Hump day hockey

Shane McColgan (Steve Hiscock)

Just 2 games involving New York Ranger prospects on the schedule for Wednesday and both of them came away winners. Teams are missing some of their best players as those players are either attending a World Under-20 Championship camp or playing in one of the lower divisions.

Shane McColgan (NYR 2011 5th) and his Saskatoon Blades are on a roll; the Blades made it 4 wins in a row with a 5-2 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. McColgan earned the game's 3rd star with a 1-1-2 performance in helping the Blade's win.

McColgan's assist was a primary one on the Blade's 4th power play as it gave the Blades a 3-1 lead at 13:13 of the 2nd period. For McColgan it was his 8th assist on the power play and his 21st assist overall.

McColgan would add his 8th goal of the season just 1:43 later at 14:56 for a 4-1 lead and the Blades would cruise from there. McColgan is 8-21-29 on the season.

In Edmonton, Michael St. Croix (NYR 2011 4th) and his Edmonton Oil Kings had a house full of NHL scouts in town to watch his team take on the Kamloops Blazers in what could be a possible preview of the WHL Finals. The Oil Kings were missing their captain Islander prospect Griffin Reinhart as well as their number one goalie who are attending the Team Canada selection camp.

No worries the Oil Kings didn't miss them as they handed the number one team in the WHL's Western Conference a 5-2 defeat. Michael St. Croix had a secondary assist on the Oil King's 2nd goal which was an even strength goal.

For St. Croix it was his 25th assist on the season but it also was his 8th straight game without a goal. St. Croix has had good looks but the puck just isn't going in for him.

The toughest part in going 45-60-105 in your last season is that the expectations are much higher the next season. St Croix is 14-25-39. Now would be a very good time for him to get hot.

From a scouting POV, I would like to see more of Edmonton backup goalie Tristan Barry in action. Barry put on a heck of a display especially in the 2nd when Kamloops threw 25 shots at him.

Barry doesn't see a lot of ice because Edmonton's starter Laurent Brossoit is that good but with Brossoit away with Team Canada then it will be up to the 2013 draft eligible Barry to carry the load for the Oil Kings.

File his name away for later use.