Phantoms update:
Mark Friedman (D): 2 GP, 5 shots
2014 3rd Round Pick, 86th overall
No points this weekend for Friedman, but if you missed it you should really check out a look through his season thus far.
Danick Martel (RW): 2 GP, 3 shots
Undrafted Free Agent
With a scoreless weekend, Martel sits at 37 points (23 G, 14 A) in 54 games.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (RW): 2 GP, 1 assist, 5 shots
2014 2nd Round Pick, 48th overall
NAK returns from his 2nd two-game suspension of the season. He has 43 points (18 G, 25 A) in 66 games in his 2nd AHL season. I’m also firmly of the belief that he is a better NHLer (without playing a single game there) than Jori Lehtera has been this season.
Mike Vecchione (C): 2 GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots
Undrafted Free Agent
Vecchione returns from his mystery ailment with his 16th goal and 22nd assist (both scored in Saturday’s win). He’s been out of the lineup since 3/11.
Mikhail Vorobyev (C): 2 GP, 2 shots
2015 4th Round Pick, 104th overall
A quiet weekend for the Russian rookie leaves him at 26 points (8 G, 18 A) in 54 GP.
Cole Bardreau (C): 2 GP, 1 goal, 2 shots, 6 PIM
Undrafted Free Agent
Bardreau breaks his 5-game goal-less drought with his 10th of the season on Saturday. He has 28 points in 39 games this season.
Phantoms Notes: Samuel Morin (D) and Philippe Myers (D) remain out with injuries.
Notable Canadian junior performers this week:
Connor Bunnaman (C/LW), Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
2016 4th Round Pick, 109th overall
- 3/27 – 1 shot, 6 for 8 FOW
- 3/28 – 1 assist, 4 shots, 5 for 10 FOW
- 3/30 – 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 shots, 6 for 11 FOW
- 4/1 – 1 assist, 3 shots, 2 PIM, 5 for 13/
Bunnaman and Co. defeat Isaac Ratcliffe’s Guelph 4-2 in the series. Bunnaman closed out the series with 5 points (2 G, 3 A) in 6 games. The Bun Man didn’t end the season too hot, so here’s to hoping that the playoffs gives him one last chance to end his junior career on a high-note.
Anthony Salinitri (LW/C), Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2016 6th Round Pick, 172nd overall
We likely won’t be seeing any more Salinitri updates through the playoffs as it’s being reported that he has a broken collarbone. However, Sarnia did advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Morgan Frost (C), Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2017 1st Round Pick, 27th overall
Frost and his fellow Greyhounds easily take down Saginaw 4-0, outscoring them 25-8 in the series. Frost was a big part of their success, scoring 7 points (2 G, 5 A). They’ll faceoff against Maksim Sushko and Owen Sound in the next round.
Isaac Ratcliffe (LW), Guelph Storm (OHL)
2017 2nd Round Pick, 35th overall
- 3/27 – 3 assists, 4 shots, 2 PIM
- 3/28 – 2 goals, 2 shots
- 3/30 – 1 goal, 2 shots, 4 PIM
- 4/1 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, 2 PIM/
As noted above, Ratcliffe’s season has come to an end. However, Ratcliffe did nearly all he could do to will his team to the next round. He finishes the playoffs with 9 points (5 G, 4 A) in 6 games. This was Ratcliffe’s first playoff appearance after being in the league for 3 years.
Matthew Strome (LW), Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 106th overall
- 3/27 – 2 assists, 1 shot, 2 PIM
- 3/28 – 2 assists, 1 shot, 3 for 5 FOW
- 3/30 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots, 1 for 1 FOW/
Strome and Hamilton advance against Ottawa after taking the series 4-1. Strome had a strong effort, scoring 10 points (2 G, 8 A) in 5 games. They’ll face Niagara in the second round.
Maksim Sushko (RW), Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 107th overall
Not good news for the dynamic Belarussian, missing the last two games of the first round series. The Attack advanced to the second round and will face Sault Ste. Marie. Hopefully Sushko can return to see how he does against Morgan Frost. He had 1 goal in 2 games in the opening series.
Carsen Twarynski (LW), Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
2016 3rd Round Pick, 82nd overall
Kelowna gets swept in embarrassing fashion, giving up 24 goals in the 4-game series. Twarynski finishes the playoffs with 4 points (2 G, 2 A) and his WHL career.
Carter Hart (G), Everett Silvertips (WHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 48th overall
Hart bounces back from his worst start of the season with 3 wins to close out the series against Seattle. Hart had a .938 SV% and 1.97 GAA in 5 games.
Pascal Laberge (C), Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 36th overall
Funny enough, as Laberge’s offense left this past week, so did Quebec’s overall play. They dropped 2 for 3 to fall on the brink of elimination from the QMJHL playoffs. Laberge has 4 points (1 G, 3 A) in 5 games thus far. Games 6 and 7 will be played tonight and Tuesday, respectively.
German Rubtsov (C), Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
2016 1st Round Pick, 22nd overall
- 3/27 – 1 shot, 0 for 2 FOW
- 3/28 – 1 shot, 0 for 2 FOW
- 3/30 – 2 shots, 2 PIM
- 3/31 – 1 shot, 0 for 1 FOW/
AB was able to advance against The Germ’s old club Chicoutimi (4-2) without much help from the Russian rookie. Rubtsov had only 1 assist in 6 games. These aren’t great trends for the former first round draft pick.
Notable European performers this week
Linus Högberg (D), Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
2016 5th Round Pick, 139th overall
- 3/26 – 14:17 TOI/
Växjö takes down Brynäs in 5 games to win their series. They’ll take on Malmö in the second round.
David Bernhardt (D), Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
2016 7th Round Pick, 199th overall
- 3/26 – DNP/
Still no word on Bernhardt who missed 3 games in the opening series against Linkoping. Djurgårdens took the series 4-1 and open up against Skellefteå this week.
Notable NCAA and USHL performers this week:
Tanner Laczynski (C), Ohio State University
2016 6th Round Pick, 169th overall
No game this past weekend for OSU, but they set to faceoff against University of Minnesota-Duluth this Thursday in the Frozen Four!
Brendan Warren (LW), University of Michigan
2015 3rd Round Pick, 81st overall
Ditto for Warren and Co. as they play Notre Dame in their Frozen Four game on Thursday. We could have a OSU/Michigan match-up in the NCAA final which would be pretty cool!
Noah Cates (LW), Omaha Lancers (USHL)
2017 5th Round Pick, 137th overall
Quiet week for Cates who improves his season total to 50 points (19 G, 31 A) in 55 games.
Matej Tomek (G), Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
2015 3rd Round Pick, 90th overall
- 3/30 – 3 GA, 22 saves/
Another disappointing performance for Tomek who loses his 13th game of the season in regulation/OT. He’s 13-8-5-2 overall with a .901 SV%.
