Not A Sharp Sunday

Dylan Garand (Kamloops Blazers)

Thanks to Covid wreaking havoc with everyone's schedule Sunday had six games scheduled but only four New York Ranger prospects saw action. And even those who did play just did not have the best of Sundays. 

Dylan Garand and his Kamloops Blazers were in Langley BC to face the Vancouver Giants. It was the third game in three nights and fourth in five nights for the Blazers. Vancouver was in the same situation also playing four in five and the result wasn't the best of hockey. 

Sorry I understand that the idea is to limit how much school time these kids miss to play hockey but these kinds of schedules are also risking their health and I so dislike this. Reduce the schedule by ten or so games but asking fans to pay for this kind of hockey isn't fair either. 

Garand did not look sharp as his Blazers defeated the Giants 5-2 for Garand's fifth straight win and the Blazers' sixth straight win. The Rangers 2020 fourth-round pick stopped 17 out of 19 shots to earn the win. 

The WHL's leading goalie in wins and goals against, Garand is also second in save percentage as he is 22-6 with a goals-against of 1.97 and a save percentage of 0.926. Garand and his teammates are off until next Friday night.

Brett Berard and his Providence Friars were in Boston to face the Boston University Terriers. Berard had primary and secondary assists as his Friars lost to the Terriers 5-2. 

The loss ended a three-game unbeaten streak for the Friars but it also cost them third place in the Hockey East standings as Boston University jumped past them. The Friars have seven games remaining in the Hockey East schedule as they try to grab hockey ice for the first round of the Hockey East playoffs.

Berard's two points improved him to 13-17-30 which leads the Friars in scoring.

Jayden Grubbe had a rough night of his own as the captain of the Red Deer Rebels was scoreless as his team let a 2-1 lead slip away in the third period 3-2 to the Medicine Hat Tigers. Grubbe was scoreless on just one shot with a -1, checking from behind minor and a fighting major along with going 7-7 on his faceoffs.

Grubbe got into a second-period fight after the Tigers weren't happy with a hit that Grubbe earned his minor on. The Tigers' Rhett Parsons dropped the gloves and clearly got the best of Grubbe landing several punches on Grubbe. 

Both teams weren't clean with their game in this one as there were several questionable hits that most likely will have the WHL office busy on Monday reviewing the tape.

Brennan Othmann saw his six-game scoring streak (6-9-15) snapped as the Saginaw Spirit held him scoreless as the Spirit defeated Othmann's Flint Firebirds 7-5. Ironically it was also against the Spirit that the Othmann was last held scoreless.

Othmann is 29-26-55 on the season for the Firebirds.

Did Not Play

Matthew Rempe missed his fourth straight game for his Seattle Thunderbirds. It is suspected to be Covid related but there is no confirmation.

Evan Vierling was not in the Barrie Colt lineup after playing on Saturday. No word was given for the absence.