Giants’ Bowen Byram named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that NHL Draft prospect Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending January 13 recording six points in two games including three goals and three assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.
Byram becomes just the second defenceman to earn the award this season after setting a Giants record with a five-point performance on Saturday. His two goals and three assists not only shattered his previous contest high of three points but earned him first star honours in the 7-4 win over the Kamloops Blazers and set a new franchise mark for single game points by a defenceman. On Sunday Byram opened the scoring in a 3-2 win over the Victoria Royals extending the Giants winning-streak to three. This keeps them perched firmly atop the WHL’s B.C Division standings with a 26-12-2-0 record and nine points ahead of the aforementioned Royals.
A 17-year-old from Cranbrook, B.C., Byram is playing in his second full season with the Giants. He was chosen by the club with the third overall pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and is currently tied for fourth in league scoring among defencemen with 39 points in 40 games including 13 goals and 26 assists. He is one of 11 CHL skaters to receive an ‘A’ rating in NHL Central Scouting’s ‘Players to Watch’ list released in November and will compete for Team Cherry in the 2019 Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on January 23 in Red Deer.
Also considered for the award this week was Philadelphia Flyers prospect Isaac Ratcliffe of the Guelph Storm scoring seven goals and three assists for 10 points in four games, and NHL Draft prospect Maxim Cajkovic of the Saint John Sea Dogs with three goals and four assists for seven points in three games. Cajkovic will join Byram on Team Cherry in next week’s showcase.
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Bowen Byram (Vancouver Giants)
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs)
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Kyle Maksimovich (Erie Otters)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Gregor MacLeod (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Brett Leason (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Peter Abbandonato (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Jason Robertson (Kingston Frontenacs)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joachim Blichfeld (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Ivan Chekhovich (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Justin Brazeau (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Damien Giroux (Saginaw Spirit)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Dawson Davidson (Saskatoon Blades)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luka Burzan (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Kirby Dach (Saskatoon Blades)
Screaming Eagles’ Kevin Mandolese named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Ottawa Senators prospect Kevin Mandolese of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the regular season week ending January 13 posting a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout with a goals-against-average of 0.50 and save percentage of .983.
Mandolese turned aside 58 shots last week allowing just one goal in two games between-the-pipes for the Screaming Eagles who extended their winning-streak to three and climbed into a fifth place tie in the QMJHL’s overall standings. On Friday night his 37-save performance earned first star honours in a 3-0 shutout of the Halifax Mooseheads, and on Saturday his 21 saves were enough to beat the Shawinigan Cataractes by a 4-1 score. Cape Breton now holds a 26-14-1-2 record for 55 points which is even with the Moncton Wildcats and behind Halifax by only six points.
An 18-year-old from Blainville, QC, Mandolese is playing in his third career season with the Screaming Eagles who chose him 13th overall in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft. This season is already shaping up to be his best statistically with a personal record of 17-8-1-2 including two shutouts with a goals-against-average of 2.79 and save percentage of .897 which are all improvements over last year’s totals. Mandolese was selected by the Senators in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week was Buffalo Sabres prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen of the Sudbury Wolves who returned to action following a gold medal performance with Finland at the World Juniors to post a 2-0-0-0 record with a shutout victory making 45 saves for a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .938. In the WHL, NHL Draft prospect Taylor Gauthier of the Prince George Cougars went 3-1-0-0 with two shutout victories while stopping 97 shots for an overall goals-against-average of 1.26 and save percentage of .951. Gauthier will suit up for Team Cherry at next week’s Sherwin-Williams CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Jan. 7 – Jan. 13: Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Dec. 31 – Jan. 6: Ivan Prosvetov (Saginaw Spirit)
Dec. 24 – Dec. 30: Cedrick Andree (Ottawa 67’s)
Dec. 10 – Dec. 16: Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat Tigers)
Dec. 3 – Dec. 9: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Nov. 26 – Dec. 2: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Sudbury Wolves)
Nov. 19 – Nov. 25: Kyle Jessiman (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 12 – Nov. 18: Ian Scott (Prince Albert Raiders)
Nov. 5 – Nov. 11: Michael DiPietro (Windsor Spitfires)
Oct. 29 – Nov. 4: Joseph Raaymakers (London Knights)
Oct. 22 – Oct. 28: Stephen Dhillon (Niagara IceDogs)
Oct. 15 – Oct. 21: Émile Samson (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada)
Oct. 8 – Oct. 14: Alexis Gravel (Halifax Mooseheads)
Oct. 1 – Oct. 7: Trent Miner (Vancouver Giants)
Sept. 24 – Sept. 30: Luke Richardson (Kitchener Rangers)
Sept. 19 – Sept. 23: Hunter Jones (Peterborough Petes)
OHL Writers 