Friday Night Fun

First Star Ryan Bourque

Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) continued his hot play as of late scoring a goal as well as an assist but his Quebec Remparts saw their 4 game winning streak come to an end 4-3 to the Victoriaville Tigres via the shoot out.

Bourque extended his own personal scoring streak to 5 games by scoring his first QMJHL career shorthanded goal and his 7th goal of the season at 4:30 of the 3rd period to give the Remparts a 3-2 lead.

The goal also ended a 6 game goal scoring drought for Bourque. Bourque also earned the game's "First Star" for his efforts.

Bourque also set up Samuel Grouix for his 10th assist of the season and his 8th assist in his last 5 games. Bourque has gone 1-8-9 in his last 5 games but also 5-9-14 since returning from his "concussion like" injury suffered at the end of September.

Second Star Danny Hobbs

Danny Hobbs (2007 7th) picked a very good time to score his 2nd career goal as the sophomore from Shawville, Quebec wound up with the game winning goal to help his 19th ranked UMass Minutemen to a 5-1 win over the Niagara Purple Eagles. It was Hobb's first goal of the season as he deflected a shot from teammate Martin Nolet with just 13 seconds remaining in the 2nd period.

It was a power play goal for Hobbs; the first of his career with the Minutemen as they continue their surprising start to the season. Hobbs has been working harder this season attacking the crease and finally it paid off for him.

For Hobbs and his Minutemen it continues a surprising start to their season as they improve to 5-1 on the year.

Third Star Ethan Werek

In what had to be the most entertaining game of the night, Ethan Werek (2oo9 2nd) scored his 9th goal of the season but it was not enough as Werek's Kingston Frontenacs lost in the shootout to the Brampton Battalion 3-2.

Werek who was named the game's "Second Star" should have had at least 2 more goals if not for the great play of Brampton goalie Patrick Killeen.
Killeen stole the show and the game with some outstanding play of his own as his Battalion rallied from down 2-0 for this win.

Werek had several strong scoring chances but other than his goal was simply robbed by a hot goalie. The only shot we think Werek would like to have back was his one from the shootout as it looked like he had beaten Killeen but shot it high above the net.

Werek is now 9-7-16 in 16 games.

Here is some game action for you to take a look at courtesy of our friends at the Kingston Frontenacs



The Rest of the Ranger Prospects

Of course we know we are a jinx as one day after naming Sam Klassen (2009 UFA) the Prospect of the Month; both Klassen's "plus" streak and his Saskatoon Blade's winning streak came to an end. The Blades lost to the Regina Pats 4-3 in the shootout to end their 7 game winning streak.

Klassen saw his own 7 game "plus" streak come to an end with a -1.

Max Campbell (2007 5th) scored his 3rd goal of the season as his Western Michigan Broncos despite the final score saying 3-3 earned the 2nd point by winning the shootout 1-0 over Lake Superior State. Campbell led the Broncos with 6 shots on goal but missed on his shootout attempt.

We love how the CCHA awards points as this is exactly the way the NHL should do things. Win in regulation or overtime and you earn 3 points, win in the shootout get 2 points, lose in overtime or the shootout for 1 point and lose in regulation for 0 points.

Carl Hagelin (2007 6th) and his 4th ranked Michigan Wolverines got a first hand look at why Miami of Ohio is the top ranked team in college hockey as the Redhawks despite being held to just 13 total shots on goal defeated the Wolverines 3-1.

Hagelin had an assist for the 3rd straight game and his 60th career point with Michigan. Hagelin's point came on a 2 man advantage as his shot just sat on the goal line before being shoved in by linemate Chris Brown.

Ryan McDonagh (2009 Trade) had an assist while teammate Derek Stepan (2008 2nd) was scoreless as their 18th ranked Wisconsin Badgers held off the Minnesota Golden Gophers 4-2. For McDonagh it was his 6th point (all assists) of the season as the Badgers improved to 4-2-1

Luke Pither (Traverse City) had 2 assists as his Barrie Colts just whipped on Daniel Maggio's (2009 6th) Sudbury Wolves 6-2. Maggio was scoreless as Pither registered his 14th and 15th assists to bring his season totals to 12-15-27.

Mitch Gaulton (2008 6th) had his first points in 4 games with a 2 assist night as his Erie Otters won an emotionally charged game over the Niagara Ice Dogs 9-3. For Gaulton it was assists 6 and 7 on the season as the Otters blew the game open with 5 goals in the 3rd period.

The Otters were playing without Michael Liambas who was suspended for the rest of the OHL season and playoffs due to the hit on Ben Fanelli last week in Kitchener. Our friend Victor Fernandes who does an awesome job covering the Otters has a game report here, coverage of the Liambas press conference and an interesting take on how the Liambas ruling could change the roles of some players which includes quotes from former Jeff Beukeboom which are worth reading.

Tomas Kundratek (2008 3rd) had an assist as his Medicine Hat Tigers edged the Moose Jaw Warriors 3-2. For Kundratek it was his 10th point of the season all of them coming as assists.

Roman Horak (2009 5th) and his Chilliwack Bruins were shut out on the road 3-0 by the defending WHL champion Kelowna Rockets. Horak was quiet on the evening as the Rockets just outplayed the Bruins.

Craig Cunningham (Traverse City) was held scoreless as his Vancouver Giants were whipped 8-2 on the road by the Tri-City Americans. The Americans just jumped on the Giants for 4 first period goals and never looked back.

Chris Kreider (2009 1st) sat out Friday's game as his Boston College Eagles escaped with a 4-4 overtime tie with New Hampshire. The Eagles blew a 4-1 third period lead as Hockey East does not have the shoot out.

Kreider is out with an injury and no word has been officially given as to what is the exact nature of his injury.

Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) was the back up as his Owen Sound Attack got whipped 8-2 by the London Knights.

(Bourque courtesy of Katherine Ep, Hobbs courtesy of UMass, Werek courtesy of Aaron Bell/OHL images)