Screaming Eagles’ Pierre-Luc Dubois named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 2016 NHL Draft prospect Pierre-Luc Dubois of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 22 after recording eight points in two games including a goal and seven assists with a plus-minus rating of plus-5.

Dubois helped the Screaming Eagles earn a pair of home victories over Maritimes Division rivals the Charlottetown Islanders boosting the club’s record to the winning-side at a mark of 13-11-3-0.  Both of his games were four-point performances including Friday night before a nationwide audience on Sportsnet where he scored a goal and three assists in the 6-3 victory claiming second star honours.  On Saturday night he recorded a career-high four assists helping set-up all four Screaming Eagles’ goals in the 4-2 win earning second star honours in back-to-back games.

An 18-year-old from Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Dubois is playing in his second career season with the Screaming Eagles after being selected by the club fifth overall in the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft.  Dubois represented Team QMJHL in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series and is currently ninth in league scoring with 16 goals and 22 assists for 38 points in 27 games.  Eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft, Dubois is one of three QMJHL players projected as a first round candidate by NHL Central Scouting in their November ‘Players to Watch’ list.

Also considered for the award this week was New Jersey Devils prospect Pavel Zacha of the Sarnia Sting who scored three goals and three assists for six points in two games, and Tyson Baillie of the Kelowna Rockets who scored three goals and four assists for seven points in three games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pierre-Luc Dubois (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nikolas Brouillard (Quebec Remparts)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals)

CHL Leagues

Drakkar’s Keven Bouchard named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Edmonton Oilers prospect Keven Bouchard of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 22 after posting a 2-0-0-0 record with a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .971.

Bouchard turned aside 64 shots last week backstopping the Drakkar to a pair of victories putting an end to the club’s 10-game losing-streak.  On Friday night he earned second star honours with a 25-save performance between the pipes in a 3-2 win over the Saint John Sea Dogs, then picked up his first shutout of the season on Saturday with a career-high 41 saves as first star of a 4-0 win over the Halifax Mooseheads.

A 19-year-old from Métabetchouan, QC , Bouchard is playing in his third QMJHL season and first with the Drakkar after playing his first two seasons with the Val-d’Or Foreurs where he helped the team win a President Cup title in 2014.  Bouchard was selected by the Oilers in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Draft.

Also considered for the award this week was rookie Declan Hobbs of the Kootenay Ice with a 1-1-0-0 record earning his first career WHL victory while posting a goals-against-average of 1.50 and save percentage of .957, and Justin Fazio of the Sarnia Sting who went 2-0-0-0 including one shutout with a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .966.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Keven Bouchard (Baie-Comeau Drakkar)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Julio Billia (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Coleman Vollrath (Victoria Royals)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

CHL Leagues

Sting’s Pavel Zacha named Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that New Jersey Devils prospect Pavel Zacha of the Sarnia Sting is the Pioneer Energy OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 22 after scoring three goals and three assists for six points in two games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Zacha helped the Sting win both games last week extending the club’s winning-streak to three and improving their record to 13-7-2-0 where they stand second place in the West Division standings with 28 points.  His week was highlighted by a career-high five-point performance on Saturday night scoring his first career hat-trick and adding two assists as first star of a 6-2 win over the Niagara IceDogs.  On Friday night Zacha picked up an assist on the Sting’s lone goal scored by Jeff King in the club’s 1-0 triumph over the Owen Sound Attack.

An 18-year-old from Brno, Czech Republic, Zacha is playing in his second OHL season with the Sting after being chosen first overall by the club in the 2014 CHL Import Draft.  The sixth overall pick of the Devils in the 2015 NHL Draft has already signed his entry-level contract with the club and currently leads the Sting in scoring with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points in 17 games.

Watch video highlights of Zacha and the Sting against the Attack and IceDogs.

Also considered for the award this week was San Jose Sharks prospect Kevin Labanc of the Barrie Colts who scored four goals and five assists for nine points in three games, and 2016 NHL Draft prospect Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights who scored three goals and five assists for eight points in three games.  In goal, Sting netminder Justin Fazio continued his strong play between the pipes making 57 saves in a pair of victories including one shutout posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .966.  The shutout was his second straight following a 24-save effort against the Guelph Storm on November 14.

2015-16 Pioneer Energy OHL Players of the Week:

Nov. 16 – Nov. 22: Pavel Zacha (Sarnia Sting)
Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Hunter Garlent (Peterborough Petes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Alex DeBrincat (Erie Otters)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

Matthew Tkachuk – London Knights – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’1”

Weight: 195 pounds

Date of birth: December 11, 1997. St Louis, MO

Position: Left Wing

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 4, 64th overall, 2013 Priority Selection

Don’t let the fourth round selection deceive you; it comes with the territory when you’re unsure whether a player is going to report. It is the nature of the business in the CHL.

Tkachuk played last season for the US National team where he accumulated 38 goals, 58 assists and 96 points in just 65 games. He also played for the Team USA at the World Junior Championships U-18 and in 7 games scored 4 goals and 10 assists while helping the Americans win a gold medal. His ten assists were tops in the tournament.

Prior to that, Tkachuk played for the U. S. National U-17 squad and in 53 games scored 13 goals and 20 assists. He also played for Team USA at the World Hockey Challenge U-17 and in 6 games scored 4 goals and 3 assists and winning a gold medal. He’s won at every level and his London Knights are poised to make a push for the OHL and Memorial Cup Championships.

Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Matthew Tkachuk of the London Knights. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

The blood lines. Oh the blood lines. Everyone in the hockey world knows his father Keith. His younger brother Brady is currently playing with the U.S. National Team. His cousins include the Fitzgerald’s; Casey (Boston College), Ryan (Boston College), Scott (NHL Bruins Director of Amateur Scouting) and Tom (NHL Devils Assistant GM). And then there is Jimmy and Kevin Hayes (NHL Bruins and Rangers respectively).

He is often compared to the elder Tkachuk. While he has similarities to his father, he is different in as many ways. He took the OHL by storm and you can often find dad quietly watching his son succeed.

Tkachuk is a “made for the NHL” power forward and had an easy time in his transition to the OHL. On a team loaded with stars up front, Coach Dale Hunter had the task of trying to find ice time for all of them. But Tkachuk has made the best of his almost 23 minutes of ice time per game scoring at almost a 2 point per game pace and has been at or near the top of the OHL scoring race from day one.

Tkachuk is relentless and tenacious in his puck pursuit. His anticipation and high hockey sense allows him to think a step ahead and he when you combine the three, he usually causes turnovers. He then uses his vision and excellent playmaking abilities to create chances for his teammates.

Tkachuk also possesses an NHL shot. He has a deceptively quick release and a deadly accurate shot. He’ll also go to the front of the net and clean up for the dirty goals with no hesitation. He’ll drive to the net with or without the puck. He will also battle hard along the boards and has elite puck possession skills.

Tkachuk is no slouch defensively as he brings the attributes from his offensive zone play to his own end. He has no fear of getting in shooting lanes and uses that same anticipation and hockey sense to get into the passing lanes. He’ll work as hard getting back on the back check as he does getting in on defenders in the offensive zone.

Tkachuk is widely considered a top five pick for the 2016 NHL draft and the second player to be selected from the OHL behind Jakob Chychrun. If he keeps this up, he could, (stress on the could) unseat Chychrun.

Like father like son?

Michael McLeod – Mississauga Steelheads – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’2”

Weight: 187 pounds

Date of birth: February 3, 1998. Mississauga, Ontario

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

OHL Draft: Round 1, 5th overall, 2014 Priority Selection

Prior to arriving in the OHL, Michael McLeod has had no problem with scoring, scoring and then adding more scoring. Not that he’s having a problem in Major Junior; he’s just become a complete two way player.

McLeod played his Bantam hockey for the Toronto Marlboros in 2012-13. There he appeared in 22 games and scored 40 goals and 55 assists for 95 points.  The following season he played Minor Midget AAA for the Marlboros and scored 21 goals and 36 assists in 33 games.

Last season, McLeod’s rookie OHL season he scored 12 goals and 17 assists in 63 games. His 29 points were good enough for 18th in rookie scoring. He also played for Team Canada Red at the World Hockey Challenge U17 (5GO 0G 1A) and Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial (4GP 1G 1A).

McLeod has impressive list of winning: OHL Cup Champion (named MVP), OHL Gold Cup silver medalist and Hlinka Memorial gold medal.

Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images
Michael McLeod of the Mississauga Steelheads. Photo by Aaron Bell/OHL Images

I think McLeod’s ceiling is a two-way second line center that will be strong defensively and put up some points.  He’s excellent in the faceoff circle and currently has a 60.9% winning percentage on the dot – tops in the OHL.  He knows his role on the defensive side of the game and is rarely caught out of position. He comes back hard on the back check.

McLeod is a superb skater with high end acceleration and top speed. Accompanied by his excellent puck handling abilities and vision he can do everything from rush end to end or make tape to tape accurate passes. His 7 goals on 74 shots puts him at a 9.5% shooting percentage. He’s elusive and can escape coverage.

McLeod is a tenacious forechecker. Not only does his skating allow him to get on top of defenders, but his anticipation and relentless work ethic causes turnovers. He has a strong will to drive to the net with or without the puck. At 6’2” he has size and doesn’t shy away from physicality.

McLeod also has strong leadership skills. This season he was named captain of the Steelheads. In 2013-14 he was named the Marlboro’s winner of the Buck Houle Award – Presented annually in recognition of outstanding on ice performance, leadership and loyalty, in the Minor Bantam through Midget age groups.

Some want to see a more consistent effort from McLeod. As a rookie last season one could make that argument. This season however, the question has been asked and he’s answered it with flying colors.

At the NHL level, McLeod may not put up the points of his top 5 fellow draft cousins, but he is exactly the type of centerman every NHL team covets.

Mikhail Sergachev – Windsor Spitfires – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’2”

Weight: 205 pounds

Date of birth: June 25, 1998. Nizhnekamsk, Russia

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 1, 6th overall, 2015 CHL Import Draft

If Chychrun is the overwhelming top defenseman, and Juolevi is the consensus second, then Sergachyov is the frontrunner of the next tier. Admittedly, it’s based on my limited live viewings but many more on video, but I have to say Sergachyov has the ability to be right there with Juolevi. Sergachev made my preseason poll of OHL GM’s/Coaches/Scouts as the third OHL defender to be taken in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Sergachev comes with a wealth of international experience. He’s played on Russia’s Under-18 and Under-17 squads appearing at the World Hockey Challenge U-17 – winning a gold medal – and World Junior Championship U-18. He played junior hockey for the MHL’s (Russia’s junior league) Irbis Kazan where he scored two goals and six assists in 25 games.

Mikhail Sergachev of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Mikhail Sergachyov of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Following his selection at the CHL Import Draft, Spitfires GM Warren Rychel said “I was a little nervous, but I’m glad he fell to me. I think, if I had the chance, I would have taken him No. 1”.

Rychel joined a large group of observers at the Under-17 in Sarnia, Ontario where Sergachev at times dominated. You can add NHL Central Scouting’s chief scout Mark Seidel to the group of impressed onlookers. “Guaranteed first rounder in the 2016 NHL Draft. A really good player, He was dominant at times at the Under 17.”

Sergachev possesses excellent hands. He reads plays very well and has excellent anticipation. He has a powerful skating stride and can surprise with his excellent acceleration. He doesn’t have high end top speed but he is not slow. His stride is somewhat awkward, but he’s a smooth skater.

Sergachev has shown an ability to join the rush but is careful about picking his spots. He has the vision to make a play and has excellent puck possession skills. He possesses an overpowering shot from the point – an NHL shot.  There’s subtleness in his movements on the point that allows him to make plays or get shots through with a purpose.

Defensively, Sergachev is tough to play against. Besides his physical aspect, he uses a very active stick, is able to contain the opposition and separates opponents from the puck with relative ease. He doesn’t shy away from the physical game; in fact he looks for it. He’s hard to beat in battles along the boards and while protecting his net. He’ll engage in the extracurricular activities (a.k.a. scrums) with no hesitation. He plays in all situations and is averaging 23 minutes in even strength time on ice.

Sergachev was on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list as a B prospect – a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Admittedly, that was in the preseason. But to me, he’s shown that he’s a first rounder. How high will depend on whether he can maintain his current pace defensively while continuing to improve his offensive game. I have no doubt that he can do both.

Noah Carroll – Guelph Storm – Player Profile

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Height:  6’1”

Weight: 173 pounds

Date of birth: December 2, 1997. Strathroy, Ontario

Position: Defence

Shoots: Left

OHL Draft: Round 4, 77th overall, 2013 Priority Selection

Carroll is the younger brother of former Guelph Storm captain Tyler Carroll who spent four seasons in Guelph and is currently playing with the University of New Brunswick.

Carroll is in his second Ontario Hockey League season with the Storm thanks in part to his late ’97 birthdate.  As a rookie Carroll scored twice and added 14 assists and finished with a respectable plus-5 while appearing in 62 games.  His 16 points ranked him 6th among OHL rookie defensemen in scoring.

Noah Carroll of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Noah Carroll of the Guelph Storm. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images

Things have not been easy this season while playing on the League’s worst team, a team which has just 2 wins through their first 19 games, allowing the second most goals against while scoring the fewest – by a wide margin.

Carroll played his Minor Midget hockey for Elgin Middlesex AAA in 2012-13 and in 28 games scored 4 goals and 11 assists. He also played in the OHL Cup and the OHL Gold Cup U-16 and in 10 combined games had two assists.

In my preseason poll of OHL General Managers, Carroll received consideration as one of the top 3 defensemen to be selected from the OHL for the 2016 NHL Draft.

Carroll is a solid if unspectacular two-way defender who normally plays a composed game. But in this rebuilding season for the Storm he is also trying to do “too much” in what really is not a good situation in Guelph. He competes for pucks down low and along the boards. He can skate the puck out of trouble or make a good first pass. He’s an above average one on one defender with an active stick and is willing and able to separate the opposition from the puck physically. At 6’1” he has good size but will need to fill out and work on his overall strength.

Carroll appeared on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list as a B prospect – a second or third round pick. Unless things settle down somewhat in Guelph and Carroll can go on to play his game, we could see a third round or beyond pick.

CHL Announces BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced the ninth edition of the BMO CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2015-16 season.  The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.

BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings – Week 9

 

Rank: Team: Last Week Rank: Number of Weeks Ranked:
1 Erie Otters (17-2-1-0) 2 9
2 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (18-2-3-1) 3 8
3 Kitchener Rangers (16-2-3-0) 1 5
4 Shawinigan Cataractes (18-5-1-0) 4 9
5 Red Deer Rebels (15-7-0-0) 5 6
6 Kelowna Rockets (14-5-1-0) 8 3
7 London Knights (13-3-1-1) 7 9
8 Seattle Thunderbirds (13-6-1-0) – 5
9 Windsor Spitfires (14-4-3-0) 9 4
10 Prince Albert Raiders (14-5-2-1) – 4
Honourable Mention:
Moncton Wildcats (15-7-2-0) – 1
Val-d’Or Foreurs (15-7-2-1) – 0
Victoria Royals (14-7-0-1) 6 2

Otters’ Dylan Strome named CHL Player of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Arizona Coyotes prospect Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters is the CHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 15 after scoring three goals and seven assists for 10 points in four games with a plus-minus rating of plus-2.

Strome collected four multi-point performances last week helping the Otters win four-straight games to climb back into a first place tie in the OHL’s Midwest Division standings with a 17-2-1-0 record.  On Tuesday night he picked up two assists and earned third star honours in a 5-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads, then scored a goal and an assist on Friday night in a 6-4 win over the Oshawa Generals in a rematch of last year’s OHL Championship Series.  On Saturday night he chipped in another two assists as part of a 3-1 win over the London Knights, and wrapped up his week with a four-point effort scoring twice with two assists claiming first star honours in a 5-2 win against the Kitchener Rangers.

Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Dylan Strome of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

The 18-year-old from Mississauga, ON, is playing in his third career OHL season and is currently tied for second in league scoring with 34 points in 16 games including nine goals and 25 assists.  Selected third overall by the Coyotes in the 2015 NHL Draft, Strome was co-recipient of the CHL’s Top Scorer Award in 2014-15 with an Otters’ record 129 points in 68 games.  Strome also represented Team OHL in the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series last week in Owen Sound scoring a goal and an assist in the OHL’s 3-0 victory.

Also considered for the award this week was fellow Coyotes prospect and QMJHL Top Scorer Conor Garland of the Moncton Wildcats with seven assists in three games, and Jackson Houck of the Calgary Hitmen who recorded six assists in two games.

2015-16 CHL Regular Season Players of the Week:

Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Dylan Strome (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Nikolas Brouillard (Quebec Remparts)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Mathew Barzal (Seattle Thunderbirds)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Kevin Labanc (Barrie Colts)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Zach Bratina (North Bay Battalion)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Dennis Yan (Shawinigan Cataractes)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Conor Garland (Moncton Wildcats)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Alex Forsberg (Victoria Royals)

CHL Leagues

Otters’ Devin Williams named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that Devin Williams of the Erie Otters is the Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending November 15 after posting a 4-0-0-0 record with a  goals-against-average of 1.74 and save percentage of .938.

Williams made 91 saves in four games backstopping the Otters to four-straight wins including a pair of victories against strong Midwest Division rivals.  His best performance was a season-high 35 saves on Sunday night in a first place battle against the Kitchener Rangers helping the Otters win a record eighth-straight road game in the 5-2 triumph.  One day earlier he earned first star honours against the London Knights turning aside 23 shots in the 3-1 victory.  His week also included a 24-save performance in a 5-2 win over the Mississauga Steelheads on Tuesday, then helped the Otters grab a 6-4 comeback win against the Oshawa Generals stopping nine shots after entering the game in relief midway through the second period.

Devin Williams of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.
Devin Williams of the Erie Otters. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images

The 20-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, is playing in his fifth OHL season with the Otters and currently carries a 14-0-1-0 record leading all OHL goaltenders in wins so far this season.  His goals-against-average of 2.31 is also the league’s best while his save percentage is tied for third best at .921.  Earlier this season Williams established a new Otters franchise mark for career wins and now has 79 since the 2011-12 season.

Also considered for the award this week was Julio Billia of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens with a 2-0-0-0 record posting a goals-against-average of 1.00 and save percentage of .964, and 2016 NHL Draft prospect Carter Hart of the Everett Silvertips who posted a 2-1-0-0 record with a shutout victory along with a goals-against-average of 1.33 and save percentage of .944.

2015-16 Vaughn CHL Goaltenders of the Week:

Nov. 9 – Nov. 15: Devin Williams (Erie Otters)
Nov. 2 – Nov. 8: Etienne Montpetit (Val-d’Or Foreurs)
Oct. 26 – Nov. 1: Tyler Parsons (London Knights)
Oct. 19 – Oct. 25: Adin Hill (Portland Winterhawks)
Oct. 12 – Oct. 18: Julio Billia (Chicoutimi Sagueneens)
Oct. 5 – Oct. 11: Coleman Vollrath (Victoria Royals)
Sept. 28 – Oct. 4: Louis-Philip Guindon (Rimouski Oceanic)
Sept. 21 – Sept. 27: Zack Bowman (Flint Firebirds)

CHL Leagues