Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Hillier Has One Less Mountain to Climb

UPDATE: Ryan Hillier signs first NHL contract with Rangers

Ryan Hillier has had the best of times and the worst of times as well. In January, Hillier was our Dean Prentice Prospect of the Month after Hillier after Ranger fans voted for him after his 6-5-11 performance.

In February there was nobody who was any colder as Hillier totally struggled. The one saving grace was as Hillier himself told us "It was kind of a good learning experience because I got to work on my all round game. "

It was then that we knew that Hillier was going to rebound and be alright. Hillier more than made up for lost time and in doing so has earned his second Dean Prentice Prospect of the Month award this time for the month of March.

There was no Ranger prospect who had the kind of month that Hillier had when you total up both regular season and playoff numbers. We start with a 9 game scoring streak where Hillier put up 9 goals and 9 assists for 18 points.

As it is for the entire month Hillier wound up with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 13 games both regular season and the first round of the QMJHL playoffs. Did we forget to mention that Hillier also had 4 game winning goals during March?

It was also a month of firsts as 21 points is the most we have seen a Ranger prospect score in a single month. The 4 game winners is also a new record along with the 9 game scoring streak which is one game better than last season's 8 game streak from Tom Pyatt. Not a bad month if one says so for Ryan Hillier.

Now April is here and Hillier along with his Halifax Mooseheads are moving on to the QMJHL quarterfinals against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles starting Friday night in Halifax.

It will be a test for Hillier as the challenge now for him is to continue his hot streak. If Hillier keeps scoring like we know he can do whether it is at even strength, on the power play or short handed then the Herd just might run over the Screaming Eagles.

If that happens then we will be back here talking about how the Halifax Mooseheads are going for a Division Championship.

Who knows we might be right back here giving Ryan the Dean Prentice for May as well. If we do then it means Hiller and his Mooseheads just might be playing for the QMJHL championships

We hope so.


(Hillier Picture Courtesy of the Halifax Mooseheads)

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