Our Saturday Was a Entertaining One

While the New York Rangers were ruining Saturday night for their fans, the Ranger prospects were playing in some very entertaining games. Still tonight our first star is going to not a prospect but rather some fans.

Tonight's Star The Portland Winterhawk Fans

The Winterhawks held their annual "Teddy Bear Toss" this evening and once again Winterhawk fans came though as 10,197 fans threw a total of 16321 stuffed animals were tossed onto the ice after Spencer Bennett scored the "Teddy Bear" goal at 2:52 of the first period.

In Portland, the bears that are collected are donated to various children's charities like hospitals and foster care homes. In addition some of the bears this year will find their way overseas to several of our troops stationed overseas.

In case you are wondering Brandon Dubinsky (2004 2nd) holds the official record with 2 "Teddy Bear" goals during his time as a Portland Winterhawk.

The Ranger Prospects

Derek Stepan (2008 2nd) scored his 5th goal of the season but it was not enough as Carl Hagelin's (2007 6th) Michigan Wolverines won the Annual College Hockey Showcase 3-2 over Stepan's Wisconsin's Badgers. Hagelin had an assist on Michigan's first goal for his 12th point of the season which leads Michigan.

For Hagelin the assist also gives him a 3 game scoring streak (3-1-4) as Michigan has now won 3 straight games. Stepan wound up with a 6 point weekend (2-4-6) while Ryan McDonagh (2009 Trade) was scoreless but has been playing though some injuries as of late.

Sticking with the Colleges, Danny Hobbs (2007 7th) did not score but his 9th ranked UMass Minutemen and the 10th ranked Quinnipac Bobcats played an entertaining game that the Bobcats eventually won in overtime 5-4.

This won was more pond hockey as the Bobcats scored the game's first 3 goals then UMass rallied for 4 straight before the Bobcats scored the last 2 for the win.

Max Campbell (2007 5th) also did not score as his Western Michigan Broncos dropped the 2nd half of the weekend series to Nebraska-Omaha 4-2. For the Broncos, they have been struggling as they have lost 5 out of their last 6 games after starting the season 5-2-1.

In the OHL, Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) had 2 assists and a +3 as his Kingston Frontenacs broke a 3 game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Plymouth Whalers. Werek earned the game's 2nd star with his 13th and 14th assists on the season.

Werek is now 15-14-29 for the season.

Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) stopped 29 out of 33 shots to earn his 10th win of the season leading the Owen Sound Attack to a 5-4 win over the Belleville Bulls. It was the first time Stajcer has won this season when giving up more than 3 goals.

Stajcer is now 10-11-1-1 3.60 Goals Against and a 0.904 save percentage.

Daniel Maggio (2009 6th) had an assist on the game's tying goal but missed on his shoot out attempt as Maggio's Sudbury Wolves lost in the shoot out to Luke Pither's Barrie Colts 4-3. Pither (Traverse City) had a goal (20th) as well as an assist (19th) as Pither was named the game's "First Star".

Pither and his Colts finished the month of November 10-0 as they extended their winning streak to 14 games

Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) scored his 11th goal of the season as his Quebec Remparts defeated the Halifax Mooseheads 4-2 in QMJHL action. Bourque was also 5-8 on his faceoffs.

Also in the QMJHL, Chris Doyle (2008 5th) was scoreless but went 3-1 on his faceoffs as his Prince Edward Island Rocket edged the Lewiston MAINEaics 3-2.

In the WHL, Roman Horak (2009 5th) had his 15th assist of the season as his Chilliwack Bruins shutout the Kamloops Blazers 3-0. Horak is now 11-15-26 on the season.

Sam Klassen (2009 UFA) and his Saskatoon Blades saw their 5 game winning streak come to an end as the Blades lost to the Calgary Hitmen 5-4. Klassen was a -2 for the game which was just the 4th time that Klassen (a +20 on the season) that Klassen was a minus for the game.

Tomas Kundratek (2008 3rd) and his Medicine Hat Tigers are 6-0-0-1 in their last 7 games after defeating the Red Deer Rebels 4-1. Kundratek did not score but helped to keep the Red Deer power play from scoring (0-3)

In the Teddy Bear Game we mentioned, Luke Walker (Traverse City) did not score but the Winterhawks sent their fans home happy with a 5-3 win over their I-5 rivals the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Craig Cunningham (Traverse City) netted his 26th and 27th assists of the season as he helped lead his Vancouver Giants to a 6-2 win over the Prince George Cougars. Cunningham has been piling up the points as of late going 2-11-13 in his last 8 games to break the 40 point mark at 14-27-41 (which is 4th in the WHL)

Finally Mitch Gaulton (2008 6th) missed his 2nd straight game with a lower body injury as his Erie Otters upset the London Knights 4-3.

(Picture courtesy of the Portland Winterhawks and special thanks to Andy Kemper the voice of the Winterhawks for his help this evening)