Tonight's Star Max Campbell (2007 5th) rarely ever gets any notice or respect from those who cover New York Ranger prospects (except us of course). They say he is too skinny, that he does not do much other than score goals among other things.
Take it from us, Campbell is a natural goal scorer, always has been and we believe in time could score at the NHL level as well. On Saturday, Campbell earned his 1st "First Star of the Game" of the season after a 2 goal performance that helped his Western Michigan Broncos earn a 2 game sweep of Mercyhurst 4-3.
With the Broncos trailing 2-1 in the 2nd period, Campbell got the tying goal when he took a feed from linemate Greg Squires and beat Mercyhurst goalie Ryan Zapolski at 6:02. Then at 15:18 while on a power play, Campbell found a loose puck in the crease and slammed it past Zapolski to give the Broncos a 3-2.
Campbell and his linemates Greg Squires and J. J. Crews combined for a 3-5- 8 evening on top of the 3-4-7 they put up on Friday evening. For Western Michigan to have any hope of a good season this line is going to have to produce numbers like this all season long.
The Rest of the Prospects
Mitch Gaulton (2008 6th) and his Erie Otters got a split of their 2 game series with the Owen Sound Attack with a 5-4 shoot out win on Saturday night. For Gaulton it was his first point in 3 games as he is now 1-4-5 on the season.
Daniel Maggio (2009 6th) scored his 4th goal of the season but Maggio and his Sudbury Wolves got whipped by the Niagara Ice Dogs 7-3. Despite scoring a goal in his 2nd straight game, Maggio wound up a -3 as the Ice Dogs outplayed the Wolves in this one big time.
Sam Klassen (UFA 2009) did not score but helped key a penalty kill that shut out the Calgary Hitmen (0 for 5) which led Klassen's Saskatoon Blades to an easy 5-1 win. With their4th straight win the Blades move to the top of the East Division standings with a 6-2-0-2.
Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) set up the tying goal on the power play to help his Quebec Remparts come from behind and defeat the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 5-3. For Bourque it was just his 2nd assist of the season to go along with 6 goals for 8 points.
Roman Horak (2009 5th) scored his second goal of the season but it was not enough as his Chilliwack Bruins fell to 3-6-1-2 on the season after a 3-2 loss on the road to the Red Deer Rebels. Horak is now 2-7-9 for the season.
Ryan McDonagh (Trade 2009) and Derek Stepan (2008 2nd) were held off the scoreboard as their Wisconsin Badgers skated to a 1-1 overtime tie with the Colorado College Tigers. McDonagh got called for a hooking penalty during a Tiger power play which set up a 5 on 3 power play that the Tigers scored on for their only goal of the game.
Stepan had 2 good scoring chances but could not cash either in. The Badgers are now 0-1-1 on the season.
Craig Cunningham (Traverse City) recorded his prospect leading 12th assist but his Vancouver Giants lost to the Tri-City Americans 5-3. Cunningham now leads all Ranger prospects with a 7-12-19 record.
Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) finally got a well deserved night off for the Owen Sound Attack after starting 12 straight games. Stajcer is 4-5-1-1, 3.72 GAA and 0.900 Save Percentage.
Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) got a night off but it was not what he wanted as Werek is out with a hip injury he suffered on Friday evening. Werek's status is day to day for now and we will update you when we get more information.
PROGRAMMING REMINDER
If you get ESPNU then make sure you check out 2009 First Round Pick Chris Kreider's official NCAA debut with Boston College LIVE at 5 PM EDT/ 2 PM PDT.
(Campbell picture courtesy of the Western Michigan Broncos and GS Photo)
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