Different Kind Of Santa's Helpers

The New York Ranger and New York Islander prospects took the message "it is better to give than receive" to heart as the day before holiday break featured plenty of assists and no counting goals.

Shane McColgan (NYR 2011 5th) and his Kelowna Rockets will have a nicer bus ride home after finishing off a 6 game road trip with a 5-1 win over the Saskatoon Blades.  McColgan earned the game's second star after McColgan set up 2 goals including the game winner.

In the first period, McColgan set up Carter Rigby at 3:20 and then set up Brett Bulmer at 7:30 both on the power play and helped the Rockets to a 3-1 lead after the first period. It was McColgan's 25th and 26th assists of the season giving him a 10-26-36 mark at the break. 

Kirill Kabanov (NYI 2010 3rd) was named the game's 3rd star after he had 2 assists to help his Shawinigan Cataractes to a 7-0 beating of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

It was a solid all-around game for the young Russian who in addition to his 2 assists was credited for 4 good scoring chances and a +2.

Kabanov set up the 5th and 6th goals for the Cataractes as they had little trouble with the Huskies as they enter their holiday break on a 5 game winning streak. Kabanov at 13-13-26 has already topped his goal output from last season and needs just 3 more to set a new career high.

Micheal St. Croix (NYR 2011 4th) did not score but his Edmonton Oil Kings gave their fans a franchise record 11th straight win 2-1 over the Calgary Hitmen. The Oil King fans gave the Oil Kings 6600 stuffed animals as part of the Teddy Bear Toss.

With 1 game remaining before the Oil Kings begin their holiday break, the Oil Kings have a 1 point lead in the WHL's Eastern Conference.

Dylan McIlrath (NYR 2010 1st) had a secondary assist as his Moose Jaw Warriors went to the shootout before defeating the Kamloops Blazers 4-3. In the battle of WHL division leaders, the Warriors defense is what kept them in the game.

McIlrath registered his 10th assist to give him 12 points on the season but took a penalty that led to a Kamloops goal. The Warriors enter their holiday break unbeaten in their last 5 games and 2nd overall in the WHL's Eastern Conference.

Steven Fogarty (NYR 2011 3rd) did not score but his Penticton Vees set a new franchise record after defeating the Powell River Kings 7-2 for their 18th straight win. The Vees are 30-3-0-2 for 62 points which is 20 points ahead of the team in 2nd place.

Fogarty is not doing bad at all with a 16-24-40 in 35 games.

Brendan Kickton (NYI 2011 5th) and his Spokane Chiefs put on a wild one with the Portland Winterhawks with plenty of offense and no defense as the Winterhawks came away with an 8-6 win. Kichton had an assist for his 32nd point of the season (6-26-32) but was also a -3 for the game.

John Persson (NYI 2011 5th) and his Red Deer Rebels put together 2 goals in 36 seconds and then held on for dear life to defeat the Regina Pats 2-1. Persson set up what proved to be the game winning goal for his 23rd assist and Islander prospect leading 36th point.

Mitchell Theoret (NYI 2011 7th) was scoreless but his Niagara IceDogs defeated the Sudbury Wolves 3-1. Theoret is 9-5-14 on the season but for the holidays, we hope Santa leaves him some consistency as a gift.

Samuel Noreau (NYR 2011 5th) had a very quiet game as his Baie-Comeau Drakkar defeated the Gatineau Olympiques 5-2. All Noreau was credited for in this one was 2 hits but for a stay at home defender it is a stat we do want to see.

Scott Mayfield (NYI 2011 2nd) was scoreless as his 13th ranked Denver Pioneers ended their first half with a 5-1 loss to St. Cloud State. Mayfield was scoreless and a -2 as the freshman defender is 1-1-2.

Andrey Pedan (NYI 2011 3rd) was scoreless but did not take a single penalty as his Guelph Storm whipped on the Saute Ste. Marie Greyhounds 7-3. We hate to report this but Pedan after Friday night's game with the London Knights was accused of using racial sluts byt London's Andreas Athanasiou.

Andreas Athanasiou repeated the accusation on Saturday and Pedan through Guelph GM Mike Kelly denies that he used any slurs. (Stick Tap to Neate Sager of Buzzing the Net).

Scott Stajcer (NYR 2009 5th) was once again the backup goalie for the Owen Sound Attack as they did not rotate goalies as they have been doing. The OHL has a holiday freeze on trades starting on December 20th but by the time 2012 begins we expect Stajcer to be playing for another team.

Owen Sound is going to try to get as much as they can for Stajcer (ranked 4th in the OHL goalie stats) and in an OHL Eastern Conference where 9 teams are in the hunt, a goalie like Stajcer can change the balance of power in a hurry.

Finally the only prospect for either team to score a goal was Brock Nelson (NYI 2010 1st) too bad it did not count as his North Dakota Fighting Sioux defeated the Russian Red Stars 5-1 in an exhibition game. Nelson had a goal and an assist for the game earning the 3rd star.

(McColgan- Kelowna Rockets, Kabanov- Lewiston Maineaics)