Getting Back to What We Do

OK now that we have our rant out of the way and the Rangers have a win to save Tom Renney's job for the time being, let us return to the Prospect Coverage. It has been a slow couple of days in terms of news so we can catch our breath and do some catching up.

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll

For the 5th straight week, Carl Hagelin's Michigan Wolverine squad remains the top ranked team in Men's Division One Hockey. For the 2nd week in a row, the Wolverines received all 34 first place votes as they have won 10 straight games to build a very impressive 22-2-0 record.

What is scary is that the Wolverines are starting 12 freshmen while getting better with each passing week. Carl Hagelin is used as one of the Wolverine's first penalty kill unit and his numbers as a freshman are not bad.

Hagelin is 6-8-14 and a +12 for the Wolverines as the Ranger's 2007 6th round pick has quickly adapted to the North American style of play. When you add in that Hagelin is also a part of Sweden's Under-20 National Team and it is hard to not like his possible pro potential.

However the road to the Frozen Four is not easy as the Wolverines have several highly ranked teams playing in their own conference the CCHA. After sweeping 8th ranked Notre Dame this past weekend now the Wolverines have to face in-state rival and 5th ranked Michigan State this weekend in a home and home series.

An Injury Report

Billy Ryan of Maine missed last Saturday's game against Providence due to an undisclosed injury. According to Maine they are prevented from discussing Ryan's status due to privacy rules. Ryan has had it bad enough struggling during his senior season so we hope he makes a fast recovery.

Also injured is Eric Hunter of the University of Alberta who has missed the last 4 games due an undisclosed lower body injury. Without Hunter, the Golden Bears saw their 11 game conference winning streak end badly as they were swept by Calgary last weekend.

Then there is Antoine Lafleur of the Prince Edward Island Rocket who is expected to be out a week with a pulled hamstring. Lafleur suffered the injury over a week ago was starting to find his game winning 3 of his 4 starts. Bad timing for Lafleur as goalies need work and hamstring injury take longer to recover from for goalies.

Prospect Leaders

Goals

1- Ryan Hillier (Halifax) 25
2- Tomas Zaborsky (Saginaw) 24
3- Bobby Sanguinetti (Brampton) 18

Assists

1- Bobby Sanguinetti (Brampton) 30
2- Ryan Hillier (Halifax) 28
3- Tomas Zaborsky (Saginaw) 25

Points

1- Hillier 53
2- Zaborsky 49
3-Sanguinetti 48

Upcoming games

Wednesday Ryan Hillier will lead his Halifax Mooseheads into action against the Gatineau Olympiques. We will have the report on this game and anything else that happens.

(Billy Ryan Picture Courtesy of Michigan Wolverines)