WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TENDING
Take That Hockey Canada
Five days after being snubbed by Hockey Canada, two sixteen-year olds fired back via the gamesheet to showing Hockey Canada that they belonged on the invitee list. Ottawa 67’s Sean Monahan (2013 NHL Draft eligible) skated into Peterborough and threw up 3 goals and an assist in a 7-6 win. Out East, Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads (also 2013 draft eligible) netted his first career hat trick in the QMJHL on his way to an impressive 5-goal game (see video below) versus the Quebec Remparts.
It should also be noted that Belleville Bulls’ netminder Malcolm Subban (last week’s CHL Goaltender of the Week) was omitted from the Team Canada Selection Camp rosters and he currently leads the Ontario Hockey League in several categories. Subban has posted remarkable stats – 1.78 GAA (1st in OHL), .943 save percentage (1st), 12-3-0 (12 wins ranks 4th), 2 shutouts (4th) and remains undefeated in two shootout games. Top put it bluntly, Hockey Canada screwed up in not inviting Malcolm Subban to the selection camp to prove his stuff especially since the consensus is that goaltending is Canada’s weakest area.
Team Canada Hopeful Murphy Back from concussion
The Kitchener Ranger’s star defender, Ryan Murphy, is back just in time to make his mark before Hockey Canada announces its final World Junior roster. Murphy recorded his first points (1 goal, 1 assist) in his third game back on Saturday.
What are the Odds?
Brock Otten breaks down his view on some OHL players that are virtual locks, have a good chance or are longshots to crack the upcoming World Junior Team Canada roster. Check it out.
USA Hockey Names Pre-Tournament Rosters
Team USA has eight returnees invited to the preliminary World Junior roster including eight OHL players – Jack Campbell (Sault Ste. Marie), John Gibson (Kitchener), Jarred Tinordi (London), Austin Levi (Plymouth), JT Miller (Plymouth), Brandon Saad (Saginaw), Shane Prince (Ottawa) and Austin Watson (Peterborough). Look for Team USA to have a very strong team and they might just be the deepest team at each position in the entire tournament. In my opinion, Team USA is the heavy favourite entering this short high pressured tournament.
Sweden Releases World Junior Rosters
Plymouth’s Rickard Rakell will return to Team Sweden to represent his home nation in the upcoming World Junior tournament. Other notable Swedish prospects named to the team are Max Friberg (Anaheim Ducks, 2011), Johan Sundstrom (New York Islanders, 2011), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild, 2011 1st Rd), Mika Zibanejad (Ottawa Senators, 2011 1st Rd), Victor Rask (Carolina Hurricanes) and also top 2012 NHL eligible prospects Pontus Aberg, Sebastian Collberg and Filip Forsberg.
London Knights’ Olli Maatta is the lone OHL invitee to Team Finland
Olli Maatta has made huge strides in his first year in the OHL and he found out today that he was the only Finnish player in the OHL named to Finland’s pre-tournament roster. Maatta should be excited to join Team Finland as it’s a nation that has a lot of exciting up-and-coming players including the Granlund brothers. Congrats Olli!
Aaron Vickers of Future Considerations picks his 2012 WJC Team Canada Roster
2012 NHL DRAFT CORNER
The Hockey Guys’ Top 30 NHL Draft Rankings [December Edition]
Tanner Pearson: 1st Round Pick?
The OHL’s current leading scorer plays for the Barrie Colts and sports the name “Pearson” on the back of his jersey. Scoring 22 goals and 60 points through 28 games this season has given Pearson a 12-point lead on the next closes player (Tyler Toffoli, 48 points) and he’s making a strong case to become a first round pick in his second NHL draft entry as Scott Campbell of The Scouting Report states.
NHL Draft Profiles
Tanner Pearson, F – Barrie Colts
ESPN: Yakupov, Ekblad, MacKinnon, Seth Jones and Nugent-Hopkins
Doug McIntyre of ESPN has a good read on the next wave of NHL’s elite players coming up through the ranks over the next couple of years and two OHL’ers get a mention.
ONE STOP OHL/PROSPECT WEEKLY ARTICLE LIBRARY
Spitfires Travels Approaching 10,000km already on the Season by Jim Parker (The Windsor Star)
The Hot List by Ryan Kennedy (The Hockey News)
Belleville Bulls’ Burnett Wins 500th Career OHL Game by OHL Network
Knights’ Naming Rob Ramage to Coaching Staff brings Scrutiny by Neate Sager (Yahoo)
Nail Yakupov and Brett Rtichie won’t be back for next weekend’s games by Dave Paul (Sarnia Observer)
Kitchener’s Tobias Rieder having a fantastic season but is now out with injury by Scott Reynolds( Copper & Blue)
OHL LEADER SCORERS
TOP OHL SCORERS
(ending Sunday December 4th)
1. Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts): 28GP-22G-38A-60P
2. Tyler Toffoli (Ottawa 67’s): 27GP-26G-22A-48P
T3. Nail Yakupov (Sarnia Sting): 23GP-18G-28A-46P
T3. Colin Behenna (Barrie Colts): 27GP-12G-34A-46P
TOP OHL DEFENCEMEN SCORERS
1. Dougie Hamilton (Niagara Ice Dogs): 28GP-11G-30A-41P
2. Cody Ceci (Ottawa 67’s): 29GP-6G-25A-31P
3. Adrian Robertson (Windsor Spitfires): 32GP-8G-17A-25P
TOP OHL ROOKIE SCORERS
T1. Radek Faska (Kitchener Rangers): 27GP-14G-13A-27P
T1.Max Domi (London Knights): 28GP-11G-16A-27P
3. Patrik Machac (Brampton Battalion): 27GP-8G-12A-20P
OHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The Ontario Hockey League has announced that Oshawa Generals’ forward Christian Thomas (New York Rangers, 2nd Round, 40th, 2010) was named the OHL Player of the Week ending December 4th. Thomas finished the week with three goals and six assists for nine points in just two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-6. The highlight of the week was Thomas notching five points including a hat trick on Friday night versus the Sarnia Sting in a 8-4 win. Christian continued his hot play into Sunday when he notched four assists in Oshawa’s 9-1 thumping of the Peterborough Petes.
Congrats Christian!
