Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Adam snags weekly Q honor

Luke Adam of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles has been named the QMJHL Offensive Player of the Week of February 15-21.

Adam recorded three goals and four assists in the Screaming Eagles' three wins. Furthermore, he scored a game-winner and posted a +6 rating. Finally, he was named the first star of his team's 4-1 victory over the Mooseheads on Sunday.

The Newfoundland native, who is arguably the hottest player in Canadian juniors, has 18 goals in 15 games since returning from his appearance with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships.

Monday, February 22, 2010

2/21 Recap: Adam pots another pair

Luke Adam scored two goals and added an assist Sunday as Cape Breton downed Halifax, 4-1. Sabres prospects factored in on all four Screaming Eagles tallies on the afternoon with Maxime Legault scoring a goal and two assists and Jacob Lagacé adding a pair of helpers. The Eagles have now taken 15 of the last 16 games between the two clubs.

Trailing 1-0 at the end of one, Adam scored two goals five minutes apart in the second to give Cape Breton the lead for good. The afternoon's work ups his league-leading total to 43 goals on the season, leaving him seven shy of 50 with eight games to play. His 79 points are good for 3rd overall in the QMJHL despite playing just 48 regular season games.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb (+2) assisted on the game-winning goal as visiting Kootenay defeated Medicine Hat, 3-1. With nine games to go, the Ice need just three points to clinch a playoff spot.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

2/20 Recap: Foligno nets winner; Eno stands tall

Marcus Foligno scored the game winning goal on Saturday as Sudbury silenced Guelph, 5-1. The wraparound marker, his 13th of the year, gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead at 13:24 of the first period while setting a new career high in goals for the grinding forward. Eight of Foligno's goals have come in the 2010 calendar year.

In a battle of the OHL's top two clubs, Nick Crawford posted two assists as Barrie bested Windsor, 8-5. The 6'1 shutdown rearguard, who now leads the league's defensemen in points with an even 60 on the year, was a game-high +3 for the second straight night.

In WHL action, Brayden McNabb finished -1 as Kootenay took a 2-1 shootout win over Lethbridge. The Ice workhorse is currently 3rd in goal (16) and 5th in points (53) among league defenders.

In QMJHL play, Jordon Southorn was even as PEI was hammered by Rimouski, 6-1.

In Saturday NCAA play, Nick Eno stopped a career-best 38 of 39 shots Saturday as Bowling Green played to a 1-1 tie with Notre Dame. The Irish went hard at Eno all evening long, but the 6'3 backstop was up to the task with several tough stops to get the Falcons to the OT. Eno would stop two of three Notre Dame attempts in the shootout to (technically) give BGSU their first sweep of the season.

Brad Eidsness had another solid outing with 22 saves as #11 North Dakota earned the weekend sweep of #6 Duluth, 5-1. The 6'0 netminder has allowed just four goals in his last three starts while lowering his goals against average to 2.22 and upping his save percentage to .909. The only goal against on Saturday came when Sioux dman Derrick LaPoint put the puck into his own net. Corey Fienhage, playing his 23d game of the season, finished the night +1.

In the CCHA, Connor Knapp made 27 saves as #1 Miami was shocked by Nebraska-Omaha, 4-2. The RedHawks (23-5-6) saw their eight-game win streak come to an end, while Knapp (7-3-3) dropped his first decision since a January 10th loss to unranked Robert Morris. Miami will close the regular season next weekend with a set against in-state rival Ohio State.

In Hockey East, Drew MacKenzie had an assist as #17 Vermont tied #13 New Hampshire, 3-3. The 6'1 defenseman has half of his 10 season points in his last seven games.

Alex Biega was even with a shot on goal as Harvard lost at Colgate, 4-2.

Corey Tropp was -1 with a shot on goal as #12 Michigan State edged #14 Ferris State, 3-2. After a hot 2009 start that saw him collect 17 goals in his first 21 games, Tropp has just registered three in his past 13.

Justin Jokinen was scratched for the third straight game as Minnesota State, 4-3.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was even in Chicago's 1-0 loss to Sioux Falls.

2/19 Recap: Adam gets 41st; Eidsness, Eno earns W's

Luke Adam coupled his 41st goal with a pair assists on Friday to lead Cape Breton in a 6-4 comeback win over Halifax. The league's leading goal getter, Adam also notched a career-best 10 shots on goal to pace the Screaming Eagle attack. Cape Breton trailed 3-0 after the first thirty minutes before evening the score entering the third. Jacob Lagacé added his 33rd goal of the year into an empty net with :15 to play, while Maxime Legault finished the night at -1.

Lagacé avoided serious injury when he took a knee-on-knee hit from Moose dman Garrett Clarke midway through the third period. The 2011 eligible Clarke received a major and a game misconduct, while Lagacé returned to see time on the ensuing power play.

On Wednesday Legault had a goal and two assists as the Screaming Eagles defeated Shawinigan, 5-3. Adam, who saw his ten-game goal scoring streak snapped, and Lagacé each had an assist in the win.

Elsewhere Friday, Jordon Southorn was even as PEI doubled Shawinigan, 4-2.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno scored his 12th goal of the year as Sudbury edged Niagara, 2-1. The big forward snapped home his own rebound on the power play to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead late in the first period.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb scored his 16th goal of the season as Kootenay dropped a 6-4 decision to Spokane. The 6'4 left-side defender went high glove side through a screen to give the Ice a 4-3 lead late in the second period, but the Chiefs answered back :26 later for their first of three unanswered goals to get the win.

In Friday NCAA play, Brad Eidsness made 31 saves in what may have been his best performance of the year as #11 North Dakota defeated #6 Duluth, 5-2. Clutch saves, good rebound control and better positioning than his previous Friday outing were marks of his solid all-around evening. Corey Fienhage was -1 for the Sioux.

Nick Eno made 21 saves and earned an assist on the game winning goal as Bowling Green upset Notre Dame, 4-3. The Falcons, who beat the Irish for the first time since January 2005, rallied for a quick-strike third period after entering the final 20-minutes trailing 3-1. Eno was beaten five-hole on a power play, by a clean wrister on a partial short-handed breakaway, and glove side on a screen by shot from the point.

Corey Tropp earned an assist in his first game at the center position as #12 Michigan State lost to #14 Ferris State, 4-2.

Drew MacKenzie picked up an assist as #17 Vermont lost in overtime to #13 New Hampshire, 5-4. The sophomore punched a shot to the net that caused a down-low goal on the rebound to tie the game 3-3.

Alex Biega contributed two shots on goal as Harvard was shut out by #10 Cornell, 3-0.

Connor Knapp served as backup as #1 Miami downed Nebraska-Omaha, 6-2.

Justin Jokinen was scratched as Minnesota State defeated visiting Alaska-Anchorage, 5-2.

In the USHL, Mark Adams registered a pair of minor penalties as Chicago defeated Sioux Falls, 1-0.

On Thursday, Nick Crawford was +3 with an assist as Barrie registered 55 shots on goal in a 6-4 win over Oshawa.

Monday, February 15, 2010

2/14 Recap: Lagacé nets winner, Adams hits 40 in big win

In Sunday QMJHL action, Luke Adam buried a backhand for his 40th goal of the season and Jacob Lagacé notched the controversial game winner as Cape Breton defeated top-ranked Saint John, 4-2.

Lagacé made a clean steal and found Adam in front of the Sea Dogs net to get the Eagles on the board in the opening period. The mark extended Adam's current streak to 10 straight games with a goal. The Q's leading goal-getter, Adam would later return the favor, earning an assist as Lagacé finished off a short-handed transition play in the third period to cement the win over the reigning #1 club in CHL Mastercard Rankings. Play continued after Lagacé's winning shot, but the goal was awarded after review. Maxime Legault (6 PIM) did not factor in to any of the Eagles goals.

Adam and Lagacé's goals are captured as part of the video recap below:



Elsewhere, Brayden McNabb was even as Kootenay doubled up Saskatoon, 6-3. The 6’4 defender was victimized by an ill-advised pinch that led to the first Blades goal. Later in the second, McNabb was cross-checked hard into the boards by Charles Inglis causing a pair of fights and two ejections.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno was even as Sudbury continued their recent struggles with a 5-0 loss at London.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

2/13 Recap: Eidsness, Knapp guide blowout W's

Brad Eidsness made 24 saves Saturday to help #11 North Dakota avenge a loss the night before in an 8-1 beatdown of #4 St. Cloud State. The sophomore carried a shutout through 49:46 before Oliver Lauridsen swiped a drop-pass past him to make the score 6-1. Earlier on with the Sioux ahead 1-0, Eidsness made a key stop on a 2-1 to send his team back the other way to capture a goal. Corey Finehage played even for the Sioux, who looked to exact revenge on SCS forward Aaron Marvin for a hit earlier in the season that sent team captain Chay Genoway out indefinitely with post-concussion syndrome. Mario Lamoureux (5'9, 185) squared off with 6'3 Marvin, but the refs hopped in immediately to cause lingering scraps the rest of the way.

In another chippy blowout featuring 166 minutes in penalties, Connor Knapp made 19 saves as #1 Miami plowed through Bowling Green, 10-2. After a close game in the Friday series opener, the Saturday contest turned into a physical affair with the Falcons taking whacks and runs at Knapp as things got out of hand. Near the end of the second period, a fracas ensued behind the RedHawks net after a Falcon forward went into Knapp at full speed. The 6'5 sophomore entered the fray, but did not receive a penalty or one of the four DQs handed out as a result. Nick Eno entered the BGSU nets in relief of Andrew Hammond, allowing five goals on 29 shots before giving way to the #3 netminder for the final 2:12.

In the OHL, Nick Crawford recorded two assists as Barrie lost to Central Division rival Mississauga-St. Mike's, 5-4. The steady Crawford ranks first among OHL defensemen with 47 assists, and 2nd with 57 total points.

Alex Biega was +1 as Harvard edged #16 Union, 4-3.

Justin Jokinen was a healthy scratch as Minnesota State was doubled by #3 Wisconsin, 8-4.

Drew MacKenzie missed his second straight game due to illness as #17 Vermont was defeated by Merrimack, 3-2.

In the USHL, Mark Adams kicked in a shot on goal as Chicago defeated Omaha, 5-2.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

2/12 Recap: Adam extends in Eagle loss

Luke Adam scored a goal and an assist on Friday as Cape Breton lost at Saint John, 3-2. The late mark at 18:51 of the third period extends Adam's streak to nine straight games with at least one goal. The 6'2 pivot has collected 14 of his league-leading 39 goals over the stretch. Maxime Legault earned an assist in the loss, while Jacob Lagacé continued to struggle as an Eagle by finishing the night with two shots on goal and -2 rating.

In the OHL, Nick Crawford was +3 with an assist as Barrie bested Ottawa, 6-4. On Thursday, the Caledon, Ontario native was +1 in the Colts' 7-2 trouncing of Peterborough.

Marcus Foligno was +1 as Sudbury lost to Brampton, 3-1. The gritty 6'3 forward nearly equaled his 12-goal output from last season when he rang one off the crossbar early in the first period.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb was +1 as Kootenay dumped Edmonton, 5-2. On Tuesday, the 6'4 defenseman registered a power play assist as the Ice defeated Moose Jaw, 5-2.

In NCAA action, Brad Eidsness made 22 saves as #11 North Dakota lost to #4 St. Cloud State, 4-3. Eidsness' night was a mix of poor positioning leading to goals against and timely stops to keep the Sioux alive late in the game. Sophomore blueliner Corey Fienhage played even in defeat.

Netminders Connor Knapp and Nick Eno both took a rest as #1 Miami held on to post a 3-2 win over Bowling Green. BGSU is now 4-21-4 on the year heading into Saturday's rematch with the RedHawks. Connor Knapp is the likely starter for Miami, while it is unclear if Eno will get the nod for Bowling Green. On Tuesday, Eno stopped all 12 shots he faced through 23:00 of play before suffering a minor leg injury in the Falcons 4-0 loss to #19 Michigan.

Alex Biega earned an assist as Harvard dropped a 5-4 decision to RPI. On Monday, Biega was -3 in Harvard's 4-1 loss to Northeastern in the Beanpot consolation game.

Drew MacKenzie did not dress as #17 Vermont played to a 2-2 tie with Merrimack.

Justin Jokinen was even as Minnesota State lost at #3 Wisconsin, 4-3.

In the USHL, Mark Adams was -1 as Chicago got throttled by Waterloo, 6-1.

On Wednesday, Jordon Southorn was +1 with three sots on goal as PEI lost in a shootout to Halifax, 5-4.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

2/6 Recap: Energized Adam keeps going (and going)

Luke Adam scored his QMJHL-leading 38th goal of the season on Saturday to extend his scoring streak to eight straight games as Cape Breton lost to Halifax, 3-2. Big and strong on the puck, Adam has often looked like a man amongst boys since returning from the World Junior Championships. To chart his run against other recent Q stars, the 6'2 center will need a goal in each of his next six games to equal Sidney Crosby's mark of goals in 14 straight with Rimouski back in 2004-05.

Jacob Lagacé moved back up to the top line to earn an assist on Adam's mark, while Maxime Legault was given the night off due to a nagging injury. Lagacé, who has one goal and nine assists in 12 games since being traded from Chicoutimi, appeared frustrated at times with The Mooseheads physical play and even earned a 10-minute misconduct in the middle frame after chirping at the refs.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno saw his three-game point streak snapped as Sudbury was blown out by Mississauga-St. Mike's, 8-3. Trailing 4-2 near the end of the second period, Foligno got in his sixth scrap of the season by taking on defenseman Brett Flemming. The 6'3 aggressor yelled to jack up his team on his way to the box, but the pep talk did little to rally the troops as the Wolves were outscored 4-1 in the final period to conclude the poor home-ice effort.



Also from the O, Nick Crawford was +1 as Barrie slid past Sault Ste. Marie, 4-3.

In the WHL, Brayden McNabb was -3 as Kootenay collapsed in a 5-4 OT loss to Regina. The Ice held a 4-2 lead late before allowing the Pats to score two goals in the final 1:53 of regulation and cash the momentum in overtime.

In an emotional night in Oxford, Connor Knapp made a season-high 38 saves as #1 Miami pounded hard-skating Lake Superior, 10-4. The team sported the initials "BB" on the back of their helmets and held a moment of silence for team Brendan Burke, the RedHawks team manager who was killed on Friday. Miami and Knapp were both solid in building an 8-1 lead through two periods before winding down a difficult 24-hours with some minor letdowns in the final 20-minutes. Knapp will take a 6-2-3 record, 2.04 goals-against-average, and .917 save percentage into next weekend's set with Bowling Green.

Corey Tropp assisted on the lone Spartans goal as #12 Michigan State tied Alaska-Fairbanks, 1-1. Playing the center position for the first time in his career, the 6-footer rang a post on the power play shortly before netting his 20th assist on a goal by Jeff Petry. The helper was his first point in six career games at Fairbanks, giving him a line of 19-20-39 on the season.

Elsewhere, Alex Biega was -1 as Harvard lost an Ivy league battle with #8 Yale, 6-3. Yale dominated play early and closed strong with four third period goals.

Drew MacKenzie registered a shot on goal as #17 Vermont played to a 1-1 tie with Providence. The Catamounts will host Merrimack next weekend.

In the USHL, Mark Adams picked up four minor penalties, two for tripping and one each for roughing and delay of game, as Chicago lost to Green Bay, 2-1. Through 33 games of his only Jr. "A" season, the 6'3 rearguard has collected three goals, three assists, and 54 PIM while accumulating a -4 rating for the 15-20-5 Steel.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

2/5 Recap: Adam eyeing 50

Luke Adam continued his wicked pace with two goals Friday, including the 100th of his QMJHL career, as Cape Breton doubled PEI 4-2. The 6'2 Adam, who also added an assist, reached the century mark on the power play at 9:20 of the third for the game winner. He’d later add his league-leading 37th of the year into an empty net with 15 seconds left in regulation.

Adam enters Saturday's contest at Halifax with 12 goals over his current seven-game scoring streak, and 21 in his last 14 games. With 15 contests remaining on the regular season slate, Adam has a very real shot at being the first Sabres prospect to notch 50 goals since Shawinigan's Jason Pominville hit for 57 in 2001-02. Pommer did it in 66 games, while Adam will top out at 57 if games if he plays out the schedule.

Maxime Legault and Jacob Lagacé were both held off the scoresheet for the winning Eagles. Legault maintained his RW spot on a hard hitting line with Pier-Antoine Dion and Taylor MacDougall, while Lagacé skated with Nick McNeil opposite Brad Cuzner. Jordon Southorn finished the game -1 for PEI after logging a -3 and a fighting major in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to Moncton.

In the OHL, Marcus Foligno scored a goal and an assist in Sudbury's 8-5 loss to Sault Ste. Marie. In the third period, Foligno tipped in a pass from John McFarland for his 11th goal of the year to make it 6-5 before the Soo pulled away to close out the win.

In WHL play, Brayden McNabb finished -2 as Kootenay was shut down by Brandon, 4-1. On Wednesday, McNabb notched his 50th point of the season with an assist in the Ice's 2-1 win over Moose Jaw.

In the NCAA, Alex Biega (+1) scored a goal and an assist in Harvard's 5-2 win over Brown. Biega blasted a point shot through traffic for his second of the year on the power play minutes after his wide shot was scooped up for the Crimson's first goal of the game.

Drew MacKenzie was even as Vermont downed Providence, 5-1. The sophomore blueliner entered the game with points in three straight.

Corey Tropp was kept off the sheet as Michigan State lost 2-0 at Alaska. The junior has yet to register a point in five career games in Fairbanks.

Connor Knapp sat in his usual Friday spot as creasemate Cody Reichard set a new Miami record with his fifth shutout of the season in the RedHawks 2-0 win over Lake Superior. The 6'5 Knapp is expected to start for the RedHawks in Saturday's rematch. Prior to the win, team manager Brendan Burke and an 18-year old companion were killed in an automobile accident a half hour away from campus. Burke was the youngest son of Maple Leafs GM, Brian Burke.

In the USHL, Mark Adams contributed two shots on goal as Chicago lost to Cedar Rapids, 5-2. The Steel have lost three in a row.

In Thursday OHL action, Nick Crawford picked up an assist as Barrie dropped a 3-2 decision to Mississauga. The defenseman, who skated for the Eastern Conference All-Stars in Tuesday's 17-10 win over the West, now has 10 goals and 44 assists this season.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

2/1 Recap: Rugged McNabb does his thing

Brayden McNabb was even with a fighting major on Monday as Kootenay earned a 2-1 shootout win at Regina. Playing with an upped physical edge, the minute-eating blueliner delivered several hits throughout including a big one early on Pats forward Cass Mappin.

With the victory seeing McNabb's three-game point streak snapped, another "streak" ended as the gloves came off. The 6'4 McNabb, who had gone 24 games without a scrap, took a decision over 6'4, 212-pound Mitch McColm as part of a disagreement near the end of the second period:



In Boston, Harvard senior Alex Biega missed out on his final chance to hoist the Beanpot Trophy as the Crimson was stifled in the tourney semi-finals by #14 Boston College, 6-0. Biega finished the night even while the Eagles cashed in three of their 11 power play opportunities to advance to next week's final against Boston University.