Sending Us a Message

Chris Doyle makes it really easy to like him as the Ranger's 2008 5th round pick is not the biggest dog in the yard. Doyle is not the most talented or the smoothest of players among the prospects but boy does he have some heart.

Last night while writing up the report about his PEI Rocket's getting shut out for the second straight game; we wondered which Chris Doyle we were going to get to see in the second half of the season.

Was it going to be the prospect that rose to as high as 2nd in the QMJHL scoring race? Maybe it was going to be the just average prospect that got cut by the Rangers after Traverse City? Or will it be the prospect that played on Friday night?

The prospect who we saw last night registered his second Gordie Howe Hat Trick of the season. Doyle had the goal, assist as well as the fight in tying a Prospect Park record for most Gordie Howe Hat Tricks in a season (Brandon Dubinsky had 2 in 2004).

The bad news is though Doyle's Prince Edward Island Rockets blew a 4-0 lead to lose this game 11-7 to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The Voltigeurs have now won 17 straight but the Rocket can only blame themselves for why they lost.

For Doyle, he gets to enter the holiday break 18-28-46, -9 61 PIMs 10 PPG, 19 "good hits" which puts him 11th among QMJHL scorers. Among Ranger prospects Doyle is the leader in scoring with his 46 points, power play goals, PIMs, and of course fights with 4.

Not bad numbers for a 5th round pick but here is what we will wonder as the Rocket fall farther down the standings; What would Doyle's numbers be like playing for a winning team?

The Rockets are on yet another losing streak, this time of 5 games and with just 2 wins in their last 16 games, the season has gotten away from the Rocket. This bad loss might be the straw that forces changes for the Rocket which might help Doyle.

We might find that out during the next QMJHL trading period and while we like some of the folks with the Rocket, we want the best for Chris Doyle. Doyle on a winning team helps to give us a better idea as to his professional potential.

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Max Campbell (2007 5th) and his Western Michigan Broncos interrupted their winter break with a trip to Alaska to face the University of Alaska Nanooks in college hockey action. The Broncos were very rusty and that cost them.

The Bronco's spotted the NCAA's best defense a 3-0 first period lead and never could catch up eventually falling 6-3 to the Nanooks. Max Campbell saw his 4 game goal scoring streak come to an end as the leading goal scorer for the Broncos was held to just 2 shots.

Campbell and his Broncos will face the Nanooks once again Saturday evening in Alaska.

Antoine Lafleur (2007 2nd) might have helped establish himself as the Rouyn-Noranda Huskie's starting goalie by never leaving the bench. Lafleur was the backup goalie as his Huskies lost to the Val-d'Or Foreurs 3-2 as starting goalie Matthew Dopud gave up 3 third period goals in the loss.

Lafleur had defeated the same Foreurs team on Thursday evening and has an above 500 record in games started. Lafleur is going to enter his holiday break with numbers of 9-5 3.22 GAA and .876 save percentage.


(Chris Doyle courtesy of the PEI Rocket)