A Yawner of A Night

It was a rather so-so night for most of the New York Ranger prospects or maybe we have simply gotten spoiled with their play so far this season. Other than Chris Doyle nobody really stood out this evening.

Tonight's Star Chris Doyle Chris Doyle (2008 5th) had his best game in his brief time as a member of the Victoriaville Tigres with a goal and an assist as the Tigres rolled over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens 8-0.

Doyle scored his 17th goal of the season and added his 19th assist during a 22 second span of the first period as the Tigres jumped all over the Sagueneens. It was a pretty good night for Doyle as he took 4 shots, was a +1 and was credited with 2 good hits.

The change of scenery for Doyle appears to be working as it was Doyle's 3rd point in the 4 games since being traded from Prince Edward Island.

The Rest of the Ranger Prospects

Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) and his Kingston Frontenacs got a measure of revenge on the Barrie Colts whipping on them 6-2. Werek scored his 19th goal of the season as the Frontenacs jumped out to a 6-0 lead and then cruised for the win.

The Colts had embarrassed the Frontenacs 10-2 the last time the two teams met and there were 29 penalties handed out in this game.

Max Campbell (2007 5th) scored just his 4th goal of the season but Carl Hagelin (2007 6th) got the win as Hagelin's Michigan Wolverines defeated Campbell's Western Michigan Broncos 4-3 in a game that really was not as close as the score indicated.

Hagelin scored his 11th assist and 21st point of the season which leads the Wolverines. As for Max Campbell this disappointing season has him nowhere near the kinds of numbers he has put up in the past.

Chris Kreider (2009 1st) returned to the Boston College lineup as the freshmen was scoreless in 7th ranked Boston College's 3-2 loss to arch rival Boston University. The game which was played at Fenway Park at night under some crazy conditions (19 degrees with wind chill of 7 in 2nd period) was entertaining as over 38,000 braved the weather to attend this event.

Kreider had a mostly quiet evening as it is hard to be critical of someone when they are playing under such crazy conditions and circumstances as this game was play under.

Mitch Gaulton (2008 6th) was able to play wearing a protective covering on his injured finger but his Erie Otters just fell apart in the 3rd period giving up 5 goals to lose to the Kitchener Rangers 7-2.

Gaulton was scoreless and did not appear to have trouble with his injured finger.

The best way to describe what happened with Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) on Friday was he paid for his teammates not playing hard. Stajcer got yanked at 10:35 of the first period as Owen Sound Attack coach Mark Reeds said he wanted to send his team a "wake up call" after they gave up a 2nd bad goal to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

While Stajcer paid for his teammates, the message was received as the Attack came back to earn a 4-3 shoot out win over the Greyhounds.

Daniel Maggio (2009 6th) did not score but took a misconduct penalty in the second period as the linesmen prevented what would have been a fight between Maggio and the Brampton Battalion's Matt Clark. Maggio's Sudbury Wolves scored 3 goals in the second period and then held on for a 4-2 win.

Roman Horak (2009 5th) did not score but played a strong defensive game as his Chilliwack Bruins surprised the Spokane Chiefs 3-0 on the road. Horak won 75% of his faceoffs as he continued his strong 2 way play.

Tomas Kundratek (2008 3rd) was scoreless as his Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings 3-2 in the shoot out. Kundratek was called for 2 penalties in this one

Give Patrick Roy some credit as he was one of the very few coaches to follow the tradition of giving returning players from the WJC a night off to rest. Roy gave Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) the night off and we think that move will pay dividends down the road.

Roy earned his 200th QMJHL coaching win as the Quebec Remparts shut out the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 6-0.

(Chris Doyle courtesy of Katherine Ep)