2012 U18 World Hockey Championship – Czech Republic

Congratulations to Team USA for winning their fourth straight gold medal defeating Sweden 7-0 to capture their seventh gold medal.

Nic Kerdiles (2012 NHL Draft; projected top 40) had two goals and five points in the win. Seventeen-year-old captain Seth Jones was fantastic throughout the tournament proving why he will be in discussion as a top three pick for the 2013 NHL Draft. Seth Jones finished second in defensive scoring trailing only Canada’s Mathew Dumba with 8 points through six games. Last summer, I wrote an article last summer featuring this young prodigy titled Everything’s Bigger in Texas.

Historically, Canada has never performed well at the U18WMC (mostly because their top eligible players are still competing in CHL playoffs) but the red and white were able to squeak out an overtime win in the bronze medal game earlier today after blowing a 4-1 second period lead. The game winner came off the stick of Hunter Shinkaruk (2013 NHL Draft; projected top 10) and it was a beauty.

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Shinkaruk’s bronze-winning goal was of the shorthanded variety and was his third of the game. Again, if you want some extra insight to Hunter Shinkaruk, who was Canada’s top forward, I wrote an article in November title The Next Patrick Kane?

Top 5 Defensive Scoring Leaders:

1. Mathew Dumba (CAN, 2012) – 7GP-5G-12P ***Led both forwards and defense***

2. Seth Jones (USA, 2013) – 6GP-3G-8P

3. Ville Pokka (FIN, 2012) – 7GP-1G-6P

4. Alexei Bereglazov (RUS, 2012) – 6GP-0G-6P

5. Esa Lindell (FIN, 2012) – 7GP-0G-6P

Top 5 Forward Scoring Leaders:

1. Arrturi Lehkonen (FIN, 2013) – 7GP-7G-10P

2. Henrik Haapala (FIN, 2012) – 7GP-4G-10P

3. Rasmus Kulmala (FIN, 2012) – 7GP-5G-9P

4. Sebastian Collberg (SWE, 2012) – 6GP-4G-9P

5. Nicolas Kerdiles (USA, 2012) – 6GP-4G-9P

15. Teuvo Teravainen (FIN, 2012) – 6GP-2G-8P

16. Filip Forsberg (SWE, 2012) – 6GP-5G-7P

18. Anton Slepyshev (RUS, 2012)- 6GP-3G-7P

22. Scott Laughton (CAN, 2012) – 7GP-2G-7P

Tournament Awards:

Best Goaltender – Colin Olson (USA) – allowed four goals in six games and posted 3 shutouts

Best Defenseman – Mathew Dumba (CAN)

Best Forward – Filip Forsberg (SWE)

CHL Playoffs

On Saturday night, the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL showed why they are such a dominant team. Portland features a bevy of NHL drafted prospects including Sven Bartschi (Flames), Ty Rattie (Blues), Brad Ross (Maple Leafs), Joe Morrow (Penguins), and Tyler Wotherspoon (Flames) as well as 2012 draft-eligible skaters Derrick Pouliot (D) and Brendan Leipsic (F). On any given night, Portland can strike fear in their opponents as they have a number of offensive players that can step up. If Bartschi isn’t scoring then Ty Rattie will. If Morrow isn’t leading the rush, then they look to Pouliot. 

Saturday night, Portland trailed 4-2 with 10 minutes remaining in regulation before Ty Rattie and Derrick Pouliot turned it on. Rattie scored the tying goal with under two minutes to play and then scored in overtime shorthanded to win the contest and complete his hat trick. Draft eligible defenseman Derrick Pouliot had an impressive four assists (all primary) showcasing his true skillset.

On Sunday night versus the Ottawa 67’s, Coyotes’ prospect goaltender Mark Visentin looked as though he was playing the third period versus the Russians again as he allowed six goals on just 19 shots before being pulled. Meanwhile, Red Wings prospect net minder Petr Mrazek has played downright silly this season (both nationally with the Czech’s and with the 67’s) turning away 44 shots in the win.

Senators’ prospect Shane Prince and 2013 draft-eligible Sean Monahan (a personal favourite) were the offensive catalysts scoring 3 points each. Cody Ceci (2012 Draft) picked up a goal and an assist. Ottawa’s 7-4 win tied the series with Niagara at 1-1.

The London Knights defeated the Kitchener Rangers Sunday night to take a 2-0 lead. Tobias Rieder (Oilers) continues to play strongly for the Rangers as he notched two short-handed goals in the loss. Rieder is just another solid Edmonton Oilers prospect…that currently leads the OHL in playoff scoring.

Kitchener’s Ryan Murphy (Hurricanes) recorded three points giving him 19 points through 14 playoff games including seven multi-point games good for the top spot among defensemen and fifth overall. This kid is going to be a stud!

The Knights did a good job spreading their offence out but Seth Griffith (F, undrafted), Olli Maatta (D, 2012 Draft), and Austin Watson (F, Predators) each earned two points. Keep an eye on Seth Griffith during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft as he joins Tanner Pearson, Tanner Richard, and Nikita Gusev as players who have been passed over previously that should get picked this time around.

In the QMJHL, the Saint John Sea Dogs extended their streak in the playoffs to 10 games as they defeated Chicoutimi 5-2 Sunday night. Jonathan Huberdeau (1G 1A; Panthers), Charlie Coyle (1A; Wild), Nathan Beaulieu (1A; Canadiens) and the red hot Stanislav Galiev (2G; Capitals) all found the game sheet.

It’s hard to believe that Huberdeau sits fourth in team scoring with 17 points in 10 contests. Charlie Coyle (24P), Stanislav Galiev (23P) and Zack Phillips (23P; Wild) all sit above Huberdeau. Red Wings’ prospect Tomas Jurco is tied with Huberdeau and makes it five Sea Dogs in top 10 scoring.

Good night.