Oceanic’s Alexis Lafreniere named CHL Player of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that forward Alexis Lafreniere of the Rimouski Oceanic is the CHL Player of the Week for the regular season week ending February 10 with eight points in two games including five goals and three assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-6.
Lafreniere recorded consecutive four-point outings in a pair of games last week to help push the Oceanic’s win streak to 11 games and improve to a 36-14-3-0 record for second place in the QMJHL’s East Division. His week began Wednesday with a hat-trick plus one assist and first star honours in a 5-4 victory over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. The 2020 NHL Draft hopeful then followed up that performance two nights later with two goals and two assists in a 4-0 win against the Shawinigan Cataractes en route to another first star recognition at the outdoor Winter Classic. This marks the first time this season in which Lafreniere has been named the CHL Player of the Week, and the first member from the Oceanic to do so this year.
A 17-year-old from St-Eustache, Que., Lafreniere is starring in his second career season. The first-overall selection in the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft, Lafreniere leads the Oceanic in scoring with 32 goals and 55 assists for 87 points in 47 games. He finished last season with 80 points in 60 appearances and was named CHL Rookie of the Year.
Also considered for the award this week was 2019 NHL Draft prospect Arthur Kaliyev of the Hamilton Bulldogs with eight points in three games, including four goals and four assists, and Montreal Canadiens prospect Cole Fonstad of the Prince Albert Raiders after scoring five goals and three assists for eight points in three games.
2018-19 CHL Players of the Week – Regular Season:
Feb. 4 – Feb. 10: Alexis Lafreniere (Rimouski Oceanic)
Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: Samuel Asselin (Halifax Mooseheads)
Jan. 21 – Jan. 27: Ethan Crossman (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: Morgan Frost (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
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)
Tigers’ Mads Sogaard named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week
Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2019 NHL Draft prospect Mads Sogaard of the Medicine Hat Tigers is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the regular season week ending February 10 with a 3-0-0-0 record including one shutout with a goals-against average of 1.30 and save percentage of .960.
Sogaard claims the honour for the second time this season after turning aside 96 shots in three games last week to help the Tigers improve to 31-18-3-2 on the season. Against the Kootenay ICE on Wednesday, Sogaard stopped 23 shots in an eventual 6-3 victory. Two nights later, Sogaard received first star honours following his 41-save performance against the Everett Silvertips to earn his third shutout of the season in a 1-0 win. He then wrapped up the week Sunday with 32 saves against the Portland Winterhawks en route to a 2-1 victory and back-to-back first star honours.
The 18-year-old Danish netminder is competing in his first season in the Western Hockey League after being selected 32nd overall by the Tigers in the 2018 CHL Import Draft. In 27 games this season, the rookie has notched a 15-4-2 record alongside a .935 save percentage and 2.19 goals-against average. Sogaard was listed third among North American goaltenders in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2019 NHL Draft.
Also considered for the award this week was Tristan Cote-Cazenave of the Victoriaville Tigres who posted a 2-0-1-0 record, including back-to-back shutouts for a goals-against average of 1.33 and save percentage of .960. In the OHL, Los Angeles Kings prospect Jacob Ingham of the Mississauga Steelheads went 3-0-0-0, stopping 86 shots for a goals-against average of 1.26 and save percentage of .956.
2018-19 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week – Regular Season:
Feb. 4 – Feb. 10: Mads Sogaard (Medicine Tigers)
Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: Jet Greaves (Barrie Colts)
Jan. 21 – Jan. 27: Dustin Wolf (Everett Silvertips)
Jan. 14 – Jan. 20: Olivier Rodrigue (Drummondville Voltigeurs)
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: Emile 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 