Phantoms update:
3/9 – 3-2 LOSS
3/10 – 4-1 WIN
3/11 – 5-3 WIN
Philippe Myers (D): 3 GP, 1 assist, 4 shots, 2 PIM
Undrafted Free Agent
While not an offensively explosive year by the rookie, Myers has been quite good according to the fancy stats (4.14 CF%Rel) this season. I’m fairly confident he isn’t far away from being able to contribute at a high-level in the NHL. Myers sits at 18 points (4 G, 16 A) in 45 games.
Mark Friedman (D): 2 GP, 0 shots
2014 3rd Round Pick, 86th overall
Speaking of poor offensive seasons, Friedman struggles again this weekend. That is four straight games without a point. He has 11 points (1 G, 10 A) in 55 games this season despite putting up 80 shots on goal.
Danick Martel (RW): 3 GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, 7 shots, 2 PIM
Undrafted Free Agent
At 21 goals, Martel is just one away from tying his career-high from the 15/16 season. He’ll likely break that personal best in less games as well.
Mike Vecchione (C): 3 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 5 shots, 2 PIM
Undrafted Free Agent
Vecchione netted the dramatic game-winning goal on Sunday night with 59 seconds left in the game. The rookie has 15 goals and 21 assists in 57 games this season.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (RW): 2 GP, 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 PIM
2014 2nd Round Pick, 48th overall
NAK served out the remainder of his 2-game suspension, missing Friday’s game. He still leads the league with 33 primary 5v5 points and has 41 points overall on the season. Aubé-Kubel could (and should) be given a shot with the Flyers next season.
Mikhail Vorobyev (C): 3 GP, 1 goals, 2 assists, 2 shots
2015 4th Round Pick, 104th overall
Since the beginning of March, Vorobyev has 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 games. Perhaps we are seeing an offensive breakout from the promising 21 year old rookie. Overall this season he has 23 points (8 G, 15 A) in 47 games.
Cole Bardreau (C): 3 GP, 2 goals, 1 assist, 8 shots
Undrafted Free Agent
Cole Bardeau is second among LHV forwards with a 0.78 points-per-game average, only behind veteran Phil Varone. He will likely be a strong contender for a roster spot on the Flyers next season knowing the coaching staff. Bardreau has 25 points (8 G, 17 A) in 32 GP.
Phantoms Notes: Samuel Morin (D) remains out with an injury.
Notable Canadian junior performers this week:
Connor Bunnaman (C/LW), Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
2016 4th Round Pick, 109th overall
Bunnaman’s goal-scoring streak ends at 6 games. He has 50 points (27 G, 23 A) in 63 games and needs only two points to tie his career-high from last season.
Anthony Salinitri (LW/C), Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2016 6th Round Pick, 172nd overall
Salinitri also closing in on a career-high in points. He’ll have 3 more games to get 4 points to best his mark. He has 55 points (25 G, 30 A) in 64 games. Salinitri is still without a contract with the Flyers and is in his 4th and final year in juniors.
Morgan Frost (C), Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2017 1st Round Pick, 27th overall
- 3/8 – 1 assist, 2 shots, 2 PIM, 10 for 17 FOW
- 3/9 – 2 assists, 1 shot, 2 PIM, 8 for 15 FOW
- 3/11 – 2 goals, 5 shots, 11 for 18 FOW/
Your pretty standard week for Mr. Frost. His goals on Sunday were numbers 39 and 40. Frost has 107 points overall and his 55 primary points lead the OHL (with a comfortable 6 point lead). He is one of the best prospects in all of hockey; watch this goal.
Isaac Ratcliffe (LW), Guelph Storm (OHL)
2017 2nd Round Pick, 35th overall
- 3/7 – 1 goal, 5 shots, 1 for 1 FOW
- 3/9 – 5 shots, 0 for 1 FOW
- 3/10 – 1 assist, 8 shots, 0 for 1 FOW/
Though he ended a four-game goal-scoring streak, he remains a point-per-game player in his 3rd OHL season. Ratcliffe has 38 goals and 64 points, both career-highs.
Matthew Strome (LW), Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 106th overall
We all know that Strome has offensive talent, setting career-highs in goals (37), assists (31) and points (68) this season.
Maksim Sushko (RW), Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 107th overall
More and more Sushko is looking like a huge steal. He scored his 30th goal of the season this weekend and had the game-winning shootout goal on Sunday. 55 points in 57 games in your second OHL season seems (kinda) good to me.
Carsen Twarynski (LW), Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
2016 3rd Round Pick, 82nd overall
- 3/7 – 2 goals, 6 shots, 1 for 3 FOW
- 3/9 – 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 for 3 FOW
- 3/10 – 1 assist, 3 shots, 2 PIM, 0 for 3 FOW/
I guess hitting career-highs in goals (43), assists (27) and points (70) forced the Flyers hand in giving Twarynski an entry-level contract for next season.
Carter Hart (G), Everett Silvertips (WHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 48th overall
Hart’s regulation loss on Sunday was his first since January 31st. Despite that, he still has a .950 SV% in 38 games this season.
Pascal Laberge (C), Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 36th overall
Usually when I talk about a “resurgence” the week prior, the prospect then goes back into a slump. However in this case, Laberge might truly be back to his old self. In his last 8 games he has 5 goals and 8 assists. Cross your fingers that this carries over into his first AHL season.
German Rubtsov (C), Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
2016 1st Round Pick, 22nd overall
Rubtsov has had a nice little start to March with 7 points (2 G, 5 A) in 5 games. Overall this season he has 43 points (15 G, 28 A) in 43 games.
Notable European performers this week
Linus Högberg (D), Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
2016 5th Round Pick, 139th overall
Högberg gets his second goal of the season this past week! He finishes the regular season with 6 points in 42 games as a 19 year old in the SHL. This week he even received true 2nd pairing minutes with the Lakers to boot.
David Bernhardt (D), Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
2016 7th Round Pick, 199th overall
Bernhardt closes out his 2nd professional season in the SHL with 11 points (1 G, 10 A) in 51 games. He is still just 20 years old and has plenty of room to improve.
David Kaše (C/W), Mora IK (SHL)
2015 5th Round Pick, 128th overall
No points in his last week gives Kaše 23 points (9 G, 14 A) in 44 games during his 1st professional season in the SHL.
Felix Sandström (G), HV71 (SHL)
2015 3rd Round Pick, 70th overall
Sandström gets the last start of the season for HV71 and finishes with a .902 SV% with the team in 3 games. He had a .905 SV% in 8 games with Brynäs IF. While it was a tough season for Sandström with injuries, he still remains a top goalie prospect.
Notable NCAA and USHL performers this week:
Tanner Laczynski (C), Ohio State University
2016 6th Round Pick, 169th overall
- 3/10 – 1 assist, 3 shots/
Laczynski gets the primary assist on the game-winning overtime goal for OSU to defeat University of Michigan (and those guys Cooper Marody and Brendan Warren). They will move on to face Notre Dame this Saturday (3/17) for the Big Ten Championship. Laczynski has 42 points (15 G, 27 A) in 37 games.
Cooper Marody (C), University of Michigan
2015 6th Round Pick, 158th overall
- 3/10 – 2 goals, 6 shots, 2 PIM, 6 for 15 FOW/
Marody’s heroic effort falls just short. His 2nd goal tied the game at 2 to force an eventual overtime. Marody finishes his season at 46 points (14 G, 32 A) in 37 games.
Brendan Warren (LW), University of Michigan
2015 3rd Round Pick, 81st overall
- 3/10 – 1 shot, 2 PIM/
Warren’s season ends on a forgettable note. He put together 14 points (8 G, 6 A) in 37 games; only a 4 point improvement over the previous season.
Terrance Amorosa (D), Clarkson University
2013 5th Round Pick, 132nd overall
Amorosa and Clarkson take down Colgate in the best of 3 series to kick off the ECAC playoffs. They will go on to face Harvard and former Flyers prospect, Merrick Madsen in the semi-finals on Friday (3/16). Amorosa has 26 points (7 G, 19 A) in 37 games, which is 23rd among NCAA defensemen.
Noah Cates (LW), Omaha Lancers (USHL)
2017 5th Round Pick, 137th overall
His goal on Saturday was a short-handed goal, his second of the season. Overall, he has 42 points (17 G, 25 A) in 48 games.
Matej Tomek (G), Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
2015 3rd Round Pick, 90th overall
- 3/9 – 4 GA, 20 saves/
It only has gotten worse for Tomek as the month has gone on. His SV% has shrunk down to .902 in 25 games.
NCAA Notes: Wade Allison is out for the season with a lower-body injury.
