1/16 Recap: Tropp leads Spartans in victory

Corey Tropp had his first two-goal game of the season as Michigan State defeated #9 Miami, 4-1. Tropp showed his quick release wrister when he blazed down the left side and buried one far side for the eventual game winner. The win was the first for the Spartans on the road, while Miami suffered its fifth straight loss. Matt Generous (+1) scored a goal as St. Lawrence cruised to a 6-1 win over Brown. The goal, Generous' fifth of the year and second in as many games, came on a blast from the faceoff dot to give the Saints a 4-1 lead. Andrew Orpik had an assist as Boston College lost in overtime to Lowell, 4-3. Orpik was chugging at both ends for the Eagles before Nick Schaus (Orchard Park, NY) scored the OT winner for the River Hawks. Drew MacKenzie was even with a minor penalty as Vermont lost at Northeastern, 3-1. In WCHA action, Brad Eidsness made 19 saves while letting three goals past him as North Dakota played to a 3-3 tie with Michigan Tech. The decision moves the freshman netminder's record to 13-7-2. Corey Fienhage did not dress for the Sioux. Also watching from the pressbox was Justin Jokinen as his Minnesota State Mavericks lost to Anchorage, 4-2. Nick Eno was the back-up to Jimmy Spratt as Bowling Green shutout Michigan, 3-0. In the QMJHL, Paul Byron factored into all of Gatineau's marks with two regulation goals and an assist on the overtime winner in their 3-2 win over league power Shawinigan. The 'Piques catalyst, Byron earned the game's #2 star in the win. J.S. Allard (+2) had two assists, including the primary on the game winner, as Quebec edged Drummondville, 4-3. Luke Adam had a pair of even strength assists in Montreal's 5-4 win over Val-d'Or. T.J. Brennan (-1) added an assist on Angelo Esposito's second power play goal of the game in the first period Jordon Southorn was -1 with a team-high five shots on goal as PEI fell to Cape Breton, 4-1. The Pincourt, QC native also added five hits for the Rocket in defeat. Jacob Lagacé finished -1 as Chicoutimi was beaten by Rimouski, 5-2. In WHL play, Tyler Ennis was -1 as Medicine Hat was shut down by Saskatoon, 5-0. Tyler Myers was -2 as Kelowna suffered a road loss at Prince George, 5-2. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel played even as Niagara lit up Jaroslav Janus for four goals over a period and a half in their 4-2 win at Erie. Nick Crawford was even in Saginaw's 3-2 OT win at Ottawa.

1/9 Recap: Orpik chips in; Eno returns

Andrew Orpik had a pair of assists for #9 Boston College in their 3-3 tie with #12 Vermont. BC looked to have a big Hockey East win locked up until West Seneca, NY native Brian Roloff tied the game with :01 to play. The third multi-point night of the season raises Orpik's total to 10 on the year. Freshman rearguard Drew MacKenzie was -1 with three shots on goal for the Catamounts. In a highly entertaining battle, Brad Eidsness made 21 saves as North Dakota defeated #3 Minnesota, 6-3. With a slew of roughing minors in the final two minutes of Friday night's game after over 150 minutes in penalties were called in their previous meeting, one may wonder if the Sioux consider inserting toughness in the form of Corey Fienhage into the lineup when the two teams play it back on Saturday. Sophomore Nick Eno saw his first action of the season, giving up a goal in 28:23 of relief action as Bowling Green fell to #16 Ohio State, 8-5. Falcons starter Jimmy Spratt gave up six goals on 16 shots through a period and a half, allowing Eno to get ready for his first start on Saturday after suffering a high ankle sprain in an early season practice. Alex Biega was +1 with five shots on goal as Harvard played to a 1-1 tie with Brown. The Crimson (4-10-3) outshot the Bears (1-9-4) by a 51-29 margin, but couldn't close the deal. Freshman Justin Jokinen sat as Minnesota State fell to #10 Colorado College, 5-2. J.S. Allard went high glove side as the fifth Quebec shooter, but rang his shot off the post, as the Remparts lost in the shootout to Rouyn-Noranda, 3-2. Allard contributed four shots on goal in home loss, and was named the gamne's first star for his effort. Also from the Q, Paul Byron was limited to a single shot on goal, but Gatineau still defeated Moncton, 2-1. In OHL play, Drew Schiestel had another power play assist for Niagara in their 6-2 loss to Ottawa. The Hamilton native now has a total of 32 assists on the season, good for 8th in the OHL, with half of them coming with the man advantage. Nick Crawford (+1) had an assist as Saginaw defeated Sarnia, 4-3. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla was -1 with four shots on goal in Cologne's 3-2 loss to Hamburg. In the WHL, Team Canada members Tyler Myers and Jamie Benn were given a rest as Kelowna downed Portland, 5-4 in a shootout.

1/2 Recap: Schiestel sharp in dog fight

Drew Schiestel (+3) had a goal and two assists as Niagara defeated Soo, 6-2. The goal was Schiestel's first in 24 games, while the Dogs victory over the Hounds ends a seven game losing streak. The gliding 6'2 rearguard now has an even 30 assists while playing on a team third from the bottom in the O. By comparison, Team Canada members P.K. Subban (Belleville) and Ryan Ellis (Windsor) lead all OHL defensemen with 33 assists each. Both are members of first place teams. Luke Adam had a goal and assist to help lead Montreal to a 4-0 shutout win over Drummondville. With 17 goals on the year, Adam is the leading scorer for the Juniors. T.J. Brennan (+2) had an assist for the Juniors while adding four shots and two hits. Alex Biega had a goal and an assist as Harvard lost to Quinnipiac, 5-2. The Montreal native chipped the puck ahead and shot right down the middle of the zone to bury a rebound for the second Crimson goal of the night, and his third of the season. The junior dman now has five points in his last four games, and co-leads the Harvard attack with as total of nine in 15 games played. In DEL play, Philip Gogulla (-1) continued to stay warm, scoring a power play goal for Cologne in their 5-2 loss to Mannheim. Chosen 48th overall in 2005, the left wing now has three goals and two assists in his last three games for the Sharks. Brad Eidsness made 22 saves, including a beauty in the final minute, as North Dakota defeated Bemidji, 4-3. The freshman ups his record to 10-7-1 on the season. Corey Fienhage did not dress for the Sioux. At the Catamount Cup, Drew MacKenzie had a power play assist for Vermont in their 6-4 win over Colgate. The freshman defenseman now has three helpers on the year. Also from Burlington, Matt Generous was even as St. Lawrence edged Ferris State, 5-4. The Saints will move on to face UVM in the finals. Corey Tropp (-1) had three shots on goal as Michigan State defeated Alaska-Fairbanks, 2-1. Tropp, who missed five games due to mono, has a goal and seven assists on the year for the 6-12-3 Spartans. Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw lost to Plymouth, 4-3. Andrew Orpik scored a goal as Boston College dropped an exhibition contest in New Brunswick, 5-3. John Muse made his 61st straight start for the Eagles, and will get the first rest of his collegiate career when the two clubs play it back on Saturday.

12/6 Recap: Myers ready to compete; Byron keeps pilin'

Tyler Myers (+1) was a controlling presence throughout as Kelowna needed a three-goal third period to defeat Chilliwack, 5-2. Paired with offensive-minded 2009 prospect Tyson Barrie, the 6'7 World Junior hopeful stepped up and labeled a Bruin forward with a solid shoulder midway through the opening period, and was steady on the puck in all zones in the win. Showing a physical spike while making quick, simple plays up ice for the bulk of his 26 games to date, the mobile Myers will take a five-day break before hitting the ice at Team Canada's selection camp on Thursday in Ottawa. Tyler Ennis was -2 as Medicine Hat lost at Brandon, 4-1. The speedy left wing will play one more game on Monday before heading east to Ottawa. The Wheaties' 2009 eligible duo did not disappoint with Scott Glennie potting pairs of goals and assists while Brayden Schenn hit for a three-point night (1G, 2A). Red hot Paul Byron (+2) had a pair of assists for Gatineau in their 3-0 shutout of Montreal. Byron has now connected for a point in 15 straight games, the second longest streak in the Q this season (Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll is currently amidst a 19-gamer for Shawinigan). T.J. Brennan and Luke Adam were both -2 for the Juniors. In Lewiston, Jean-Simon Allard snagged an unassisted goal as Quebec downed Lewiston, 5-4. Lewiston goaltender Peter Delmas became the first of two QMJHL goaltenders credited with a goal on Saturday (Rimouski's Maxime Gougeon was the other) when former Sabres pick Benjamin Breault sent a point pass all the way back into his own net on a delayed penalty. Also from the Q, Jacob Lagacé (+2) scored an empty-netter in Chicoutimi's 3-1 win over Rouyn-Noranda. The goal was the 12th of the season for the Sags' top-line winger. Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara couldn't keep up with #1 ranked Windsor in an 8-4 loss. The Spits closed strong, posting four goals in the final 12:00 to up their record to 26-3. 2009 eligible Taylor Hall had a goal and three assists for the winners. In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness made 33 saves, some of the spectacular variety including 13 in the third period, as North Dakota earned the sweep at Harvard with a 4-3 win. The weekend wins improve Eidsness' line to 7-5-1, with the first star performance placing him into contention for WCHA Rookie of the Week for a second time this season. Corey Fienhage dressed for the ninth time, finishing +1 while registering his fourth shot on goal of the year. Alex Biega combined with his brother Michael to set-up the first Harvard goal. Corey Tropp (-2, 2 PIM) assisted on Jeff Petry's slapper goal as Michigan State got swept by rival Michigan, 5-3. The Spartans (4-11-3) held a 3-2 lead with 4:00 to play before a three goal collapse extended the season-long frustration in E. Lansing. Matt Generous had another steady game defensively as St. Lawrence was shutout at Lynah, 1-0. Colin Greening (OTT) scored the game's only goal to put Cornell into a tie for first place in the ECAC with Princeton. In Hockey East, Andrew Orpik was whistled for an interference minor as Boston College lost to BU, 3-1. The senior has three goals and eight points on the year. After a rather less-than-savory effort on Friday, Justin Jokinen was scratched in Mankato's loss to St. Cloud. In the SEL, Dennis Persson was -1 in 7:55 of shifts as Timra defeated Rogle, 5-2.

12/5 Recap: Byron lends helping hand; Fighting Fienhage fetches first

Paul Byron continued to shake his disappointing omission from Team Canada's WJC camp by posting a five-assist night in Gatineau's 7-4 win over Val-d'Or. The explosion gives the Ottawa native points in fourteen straight games, propelling him into a tie for 11th overall in the Q with 38 points. Jordon Southorn had a pair of assists in PEI's 5-4 overtime loss to Victoriaville. The Rocket jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first minute of the second period, but surrendered five unanswered goals by the Tigres, capped with Philip-Michael Devos' winner in the first minute of OT. The talk of goal support being an issue for Brad Eidsness and the Fighting Sioux simmered some on Friday as NoDak marched into Harvard with a pummeling 10-1 victory. Eidsness made 39 saves, including a solid breakaway stop, to improve his record to 6-5-1. Freshman Corey Fienhage notched a power play assist for his first career point, and played policeman in the final 10:00 as Harvard took their frustrations out with some questionable hits. Fienhage, who earlier was called for a roughing penalty, earned another plus a game misconduct after a scuffle with 3:29 remaining that stemmed from Alex Biega (-3) boarding a Sioux forward. Matt Generous (+2) buried a bomb from the slot as St. Lawrence fell to Boston University, 4-1. The goal was the third of the year for the senior rearguard, who later received two-and-a-ten after a melee following the fourth Saints goal. In WHL play, Tyler Ennis scored a goal and an assist as Medicine Hat defeated Moose Jaw, 5-4. The goal was Ennis' 15th of the season, as the Edmonton native now has 35 points in 29 games. Tyler Myers was even with a tripping minor as Kelowna edged Regina, 3-2. Rounding out the evening's NCAA action, Justin Jokinen was on the ice for the first Mavericks goal, finishing +1 as Minnesota State lost to St. Cloud, 4-2. Andrew Orpik was -1 as Boston College played to a 1-1 tie with BU. In the CCHA, Corey Tropp (2 PIM, 1 SOG) finished -1 as Michigan State was throttled by Michigan, 6-1. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel saw his point shot tipped in for the game winner as Niagara defeated Sarnia, 2-1. His 24 assists on the season rank 7th in the OHL. Nick Crawford had an assist and was +2 as Saginaw defeated Kitchener, 4-3. 2009 eligible Jordan Szwarz had three assists for the Spirit. In other Q action, Jacob Lagacé posted an assist in Chicoutimi's 3-2 shootout win over Rouyn-Noranda. Lagacé was stopped as the second shooter in the deciding frame. J.S. Allard was -1 Quebec defeated Lewiston, 5-2. In an exhibition contest, Drew MacKenzie was even as Vermont downed the USA Under-18 squad, 6-4.

11/30 Recap: Mr. November rolls on

Gatineau's Paul Byron scored a pair of goals and an assist as les Olympiques defeated Chicoutimi, 5-3. Perhaps the hottest player in the entire CHL, the 5'10 Byron marked in every Gatineau contest in the month of November, compiling nine goals and 18 total points in 11 games. Jacob Lagacé did not play for the Sags in the loss. Also from the Q, Jordon Southorn (-1) posted four shots on goal for PEI in their 3-1 loss to Moncton. The Pincourt, QC native looked gassed at times, making a few mental mistakes early. The Rocket lost their fourth in a row, and seventh in their last eight. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel was -2 as Niagara lost to Brampton, 5-3. With the win, the Troops avenged a mid-week a loss to the Dogs on Thursday that saw their 16-game winning streak snapped. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had a roughing minor in Cologne's 4-2 loss to Augsburger. The Sharks currently sit in 12th place in the 16-team league. Andrew Orpik was -1 as Boston College needed a Barry Almeida overtime winner to defeat Dartmouth, 2-1.

Orpik, Gogulla go for two

Senior Andrew Orpik scored two goals as Boston College defeated Harvard in a Beantown matinee, 5-1. The Thayer product opened scoring at 13:50 of the first when he broke down the left side and stuffed the puck past freshman netminder Matt Hoyle. The two-goal output was Orpik's first as an Eagle, and made for the fourth multi-point game in 132 career NCAA appearances. Crimson rearguard Alex Biega (-1) did a good job of getting the puck to the net in the loss, but failed to register a point for the fifth straight game, a span equal to his previous long drought from last season. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla scored a pair of goals to lead Cologne to a 5-1 win over Ingolstadt. The 6'2 wing, who posted his third two-goal game of the season, now has a total of eight to go along with nine assists in 21 games. Last season through 21 games, Gogulla had six goals and twelve assists with a stronger overall club.

11/15 Recap: Eidsness stellar in win

Brad Eidsness put forth a spectacular performance in the North Dakota crease, making 23 saves in the Sioux's 3-1 win over Alaska-Anchorage. The freshman bailed out the NoDak D on more than one occasion, with the only goal against coming on a funky deflection. The rookie moves to 4-3 on the season and is firmly cemented as the #1 goalie in Grand Forks. Freshman Corey Fienhage was a scratch for the winners. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was on the ice for one goal against and one goal for in Saginaw's lengthy 4-3 shootout loss Windsor. The Spirit made things difficult for arguably the CHL's top club all night including in the shootout, where it took 14 rounds before the Spits could get their second (and game deciding) goal. Crawford was stopped in the tenth round. Top 2009 draft prospect Taylor Hall scored two goals to help put the Spits at 21-2 on the year, while Saginaw falls to 12-7-0-1. Drew Schiestel (-1) had a power play assist in Niagara's 6-2 win over Peterborough. The helper was his 11th of the season with the man advantage and 20th overall. Alex Pietrangleo collected three assists for the Dogs in his first game back after playing eight NHL games with the Blues. In the CCHA, Corey Tropp (-1) scored the only Spartan goal as #17 Michigan State lost to #10 Miami, 3-1. The goal, his first of the year, stemmed from a solid effort down low to score on a slapper with less than ten minutes to play in the third. With the weekend sweep, the Spartans are likely to drop out of the Top 20. Senior Andrew Orpik picked up an assist in BC's wild 8-6 win over #6 New Hampshire. Jimmy Hayes (TOR) notched a hat trick and an assist to pace the #5 Eagles. Alex Biega (2 PIM, 4 SOG) was held scoreless in Harvard's 1-0 shutout of #19 St. Lawrence. The junior did however play a pivotal part in killing off a :90 5-3 power play that spanned the second and third periods. Matt Generous posted two shots on goal for the Saints in the loss. Justin Jokinen did not dress for the second straight game as #11 Minnesota State lost to Colorado College, 4-3.

11/14 Recap: Ennis, Myers produce; Genny flows in loss

Tyler Myers (+1) scored a goal and two assists as Kelowna fell to Vancouver, 5-3. All of Myers points came in a 9:00 span in the third period as the Rockets attempted a comeback. The 6'7 defenseman started the surge at the 5:15 mark when he poked a shot through a goal mouth scramble for his second of the year. He would follow with a pair assists, but the effort was too little too late in the loss to their division rival. Tyler Ennis repeated his performance from Wednesday, netting a late goal and then another in the shootout as Medicine Hat defeated Edmonton 3-2 at Rexall Place. The Tigers have won all twelve meetings over Edmonton since the Oil Kings joined the WHL. In QMJHL play, Paul Byron scored the lone Gatineau goal in their 4-1 loss to Shawinigan. The Olympiques (5-16-1-1) have now lost 13 straight games, and will look to end the madness against Montreal on Saturday afternoon. Luke Adam (5 SOG) and T.J. Brennan (1 SOG) were both pointless as Montreal edged PEI, 1-0. Rocket reargaurd Jordon Southorn, who was in consideration for the most recent Defensive Player of the Week award, had five shots on goal in the loss. J.S. Allard was again kept of the scoresheet in Quebec's 4-3 loss to Moncton. The Wildcats have now won ten straight on the road. Jacob Lagacé was -1 in Chicoutimi's 3-1 loss to Cape Breton. The quiet evening ends the Beloeil, QC native's eight-game point streak. In the ECAC, Matt Generous (+1) scored an even strength goal and added an assist for #19 St. Lawrence in their 4-3 loss to Dartmouth. In the final minute of the second period, the Connecticut native pumped one home from the high slot to tie the game at two. Alex Biega had a power play assist as Harvard defeated #16 Clarkson, 5-1. The junior corralled a faceoff win and flicked a wrister to the net that was tipped by Nick Coskren for Harvard's second goal. Corey Tropp garnered an assist in #17 Michigan State's 5-1 loss to #10 Miami. The Spartans only goal came midway through the first when a scrum kicked a loose puck to an open Mike Schepke. Andrew Orpik was even as #5 Boston College played to a 5-5 tie with Merrimack. Drew MacKenzie was -1 as #15 Vermont dropped a 5-3 decision to #7 Northeastern. Justin Jokinen was scratched as his #11 Minnesota State Mavericks defeated #3 Colorado College, 2-1. Brad Eidsness replaced Aaron Walski midway through the second period in #18 North Dakota's 3-2 loss to Alaska-Anchorage. The Albertan made 12 saves in relief, including one on a short-hanaded breakway by Paul Crowder. Corey Fienhage did not dress in the loss. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel (-2) returned to the lineup in Niagara's 4-3 OT loss to Kitchener. A point-shot deflected off Schistel's shin pads into the Dogs net to force overtime. Nick Crawford was -1 as Saginaw was dominated by Plymouth, 5-1. In Germany, Philip Gogulla was -1 as Cologne endured a 3-2 overtime loss to Duisberg.

11/9 Recap: Southorn has productive shift; Lagacé cranking

Jordon Southorn (+2) had two assists in :39 as PEI hammered Rouyn-Noranda, 8-2. Well, they hammered them on the scoreboard anyways, as the Rocket only needed 18 shots to score their eight goals. Southorn, who fired two of those shots, supplied the pass for a nice two-on-one goal by Matthew Lachaine as part of his second period roll. Jacob Lagacé scored a power play goal as Chicoutimi defeated Baie-Comeau, 4-3. Tied at two in the third period, Lagacé's tenth of the season was the first of two markers in a 1:16 span as the Sags closed the door on the Drakkar. Lagacé how has goals in his last five games, and will ride an eight-game point streak into Friday's match-up with Cape Breton. Jean-Simon Allard was -1 in the Remparts 3-1 loss to the Cataractes. Allard's play continues to be "up and down" for Quebec. Meanwhile, the Shawinigan victory is their 12th straight, and they look like a team that could make a call on Gatineau's Paul Byron when the QMJHL Christmas Holidays trade window opens from December 20th to January 8th. In a Sunday NCAA battle, Andrew Orpik posted zeros for #2 Boston College in their 2-1 loss to Maine. The loss was the seond in a row for the defending champs after a Friday defeat at the hands of Notre Dame.

11/7 Recap: Eidsness bests #1; Adam pots pair

If you've been reading this space of late, we've talked about a looming shake-up in Gatineau where the Piques were riding a ten-game losing streak heading into Friday's game with Montreal. The shake-up came this week with Mario Richer resigning as coach, and being replaced by former NHLer Jerome Dupont. Gatineau owned the opening period of the new boss' debut, scoring three times on 17 shots, but Montreal stormed back with six unanswered goals for the win. Luke Adam lit the lamp twice, while the Juniors won their second straight game on T.J. Brennan's winner midway through the third period. Brennan and Adam also posted assists on the night, while the Piques' Paul Byron had a power play goal in the 6-3 loss. In other Q action from Friday, Jacob Lagacé scored a goal and an assist in Chicoutimi's 3-2 win over Victoriaville. Tied at one apiece heading into the third, Lagacé first set up Nicolas Deschamps (ANA) at 2:47, then scored his ninth of the year for the game winner about ten minutes later. Jordon Southorn scored a goal for PEI in their 4-3 loss to Cape Breton. The power play marker was Southorn's second of the season, and his play has been both improved and inspired since his return from suspension. J.S. Allard scored his fifth goal of the season as Quebec defeated Baie-Comeau, 8-6. The Remparts went 4/9 on the power play to earn the win. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was +2 in Saginaw's 7-2 win over Ottawa. His +8 for the season ranks him 20th overall in the O. From the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his eighth goal of the year in Medicine Hat's 4-2 loss to Regina. Ennis tied the game at 2-2 early in the third when he raced in on a short-handed breakaway and made a nifty deke before roofing the puck over Linden Rowat (LA). The Pats would counter with two goals of their own to seal the victory. In NCAA play, Brad Eidsness made 29 saves as visiting North Dakota defeated #1 Colorado College, 3-1. Eidsness, who moved to 3-2 on the year, made many great saves to earn the W and should be back between the pipes when the two clubs play it back on Saturday. Freshman defenseman Corey Fienhage did not travel with the club for the weekend set. Alex Biega (+1) assisted on both Crimson goals as #18 Harvard lost to RPI, 3-2. The junior now has three points in three games. Matt Generous (+1) notched his first point* of the season, assisting on the overtime winner as St. Lawrence defeated Yale, 3-2. The senior started the game-winning play as he broke into the Yale zone and sent a shot just wide of the net. The puck was corralled and fed back to Brandon Bollig, who poked the puck over the line. Andrew Orpik was -1 as #2 Boston College suffered a 4-1 upset loss to #12 Notre Dame. The rematch of last year's NCAA final kicked off a Holy War weekend as the two school's football teams will also meet on Saturday. Corey Tropp (-1) returned to the #11 ranked Spartans lineup after a bout with mono in their 3-0 loss to Ohio State. In Alaska, Justin Jokinen (2 PIM) was even in #13 Minnesota State's 5-3 win over Anchorage. Freshman Drew MacKenzie was even in #16 Vermont's 2-2 tie with Providence. In the AHL, Tim Kennedy scored the shootout winner but saw his nine-game point streak snapped as Portland edged Springfield, 2-1. Mark Mancari scored on the power play, with Nathan Gerbe being credited with the assist. Adam Dennis made 26 saves to earn the win, while Mike Funk made his first appearance of the season after a concussion delayed the start of his schedule. The Rundown: Mancari: 1G, 6 SOG Gerbe: 1A, 7 SOG Kennedy: -1 Butler: 2 PIM Weber: even Schutz: 1 SOG Funk: 2 PIM Gragnani: 3 SOG Zagrapan: 2 PIM Funk: 2 PIM Kostka: -1 Whitmore: 2 SOG Card: even Dennis: 26 saves *Generous still hasn't been credited with an assist on Zach Miscovic's game winner against UNH a few weeks back.

10/31 Recap: Schiestel nets assist trick; Eidsness treats Sioux to W

Drew Schiestel (-1) had three assists as Niagara came up short in a wild 9-7 loss at Sudbury. At one point trailing 7-1, the Dogs clawed their way to respectability with a six-goal third period before Eric O'Dell (ANA) slammed the door with a late power play goal. Marcus Foligno ('09) bagged a pair of goals for the Wolves. In Grand Forks, Brad Eidsness made 20 saves for his second win of the season as North Dakota defeated Wisconsin, 3-2. The freshman was very sharp between the pipes, and likely earned the start when the two clubs play it back on Saturday. Filling in for the injured Joe Finley (WAS), the Sioux's Corey Fienhage (-1) committed a turnover below his own goal line that allowed Derek Stepan (NYR) to score the first goal of the game. Andrew Orpik had an assist as #2 Boston College defeated Merrimack, 4-3 in overtime. Working on the power play, Orpik hooked up with Paul Carey (COL) to get the Eagles first goal of the night. In a WCHA rivalry game, Justin Jokinen was +1 as #11 Minnesota State played to a 3-3 tie with #5 Minnesota. The game featured 22 penalties between the two clubs. Alex Biega (2 PIM) had five shots on goal as Harvard opened the regular season with a 4-1 win over Dartmouth. From the CCHA, Nick Eno (ankle) did not dress in Bowling Green's 3-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha, while Corey Tropp (mono) remained out as #12 Michigan State defeated Western Michigan, 3-1. In the QMJHL, J.S. Allard assisted on a Mikhail Stefanovich (TOR) goal in Quebec's 3-1 loss to Rouyn-Noranda. The second period helper breaks a five-game point scoring drought for the 2007 fifth rounder. T.J. Brennan (-1) and Luke Adam (-2) were both held off the scoresheet as Montreal got spanked by lowly Val-d'Or, 6-2. The Juniors move to 9-8 on the year, while the last-place Foreurs gained their second victory of the season. Paul Byron was -1 as Gatineau fell to Acadie-Bathurst, 5-3. The loss pushes the Olympiques losing streak to eight with roster moves seeming imminent. Out west, Tyler Ennis (-1) had an assist in Medicine Hat's 4-2 loss to Kootenay. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla (4 SOG) saw his four-game point streak snapped in Cologne's 4-3 shootout loss to Straubing. Gogulla saw his number called as the second Sharks shooter, but saw his attempt stopped by former Senator and Bruin, Mike Bales.

10/30 Recap: Schiestel leading Dog race at quarter turn

Drew Schiestel (-1) had a power play assist for Niagara in their 3-1 win over Guelph. Having registered a point in all but three of his 16 games, the Hamilton native continues to lead the Dogs in scoring with two goals and 15 assists. John Cullen (Hamburg, NY) made 23 saves for Niagara in relief of Mark Visentin to get the W. With 25% of the regular season complete, the 5-7-1-4 IceDogs are tied with Barrie for 2nd place in the Central Division. In a beggar's night contest, RW Andrew Orpik had two shots on goal as #2 Boston College upended Merrimack, 4-1. Jimmy Hayes (TOR) potted a pair of goals to lead the Eagles. Starting to ramp his way back up, Dennis Persson (-1) logged 13:48 of play in Timra's 4-0 loss to MODO. Prize 2009 prospect Victor Hedman was +2 for MODO, while former NHLers Niklas Sundstrom and Per Svartvadet paced the victors with two points each. Finally, a bizarre incident in Moscow caused the contest between Kazan (Vjacheslav Buravchikov) and Dynamo to be suspended after one period of play. It appears that smoke filled the arena after a Dynamo goal celebration, and would not dissipate despite several measures to clear the air. Buravchikov will return to action on Sunday.

10/24 Recap: Orpik pots winner

In an ESPNU featured contest, Andrew Orpik (+1) scored what turned out to be the game winning goal for Boston College in their 3-2 win over Vermont. With BC up 2-1 late in the third, Orpik took the puck all the way down the right side from his own end and lifted a sharp wrister over Mike Spillane's shoulder to put the Eagles ahead by two. West Seneca, NY native Brian Roloff would score in the final minute to close the gap for UVM. In the end Orpik was excellent, hitting at even strength while helping control things down low on the power play to earn the game's #2 star. 2007 seventh-rounder Drew MacKenzie was -1 for the Cats. In NCAA exhibition play, shot machine Alex Biega fired six at the Trois-Rivieres net in Harvard's 3-1 win. Corey Tropp (mono) sat out as Michigan State skated to a 2-2 tie with Northern Michigan. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla potted the first Sharks goal then assisted on the game winner as Cologne keeps their momentum going with a 3-2 win over Kassel. The victory gives the Sharks their first two-game win streak of the season. In WHL action, Tyler Myers had two assists in Kelowna's 6-0 shellacking of Chilliwack. The Rockets shutout was the second straight against the Bruins after a 5-0 win on Wednesday. Myers now has a goal and five assists this season. Jacob Lagacé (+2, 2 PIM) had a goal and an assist to earn the game's #2 star in Chicoutimi's 7-1 win over Halifax. The win snaps a four-game skid for the Sags. J.S. Allard (-2) went pointless for the third straight game as a rusty Quebec team fell to Drummondville, 5-2. The Remparts, who played for the first time in eight days, lost just their second game of the season. Paul Byron (+1) had an assist while winning 13 of 17 draws for Gatineau in their 3-2 loss to Montreal. T.J. Brennan (1 SOG) and Luke Adam (2 SOG) were held scoreless but were otherwise effective for the Juniors. Adam was taken down by Byron with 1:06 left in the third, but his penalty shot was stopped by Maxime Clermont. Jordon Southorn was +1 in PEI's 5-2 win over Val-d'Or. Rocket 'tender Bobby Nadeau made 44 saves to earn the victory. Nick Crawford was -1 in Saginaw's 3-2 win over Erie. The Spirit (16 pts) sit in a distant second place in the OHL's Western Division behind CHL's top-ranked Windsor (26 pts). Drew Schiestel (2 PIM) was +1 as Niagara put forth a better effort than Thursday, but still came up short in a 4-3 loss to Mississauga. The Hamilton native was credited with breaking up a 2-1 break in the second period while skating without a point for the third time this season. In the AHL, Portland overcame a poor start to defeat Bridgeport, 4-3. Trailing 2-0 after one, the Pirates got their junk together in the final 40:00 with goals by Nathan Gerbe, Chris Butler, and Mark Mancari to set-up Tyler Bouck's game winner late. Adam Dennis made 33 saves for the win, while Tim Kennedy extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Gerbe's goal. The Rundown: Gerbe: 1 G, 5 SOG Mancari: 1 G, +1, 2 PIM Butler: 1 G, +1 Hunter: 2 A, +2 Kennedy: 1 A, +1 Gragnani: 1 A, +1, 4 PIM Whitmore: 1 A, +2 Kostka: +2 Weber: +2, 9 PIM Zagrapan: -1 Card: 4 PIM Schutz: even

10/18 Recap: Eidsness posts first W

In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness earned his first career win as North Dakota defeated Mankato, 4-3. The AJHL product stood up to the road pressure, flashing leather with brilliant glove saves while holding his ground in some busy penalty kill situations. Making 25 stops to guide the Sioux to a split with the Mavericks, Eidsness looks to have earned the start when NoDak resumes play in two weeks with a set against Wisconsin. Leading 2-0 in the second period, the Mavs saw a potential three-goal lead disappear when officials determined that Eidsness was interfered with. The Sioux would have the momentum shift after the reversal, storming back to get the lead and avoid going 0-4 to start the season. Corey Fienhage saw bottom pair time for the Sioux, while fellow freshman Justin Jokinen was even with no points for the Mavs. In Boston, Andrew Orpik finished -1 as #1 Boston College was upset by unranked Northeastern. Joe Vitale's short-handed goal in the first minute of the third held up the rest of the way for the Huskies. The Eagles will look to settle the score in February when the two clubs reconvene in the opening round of the Beanpot. In Burlington, freshman defenseman Drew MacKenzie was even for Vermont in their 3-3 tie with Miami. Finishing the collegiate slate, Matt Generous was -1 with two shots on goal as St. Lawrence earned the Western New York sweep with a 2-1 defeat of RIT. In the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his third goal of the season and was named the game's #2 star as Medicine Hat beat Regina, 6-4. Ennis' marker started a four-goal rush for the Tigers after falling behind 2-0 in the opening period. Tyler Myers was +1 with 4 PIM as Kelowna edged Seattle, 3-2. After having three consecutive games with a fight, the Alberta native has now gone four straight without throwing a fist but still ranks fourth in WHL PIM's. In the OHL, Saginaw's, Nick Crawford (+1) had two assists for the Spirit in their 4-2 win over Niagara. The sixth rounder has been steady since his return fom Sabres camp, quietly amassing seven points and a +5 to date. For the Dogs, Drew Schiestel (-1) saw his six-game point streak come to an end in the loss. The Spirit are off until Friday, while Niagara will next take to the ice on Thursday against Erie. Rounding out the Saturday schedule, Jacob Lagacé picked up an assist in Chicoutimi's 2-1 loss to Moncton. The 2008 pick was credited with the primary on Olivier Ouelette's power play goal to get on the sheet for the first time in three games while maintaining his point-per-game pace. Chicoutimi (4-7-1-1) will host Baie-Comeau on Sunday. Also from the Q, Jordon Southorn (+2) assisted on the overtime winner as PEI knocked off Bathurst, 2-1. Speculation that Southorn is battling a nagging injury is hard to prove, but his play hasn't been as sharp as it was to start the year despite the offensive production. The Rocket move to 5-6-0-1 on the season with the win, and will close the weekend in Charlottetown against Bathurst.

10/17 Recap: Orpik drops rare deuce; Adam apple of Juniors O

Andrew Orpik had a pair of assists as #1 Boston College defeated Bowling Green, 5-3. Both points came on the power play as the Thayer product notched his first multi-point game since 10/31/06 when he had a pair of helpers at Providence. Brock Bradford (BOS) paced BC with two goals and an assist in the win. Jimmy Spratt (CAL) took the loss for Bowling Green as Nick Eno remained out for a second straight week with a tender ankle. The Eagles will drive across town to face Northeastern tomorrow, while the Falcons head to Providence. In the QMJHL, Luke Adam had a goal and an assist to rescue a dormant Montreal offense in their 3-2 win over Rouyn-Noranda. The Juniors suffered two shutout losses while Adam recovered from a sore knee, and the big forward marked his return with two points in the game's first six minutes. Adding to a common theme, Adam was the game leader in SOG (6) and blocks (5). Defenseman T.J. Brennan had a power play assist and a game-best four hits for the winners. In the West, Tyler Myers (-2, 2 PIM) had an assist in Kelowna's wild 8-6 loss to Everett. Trailing 4-3 entering the third, the Rockets all of sudden found themselves with a 6-4 lead with 9:47 left to play. However, the Tips pumped out four unanswered goals in the final 8:14 to earn the win. The game featured a crunching first period hit by the 6'8 Myers on 5'6 Zack Dailey that left the Tip forward feeling the effect for a couple of shifts.. Also in the Dub, Tyler Ennis (+1) assisted on a gorgeous short-handed play as Medicine Hat shut out Chilliwack, 3-0. The 5'9 forward now has seven points (2+5) in ten games. The Tigers square off with a rugged Regina squad on Saturday. Elsewhere in the NCAA, Justin Jokinen went pointless as Minnesota State scored three short-handed goals to spark their 5-1 pounding of North Dakota. Defenseman Corey Fienhage had a strong performance for the Sioux, finishing as one of six skaters to be even or better while showing his true colors with a roughing minor. Brad Eidsness was the back-up to Aaron Walski, and should get the start on Saturday when the two schools play it back. Drew MacKenzie was -1 as #17 Vermont upended #7 Miami, 4-3. MacKenzie was on the ice for the third Redhawks as the Catamounts move to 2-0 with the win. St. Lawrence defenseman Matt Generous was even with a shot on net in the Saints' 5-3 win over Niagara. SLU will head east to Rochester for a Saturday match-up with RIT. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had four shots on goal in Cologne's 5-1 loss to Wolfsburg. With another loss, the Sharks remain second-to-last in the league standings. Drew Schiestel (-1) notched another assist as Niagara lost at Plymouth, 5-4. The Dogs power play is clicking with eight goals in four games, and the Hamilton native now has a point in six straight to equal his previous best run from last March. Nick Crawford was -2 in Saginaw's 3-0 shutout loss to Barrie. It was just the second time this season that the Caledon, Ontario native finished the game with a minus rating. The Spirit will host Schiestel's Dogs on Saturday. Also from the collegiate ranks, Michigan State winger Corey Tropp has come down with mono, obviously keeping him out of the lineup in the Spartans 3-1 win over Lowell. Expecting him to ready for next week's battle with Northern seems unreasonable at this point. The focus is on getting rest, and we all hope he gets well as quickly as possible.

10/10 Recap: Brennan returns from illness; Myers goes again

T.J. Brennan was +1 with three shots on goal in Montreal's 4-1 win over Halifax. Brennan, 19, did not play in Wednesday's loss at Rimouski after falling ill with "concussion-like" symptoms and a very sore throat. He was taken to a hospital, where he was also tested for mononucleosis. Thankfully the results were negative, and the defender hopped on a plane for tonight's contest in Nova Scotia. Luke Adam did not play for the Juniors after getting dinged on Wednesday. In the WHL, Tyler Myers (-2) got into a fight for his third consecutive game in Kelowna's 7-1 loss to Vancouver. The defenseman handily defeated 5'10 Craig Cunningham after checking highly-touted forward Evander Kane from behind in the first period Apparently the Sabres gave the towering rearguard a big box of foil before sending him back to the Dub, telling him to simply "use it". Myers played 65 games last season with only a handful of tussles. Kane, a projected top-20 pick in 2009, had a hat trick and five points to lead Vancouver despite the hit, and is now the WHL's leading scorer with nine goals and 18 points. Minnesota State freshman Justin Jokinen scored his first collegiate goal - the game winner no less - in the Mavs 5-2 win over Bemidji State. The 6'3 forward buried an Adam Mueller pass from the slot midway through the second period to break a 2-2 tie. The game saw a total of 22 power plays between the two clubs. At the IceBreaker in Boston, freshman Brad Eidsness was a surprise starter, making 28 saves in his first collegiate start as North Dakota fell to Boston University, 5-1. Initial reports from Sioux camp suggested that Eidsness would give way to Aaron Walski before entering the crease for Saturday's game with Massachusetts, but ND coach Dave Hakstol had other designs. The Alberta native played decently after a bumpy start, making some nice saves during a busy second period when he was often left high and dry by a slow-reacting defense. I'd love to see Hak go back to the rookie again as a way to send a message to his skaters, but chances are Walski will get a chance against the Minutemen. Perhaps that message will come in the form of inserting defenseman Corey Fienhage into the NoDak lineup. The 2008 third rounder was a Friday scratch. Forward Colin Wilson (NSH) had a goal and an assist for the Terriers. Also from the IceBreaker, Corey Tropp (+1) picked up an assist as Michigan State defeated Massachusetts, 3-1. In the opening minutes, a Tropp wrister created a rebound that was stuffed home by Andrew Rowe to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. With Nathan Gerbe returning to help raise the 2008 Championship banner, Boston College skated out to a 5-4 win over Wisconsin. Andrew Orpik assumed his right wing spot on the Eagles grind line, going -1 with two shots on goal. Defenseman Matt Generous was even as St. Lawrence dropped a tough 4-3 loss at Michigan, while goaltender Nick Eno (ankle injury) did not dress in Bowling Green's 4-2 win over RIT. In the OHL, Niagara's Drew Schiestel had an assist in the IceDogs' 4-3 shootout loss to Guelph. Niagara couldn't hold a 3-1 lead, firing a paltry two shots on goal the entire third period while the Storm stormed back. Saginaw's Nick Crawford (+3) notched an assist in their 7-3 win over Kingston. The Spirit out-shot the Fronts by a 41-20 margin. J.S. Allard (-1, 4 PIM) had an assist in Quebec's 5-4 shootout win over Chicoutimi. On the losing side, the Sags' Jacob Lagacé had an assist with a less than savory -3 while committing four minor penalties on the night. Jordon Southorn (+1, 2 PIM) went pointless in PEI's 3-1 win over Baie-Comeau. The Rocket scored three unanswered goals in the third to get the W. In Europe, Philip Gogulla was -1 with four shots on goal in Cologne's 4-3 loss to Straubing. The DEL's worst team, the Sharks have now lost ten of their twelve games after a 2007-08 campaign that saw them reach the league championship. Gogulla, 21, has two goals and five points on the young season.

2008-09 predictions and projections

I'm not Karnac, but I thought it would be a good idea to lay out some projection targets for the group of prospects this season. (Or perhaps I'm just getting a little cocky after nailing the Adam and Fienhage picks this summer.) Whatever the case, let's put our forecasting cap on and see what the season could look like. Do the Sabres have a potential 50-goal guy this season? The Sabres haven't had a 50-goal prospect since Shawinigan's Jason Pominville back in 2001-02, but this season could see a quartet knocking on the door. Tyler Ennis - 50 goals in 64 games with Medicine Hat. Paul Byron - 47 goals in 62 games with Gatineau. Luke Adam - 46 goals with Montreal. Nathan Gerbe - 44 goals combined - AHL and NHL Dylan Hunter was the last 100 point prospect when he hit it back-to-back in 2004-05 (104) and 2005-06 (117). Can one hit the mark this season? After notching 91 last season with Medicine Hat, Tyler Ennis should land somewhere around the century mark. We'll project 102 points but it's not going to come easy. I'm setting the bar high and hope he goes for it. Jacob Lagacé can do 32-51-83 in Chicoutimi with Nicolas Deschamps and Joel Champagne around him. Fellow Q-men Byron and Adam should fall in a slightly higher 82-88 point window. Who is going to rack up the most PIMs this season amongst the prospects? A healthy, suspension-free season could see Mike Funk sit atop the prospect PIM-meter. After finishing last season with 104, the WHL product still isn't a policeman but will be one of the more experienced blueliners on the Pirates roster. Mike Weber is likely to post big numbers in this category and is the clear favorite, but we don't expect him to be considered a "prospect" much longer. The dark horse here is actually Tyler Myers. The number "144" keeps flashing into my head, so I'm thinking he'll spend at least two hours in the box this season. A safe forecast would suggest that names like Gerbe, Weber, Chris Butler, and Marek Zagrapan could all see time in a Sabres sweater this season. What about a call-up sleeper? Felix Schutz has pro experience and enough shiftiness in his game to sneak up on everyone, including the Sabres - possibly before January. How about a projection for Jhonas Enroth in his first AHL season? The Swede should see plenty of action, going 24-15-4, with a 2.29 GAA, .912 save percentage, and two shutouts. Is Marek Zagrapan going to see his production increase? After seasons of 38 and 40 points, Zagrapan will have more talent around him to help him eclipse the 60 point barrier for the first time as a pro. 24-37-61 -3. Ambitious? He has it in him. Philip Gogulla more than doubled his previous year's output last season in Cologne with 44 points in 51 games. Can he do it again? No. The Sharks are awful this season, and there's a mess waiting for Gogulla when he returns. They have a new coach, and have started the year 0-7 after losing Ivan Ciernik's production to the KHL. Gogulla isn't a dominating figure at this juncture, so he'll be lucky to equal last season's numbers. I'd love to be wrong. Can Corey Tropp achieve the 20-pt sophomore bump that Gerbe and Kennedy did while in school? It's going to be close, but after a 6-11-17 season as a freshman, Tropp projects to 14-26-40 in year two in Spartanville. Which QMJHL defenseman will score more points this season - TJ Brennan or Jordon Southorn? Both will see loads of power play time, and both will be stride-for-stride in terms of offense. Brennan is on the better club and likes to shoot the puck more. I believe that Southorn will have more pressure to produce, landing somewhere between 45-50 points. Brennan, though, should hover in the neighborhood of 48-54 points. How about individual honors? Junior D Alex Biega is set to produce for a solid Harvard squad, projecting to 7-23-30 and +16 to get himself on the ballot for the Hobey Baker. Brad Eidsness has the skills, opportunity, and club in front of him to earn a spot on the WCHA All-Rookie Team. Breakout players: Andrew Orpik will be ready to elevate himself as a senior leader with pre-season #1 Boston College. Much has been made of his checking ability as a forward, but his underrated offensive contributions will surface once 2009 hits. Justin Jokinen will make a bit of a splash, as he's capable of 9-15-24 as a Minnesota State freshman. Other predictions... Underrated as a senior, Matt Generous will post his second consecutive season as a +12 with St. Lawrence. Chris Butler - 6-17-23 +6 with Portland Tim Kennedy - 18-26-44 with Portland. J.S. Allard - 22-52-74 with Quebec. Drew Schiestel 12-33-45 +11 with Niagara. Mike Kostka - 4-12-16 +2 with Portland. Bowling Green goaltender Nick Eno will post big wins against Michigan and Miami this season, finishing the year 14-11-0, 2.56 GAA, and .912 save percentage. Corey Fienhage will engage in a battle for the #6 defenseman in Grand Forks this fall, and should firmly cement himself in the Sioux lineup by Thanksgiving. Marc-Andre Gragnani - 19-44-63 with Portland. Nick Crawford - 5-19-24 +7 for Saginaw. Dennis Persson - 3-9-12, 15:49 TOI average in 46 games with Timra Derek Whitmore - 12 goals in Portland. Mark Mancari will again be named an AHL All-Star. Dylan Hunter - 55 points in Portland. I'd love to see yours, so have at it.

Orpik interview on WGR-550

This morning, Boston College forward Andrew Orpik was a guest of the Howard Simon Show on WGR-550 AM in Buffalo. You can listen to the interview here. Fist bump to Devo for the link.

Gerbe, Eagles fly a mile high for NCAA title

Congratulations to Sabres prospects Nathan Gerbe and Andrew Orpik who get to celebrate an NCAA Championship with a 4-1 win over Notre Dame. With a pair of goals and assists in the final, Gerbe powered his way to a total of eight points at the Frozen Four in Denver en route to being named tourney Most Outstanding Player. He ends his junior season with 35 goals and 33 assists in 43 games. The title is the third in Boston College history, and the program's first since 2001. Both Gerbe and Orpik were part of two national runners-up in 2006 and 2007 before tonight's big win.