Monday Monday

Presidents Day meant we had a mixture of hockey news, game results and other stuff to cover so let us start with the good news first.

Chris Kreider Hockey East Rookie of the Week

(from Tim Clark Boston College Media Relations)

Boston College freshman forward Chris Kreider has earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors, according to a league announcement made on Monday.

Kreider scored once in each of two Boston College victories last week. The 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound forward scored the team's third goal late in the second period in a 4-3 win over Boston University (2/8) in the Beanpot title game, a goal that was featured as No. 1 on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays.

Five days later, Kreider tallied the game-winning goal with 13.8 seconds left in regulation to lift the Eagles to a 2-1 home win over UMass-Lowell on Saturday, Feb. 13.

The Boxford, Mass., resident has 11 points - eight goals and three assists - and a plus-eight rating in 24 games this winter. He has scored six times in his last seven games.

Kreider is the fourth BC freshman to earn Hockey East rookie-of-the-week honors, joining classmates Pat Mullane, who earned the honor on Nov. 23, Parker Milner (Dec. 7) and Steven Whitney (Dec. 14).

BC, which split the weekend series with the River Hawks, is 17-9-2 overall and is in second place in the league standings with a 12-7-2 record.

The Eagles are ranked eighth according to the USCHO.com poll and ninth by the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine poll. Both were released earlier on Monday.

If you missed that goal then here enjoy as right now it is also the leader for Ranger prospect goal of the season.



Wish we had a video of Krieder's first game winner from Saturday as it was a clutch goal scored with just 13.8 seconds remaining in regulation. What we can settle for is John Connolly's report of the game.

Monday also being a holiday in the USA meant afternoon hockey for us as Daniel Maggio (2009 6th) was the only healthy Ranger draft pick playing. Maggio's Sudbury Wolves have been on a losing streak which is putting their playoff hopes in major jeopardy.

Maggio did his best to stop the losing streak for the Wolves setting up teammate Eric O'Dell for a goal just 49 seconds into the game but that was the lone highlight for the Wolves dropped their 5th straight game this one was 6-2 to the Sarnia Sting.

The Wolves just fell apart in the 3rd period giving up 4 goals in 5:23 which 1-1 game into a blowout. Maggio in addition to his 17th assist of the season wound up a -1 and had 8 PIM.

It is not looking good for the Wolves as they have lost 8 of their last 9 games and right now it looks like Wolves along with the Owen Sound Attack might be the only teams with Ranger prospects not to make any kind of playoffs.

Also in the OHL, the Erie Otters without the injured Mitch Gaulton (2008 6th) opened up a 5 point lead over the Owen Sound Attack after a 1-0 shoot out win over the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. Gaulton who is out with an injured right elbow is expected to miss another week at the very least.

The Kingston Frontenacs without an injured Ethan Werek (2009 2nd) defeated the Ottawa 67's 5-3 to pull within 8 points of the first place 67's. Werek who has a twist right knee is going to be out for at least 2 weeks is tied with Chris Doyle for the prospect scoring lead with 53 points.

Luke Walker and his Portland Winterhawks returned home after a good weekend in Prince George left their defense in Canada as they hosted the Moose Jaw Warriors in a shootout that had both team's goalies pulled in the 2nd period.

This was one of those "last team to have the puck wins" as the Winterhawks blew a 6-4 lead in the 3rd period and lost for the first time in regulation in 8 games 7-6. Pretty fun game to watch but glad not coaching this one as there was a lot of blown coverages.

In the new USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls, only 2 teams with Ranger prospects are ranked starting with the Badger Brothers (Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh) and their Wisconsin Badgers at number 3.

It is also interesting to note that the Badgers will be facing 4th ranked St Cloud State as the Badgers have faced the top of the poll for the 3rd time this season. The WCHA has 3 teams ranked in the top 5 so it will be interesting to see how the NCAA seeding goes this year.

Chris Kreider and Boston College are ranked 8th as they have not been able to break though to the upper ranks of the poll this season.

(Kredier courtesy of Dennis Peace)