9/11 Recap: Southorn lights lamp; KHL gets krackin'

Jordon Southorn cast the first Sabres-centric stone of the 2009-10 regular season, scoring a goal and adding five hits as PEI defeated Moncton, 2-1, in the QMJHL opener for both teams. Paired with Czech import Adam Polasek, Southorn (+1) put forth a strong effort by leading numerous rushes up-ice and getting shots to the goal area while settling his own zone. He put the Rocket on the board at 8:55 at the second period when his crisp rising wrist-shot beat Wendell Vye to tie the game 1-1. These are the types of tempo dictating efforts that the 19-year old lefty will have to regularly produce to remain in the Sabres mix after a suspension kept him from skating in his second NHL camp alongside fellow Q'ers Luke Adam, Jacob Lagacé, and Maxime Legault. At 6'2, 200-pounds, Southorn has the frame, skating, and two-way tools to develop into a solid professional. As the raw foundation is present, demonstrating growth in consistency and maturity could make the Sabres' contract decisions more interesting next offseason. If the money wasn't there to sign RW Andrew Orpik for depth, the Sabres are in no position to gamble with character when the blueline is already well-stocked. A Harvard educated leader with a two-year experience edge, Alex Biega, 21, appears to be the better bet for a deal at this point, but it will be interesting to monitor the year since Southorn has the potential to put up some big numbers on the Island. -------------- In Thursday's KHL opener, recently re-upped Vjacheslav Buravchikov logged nearly 14:00 of icetime and spent another 4:00 in the box as Ak Bars defeated Lokomotiv, 3-2 in OT. On Saturday, Ak Bars fell to Spartak by a 4-1 count. Severstal's Marek Zagrapan will make his KHL debut on Sunday against Motorist.

Orpik goes to Rampage

Unsigned by the Sabres at the August 15th deadline, former Boston College forward Andrew Orpik has inked an AHL deal with the San Antonio Rampage.

Orpik, a native of East Amherst, NY, joins the Rampage from Boston College (NCAA) where he amassed 47 points (18 goals, 29 assists) in 155 games and tacked on 145 penalty minutes over his four-year collegiate career as an Eagle. During his senior year, he posted five goals and 12 assists for 17 points in 36 games, his collegiate-best. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound rookie was a member of Boston College’s 2008 NCAA National Championship team. “Andrew is a young player who has played the past four seasons in an excellent program at Boston College,” said Rampage General Manager Brad Treliving. “He is a big body who brings an element of physicality and grit and we look forward to continuing his development as a pro within our organization.”

3/20 Recap: Myers with strong start as Cup run begins

Tyler Myers opened the WHL playoffs with a power play goal and #1 star performance as Kelowna defeated Kamloops, 4-2. Working for over 24:00 of play, Myers was rock defensively while exhibiting his skating ability with several rushes up ice. In another first round opener, 43-goal scorer Tyler Ennis scored both Medicine Hat goals, but the Tigers gave up twice as many in their 4-2 loss to Swift Current. Drew Schiestel scored just :51 in to the opening period as Niagara defeated Ottawa 5-3 to take Game One of their OHL first-round series. The skating rearguard finished +2 in the win, while the goal was his first in 15 career playoff games. In opening night in the QMJHL playoffs, J.S. Allard had a power play goal and later added an assist as Quebec downed Baie-Comeau, 8-1. Jordon Southorn was -3 with a team-leading three hits as PEI was rubbed out by Moncton, 7-1. Wildcats UFA goaltender Nicola Riopel stood on his head to make 40 saves and earn the game's top star. Paul Byron set-up the overtime game winner as Gatineau defeated Bathurst, 5-4. The 5'9 dangler also added seven shots on goal as the 'Piques fired a total of 55 at Titan netminder Nicholas Champion. T.J. Brennan assisted on the game winner as Montreal defeated Rouyn-Noranda, 5-3. Just :10 into a 5-3 power play, Brennan started the play that resulted in Matt Fillier's third period tally that at the time put the Juniors ahead, 4-1. Jacob Lagacé was -3 as Chicoutimi was dominated by Rimouski, 8-2. At the WCHA Final Five, Brad Eidsness made 21 saves in North Dakota's 3-0 shutout loss to Duluth. Eidsness was caught playing the puck behind the net for the first goal against before a rebound to the left circle was pounced home for a two-goal deficit. An empty netter sealed the deal for the upset minded Bulldogs. The Sioux will face Wisconsin for third place. In the ECAC Tournament semifinals, Matt Generous returned from his MCL injury to assist on the first goal of the game as St. Lawrence lost to Yale, 4-3. Up 3-2 with entering the third, the Saints surrendered two goals in the final 1:34 to miss a chance at an NCAA bid. SLU will play Princeton in the third place game. At the Hockey East tourney, Andrew Orpik was even with two minors in his final NCAA contest as Boston College fell to Boston University, 3-2. With a 1-0 lead in the third, the senior forward looked like he was going to extend his collegiate career another day before BU scored a record three goals in :44 to snatch the win. The past week also saw the season end for defenseman Dennis Persson, as Timra lost a deciding game seven to HV71 in the first round of the SEL playoffs. Persson did not see the ice in the final three games of the series.

3/14 Recap: Ennis equals; Eidsness backstops sweep

In the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his 43rd goal of the season as Medicine Hat fell to Calgary, 4-1. The goal total equals his 2007-08 season output in nine fewer games. Finishing fifth in the East, the Tigers will open their first round series with #4 Swift Current on Friday. Tyler Myers was +1 as Kelowna stomped Kamloops, 7-1. The Rockets have now won seven straight games heading into their season closer with Spokane on Monday. In WCHA playoff action, Brad Eidsness made some key saves late, a total of 24 in all, to help North Dakota to a 4-3 win over a Michigan Tech and a sweep of their first round series. On Friday, the Sioux will face the winner of Thursday's Minnesota/Minnesota-Duluth play-in game. Justin Jokinen saw his season come to an end, registering a shot on goal as Minnesota State lost a 4-2 decision to Wisconsin. At the Gut, Drew MacKenzie was even as #7 Vermont was shockingly swept by Lowell, 4-2. It was a MacKenzie penalty for contact to the head that changed the flow of the game just 6:25 into the first period. Up 1-0 and immediately after his shot clanged off the post, MacKenzie battled a puck at his feet on his own blueline that forced him to take out a RiverHawk attacker about to blow past him. The aggressive infraction created a power play goal against, and Lowell never looked back. Andrew Orpik was even as Boston College knocked New Hampshire out of the Hockey East tournament with a 1-0 win. The Eagles must wait for the Sunday outcomes of Northeastern/UMass and BU/Maine to see who they'll face in next weekend's semifinal match-up. Matt Generous was again idle as St. Lawrence moved to round two with a 5-3 win over Quinnipiac. Drew Schiestel finished even in Niagara's 3-2 loss to Sudbury. The Dogs close the regular season with the loss, and will move on to face Ottawa in the first round of the playoffs. Nick Crawford was +1 as Saginaw ended their regular season with a 3-2 loss to Sarnia. They will wait for the dust to settle on the OHL's Sunday finale to see if they'll host Plymouth, Sarnia, or Guelph in round one of the playoffs. In the SEL first round, Dennis Persson did not see the ice as Timra lost a 3-2 battle with HV71. The best-of-seven is nowlocked a three games apiece, with game seven coming on Monday.

3/13 Recap: Drew draws two; Byron within reach

In a Hockey East quarterfinal battle, Drew MacKenzie had a pair of secondary assists as #7 Vermont was upset in overtime by Lowell, 4-3. With his first multi-point game as a collegian, the freshman rearguard now has four points in the three games since his return from mono after posting a total of four through the first 24 games of the season. The Catamounts held a 3-1 third period lead when Brayden Irwin was whistled for a major and game misconduct for a hit from behind at 9:31. Lowell scraped their way back, capped with a Nick Schaus (Orchard Park, NY) goal with :30 to play to force overtime, before netting their third unanswered goal to win the game with just :02 remaining in the extra session. Andrew Orpik scored his fifth goal of the season as #18 Boston College defeated #9 New Hampshire, 5-3. Orpik one-timed a Joe Whitney pass in the first period to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead. Brad Eidsness opened the WCHA playoffs by making 20 saves in #6 North Dakota's 5-1 win over Michigan Tech. Eidsness surrendered just a power play goal to run his record to 23-9-4 on the season. In Madison, Justin Jokinen (-1) assisted on the only Mavericks goal as Minnesota State was throttled in their opener with #17 Wisconsin, 7-1. Skating in practice but tentative, Matt Generous sat out with a sprained MCL as #15 St. Lawrence defeated Quinnipiac, 5-3. In the QMJHL, Paul Byron (+1) had a pair of power play assists as Gatineau defeated Shawinigan, 3-2. Sitting in fourth place on the Q scoring list with 98 points, Byron will look for 100 with the final regular season game of the coming on Sunday against Rouyn-Noranda. Jacob Lagacé scored his 32nd goal of the season as Chicoutimi could not match the offensive dynamo in Drummondville, 7-2. On the Island, Jordon Southorn (-1) had an assist in PEI's 5-4 OT loss to Cape Breton. J.S. Allard had an assist as Quebec lost to Rimouski, 5-3. T.J. Brennan was even in Montreal's 2-1 overtime loss to Rouyn-Noranda. In the WHL, Tyler Myers assisted on a power play goal just :38 seconds into the first period as Kelowna downed Kamloops, 6-4. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel was even as Niagara fell to Mississauga, 2-1. Nick Crawford was -2 in Saginaw's 3-0 loss to London. In Thursday action, Crawford (+2) assisted on the first goal of the game in Saginaw's 6-3 win over Owen Sound. Also from Thursday, Schiestel was -1 in Niagara's 2-0 loss to Barrie.

3/7 Recap: Season ends for Biega, Eno

In an ECAC first-round playoff game, Alex Biega (-1) had eight shots on goal as Harvard was shut out for the second straight night by Brown, 2-0. The junior defenseman provided some jump as the game wore on, but Harvard couldn't connect against the upset-minded Bears. Biega's season ends as the Crimson's second leading scorer with four goals and 16 assists in 31 games. Brown moves on to to the second round to face Yale. The Bears upset of the Crimson means that St. Lawrence will face Union in round two. The Saints may be without senior rearguard Matt Generous, whose status is still uncertain after undergoing an MRI on his injured MCL. In the CCHA playoffs, Nick Eno made four saves while surrendering two goals, including one on a breakaway, in 20:00 of relief as Bowling Green got pummeled by #14 Ohio State, 7-1. The game was marked by a second period brawl that saw multiple players ejected from both sides. With the Falcons loss, the shortened season comes to an end for the sophomore netminder who made just five starts and seven overall appearances after returning from a season long ankle sprain. In the WHL, Tyler Myers (+1) scored his ninth goal of the season as Kelowna overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Vancouver in overtime, 3-2. Stout all evening, Myers' rising to the occasion defensively against the top teams in the league continued with his #2 star performance against the Western Conference leading Giants. The Rockets suffered a scare in the first when Myers crashed his shoulder hard into the boards when hunting a check, but all systems were a go after a short breather. 5'9 flyer Tyler Ennis got into his first career fight as Medicine Hat lost to Kootenay, 4-1. After his second period tussle, Ennis later earned a roughing minor near the end of the third as the Tigers hopes for home ice keep slipping with just three games remaining. Swift Current is up by three points to hold down the #4 seed over the #5 Tigers. The Tigers and Ice will rematch in Cranbrook on Sunday. In the SEL playoffs, Dennis Persson was -1 in 18:35 of work as #8 Timra got whooped by #4 HV71, 7-0. The best-of-seven series is now locked at one game apiece. In Boston, senior Andrew Orpik was even with eight penalty minutes as #20 Boston College closed the regular season with 4-1 upset of #4 Northeastern. Orpik's aggression led to four minors including two for roughing and another for charging. The Eagles move on to face UNH next weekend in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs. Rounding out a fantastic league schedule, Brad Eidsness made 32 saves as turnover ridden #6 North Dakota suffered a letdown against #19 Wisconsin, 4-1. Derek Stepan (NYR) scored a pair of shorthanded goals to lead the Badgers to victory. The WCHA champion Sioux will face #10 seed Michigan Tech in next week's playoff opener. Drew MacKenzie posted an assist for the second night in a row as #7 Vermont lost a wild 6-5 decision in overtime to #9 New Hampshire. Returning from a one month absence to due to mono, the two-point weekend gives the freshman a total of six on the year. The Cats match-up with #5 seed Lowell next week. Justin Jokinen scored a goal for Minnesota State in their 4-4 tie with #18 St. Cloud State. The freshman's unassisted tally, his third of the season, came when he roofed one high after a clean steal at the SCSU blueline. The #8 seeded Mavericks enter the WCHA tourney where they'll face #3 Wisconsin. Jacob Lagacé had an assist as Chicoutimi lost to Victoriaville, 5-4. The short-handed helper gives him 67 points on the year. Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara got roughed up by Peterborough, 6-0. 2010 eligible Ryan Spooner had four consecutive goals for the Petes, with '09 Zack Kassian, a 6'3 205-pound wing, assisting on two of them. Schiestel now sits at a prospects-low rating of -29 for the season. In the OHL, Nick Crawford (-1) had an assist in Saginaw's 4-3 win over Owen Sound. 2010 prospect Steven Shipley had a goal and an assist in the losing effort.

3/6 Recap: Jordon like Gordon; Eidsness leads to title

Jordon Southorn (-1) had a goal, assist, and a fight to complete his first Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the season in PEI's 5-3 loss to Lewiston. Southorn was aggressive with some big hits, rounded out by a semi-uneventful fight with Samuel Finn. The GHHT was the second of the season for Sabres prospects. Drew Schiestel registered the first back in late September. In the WHL, Tyler Ennis stayed warm with a goal and an assist as Medicine Hat lost to Regina, 4-3. Ennis now has a whopping 42 goals in 57 games this season (.74 gpg) to go along with 40 helpers. Last year, Paul Byron had 37 goals in 52 games (.71 gpg) while Nathan Gerbe led the way with 35 goals in 43 games (.81 gpg). Jacob Lagacé had a pair of assists as Chicoutimi defeated Montreal, 4-1. T.J. Brennan was -2 for the Juniors, who with the loss split the home-and-home series with the Sags. Paul Byron had an assist as Gatineau lost to Rimouski, 7-2. Despite the defeat, the Piques remain atop the Telus Western Division standings with an eight point lead over Montreal. Tyler Myers was +2 in Kelowna's 3-1 win over Chilliwack. The Rockets will square off with rival Vancouver on Saturday. J.S. Allard posted a shot on goal as Quebec defeated Shawinigan, 4-2. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw defeated Guelph, 5-3. The victory allows the Spirit to leapfrog Plymouth into third place in the Western Conference. 2009 eligible Jordan Szwarz had three assists in the win. In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness made 22 saves in North Dakota's 2-1 win over Wisconsin. The victory over the Badgers clinches the MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA regular season champions while pushing the freshman's record to 22-8-4 on the year. Eidsness now has the most wins and best goals against average among WCHA goaltenders. At the Gutt, Drew MacKenzie picked up an assist just 1:30 into his return from mono in #7 Vermont's 6-4 win over #9 New Hampshire. In an ECAC playoff opener, Alex Biega had five shots on goal for Harvard in their 1-0 loss to Brown. The Crimson will look to force a Sunday game three with a win on Saturday. Also in Boston, Andrew Orpik registered one shot on goal as Boston College lost to Northeastern, 2-1 in overtime. Justin Jokinen had a shot on goal as Minnesota State smothered St. Cloud State, 5-1.

2/28 Recap: Biega bags 20; Eidsness commits robbery

Alex Biega had a pair of assists as Harvard downed #6 Princeton, 3-2. The 5'11 defender made a nice play to knock down a Princeton clear at the blueline to help set up the game winner with 8:11 remaining. The power play helpers raise Biega's point total to an even 20 for the year, while the Crimson win gives them a fifth place finish in the ECAC. Unbeaten in their last six, Harvard will faceoff against #12 Brown next weekend in the first round of the playoffs.

At the Ralph in Grand Forks, Brad Eidsness made 24 saves including a show-stopping candidate to make Sportscenter with just over 2:00 left in regulation as #8 North Dakota tied #13 Colorado College, 4-4. With a wide open net greeting a CC shooter about to backhand a rebound, the freshman athletically got across to get a piece of the puck and keep the game tied. Eidsness was excellent down the stretch after poor positioning and a defensive miscue allowed a Chad Rau wraparound goal to pull CC back to 4-4 with just under 8:00 to play. The Albertan will look to improve his 20-8-4 record when the two teams play it back on Sunday.

Andrew Orpik scored his fourth goal of the season to force overtime Boston College defeated Providence, 4-3. Orpik's tally with 7:49 to play completed a three-goal comeback for the Eagles to set up the weekend sweep of the Friars.

In the Q, Jordon Southorn (+3) had three hits, four shots on goal, and an unusual five minor penalties as PEI defeated Saint John, 5-3. The 6'2 defenseman had some nice offensive opportunities while sprinkling in a few giveaways along the way. 2009 eligible Benjamin Casavant piled up three goals, one assist, 13 shots on goal, and eight blocked shots to pace the Rocket. The 6'2, 200-pounder now has 37 goals on the season, and despite below average skating ability, has great hands and a solid work ethic to be the type of Q forward that could garner a middle-round look from the Sabres.

Paul Byron had an assist in Gatineau's 5-0 drubbing of Lewiston. Byron is fifth in the league with 86 points, and will need to put together a run in the final six games to hit the century mark.

A night after a magical six-goal output, Tyler Ennis and his Medicine Hat mates were shutout by Kootenay, 2-0. 2009 eligible Brayden McNabb, a 6'4, 195-pound defenseman, had an assist for the victors to raise his season total to 30 (8+22).

Tyler Myers was even as Kelowna won a 2-1 showdown with the WHL's top team Calgary.

In the OHL, Nick Crawford (-1) had an assist as Saginaw lost to Owen Sound in overtime, 4-3. The point came on a 5-3 power play as the Spirit tied the game with 8:07 to play. 2009 eligible Jordan Szwarz had a goal and an assist for Saginaw.

Dennis Persson skated 17:22 on the third pair, logging two shots on goal in Timra's 3-2 loss to Lulea. The 6'1 blueliner has a goal and five assists while averaging 12:09 of action through 46 games.

Nick Eno made 17 saves as last place Bowling Green lost to Western Michigan for the second straight night, 5-3. Four of the five goals against came on low shots, as two beat him five-hole, one came stick-side along the ice, and another went softly between his right pad and the post.

Justin Jokinen was scratched as Minnesota State tied Wisconsin, 3-3.

Matt Generous sat out as St. Lawrence shutout RPI, 2-0. Generous sprained an MCL in Friday's win over Quinnipiac, and his status won't be known until Monday. The Saint win in conjunction with Quinnipiac pitching a 4-1 upset of Dartmouth 4-1 on Saturday put SLU into fourth place in the final ECAC standings, giving Generous and Saints a break next weekend as the top four clubs earn first round byes.

2/27 Recap: Ennis sparkles with six goal night

Reigning WHL Player of the Week Tyler Ennis was a one-man wrecking crew on Friday, connecting for an amazing six goals as Medicine Hat defeated Prince Albert, 6-2. Missing the WHL league record by one goal, the star left wing closed the night with two highlight reel plays to up his 2008-09 season total to 41 in 54 games. Trailing 1-0 to start the second period, the Edmonton native completed a natural hat trick through the first 11:48 to make it 3-1 Tigers entering the third. Minutes after scoring his fourth of the night at 2:48, Ennis shot down the right side past a Raider dman and buried a wraparound for his fifth. His sixth of the night came at 13:24 when he spun to his backhand on a partial break for a roofing finish. The speedster didn't see much action in the final 6:00, completing the most dominating single game performance that the league has seen in years. Tyler Myers was +1 as Kelowna fell to Red Deer, 3-2. The final buzzer saw a minor scrum that earned the defenseman a double minor for roughing and a misconduct. Myers, who has 10 points in February, saw his streak of four straight appearances in the Three Stars of the Game come to an end in the loss. He had earned three firsts and one second in that stretch. Alex Biega (+1) used a blistering left point shot to score the game winning goal as Harvard defeated Quinnipiac, 2-1. The junior defenseman scored his fourth of the year on a 4-4 after brother Michael put the Crimson on the board earlier with his sixth. Harvard is now unbeaten in five games since the Beanpot. Also from the ECAC, senior defenseman Matt Generous did not return from a first period injury as St. Lawrence defeated Union, 2-0. Generous went down with sprained MCL in his left knee after being checked in to the boards by Union's Brian Yanovitch. In Hockey East, Andrew Orpik picked up a late assist as Boston College cruised past Providence, 5-1. Justin Jokinen was even as a left wing in Mankato's 4-3 OT win over Wisconsin. Nick Eno served as Jimmy Spratt's backup as Bowling Green fell to Western Michigan, 5-2. In the QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé (-1) had a power play assist as Chicoutimi came up short in a 6-5 loss to red-hot Rimouski. Trailing 6-3 with just over 14:00 to play, the Sags would score two third period goals but couldn't catch up as the Nics won their 15th consecutive game. Paul Byron had five shots on goal and was stopped in the shootout as Gatineau lost to Lewiston, 2-1. J.S. Allard was even as Quebec lost to Shawinigan, 7-4. T.J. Brennan was -3 in Montreal's 7-3 loss to Drummondville. In OHL action, Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara got smoked by Brampton, 6-0. Losers of four of their last five, the struggling Dogs played without defenders Alex Pietrangleo and Reggie Traccitto. Now sitting at -25, Schiestel is among the bottom four for all league skaters in the category. In Germany, Philip Gogulla had two shots on goal in Cologne's 5-2 loss to Mannheim.

2/21 Recap: Twin Tylers dominant; Eidsness hits 20

In Medicine Hat, Tyler Ennis (+2) continued his torrid stretch, netting a season-best four goals to lead the Tigers past Lethbridge, 8-3. The dazzler completed the hat trick by scoring the game winning goal in the final minute of the second period before adding another for good measure in the final frame. Ennis has shredded the WHL since returning from the World Juniors, compiling 20 goals and 34 points while scoring in all but three of the 21 games since winning gold. He now has 35 goals on the season, good enough to eek into the WHL's top-10 in that category, and should get the book of free car washes as Player of the Week after his five-goal, seven-point string. Not to be outdone, Tyler Myers (+1) scored a pair of goals including the game winner as Kelowna gritted their way over Everett, 3-2. Myers was completely dominating in his #1 star effort, showing his versatility killing penalties while taking the game over with his puck carrying moxie. One rush in particular saw the 6'7-3/4 rearguard take the puck, gain speed, and gallop down the right side of the ice into the Tips zone. The Sabres top prospect now has seven goals and 36 points this season. In the QMJHL, Jordon Southorn (-1) had an assist as PEI rode a five-goal third period to an exciting 5-3 win over Quebec. 2009 eligible Benjamin Casavant helped shake off his club's unsavory opening 40:00 with his 31st and 32nd goals of the season to get the Rocket back on track. With the game tied 3-3 at 18:53, J.S. Allard committed a bad turnover right onto the stick of PEI's Ben Duffy, who potted the game winner. Allard finished -1 with four shots for the Remparts in the loss. T.J. Brennan contributed two shots on goal in Montreal's 3-1 win over Saint John. Paul Byron missed his second straight road game due to illness as Gatineau snuck past Baie-Comeau, 4-3 in OT. In the OHL, Nick Crawford (+1) had two assists as Saginaw defeated Guelph, 4-3 in overtime. The 6'1 defenseman helped set-up the game winner to earn his 38th point of the season (7+31). Reigning WCHA Rookie of the Week Brad Eidsness made 17 saves as #9 North Dakota swept the weekend Alaskan set with a 6-2 defeat of UAA. The win gives the freshman stopper an even 20 on the season, making Eidsness just the third goaltender in school history to reach that mark. In Hockey East, Andrew Orpik assisted on the first Eagles goal as #17 Boston College lost to #12 New Hampshire, 4-2. The point was Orpik's second in his last five games, with the senior going without a goal since November 28th. Alex Biega compiled four more shots on goal as Harvard rallied to a 3-3 tie with Clarkson. For the second night in a row, Biega started scoring plays that did not result in his name hitting the scoresheet. He pumped a pass up ice to create the first Harvard mark, and later made a real nice break-up of a 2-1 to start the play that resulted in the game-tying goal with 8:17 to play in the third. Also from the ECAC, Matt Generous was +1 as #20 St. Lawrence thumped Dartmouth 7-2 on Senior Night at Appleton Arena. Nick Eno again played back-up as Bowling Green pitched a 4-0 shutout against fellow CCHA also-ran, Michigan State.

2/20 Recap: CHLers produce; Eidsness shines

Tyler Ennis had a goal and an assist as Medicine Hat defeated Lethbridge, 6-3. Ennis scored his 31st of the season when he pounced on a rebound from the end boards in the second period. Luca Sbisa (PHI), who leveled Ennis with a big hit in the contest, scored his first goal since returning from the NHL. The two teams will play it back on Saturday. Tyler Myers (-2) had no points but set the pace for Kelowna in their 6-2 win at Western Conference leader Vancouver. The towering defender made physical statements early, and logged monster minutes throughout en route to earning the game's first star. In the OHL, Nick Crawford scored his seventh goal of the season as Saginaw upended Erie, 6-4. Crawford recorded a season-best +4 on the evening after notching a season-low -3 on Monday. Drew Schiestel scored on the power play in Niagara's 4-2 loss to Kingston. Schiestel's eighth of the season put the Dogs up 2-0 before giving up four unanswered goals to the Fronts in the final period and a half. In the QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé had a goal and an assist as Chicoutimi downed Gatineau, 5-3. The goal, Lagacé's 28th through 55 games played, came off a solid second effort down low. Les Olympiques leading scorer Paul Byron did not make the trip due to illness. T.J. Brennan returned from his five-game suspension, posting an assist for Montreal in their 3-1 win over PEI. Jordon Southorn had a game-high five hits for the Rocket in defeat. The Rocket's anchor has gone six games without a point, and hasn't scored a goal since December 19th. J.S. Allard (+2) assisted on an empty net goal as Quebec defeated Bathurst, 5-2. Allard now has points in two games after forming a line with Kelsey Tessier (COL) at center and Mikhail Stefanovich (TOR) on the opposite wing. In Germany, Philip Gogulla scored his 17th goal of the season as Cologne lost a 4-3 shootout to Sinupret. Gogulla was the only Sharks shooter to connect in the deciding frame. In NCAA play, Brad Eidsness came up huge, making 25 saves as North Dakota won at Anchorage, 2-1 in OT. Keeping his team in the game late, Eidsness moves his record to 19-8-3 on the season. Harvard's Alex Biega (+1) posted five shots on goal as Harvard played to a 2-2 tie with #20 St. Lawrence. Despite not getting a point, it was a long headman pass from the junior defender that set-up the first Crimson tally. Matt Generous was even for the Saints. Andrew Orpik was -1 as Boston College lost to New Hampshire, 3-2. Nick Eno watched as Bowling Green dropped a 3-2 decision to Michigan State.

2/14 Recap: Albertans roll; Biega guides Crimson

Edmonton native Tyler Ennis (+1) scored a goal and an assist as Medicine Hat defeated Kamloops. 5-3. His shiftiness showed when he burst through two Blazer defenders before one-on-one faking his way to his 30th goal of the season in the first period. The #1 star performance was his third consecutive two-point outing after seeing his ten-game point streak snapped on Tuesday. Also in the WHL, Calgarian Tyler Myers (+1) picked up an assist on a Mikael Backlund goal as Kelowna downed Prince George, 5-1. The blue-chip rearguard now has five points in six February skates, all Rockets wins. Kelowna will defend the season-high six-game win streak Monday afternoon at Portland. In the NCAA, Chestermere, Alberta resident Brad Eidsness made 21 saves as #11 North Dakota edged Minnesota State, 4-3. The win continues the freshman's WCHA ascent, moving his season mark to 18-8-3 with a 2.47 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Justin Jokinen was inserted into the Mavericks fourth line after sitting on Friday, but did not produce a stat line. Alex Biega had a pair of assists, both with the man advantage, as Harvard posted a big upset win over #6 Cornell, 4-2. The helpers were his first points in four games, and raise his team-leading point total to 17 (3+14). The Crimson take both ends of the weekend set for the first time since mid-November. In Ontario, Nick Crawford had a power play assist as Saginaw came up short in a 4-3 OT loss to Belleville. The Spirit scored two goals in the final 4:00 to force the extra session with the Bulls. Drew Schiestel was even as Niagara defeated Owen Sound, 2-1. The defenseman has now gone without a point for a season-long four straight games. In the SEL, Dennis Persson returned from a shoulder injury to skate for 16:34 of action as Timra defeated Linkopings, 3-1. The left-side man has averaged 11:40 of time with the Eagles this season. Matt Generous (+1) registered two shots on goal as St. Lawrence won a key ECAC match-up with #9 Princeton, 3-1. Andrew Orpik was even as #15 Boston College played to a 4-4 tie with Lowell. The Eagles move to 0-2-1 against the Riverhawks this season. Sophomore goaltender Nick Eno was again idle as Bowling Green defeated Ferris State, 3-1.

2/13 Recap: Byron fuels comeback; Eidsness holds steady

In the QMJHL, Paul Byron earned the #1 star of the game with a goal and an assist in the final 20:00 in Gatineau's 4-3 win over Halifax. Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, Byron stole the puck from a fumbling defenseman at the blueline and roofed the game winner to cap the comeback. The even strength goal was Byron's 30th of the season. Tyler Ennis had a goal and an assist for the second consecutive game as Medicine Hat smoked WHL East Division leader Saskatoon, 7-1. Ennis' insurance marker gives him 29 goals and a team-best 61 points in 48 games this season. In Kelowna, Tyler Myers (+1) had two assists as the Rockets won a 3-2 overtime decision over Western Conference pacesetter Vancouver. Nick Crawford (-2) had a power play assist as Saginaw got throttled at Kitchener, 6-2. The defenseman will take a three-game point streak into Belleville on Saturday. Jacob Lagacé set-up the game winning goal as Chicoutimi beat Val-d'Or for a second straight night, 4-2. J.S. Allard registered one shot on goal as Quebec shut down Montreal, 2-0. Juniors defender T.J. Brennan missed the game as part of his five-game suspension after an attempt-to-injure penalty last weekend against Gatineau. In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness made 25 saves North Dakota cruised past Minnesota State, 4-1. The freshman netminder ups his record to 17-8-3 with the win, including a league-best 12-4-3 conference record. Justin Jokinen was a scratch for the Mavericks, while fellow frosh Corey Fienhage sat out for the Sioux but is pushing to get back in the lineup after a good week of practices according to Coach Dave Hakstol. Matt Generous was +1 as St. Lawrence defeated Quinnipiac 4-3 in overtime. In Cambridge, Alex Biega was +1 with a team-high four shots on goal as Harvard downed Colgate, 3-2. Heading into the weekend, the Crimson had won just once in their previous 17 tries. Andrew Orpik was credited with two shots on goal as Boston College was embarrassed by Lowell, 6-0. Nick Eno was the back-up to Jimmy Spratt as Bowling Green continued their woes with a 3-2 loss to Ferris State. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had five shots on goal but did not factor into the scoring as Cologne fell to Duisburg, 5-4 in OT.

Orpik points in final Beanpot chapter

Andrew Orpik (+1, 5 SOG) picked up an assist in his final Beanpot appearance as Boston College edged Harvard, 4-3. Trailing 3-2 in the middle period, the senior forward got the puck to Kyle Kucharski for a wraparound feed that resulted in a Ben Smith goal. The third-place game remained tied until Benn Ferriero's winner with just :41.3 to play. Orpik's assist was his 13th point of the season, and second in eight career Beanpot games. Junior defenseman Alex Biega (3 SOG) was -2 for the Crimson in defeat.

2/6 Recap: Byron eyes 30

Paul Byron scored his 29th goal of the season as Gatineau edged Victoriaville, 3-2. The reigning QMJHL Player of the Month was named the game's #1 star as les Olympiques move to 9-1 in their last ten games. Defenseman Jordon Southorn was -1 as PEI defeated Chicoutimi, 4-1. Jacob Lagacé (-1) did not score on any of his game-high 10 shots on goal for the Sags. In a North Country showdown, Matt Generous assisted on the game-tying goal in the second period as St. Lawrence played to a 3-3 tie with Clarkson. The power play point gives him 15 points on the year to tie his previous high mark achieved in his freshman and junior seasons. Alex Biega was +1 as Harvard fell to Yale, 5-1. The quiet statistical outing ends the junior defenseman's four-game point streak. Andrew Orpik was +1 as Boston College pitched a 2-0 shutout against Massachusetts. The senior forward hasn't registered a point in four games, his longest gap of the season. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel played even as Niagara was shutout by Sarnia, 1-0. Nick Crawford was -1 as Saginaw lost to Belleville, 5-1. Tyler Myers was -1 in Kelowna's 2-1 win over Everett. The Calgary native finished in the minus column for the first time in seven games.

2/2 Recap: Adam with helper trick; Biega near hero

At The Beanpot, Alex Biega had an assist and just missed a game-tying goal as Harvard lost to Boston University, 4-3. Solid at both ends throughout, Biega saw his wrister from the point tipped in to make it a 3-3 tie with under 5:00 to play. Moments later at 18:14, the Terriers would counter on the power play to go up 4-3. The Crimson applied pressure with the extra attacker in the final minute, capped by a booming Biega one-timer that beat Kieran Millan as time expired. The puck entered the net after the siren sounded, thrusting the Terriers into next Monday's final. The assist gives the junior one in each of his last four games. Biega and the Crimson move on to the third-place game, where they will face Andrew Orpik and Boston College. The senior forward was -1 in the opening nightcap as the Eagles got blown out by Northeastern, 6-1. In the QMJHL, Luke Adam assisted on all three Junior goals as Montreal lost to Halifax, 4-3. T.J. Brennan was +1 for the Juniors.

1/30 Recap: Myers fights to a +5; Byron, Ennis extend

Paul Byron clicked in the third period with a goal and an assist as Gatineau skated to their eighth straight win with a 7-4 victory over Quebec. The reigning Boston Pizza CHL Player of the Week is on a five-game point streak, with six goals and eight assists in that span. He sits fourth in league scoring with 28 goals and 50 assists for 78 points in 51 games this season. 2007 pick J.S. Allard scored the first Remparts goal, his 12th of the year, in the loss. In the WHL, Tyler Myers was +5 with an assist as Kelowna stomped Medicine Hat, 10-1. The big rearguard also had his first fight (with instigator) since November. Tigers speedster Tyler Ennis (-3) had an assist to extend his point streak to seven games as the Rockets handed Medicine Hat their worst defeat since 2001. Also from the QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé netted his 19th goal of the season as Chicoutimi lost to Baie-Comeau, 3-2. The shootout loss for the tenth in row for the struggling Sagueneens. Jordon Southorn picked up an assist as PEI dropped a 6-5 decision to Acadie-Bathurst. In NCAA play, Alex Biega had two assists as Harvard topped Union, 3-1. The Quebec-born defenseman intercepted a clearing pass to set-up the first scoring play, while his second point came when his point-shot was tipped on it's way to the net. Biega remains atop Crimson scorers with 14 points in 20 games. Drew MacKenzie was even with a shot on goal as #6 Vermont lost to #13 New Hampshire, 3-2. The Connecticut-born freshman was on for the first (even strength) and last (power play) goals against, as well as a even strength goal from his Catamounts. MacKenzie's former Waterloo (USHL) teammate Blake Kessel sealed the Wildcat victory with 2:02 to play. Matt Generous was -1 with 4 PIM as St. Lawrence shocked #4 Cornell, 8-1. Justin Jokinen was even as Minnesota State dumped #5 Minnesota, 6-2. The freshman appeared in his fourth consecutive game for the first time since the season opening sets against Bemidji and North Dakota. Brad Eidsness allowed three goals on 18 shots while #12 North Dakota could not score on any of their 36 attempts in their 3-0 shutout loss to St. Cloud State. The loss was the first in nine starts for freshman netminder. Corey Fienhage was a scratch for the Sioux. In his first start since January 10th, Nick Eno made 27 saves and assisted on the only Falcons goal as Bowling Green stumbled against #10 Miami, 6-1. Eno still looks rusty with his positioning after missing the first half of the season with a high ankle sprain. Andrew Orpik registered two shots on goal as #11 Boston College played to a 2-2 tie with Providence. The senior forward finished even after being on the ice for goals for and against in the opening 20:00. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw held off Mississauga, 6-4. Drew Schiestel (-3) was held without a point in the Niagara's 5-3 loss to Sudbury. On Thursday, Schiestel was -2 in Niagara's 5-3 loss to Erie. In Germany, Philip Gogulla had two shots on net as Cologne lost to Wolfsburg, 4-0. The league will now break until February 10th. EDIT: Gogulla not participating in All-Star festivities.

1/25 Recap: Byron blazin'; Crawford creepin'

Paul Byron had a goal and two assists to send Gatineau to a 5-4 OT win over league doormat Val-d'Or. Byron's shortie, his 27th goal of the season, came unassisted in the first period. He later added the assists to up his season line to 27-47-74 in 49 games, and create another #1 star performance. In the OHL, Nick Crawford got in on all of Saginaw's goals as the Spirit defeated Sault Ste. Marie, 3-1. Two goals came from tips of Crawford shots while another came off a rebound. The three-assist night was Crawford's third such output of the year, elevating his season numbers to 4-26-30 which is quietly good for the third-best points-per-game among Sabres D prospects. The leading defensive scorer among Sabres prospects, Drew Schiestel, had a regulation assist as Niagara dropped a 5-4 decision to Mississauga in a seven-round shootout. The helper was Schiestel's 19th with the man advantage, which ranks fourth in the OHL, and his 40th point overall. The 6'2 defenseman was also one of two Dogs (Alex Pietrangelo was the other) to connect in the shootout. In an ESPNU afternoon tilt, Alex Biega had two power play assists 1:09 apart as Harvard mounted a third-period comeback to tie Dartmouth, 5-5. With his fourth multi-point effort of the season, the Montreal-born junior ups his team-leading point total to 12 (3+9). J.S. Allard (+1) had two assists in Quebec's 6-4 win over Saint John. Allard's 38 points rank him as the seventh leader scorer on the Remparts roster. Andrew Orpik was the only prospect in action to not net a point on Sunday, finishing even as Boston College defeated Maine, 4-1.

1/24 Recap: Pairs of assists and DQs for Tropp

Corey Tropp (+2) had a pair of assists and may be on his way to a CCHA suspension as Michigan State lost to top rival Michigan, 5-3. Things got ugly with :53 to go when Tropp received a pair of game disqualifications after slashing at a downed Steve Kampfer. The Wolverine defenseman delivered a check on Tropp at center ice, and while skating back into play took a right-handed punch to the head from behind by the Spartans Andrew Conboy. With Kampfer going down along the boards after the blow, Tropp appeared to strike him with his stick in the neck area to earn five minutes and a pair of game disqualifications. Kampfer, who was helped off the ice by teammates, looks to have sustained a neck injury, while Conboy and Tropp will likely face disciplinary measures of some capacity. If the name Steve Kampfer sounds familiar, you may remember him as the UM hockey player on the receiving end of a vicious assault a few months back. After the game, a Michigan parent made his way down to the Michigan State locker room, reportedly in an attempt to fight the Sabres 2007 third-rounder. Police were needed to keep order. In the WHL, Tyler Ennis (+3) had two assists as Medicine Hat cruised past Prince George, 5-2. With 48 points on the season, Ennis has collected nine of those in his past five games. Tyler Myers had an assist and was +1 as Kelowna rode a three-goal first period to a 5-2 victory over Kamloops. The rearguard had 12 PIM on the evening, including ten for chirping at the officials in the second period. The Rockets decision over the Blazers snaps a four-game winless skid. In Saginaw, Nick Crawford had an assist as the Spirit pumped 59 shots on goal but still lost to Peterborough, 5-4. The Caledon, Ontario native got in on the barrage, firing a point shot that was tipped by Jack Combs to give the Spirit an early 1-0 lead. 2009 eligible Zack Kassian scored the go-ahead goal for the Petes at 11:50 of the third period before the teams traded goals in the final minute of play. Jordon Southorn was +2 with three shots on goal as PEI destroyed Baie-Comeau for the second night in a row, 11-2. The Rocket outscored the Drakkar 18-4 over the Friday-Saturday set. T.J. Brennan (+1) and Luke Adam (-2) were both held without points as Montreal lost to Lewiston, 3-2 in a shootout. J.S. Allard did not score as Quebec shut down Moncton, 2-0. At the Ralph, Brad Eidsness was the player of the game, making several big saves among his 38 stops as North Dakota tied Denver, 2-2. Eidsness was a much needed backbone as the Sioux had trouble applying heat despite taking three weekend points from the WCHA's top team. The affair also saw Denver coach George Gwozdecky get ejected after walking on to the ice to dispute a non-call. Andrew Orpik had an assist as Boston College doubled up Maine, 6-3. The East Amherst, NY native now has four points in his last four appearances, and a total of 12 on the year. In Canton, Matt Generous (+1, 3 SOG) saw his five game point streak come to an end as St. Lawrence defeated Union, 5-2. Nick Eno relieved Jimmy Spratt to start the second period as Bowling Green got clobbered by Lake Superior, 8-4. Eno made 16 stops while allowing three goals goals over the final 40:00. The game was marred by a nasty collision between BGSU's Brandon Svendsen and Lake State goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson that saw the netminder get taken off the ice on a stretcher with a neck injury. He was taken to a hospital but looks to be OK. Drew MacKenzie was even in Vermont's 1-1 tie with Massachusetts. The freshman was on the ice killing a penalty when Casey Wellman tied it up for the Minutemen with 8:00 to play in regulation. Justin Jokinen was -1 as Mankato lost to Duluth, 7-4.

1/17 Recap: Eidsness blanks; Southorn bringing the body

Freshman Brad Eidsness had to make just 14 saves to earn his first collegiate shutout as North Dakota defeated Michigan Tech, 5-0. Eidsness moves to 14-7-2 on the year with a 2.51 goals against average and .908 save percentage. Freshman Sioux defender Corey Fienhage was a scratch for the 10th straight contest. Fellow WCHA frosh Justin Jokinen scored a late power play goal for Minnesota State in their 7-1 conference win over Anchorage. The Mavericks inserted four different skaters into their Saturday lineup (including Jokinen) after a less-than-savory effort on Friday. Matt Generous (+1) picked up an assist as St. Lawrence erased a two-goal deficit to tie Yale, 2-2. While playing four-on-four late in the first period, Generous picked up his third point in as many games when he started a two-man break with a crisp headman pass. In Oxford, Corey Tropp collected just one shot on goal as Michigan State was dumped by Miami, 6-1. Vermont defenseman Drew Mackenzie was even as the Catamounts outshot Northeastern 40-22 to earn a 4-2 Hockey East win. Andrew Orpik and Nick Petrecki (SJ) were scratched as Boston College lost to crosstown rival Boston University, 5-2. Nick Eno watched as Jimmy Spratt earned a second straight start in Bowling Green's 1-0 shutout loss at Michigan. Spratt shut the door the night before in a 3-0 win over the #6 Wolverines. In the QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé had a pair of assists as Chicoutimi dropped 6-5 OT decision to Saint John. Jordon Southorn (+2) had an assist while recording another five-hit night as PEI shutout Cape Breton, 5-0. 2009 eligible Benjamin Casavant paced the Rocket with a goal and two assists. Luke Adam (1 SOG) and T.J. Brennan (4 SOG) were each a -2 as Montreal fell to Rouyn-Noranda, 3-1. WHL rearguard Tyler Myers (+1) was named the #3 star with an assist and solid play alla round as Kelowna was wept by Prince George, 3-2 in a shootout. In the SEL, Dennis Persson again sat out to due illness as Timra stopped Modo, 4-2. On Friday, Philip Gogulla assisted on the overtime winner as Cologne defeated Iserlohn, 2-1.