2/7 Recap: Ennis runs up 10; Brennan awaits word

In Western Hockey League action, Tyler Ennis scored an even strength goal as Medicine Hat outshot Moose Jaw 42-17 en route to a 5-2 victory. Ennis' 27th goal of the year gives him points in ten straight games (10+8), as the Tigers forward has marked in all but two of his 14 games since returning from Team Canada. Tyler Myers (+1) had an assist in Kelowna's 5-1 win over Kamloops. The Calgary native now has five goals and 30 points in 40 games. In an afternoon QMJHL tilt (glog), Paul Byron had three assists in Gatineau's wild 7-5 win over Montreal. All of Byron's assists came on the power play as the Ottawa native ups his season point total to 82. Montreal's Luke Adam and T.J. Brennan each had an assist, with Brennan being tossed in the second period after an elbow on Gatineau's Craig England. England was taken off on a stretcher, while Brennan received a major and a misconduct on the play and may very well be subject to league discipline for the hit. J.S. Allard set-up Mikhail Stefanovich's third goal of the game and 32nd of the season as Quebec defeated Val-d'Or, 6-3. Allard now has 12 goals and 41 points in 51 games (.80 ppg) after averaging .90 ppg in 2007-08. Jordon Southorn was -2 as PEI lost to Acadie-Bathurst, 5-3. A 2009 prospect of mild intrigue, 6'1, 210-pound Benjamin Casavant registered a Gordie Howe Hat Trick for the Rocket with two goals, an assist, and a third period fight. The left wing also had six shots on goal. Ranked 185th on Central Scouting's mid-term list of North American skaters, Casavant has power forward tools with a good knack around the net. His skating needs more attention, but his developing package is one that will likely move up the board before June. He is currently 14th in Q scoring with 61 points (29+32), and is carrying a solid +26 for a team with a .364 winning percentage. Rounding out the QMJHL slate, Jacob Lagacé was -2 with four shots on goal as Chicoutimi struggled in a 5-0 shutout loss to Moncton. In the OHL, Nick Crawford was +2 as Saginaw won at Erie, 5-2. Crawford now is +15 on the season, which ranks second on the Spirit roster. Drew Schiestel was -1 as Niagara was shellacked by Windsor, 6-1. Schiestel went without a point for the second straight game, and has yet to endure a three-game drought this season. In a light night on the NCAA circuit, Nick Eno let in four goals on 12 shots, including two shorthanders, as Bowling Green lost to Northern Michigan, 4-1. In five appearances since returning from a high ankle sprain, the sophomore is 0-4 with a 4.33 GAA and .820 save percentage. Matt Generous (-1) had two shots on goal as #20 St. Lawrence lost to Clarkson, 3-1.

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.

2/5 Recap: Schiestel keeps rolling; Ennis continues excellence

Drew Schiestel had a goal and two assists as Niagara downed Sault Ste. Marie, 5-3. The power play goal was Schiestel’s seventh of the year, while the three point night raises his career-best total to 44 over 47 games. In the WHL, Tyler Ennis scored his 26th goal of the season as Medicine Hat was doubled up by Calgary, 8-4. The goal extends his current point streak to nine games, with the Edmonton product looking to equal his previous career-high of 10 set last season when the Tigers host Moose Jaw on Saturday. In a Group E Olympic qualifier, Philip Gogulla scored a power play goal and added an assist as Germany outclassed Japan, 7-1. The Germans will now move on to face Austria.

1/31 Recap: Lagacé gets four; Schiestel, Genny snap winners

In QMJHL, Jacob Lagacé scored four goals and an assist as Chicoutimi avenged a Friday night loss to Baie-Comeau with a 10-5 rout. Lagacé struck three times at even strength and once short-handed to give him 23 goals on the year. The 10-goal output ends a ten game losing streak for the Sags. Tyler Ennis (+1) scored a goal and an assist as Medicine Hat lost to Kamloops, 5-4. The Tigers leading scorer, Ennis has 25 goals and 55 points in 43 games this season, and is currently on an eight-game point streak. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel scored the game winning goal as Niagara defeated Barrie, 4-3. Trailing 3-0 entering the third, Schiestel's high snapper capped an exciting four-goal period for the Dogs. Four of Schiestel's six goals on the season came in the month of January. Nick Crawford (+2) had a power play assist as Saginaw defeated Sault Ste. Marie, 5-2. Paul Byron was -1 with two shots on goal as Gatineau lost to Rimouski, 2-1. The first-place 'Piques had won eight straight before losing to the Nics, while Byron's five-game point streak comes to an end T.J. Brennan (-1) posted an assist as Montreal lost to Quebec, 3-1. Luke Adam (-1) failed to hit the scoresheet in the loss. J.S. Allard was +1 with three shots on goal for the victors. Tyler Myers was even as Kelowna lost to Seattle in overtime, 2-1. In ECAC action, Matt Generous had a pair of slap shot goals, including the game winner, and an assist as St. Lawrence defeated Colgate, 4-2. The senior has seven goals and seven assists from the Saints blueline. Brad Eidsness made 25 saves as North Dakota defeated St. Cloud State, 4-2. With the win, the freshman finished the month of January with a 7-1-2 mark. Nick Eno was the back-up as Bowling Green lost to Miami, 3-2. Justin Jokinen was a scratch as Minnesota State earned the sweep over #5 Minnesota with a 3-1 win.

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.

1/23 Recap: Byron leads charge with five-point night

Paul Byron had a hat trick and two assists to lead Gatineau past Rouyn-Noranda, 6-4. Trailing 4-2 with 14:00 to play, Byron steered a three-goal outburst with two assists and the game winner to close the game out. The +4 effort made Byron an easy choice for first star of the game. Drew Schiestel scored two goals to earn the game's #1 star as Niagara defeated London 6-4 to sweep the home-and-home. Schiestel has been at the forefront of a strong defensive unit that has pushed the Dogs to five straight wins, including the pair over London that saw top prospect John Tavares accumulate a -7. Tyler Myers (+2) had a goal and an assist as Kelowna lost a 5-4 shootoout to Chilliwack. Myers has a goal and three assists in six games since returning from the World Juniors. In PEI, Jordon Southorn (+3) earned a fighting major as PEI smoked Baie-Comeau, 7-2. After watching goaltender Bobby Nadeau get run late in the game, Southorn showed great character by dropping his gloves and making 16-year old Simon Darveau accountable with the fight and misconduct. J.S. Allard (+1) had an assist in Quebec's 5-2 win over Halifax. Jacob Lagacé was +1 as Chicoutimi lost a 3-2 overtime decision to Drummondville. In DEL play, Philip Gogulla (+1) had an assist in Cologne's 5-2 win over Augsburger. Brad Eidsness made 25 saves as North Dakota put a 8-3 beatdown on WCHA leader Denver. The Sioux are now 6-0-1 in their last seven, and 12-3-1 since late December. Corey Fienhage did not play for North Dakota. In Joe Louis Arena, Corey Tropp was kept off the scoresheet in Michigan State's 6-2 loss to Michigan. Drew MacKenzie assisted on the game winning goal in Vermont's 2-1 win over Massachusetts. The power play point was the fourth of the season for the freshman. Matt Generous (-3) had a power play assist as St. Lawrence lost a wild 7-6 decision to RPI in overtime. The senior rearguard now has points in five straight games (2+3). Justin Jokinen was -1 with a shot on goal as Mankato was shutout by Duluth, 4-0. The appearance was his first Friday night contest since December 5th. Nick Eno backed up Jimmy Spratt as Bowling Green defeated Lake Superior, 4-3.

Adam scores

Luke Adam (+1) scored the only Montreal goal as the Juniors lost to Drummondville, 4-1. The goal was Adam's 21st of the year, and 43rd point overall. T.J. Brennan finished -1 in the loss. Drew Schiestel saw his point-shot tipped in for the second Niagara goal in the Dogs 5-2 win over London. Marco Insam paced the victors with three goals and an assist, while 2009 top prospect John Tavares was -4 for the Knights in defeat. Dennis Persson did not play in Timra's 4-1 win over Brynas.

When all said and done, Schiestel happy to stay

As the dust from the OHL trade period settles, the St. Catherines Standard ran a follow-up earlier in the week regarding Drew Schiestel remaining with the Niagara Ice Dogs despite various rumors in the weeks heading up to deadline.

"It's my last year in the league. I went in there and told them I was open to anything. I told them if it benefits you guys and it gives me a chance to win, I'd take it." Many of the 19-year-old's thoughts were formulated during the team's recent seven-game losing streak, including six losses before the Christmas break and one after. "Now, after Christmas, we've been playing pretty good and I'm happy with the decision," the Hamilton native said.

With Schiestel staying put, the 19-year old will combine with Alex Pietrangelo (STL) to steady the blueline as the sixth-place IceDogs eye a spot in the playoffs.

In 38 games, Schiestel sits eighth in scoring among OHL defencemen with three goals and 35 points. He feels he has played much better since a nagging shoulder injury healed. "On the whole, I've been having a pretty good year and I've been happy with the way I've been playing the last 1 1 /2, two months." The Sabres have yet to give Schiestel any indication of their plans for him. "I'd like to continue to play well, sign that contract at the end of the season and be with their AHL affiliate next season in Portland." IceDogs head coach Mario Cicchillo is sticking with the prediction he made last season that Schiestel would be in the NHL within three years. "He skates so well, he anticipates so well. I tell the younger guys to watch Drew when he kills penalties." To get to the NHL, he needs to get stronger physically. "As he matures, he is going to get a lot stronger," Cicchillo said.

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.

1/13-15 Recap: A week of assists

Time for a little catch-up on a relatively light week before the Friday action hits. I’ll be posting reaction from the CHL Top Prospects Game later this weekend as SabresProspects gets ready to open its 2009 Draft coverage, all the while putting the final touches on the winter prospect rankings. Stay tuned. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel assisted on the lone Niagara goal as the Dogs defeated Mississauga, 2-1. The power play helper ups the 6’2 defenseman’s point total to 36 in 39 games this season. Nick Crawford had an assist and finished +3 as Saginaw cruised to a 5-2 win at Peterborough. On Wednesday, Tyler Myers had an assist as Kelowna rode a three-goal third to a 3-2 win over Tri-City. Coming on the power play, the assist was his 21st point of the year. On Tuesday, Tyler Ennis (+1) had an assist as Medicine Hat was stifled by Vancouver, 6-2. Ennis set-up Colton Grant's shorthanded goal to open scoring at 14:15 of the first period. Dennis Persson has missed two SEL games this week due to illness.

1/11 Recap: Gogulla in gear; Adam nets winner

Philip Gogulla (-2) scored a pair of power play goals and set up another as Cologne defeated Duisburg, 4-3. The three-point effort was Gogulla's third in his last six games, while he has picked up 12 of his 31 total points in his last eight. Gogulla is shooting the puck more often, and the goals are coming. In an ESPNU televised contest, Matt Generous scored the first goal of the game to help St. Lawrence sweep their weekend set with Clarkson, 2-1. The senior snagged his fourth of the season when he whistled a shot past Knights netminder Paul Karpowich at 8:54 of the first period, and later earned a roughing minor after a second period scrum. In QMJHL play, Luke Adam scored the overtime winner to go along with an assist as Montreal downed Rouyn-Noranda, 4-3. The power play walk-off was the team-leading 20th of the season for the Newfoundland born forward, who was also named the #2 star of the game. Defenseman T.J. Brennan added an assist for the Juniors. Paul Byron opened scoring with his 20th of the season, but previously hot Gatineau gave up eight unanswered goals en route to getting trounced by Saint John, 8-1. With Matthew Pistilli (SHA), Felix Petit (BC), and Nicholas Petersen (SHA) failing to register points on Sunday, the 5'9 Byron is now ranked 4th in league points with 62. Jordon Southorn had an assist as PEI fell to Acadie-Bathurst, 4-3. The game's #3 star, Southorn also picked up a five-minute major after an exchange with 16-year old Vincent Arensault. In Chicoutimi, Jacob Lagacé (+1) had an assist as the Sags lost to Halifax in overtime, 4-3. The grinding forward saw more time at the dot, winning just three of 13 draws in the loss. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel was kept off the scoresheet as Niagara defeated Kingston, 4-3. Playing his old team just a week after being traded, Hamburg, NY native John Cullen was named the game's second star while his replacement, Jeremy Smith, was named the #3 star. Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw dropped a 3-2 decision to Kitchener.

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.

1/8 Recap: Persson points; Byron, Schiestel stay put

On Thursday, Dennis Persson (+1) assisted on the third period equalizer in Timra's 1-1 tie with HV71. Persson, who sat out practice earlier in the morning with a sore throat, saw his point-shot rebound punched in for his fifth point of the year (1+4). After he and fellow defenseman Alex Pietrangelo stated their preference to remain with Niagara past the Friday OHL trade deadline, Drew Schiestel played even in Niagara's 1-0 win over Barrie. Dogs goalie Jeremy Smith (NAS) made 33 stops to earn the shutout in his first game after being dealt to Niagara from Plymouth. In late Wednesday action in the WHL, a spent Tyler Myers (+1) returned to the Kelowna lineup in their 5-2 win over Seattle. Myers finished +1, but did turn the puck over to create the first Seattle goal in the third period. Tyler Ennis returned home to Edmonton with his gold medal, but decided to take a rest as Medicine Hat won a 5-4 shootout over Red Deer. Also worth noting is that Gatineau's Paul Byron was not moved at the noon QMJHL on Thursday.

1/3 Recap: Myers and Ennis ready to mine gold

On Saturday, Tyler Ennis and Tyler Myers both earned a chance to skate for World Juniors gold as Canada defeated Russia in an exciting shootout, 6-5. Trailing 5-4 in the final seconds, Jordan Eberle (EDM) punched a goal home with just :05 left to advance the game into overtime. Myers (+1) was effective with his stick, making good decisions and asserting himself physically when needed. He made a nice break-up on a Nikita Filatov rush in the overtime period after returning from a blocked shot off the knee that sent him hobbling. Ennis (-2) contributed three shots on goal, but has seen his ice time decrease the past two games as the Tavares, Hodgson, and Cormier lines have seemingly steered the ship into the finals. Also from Saturday, Jacob Lagacé had an assist as Chicoutimi defeated Rimouski, 6-3. Paul Byron (-1) had an assist in Gatineau's 2-1 OT loss to Baie-Comeau. J.S. Allard (+2) posted an assist in Quebec's 4-2 win over Lewiston. Jordan Southorn was +1 in PEI's 5-4 loss to Acadie-Bathurst. He also added three shots on goal and two hits. In the OHL, Drew Schiestel had an assist for Niagara in their 6-5 shootout win over Sudbury. In NCAA play, Justin Jokinen posted an assist, his first point since opening night, as Minnesota State defeated Nebraska-Omaha, 4-3. Drew MacKenzie was even as Vermont took the Catamount Cup title with a 4-0 win over St. Lawrence. Matt Generous was -1 with three shots on goal for the Saints. Brad Eidsness made 17 saves in North Dakota's 4-3 overtime win over Bemidji State. Corey Fienhage sat again for the Sioux. Alex Biega was even with two minor penalties as Harvard lost to Princeton, 5-1. Corey Tropp was even as Michigan State lost to Alaska, 3-1. In the SEL, Dennis Persson was -1 in 19:10 of action as Timra lost to Rogle, 3-2.

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.

12/19 Recap: Byron stays hot; Butler solid in debut

Chris Butler scored his first NHL point and was +2 as Buffalo shutout Los Angeles, 5-0. The DU product logged 12:16 of time in first appearance in the bigs, playing solid on the man, and making conservative plays with the puck. Lindy Ruff managed the rookie well, keeping shifts short while allowing him to ease his way into the speed and level of things. The assist came when his low wrister from the point escaped through Jason LaBarbara's legs, and was punched home by Adam Mair to make it 2-0. Prior to the game, "Buts" tasted a few mics in the Sabres locker room. In a WJC tune-up in Toronto, Tyler Ennis skated on the top line with John Tavares and Dana Tyrell in Canada's 4-2 win over Sweden. The unit generated chances throughout, with Ennis leaving room to develop more chemistry with his new mates. Tyrell injured his leg after an attempted hit on Viktor Hedman, so we'll have to wait and see what this does to the Canadian lines moving forward. Tyler Myers had a solid outing while paired with 6'6 Keith Aulie on the towering shutdown combo. In the QMJHL, Paul Byron (+3) had a four assist night as Gatineau defeated Montreal, 5-3. With the effort, the blazing Ottawa native owns the longest current point streak in the QMJHL with 10 goals and 25 assists over his past 18 games. He is now ranked 8th in QMJHL scoring after a slow start that saw him compile three goals and ten assists in his first 14 games. Luke Adam scored his 15th of the year for the Juniors, while T.J. Brennan had a pair of assists. Jordon Southorn scored a goal and two assists as PEI was handled by Drummondville, 11-7. The Rocket, who at one point had a 4-0 lead in the first period, dropped their fifth game in a row, while the Volts forged their 17th straight victory. J.S. Allard was +1 as Quebec whipped Rimouski, 7-1. The Remparts broke the game open in the second period with three goals in :18, while Allard has just one assist in his last seven games and hasn't scored a goal since his November 23rd game-winner. Chicoutimi's Jacob Lagacé (+2) scored an empty netter as the Sags ended their four-game skid with a 4-1 win over Baie-Comeau. The goal was the 15th of the year for Lagacé. Drew Schiestel posted an assist in Niagara's 4-3 loss to Sudbury. The Dogs fell victim to a Jared Staal goal in the final minute for their sixth consecutive loss. Nick Crawford (shoulder) did not dress for Saginaw in their 4-2 loss to Windsor. The tail end of the home-and-home featured six fights, including a goalie tilt at center ice. In exhibition play, Brad Eidsness made 10 saves in split duty as North Dakota defeated the U.S. NTDP U-18, 5-2. Eidsness played the first half of the contest, getting beaten on a nice play for the first goal against, while not being to squeeze a puck in his glove for the second U18 tally. Corey Fienhage dressed for the Sioux, finishing -1 with his requisite roughing minor. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla was -1 as Cologne lost a tight one to Augsburger, 1-0. Portland's AHL game with Worcester was canceled due to inclement weather in New England.

12/17-18 Recap: Adam excels; Southy making strides

Luke Adam earned top star honors with a goal and an assist as Montreal pulled away with two goals in the final 6:00 in their 4-2 win over Rimouski. Centering the top line with Angelo Esposito away with Team Canada, the 6'2, 203-pounder also blocked five shots and won eight of 11 draws while building his current three-game point streak (3+3). T.J. Brennan assisted on Adam's 14th to open scoring for his 18th point of the season. Jordon Southorn (-1, 4 PIM) fired three more shots and another hit to raise his Top-10 Q totals as PEI was shutout by Victoriaville, 2-0. The recent spike at both ends also has him tied for 11th in Q defensemen scoring with 24 points. On Wednesday, J.S. Allard registered a game-best seven shots on goal, yet did not factor in on any goals as Quebec downed PEI, 2-0. Southorn (2PIM) had three shots on goal while adding two hits in the Rocket loss. Drew Schiestel was +1 for Niagara in their 3-2 loss to Belleville. The "plus" outing was his first such effort after ending as a minus in five of his last six games. In international exhibition play, Philip Gogulla played even as Germany lost to Switzerland, 2-1. The two clubs met as a precursor to Germany's participation in February's Olympic qualifier with Slovenia, Austria, and Japan.

12/14 Recap: Two in the bag for Byron, Adam, Gogulla

Luke Adam (+2) scored two goals, earning the game's #1 star as the Juniors overcame a three-goal deficit to win their third straight, 6-4 over Chicoutimi. The second rounder won nine of his 12 draws, and contributed two hits and two blocked shots to pace the Juniors. T.J. Brennan (-1) had four shots on goals for the winners, while Jacob Lagacé assisted on a Nicolas Deschamps goal in the opening minute for the Sags. Paul Byron scored an unassisted shorthanded goal and later chipped in on the game-tying mark in the final minute of play, but Gatineau lost at Victoriaville in the shootout, 3-2. Byron was stopped as the Piques' second shooter, but did raise his career-high point scoring streak to 17 games with his regulation effort. Jordon Southorn had an assist and three shots on goal in PEI's 3-2 shootout loss to Saint John. With points in five straight, Sothourn himself is amidst a personal best point streak. In the DEL, Philip Gogulla had a goal and an assist as Cologne cruised to a 5-1 win over Wolfsburg. Gogulla, who has needed to be more of a finisher this season, has already scored nine goals in 25 games after netting 11 in all of 2007-08 (51 games). The Sharks move to sole possession of 11th place with the victory. Drew Schiestel was -1 as Niagara took a beatdown from the Batallion, 9-2.

12/13 Recap: Schiestel loving PP; Eidsness wins again

In a sold-out barn in St. Kitts, Drew Schiestel had a pair of assists as Niagara lost to Mississauga, 4-3. Both helpers came on the power play, upping Schiestel's total to 15 assists this season with the man advantage, good for fifth in the O. The Hamilton native continued to display his superior feet and ability to get the puck to the net, but with a -2 for the third straight game, has sunk to -18 on the season which ranks last in the league. John Cullen ('09, Hamburg, NY) got the call for the Dogs, having a solid first period before getting beaten four times in the final 40:00 including twice through the five-hole on a pair of short-handed breakaways. Cullen did not fare well one-on-one, and will need to be more crisp with his movement in the crease in order to improve his draft position. He sometimes goes down prematurely, rewarding a patient puck carrier. Mississauga forward Casey Cizikas ('09) showed excellent skating ability and nice set of hands with two goals and an assist, while Andrew Shaw ('09) of the Dogs put forth a spirited effort with a goal and assist. Add 15-20 pounds of beef to his 5'11 frame and you have yourself an intriguing 17-year-old. Also from the OHL, Nick Crawford was even as Saginaw posted a 3-2 home-ice win over Erie. In the NCAA, Brad Eidsness made 19 saves to win his fourth straight start, 7-4 over St. Cloud State. The weekend wins over the Huskies represent the first WCHA sweep of the season for the Sioux. Corey Fienhage was again a scratch as Ben Blood saw action as the #6. The Sioux are playing confidently in front of their freshman keeper, using a more open style en route to a 9-5-1 record after dropping their first three games. Matt Generous was even as a Jared Keller goal with less than :01 remaining pushed St. Lawrence to a 4-3 upset of #11 Vermont. The senior defenseman closes the semester with six points (3+3) and a +2 through 16 games. Freshman Drew MacKenzie was +1 for the Catamounts in the loss. Justin Jokinen was even in limited action as #14 Minnesota State was swept by #5 Denver, 5-2. The Pios won their seventh straight without the services of free-agent prospect Tyler Bozak, who was injured in Friday's win. The Mavericks lost their fourth in a row. In the QMJHL, J.S. Allard (+1) garnered an assist for Quebec in their 2-1 win over Acadie-Bathurst. The Alma, QC product picked up the primary on Kelsey Tessier's 10th of the season in the first period for his first point in three games, and 24th on the year. Dennis Persson was even over 16:09 of icetime as Timra got shutout by Farjestad, 3-0. The game was Persson's second in a row on the middle defensive unit while the rotating door into the Eagles infirmary stays active. Mikko Lehtonen returned to the Timra lineup, while Robin Jonsson and Par Styf remain sidelined.