Phantoms update: The Martel, Vecchione and Aube-Kubel line is pretty good
10/13 – 5-0 LOSS (Highlights)
10/14 – 3-2 WIN
10/15 – 4-3 SO WIN
The Phantoms improved to 3-1-0-1 after taking 2 for 3 this weekend. They are doing it without their captain, Colin McDonald, and local-beat idol Cole Bardreau. Here’s how the top prospects in Lehigh Valley fared:
Philippe Myers (D): 3 GP, 1 goal, 7 shots, 4 PIM
Undrafted Free Agent
So it begins! Myers scores his first AHL goal. He muffled a defensive zone exit before it got to the blue-line and was fed in the slot for a well-deserved goal. That brings Myers to 2 points (1 G, 1 A) in 5 AHL games.
Mark Friedman (D): 2 GP, 3 shots, 4 PIM
2014 3rd Round Pick, 86th overall
Another quiet weekend that only saw the “rookie” defenseman play in 2 of the 3 games (he missed Saturday’s game). Friedman still sits pointless through 4 games.
Samuel Morin (D): 3 GP, 1 assist, 1 shot, 4 PIM
2013 1st Round Pick, 11th overall
Morin is back with the Phantoms after being benched through the the beginning of the West Coast road-trip for the big club. I know we’re all disappointed as there are Flyers defensemen that aren’t worthy of being given NHL minutes. Morin will be back in the NHL before the season is over.
Mike Vecchione (C): 3 GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots
Undrafted Free Agent
Another first professional goal this weekend. Vecchione took this nasty wrister to beat the goalie top-shelf, stick-side.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (RW): 3 GP, 1 goal, 4 shots, 2 PIM
2014 2nd Round Pick, 48th overall
“NAK” is already 7 goals away from tying his high (9) from last season. This is a great start for the 21-year old winger (2 G, 1 A in 5 games)
Danick Martel (RW): 3 GP, 1 goal, 2 assists, 9 shots, 2 PIM
Undrafted Free Agent
Martel’s 7 points (5 G, 2 A) in 5 games are good for 3rd best in the AHL. This could be a deciding season for Martel’s chances at seeing the NHL.
Oskar Lindblom (LW): 3 GP, 8 shots
2014 5th Round Pick, 138th overall
All’s quiet on the Swedish front. The prospect darling Lindblom is pointless in his first 5 games.
Mikhail Vorobyov (C): 3 GP, 1 assist, 3 shots
2015 4th Round Pick, 104th overall
The assist in Sunday’s game gives Vorobyov two on the season. No goals just yet for the young Russian.
Alex Lyon (G): 3 GP, 9 GA, 72 saves
Undrafted Free Agent
Don’t let the 9 goals allowed fool you; Lyon was pretty good overall this weekend. Friday’s game saw Lyon give up four goals on 15 shots and got pulled from the game. He was excellent on Saturday/Sunday and was perfect in the shootout in Sunday’s win to boot. His season stats sit at .919 SV% and 2.53 GAA.
Notable Canadian junior performers this week:
Connor Bunnaman (C/LW), Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
2016 4th Round Pick, 109th overall
- 10/9 – 2 shots, 9 for 20 FOW
- 10/13 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 shots, 6 for 14 FOW
- 10/14 – 2 goals, 3 shots, 3 for 5 FOW
- 10/15 – 2 goals, 1 assist, 5 shots, 0 for 1 FOW/
After going goal-less in his first 6 games, Bunnaman made up for lost time. This was his first goal of the season. The Kitchener captain has nine points (five goals, four assists) on the season, which is good for second on his team.
Anthony Salinitri (C), Sarnia Sting (OHL)
2016 6th Round Pick, 172nd overall
- 10/9 – 1 goal, 5 shots, 7 for 12 FOW
- 10/13 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots, 4 for 5 FOW
- 10/14 – 1 assist, 4 shots, 2 PIM, 3 for 5 FOW
- 10/15 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots, 4 for 14 FOW/
In only two games out of his first 10 this season has Salinitri been held point-less. Here is a goal from Sunday’s game. His 13 points (4 G, 9 A) are tied for 11th-most in the OHL.
Morgan Frost (C), Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2017 1st Round Pick, 27th overall
- 10/11 – 1 goal, 2 assists, 2 shots, 9 for 24 FOW
- 10/13 – 1 goal, 1 shot, 4 PIM, 15 for 20 FOW
- 10/15 – 1 assist, 1 shot, 2 PIM, 10 for 18 FOW/
Another prospect with a kick-start of a weekend. Frost’s five points last week gives him 10 (3 G, 7 A) this season. For those worried that the kid doesn’t have the “hands” or “speed”, check out this breakaway goal.
Isaac Ratcliffe (LW), Guelph Storm (OHL)
2017 2nd Round Pick, 35th overall
- 10/11 – 1 shot, 4 PIM
- 10/13 – 3 shots
- 10/14 – 5 shots/
It might be worth noting that Guelph isn’t very good this year (3-5-0-1) and have only scored 23 goals as a team through 9 games. Ratcliffe sits at 5 points (2 G, 3 A) with 37 shots on goal.
Maksim Sushko (RW), Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 107th overall
- 10/9 – DNP
- 10/11 – 1 shot, 1 for 1 FOW
- 10/14 – 4 goals, 7 shots, 2 PIM, 2 for 4 FOW
- 10/15 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 PIM/
4 GOALS! You can check them all out here. You can also see Sushko’s goal from Sunday (and dabbing) here. His 7 goals this season are tied for 6th most in the OHL.
Matthew Strome (LW), Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
2017 4th Round Pick, 106th overall
- 10/9 – DNP
- 10/13 – 2 shots, 1 for 1 FOW
- 10/14 – 1 assist, 1 for 6 FOW
- 10/15 – 1 goal, 3 shots, 6 for 7 FOW/
After missing a couple games with a shoulder injury, Strome returned to the lineup. He was named the game’s 1st star on Friday after scoring the shootout winning goal. His goal on Sunday was his 3rd of the season and first since 9/30.
Carsen Twarynski (LW), Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
2016 3rd Round Pick, 82nd overall
- 10/13 – 1 shot, 7 for 11 FOW
- 10/14 – 2 goals, 6 shots, 2 PIM, 0 for 1 FOW
- 10/15 – 2 shots, 4 PIM, 0 for 1 FOW/
Though not really highly skilled, Twarynski is off to a decent offensive start to the season. After spending some time in Phantoms camp, Twarynski has 8 points (3 G, 5 A) in 6 games.
Pascal Laberge (C), Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
2016 2nd Round Pick, 36th overall
- 10/12 – 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 shots, 4 for 11 FOW
- 10/13 – 5 PIM, 5 for 8 FOW
- 10/14 – DNP/
Pascal Laberge isn’t one to shy away from contact or aggressive play. He received a game-misconduct on Friday and served a 1-game suspension on Saturday. With someone that has had head injuries such as his, I do wish he would not fight. His goal and assist on Thursday were both his 4th of the season.
German Rubtsov (C), Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
2016 1st Round Pick, 22nd overall
- 10/10 – 2 shots, 5 for 10 FOW
- 10/13 – 3 shots, 6 for 12 FOW
- 10/14 – 3 assists, 5 shots, 4 for 8 FOW/
After a 3-game pointless stretch, Rubtsov gets back on the board. He has 6 assists on the season, but no goals in 5 games.
CHL Notes: Carter Hart (G) and fans received the news that he has been diagnosed with mono. The Everett Silvertips (WHL) will be without the top goalie prospect for the foreseeable future.
Notable European performers this week
Linus Högberg (D), Växjö Lakers HC (SHL)
2016 5th Round Pick, 139th overall
- 10/13 – 13:27 TOI
- 10/14 – 11:59 TOI/
More 3rd-pairing minutes for the 19 year old.
David Bernhardt (D), Djurgårdens IF (SHL)
2016 7th Round Pick, 199th overall
- 10/12 – 14:59 TOI
- 10/14 – 16:25 TOI/
The young Swedish defensemen have a tough hill to climb to start pulling in even 2nd-pairing minutes and responsibilities.
David Kaše (C/W), Mora IK (SHL)
2015 5th Round Pick, 128th overall
- 10/12 – 2 shots, 15:43 TOI
- 10/14 – 3 shots, 2 PIM, 14:49 TOI/
After a point-less week, Kase sits at 6 points (2 G, 4 A) in 9 SHL games.
Olle Lycksell (RW/C), Linköping HC J20 (SuperElit)
2017 6th Round Pick, 168th overall
An encouraging start for Lycksell, who has 8 points (3 G, 5 A) in 11 games for Linköping. Here is his goal from Sunday.
Felix Sandström (G), Brynäs IF (SHL)
2015 3rd Round Pick, 70th overall
- 10/12 – 3 GA, 6 saves
- 10/14 – 1 GA, 32 saves/
Both Sandström and co-starter David Rautio were demolished in an 8-2 loss on Thursday. Sandström bounced back for an excellent effort in a 2-1 victory. His .921 SV% is 11th best in the SHL.
Ivan Fedotov (G), Toros Neftekamsk (VHL)
2015 7th Round Pick, 188th overall
- 10/9 – 1 GA, 13 saves
- 10/11 – DNP/
Ivan Fedotov is back with Toros after a brief stint backing up Ben Scrivens in the KHL. Fedotov carries an ugly .894 SV% in 7 games in the VHL.
Kirill Ustimenko (G), MHK Dynamo St. Petersburg (MHL)
2017 3rd Round Pick, 80th overall
- 10/10 – 0 GA, 17 saves
- 10/11 – 1 GA, 20 saves
- 10/13 – 1 GA, 21 saves
- 10/15 – 1 GA, 17 saves/
Once again, all updates from Alex Appleyard and Flyers Prospect (give a friendly follow if you Twitter). Ustimenko has been absolutely scorching this month and holds a .927 SV% and 1.53 GAA in 13 MHL games this season.
Notable NCAA and USHL performers this week:
Wade Allison (RW), Western Michigan University
2016 2nd Round Pick, 52nd overall
- 10/10 – 1 assist, 1 shot, 2 PIM
- 10/13 – 1 assist
- 10/14 – 2 assists, 3 shots/
Points, points, points! The skilled sophomore winger has 7 points (2 G, 5 A), which is 2nd most on the Broncos.
Tanner Laczynski (RW/C), Ohio State University
2016 6th Round Pick, 169th overall
- 10/13 – 4 shots
- 10/14 – 3 shots, 2 PIM/
Point-less through his first 4 games, Laczysnki will need to begin to channel that 2016-17 effort to right the ship.
David Drake (D), University of Connecticut
2013 7th Round Pick, 192nd overall
- 10/13 – 3 shots
- 10/14 – 0 shots/
UCONN split the weekend roadtrip, beating American International, but losing to Sacred Heart. Next weekend they square off against Boston University.
Wyatt Kalynuk (D), University of Wisconsin
2017 7th Round Pick, 196th overall
- 10/13 – 3 shots
- 10/14 – 3 shots, 4 PIM/
Still no points for Kalynuk through 5 games.
Terrance Amorosa (D), Clarkson University
2013 5th Round Pick, 132nd overall
- 10/13 – 1 assist, 1 shot, 2 PIM
- 10/14 – 1 goal, 1 shot/
Amorosa is on quite the pace to start the season for a college defenseman. The senior has 6 points (2 G, 4 A) in his first 4 games.
Noah Cates (LW), Omaha Lancers (USHL)
2017 5th Round Pick, 137th overall
- 10/13 – 1 goal, 2 shots
- 10/14 – 3 shots
- 10/15 – 1 shot/
Cates’ first goal of the season! Combined with his assist in his first game, he has 2 points in 4 USHL games.
NCAA/USHL Notes: University of Michigan hockey took a break this week, so no updates for Cooper Marody and Brendan Warren. Goalie Matej Tomek was the back-up and did not play in any of Waterloo’s (USHL) games this past week.
