Sunday, December 30, 2007

Hat Trick for the QMJHL prospects

First Star

Back to Back starts leading to back to back wins just might be what the doctor ordered as Antoine Lafleur led his Prince Edward Island Rocket to a 2nd straight win over the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, this time 4-3 in the shootout.

Lafleur really had to work to earn his 8th win of the season as he stopped 42 shots between regulation and overtime and then another 3 out of 4 shots in the shoot out. If one has to say that a couple of games could be a turning point for a season then mark these last 2 days down.

It has been a rough go for Lafleur so far this season but if Lafleur can turn his season around then Prince Edward Island will become a dangerous team to face in the second half of the QMJHL season. In the QMJHL, all but 2 teams make the playoffs so all the Rocket need is a break to get them going.

Second Star

David Skokan's second assist of the game set up the game winning goal as Slovakia earned their first win of the World Under-20 Championships 4-3 over Denmark. It was Skokan's first points of the tournament and while Slovakia has been eliminated from medal contention, the 3 points they earned in this game helps as they face the relegation round.

This is Skokan's 3rd and final trip to the World Under-20 Championship but what we can take away from seeing Skokan play at this level is possibilities of his future.

When you factor in his play at Traverse City with his play here and you wonder just how good he will do when he moves up to say Hartford after his season ends with Rimouski.

Third Star

Ryan Hillier makes it an all QMJHL day with an assist in a losing effort for the Halifax Mooseheads as they dropped a 4-3 decision to the Saint Johns Fog Devils.

For Hillier it was his 45th point of the season as he passes Bobby Sanguinetti for the Prospect Scoring lead. Hillier's assist though was not enough to prevent his Mooseheads from suffering their 7th loss in their last 10 games.

The Rest of the Prospects

Max Campbell was scoreless in regulation but his shoot out goal helped his Western Michigan Broncos win their very first shoot out in school history as the Broncos earned a 3rd place finish in the Catamount Cup. The game finished regulation and overtime tied at one before Campbell stepped up and scored on the first attempt which was all his team needed.

Greg Beller was a healthy scratch as his Yale Bulldogs lost to Minnesota State 4-1.

Eric Hunter missed another game due to the flu but his University Of Alberta Golden Bear whipped Augustana 8-0.

Upcoming

Monday will see the last day of the preliminary round at the World Under-20 Championships as jockeying for medal round positioning is at stake for all of the contenders.

Tomas Zaborsky looks to extend his scoring streak to 7th straight as his Saginaw Spirit visits Winsdor.

Then Wednesday will have the start of the medal round at the World Under-20 along with Yale in action.

Of course we will be there for all the action and don't forget to vote in our latest poll

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