Now The Real Fun Begins

It seems like just yesterday that the 2010-11 regular season started but the regular season came to an end on Sunday as playoffs spots were decided and NCAA invites were handed out.

It is only fitting that Christian Thomas (NYR 2010 2nd) winds up as our star of the day because it was Thomas way back on September 24th who got our season really going with a 2 goal evening against the same Peterborough Petes that he and his Oshawa Generals finished their season against.

Thomas had 3 assists to finish up his regular season with an outstanding 54-45-99 +20 as the Generals came from behind to win 3-1. Tony DeHart (NYI 2010 5th) also had an assist to finish his season 4-26-30 +9.

Dan Maggio (2009 6th) was scoreless and Calvin de Haan (NYI 2009 1st) was given the night off by the coaching staff. Next up for the Oshawa Generals will be the Ethan Werek (NYR 2009 2nd) and his Kingston Frontenacs in the first round of the OHL playoffs.

The series will start on Thursday night in Oshawa but unlike the other CHL leagues the teams play a 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format. Ethan Werek will miss the first 2 games of the series due to his suspension.

Ryan Bourque (NYR 2009 3rd) had a secondary assist on the game's first goal as his Quebec Remparts needed overtime before defeating the Baie-Comeau Drakkar 3-2. Bourque finishes his season 26-33-59 +14.

The Remparts finished 3rd in the QMJHL and will face the Val-d'OR Foreurs with the schedule expected to be announced tomorrow.

Kirill Kabanov (NYI 2010 3rd) had a secondary assist as his Lewiston MAINEaics ended their season with a 3-1 win over the Chicoutimi Sangueneens. Kabanov ends his regular season 11-17-28 +10 in 37 games with the MAINEaics

The MAINEaics finished 8th in the QMJHL and will face the Shawinigan Cataractes in the first round again with the schedule to be announced tomorrow.

Nino Niederreiter (NYI 2010 1st) and his Portland Winterhawks having already clinched the WHL's Western Conference 1st seed lost to the Spokane Chiefs 6-3. Niederreiter was scoreless and saw his 10 game scoring streak come to an end.

Niederreiter finished the regular season 41-29-70 tops among all Islander prospects. The Winterhawks will open the WHL playoffs next Saturday against 8th seeded Everett.

The NCAA Tournament

The invites to the NCAA Tournament were handed out Sunday and here is how our the prospects look:

Islanders

North Dakota- (Brock Nelson and Jason Gregoire) will play in the Midwest Regional against Rensselaer on Friday at 1:30 ET (on ESPN3.COM)

Denver- (Matt Donovan) will also be in the Midwest Regional and will play Western Michigan on Friday at 5PM ET (on ESPN3.COM)

New Hampshire- (Blake Kessel) will be in the Northeast Regional and plays Miami on Friday at 4 PM  ET (On ESPNU and ESPN3.COM)

Notre Dame- (Anders Lee) will be in the Northeast Regional and will play Merrimack on Friday at 7:30 PM ET (on ESPN3.COM)

Rangers

Michigan- (Carl Hagelin) will be in the West Regional against Nebraska-Omaha on Thursday at 5:30 PM ET (on ESPN3.COM)

Boston College- (Chris Kreider) will be in the West Regional against Colorado College on Thursday at 9 PM ET (on ESPNU and ESPN3.COM)

(This one breaks our heart because it would have been the first time Chris Kreider and Carl Hagelin would have played against each other if both teams advance to the Regional Finals)

Western Michigan- (Max Campbell) will be in the Midwest Regional and will play Denver on Friday at 5PM ET (on ESPN3.COM)

We will break down all the playoff and NCAA matchups during the week.

(Image: Thomas/Werek/Aaron Bell of OHL Images)