 |
| Simon Kjellberg (Perry Laskaris) |
Simon Kjellberg was one of those who lost a season last year when his school Rensselaer and the rest of the ECAC canceled their season. It would have been Kjellberg's sophomore season and big things were expected of up had he played.
The 6'3 195 defenseman was a sixth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and for those who don't know his school Rensselaer (or as some call it RPI), this is no average college.
They bill themselves as "The first technological research university in the US". One does not get a degree in general studies here. Kjellberg is also the son of former NHLer Patric Kjellberg who played close to 400 games in the NHL.
So Kjellberg and his Rensselaer Engineers were in Alaska to play the Alaska Nanooks in a non-conference matchup. Kjellberg (who wears #2) set up one goal and scored what proved to be the game-winner in a 4-1 Rensselaer win.
The 1-1-2 evening also had a +1 on one shot and a minor for slashing. On the season Kjellberg is 3-8-11 which ties his career-best in points. Kjellberg is second on his team in scoring and I would not count him out as an NHL prospect just yet.
 |
| Brennan Othmann (OHL Images) |
Othmann scored his 18th goal of the season when he scored an unassisted shorthanded goal for Flint's fourth goal of the game. Othmann stole the puck, skated right past the defense, and was in all alone as he scored using a soft shot for his 18th goal.
The 2021 first-round pick of the Rangers, Othmann would add a secondary assist on the Firebirds' first goal of the game (which was also the "Teddy Bear Goal").
The 1-1-2 +1 on six shots improved Othmann's season totals to a Rangers prospect best 18-17-35. Othmann is fourth in the OHL with 18 goals (Will Cuylle is fifth with 19th), and eighth in overall scoring.
 |
| Brett Berard (Providence Friars) |
Berard scored his team-leading 11th goal on his only recorded shot to go along with a +1 and a slashing minor. Berard with every goal/point extends his new career highs; at 11-12-23 in 20 games he tops the 5-5-10 in 19 games of last year. Did we forget to mention that Berard is the team leader in goals and points?
Nationally Berard is tied for 7th in NCAA Division One scoring. Berard is expected to join Team USA after tomorrow's game with Princeton when his Friars reach their holiday break.
Matt Rempe is 6'8 250 at age 19 while he plays in the WHL. Now as an NHL prospect, Rempe is very much a project but one the Rangers are willing to invest in. Now I bring this up because while many a fan is loving the idea of a center with Rempe's size, while he is in the WHL he at times pays an unfair price.
 |
| Matt Rempe (Seattle Thunderbirds) |
Last week Rempe received a "check to the head" major and game misconduct which could have resulted in his third suspension in the first half of the season. Thankfully the WHL reviewed the play and removed the major penalty from Rempe.
So last night as Rempe's Seattle Thunderbirds were in Kamloop for a game against the Kamloops Blazers, Rempe's size came back to hurt him. Seattle defeated Kamloops 6-1 and Rempe was scoreless with one shot and three different majors.
The first was a tripping minor and there is no argument there, Rempe earned it. The second was a goalie interference" one that Rempe didn't deserve. Rempe got tangled up with a Kamloops defender and both crashed into the Kamloops goalie. Rempe was behind the Kamloops defender who was his own goalie but they called Rempe when it was a non-call.
The third minor was the worst call of them all, Kamloops Ethan Brandwood got into an altercation with a Seattle player and the two wrestled around. Meanwhile, Rempe did what normally happens in a scrum like this and paired up with a Kamloops player.
Rempe, did the typical hold the other player, no wrestling, no pushing him around but guess who picks up a roughing minor? If you said Rempe you were right and it was purely, he is 6'8 so he is a guilty penalty.
And it was the wrong call which hurts Rempe because, in tight games, his coach can't take the chance on playing him out of fear the refs will call him for something. When you are 6'8 and the other players are 6' or smaller giving up 50 or more pounds then in a collision guess who will go down.
It is a sad joke.
Jayden Grubbe was scoreless as his Red Deer Rebels rallied to earn a 3-2 overtime win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Grubbe in the recent games I have watched hardly seen him looking for his offensive game.
Just one shot and a +1 with 6-7 on his faceoffs are raising a red flag as Grubbe has gone pointless in his last eight games, goalless in his last 12, and just two points in those 12 games. I wonder if Grubbe is playing hurt as he was shaken up in a game a month ago and hasn't been the same since.
Ryder Korczak and his Moose Jaw Warriors fell to the Swift Current Broncos 4-1. Korczak was held scoreless on one shot with a -2 while going 17-13 on his faceoffs for the game.
Brody Lamb was scoreless on three shots with a -1 as his Green Bay Gamblers were defeated by the Madison Capitols 4-1 in USHL action.
Talyn Boyko served as the backup goalie for his Kelowna Rockets as they hosted the Prince George Cougars.
Will Cuylle is away attending Hockey Canada's World Under-20 selection camp
Dylan Garand is away attending Hockey Canada's World Under-20 selection camp
No comments:
Post a Comment