cougars with two goals and an assist. PG returns to action Friday when they host defending WHL champion Edmonton.

In Kravare, CZE, Linus Ullmark served as backup as Sweden defeated Finland 2-1 in overtime to win the Four Nations tourney. Sebastian Collberg (MON) roofed a shot in the first minute of the OT to push the Swedes to a 3-0 weekend mark. Ullmark will head back to Ornskoldsvik to join Modo J20 for Tuesday's tilt with Timra.

Knapp, Catenacci under contract

The Sabres announced Tuesday that they have signed goaltender Connor Knapp (2009, 6th round, 164th overall) and center Dan Catenacci (2011, 3rd round, 77th overall) to entry-level contracts. The duo are expected to join the Rochester Americans of the AHL, who are currently in Abbotsford, B.C. for a Tuesday/Wednesday set with the Heat.

The 5'10 Catenacci inks a three-year deal on the heels of a 2011-12 campaign that saw him pot 33 goals and  72 points in 67 games for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack. The quick-footed pivot earned the contract with a strong finish, including a red-hot stretch from January 21st to March 3rd that saw him gather 13 goals and 23 points in 16 games. After spending the balance of this season on an amateur tryout, the 19-year old Catenacci is expected to return to Owen Sound in 2012-13 and hope to get on the radar for Team Canada's selection Camp for the 2013 World Junior Championship.

The 6'6 Knapp emerged as one of college hockey's hottest goaltenders after January 1st, taking control of the RedHawks #1 job for the first time in his career by posting a 12-4 record with five shutouts in his final 16 starts as a collegian. He'd finish the year 15-8 while placing among national leaders with a 1.69 goals against average and .933 save percentage. His 13 career shutouts are Miami University record. Like Catenacci, Knapp will finish the season on an ATO with the Amerks and begin his two-year deal next season.

The club not waiting until the last minute to get the deals done is just another sign that the new ownership group is committed to improving the team's image around the league. 2010 draft picks Mark Pysyk, Kevin Sundher, and Jerome Gauthier-Leduc were previously locked in well before due date. It's quite a change from the days of the Sabres going into May with a plate full of entry-level decisions.

3/29-30 Recap: A first for Pysyk

In Thursday action, Mark Pysyk scored his first career playoff goal as Edmonton swept defending champion Kootenay from the WHL playoffs with a 3-1 win. Pysyk's snap shot from the point rebounded high into the air before falling over the line to give the Oil Kings an early 1-0 lead. The Oil Kings will enter the second round of the playoffs with the momentum of 15 consecutive victories going back to the regular season. Kootenay netminder Nathan Lieuwen stopped 24 of 27 shots to earn the #3 star in the final game of his junior career.

Kevin Sundher had an assist as Brandon eliminated Calgary with 3-2 overtime win. The helper gives the six-foot center a goal and two assists through five playoff games. The Wheat Kings and Oil Kings will meet up in a second round royal rumble beginning Friday in Edmonton.

On Friday, Dan Catenacci earned a shorthanded assist but defending champion Owen Sound couldn't muster enough offense en route to getting eliminated from the OHL playoffs with a 4-2 loss at Kitchener. Catenacci finishes the postseason with a goal and three assists as the Attack fall in five games.

In the AHL, Paul Szczechura scored twice and Derek Whitmore contributed three points (1+2) as Rochester allowed a goal with six seconds left in overtime in a 5-4 loss to Toronto. Brian Flynn notched an assist in his first professional game. Luke Adam and Brayden McNabb also added helpers. The Amerks have now earned points in 12 of their last 15 games.

3/28 Recap: Leduc pots winner; Shipley picks pair

In the QMJHL, Jerome Gauthier-Leduc scored the game winning goal, his fourth of the series, as Rimouski swept Val-d'Or from the QMJHL playoffs with a 4-3 victory. The QMJHL leading regular season point-getter for defensemen, Leduc again leads the league in the postseason with eight points in four games from the blueline.

The series had a somewhat ugly finish, with fellow Sabres prospect Cedrick Henley (4GP 1-2-3 -1 15 PIM) involved in a skirmish at the final horn and then another shoving match near center match before exiting for the final time this season (below). The Oceanic advance to the second round to face a yet to be determined opponent.

(s/t to Jerome Berube for the video link)

In OHL action, Steven Shipley hit for a pair of goals including one shorthanded as Niagara lost their second in a row to Oshawa, 5-3. The two-goal effort puts the 6'3 center in a tie for the OHL lead with five playoff marks. The series is now locked at two games apiece with game #5 going Saturday in St. Catharines.

Dan Catenacci scored his first goal of the playoffs shorthanded and added an assist as Owen Sound earned an exciting 6-5 overtime win over Kitchener. The Attack get their first win of the series with plenty of work ahead to dig out from their 3-1 deficit. The Attack will again look to extend their season on Friday in Kitchener.



In WHL play, Mark Pysyk notched an assist on the game winner as Edmonton erupted for five third period goals en route to a 6-3 win over Kootenay. Nathan Lieuwen stopped 17 of 18 shots through two periods before allowing four goals in the final frame. He finished the game with 31 saves. The Oil Kings will go for the sweep on Thursday.

In a Wednesday morning tilt, T.J. Brennan scored his 15th goal of the year as Rochester lost to Albany, 2-1. Brennan, who hits the 15-mark for a second straight season, is currently the second leading goal scorer among AHL defenders. The leader, Eric Gelinas of the Devils, has 16 while playing 20 more games.

David Leggio made 32 saves to earn the game's #3 star.

The Rundown:
Brennan: G, -1, 4 SOG
McNabb: A, -1
Adam: 2 SOG
Biega: SOG
Crawford: SOG
Szydlowski: SOG
Lagace: even