Soup is Up

At the start of this season we had some very high hopes for Western Michigan junior Max Campbell (2007 5th). Soup was coming off a very productive 31 point season where Campbell was the leading goal scorer for WMU with 16 goals.

For whatever reasons, Campbell just has not had the breakout season we had hoped for. Entering WMU's matchup with Bowling Green; Campbell was just 4-5-9 in 21 games.

First Star Max Campbell

We had expected to see his name here more often this season but we are very glad to see that Max Campbell finally earned himself a star after Campbell had a 4 assist game as WMU went to a 4-4 overtime tie with Bowling Green. It was a career high in assists for Campbell who just about doubled his assist total in one game.

Campbell also scored on his shootout attempt but Bowling Green was able to win the shootout portion to earn the extra point. Still for us it was nice to see Campbell recording the assists as it gives us some hope that he can somehow finish the season strong.

Campbell had 2 primary assists and 2 secondary assists to improve to 4-9-13 on the season. For his efforts, Campbell earned the game's 2nd star.

Second Star Chris Kreider

Speaking about improving ones stats; Chris Kreider (2009 1st) doubled the number of goals he has scored this season when he scored 2 goals in a losing cause as 10th ranked Boston College lost in overtime 5-4 to to arch rival Boston University.

Kreider who had more goals (6) in 7 games with Team USA than he has had with Boston College (2) in 17 until this game. Kreider scored his first goal at 17:05 of the first period to give Boston College a 2-1 lead.

In the 3rd period with Boston College trailing 4-2; Kreider's 2nd goal of the game at 2:13 started the Eagles on their comeback which forced overtime.

It was a strong effort from Kreider who has mainly been used on the Boston College's checking line but if this is Kreider's start on breaking out then we will be seeing more from the Ranger's 2009 first round pick.

Kreider earned the game's second star for his efforts.

Third Star Ethan Werek

Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) and his Kingston Frontenacs found themselves trailing the Oshawa Generals 3-1 after 15:29 of the first period. That was the highlight for the Generals as Werek and his Frontenacs came roaring back scoring 5 unanswered goals to earn a 6-3 win.

Werek was a big part of the effort as he had a goal and 2 assists during the comeback and win. Werek earned a secondary assist on the game's tying goal at 18:19 of the first period.

In the 2nd period Werek had a primary assist on Kingston's 5th goal at 16:54 when he fed Zach Hamden for Hamden's 20th goal of the season. Werek then finished up the scoring when he scored an empty net goal in the 3rd period to seal the win.

Werek improved his stats to 23-26-49 +8 for the season which is the best among Ranger draft picks.

The Rest of the Ranger Prospects

In a key matchup shown on the NHL Network Derek Stepan (2008 2nd) and Ryan McDonagh (trade 2009) led the 3rd ranked Wisconsin Badgers against the USA's top ranked team the Denver Pioneers. Derek Stepan had an assist (#22) as the Badgers rallied from down 2-0 to wind up with a 3-3 overtime tie.

Stepan is now 6-22-28 on the season while McDonagh was scoreless.

Carl Hagelin (2007 6th) saw his 6 game scoring streak come to an end but his Michigan Wolverines earned a key 2-0 win over 9th ranked Ferris State in a game shown on CBS College Sports. Michigan is trying to keep alive a 19 year streak of earning NCAA tournament invites as they have now gone unbeaten in their last 6 games (5-0-1).

Hagelin went 3-8-11 during his 2nd 6 game point streak of the season but as Hagelin has turned up his game so have the Wolverines.

Roman Horak (2009 5th) and his Chilliwack Bruins lost a tough one as they fell 4-3 to the Kamloops Blazers. With the loss the two teams flip flop in the WHL Western Conference standings as the Blazers jumped past the Bruins into 6th place.

Horak scored his 15th goal of the season in this as once again he showed how very dangerous he is on the penalty kill. Horak scored his 4th shorthanded goal of the season (which is 3rd in the WHL) for his goal.

Sam Klassen (2009 UFA) and his Saskatoon Blades ran into the hottest team in all of the CHL as they hosted the Kootenay Ice. Despite Klassen's 25th point of the season, the Ice won their 14th straight game 5-4.

Klassen tied his career high with that assist and added a +2 to improve to a very nice +34.

Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) and his Quebec Remparts took on the Saint John's Sea Dogs who are the current number one ranked team in the QMJHL. The Remparts showed they belonged with the Sea Dogs despite falling in the shootout 5-4.

Bourque had a mostly quiet night with just 3 shots and 1 good hit.

Chris Doyle (2008 5th) also had a quiet night as his Victoriaville Tigres lost for just the 2nd time since they traded for Doyle 6-2 to the Moncton Wildcats. Doyle was a -2 with 2 good hits for the night.

Daniel Maggio (2009 6th) was scoreless but got into a fight for the second straight game as his Sudbury Wolves tried to rally from down 5-1 in the 3rd period only to fall to the Barrie Colts 6-4. The game was not as close as the score indicates as the Colts are one of the top contenders for the OHL title.

Maggio leads Ranger prospects in fighting majors with 4.

Mitch Gaulton (2008 6th) had an assist on a shorthanded goal but his Erie Otters were spanked by the London Knights winning 7-4 going away. Gaulton is now 4-22-26 on the season.

(Pictures: Campbell/Shawno Cleary, Kreider/Dennis Peace, Werek/Aaron Bell/OHL Images)