By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
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THREE STAR SELECTIONS FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11-17-12
This was a week for goaltenders to shine in the Blues' organization. Two different prospect goalies -- Peoria's Jake "The Snake" Allen and 2012 draft pick Francois Tremblay of the QMJHL's Val-d'Or Foreurs -- reeled off wins in three straight games this week to earn spots in this week's "Fab Five.
Two other prospect goalies -- OHL'er Jordan "Binnasty" Binnington and rookie pro Paul Karpowich of the Evansville IceMen -- posted shutouts this week in limited playing time. Binnington played just two games this week, back-to-back outings on Friday and Saturday, and capped the week by whitewashing Kitchener 5-0 on Saturday night. Karpowich, meanwhile, posted the first shutout of his pro career in his only appearance of the week, blanking in-state rivals Fort Wayne also by a 5-0 score.
Rounding out this week's "Fab Five" is center prospect Phil McRae, who scored 20+ goals last season for Peoria, but had been held without a marker this season until this week. McRae scored a power-play tally in Rockford, and struck twice at home vs. Chicago, including the overtime game-winner.
The contributions of Allen and McRae to Peoria's hot streak overshadowed strong weeks by QMJHL prospects Dmitri Jaskin and Yannick Velleux. Jaskin and Veilleux, along with the rest of their Moncton Wildcat teammates, split a pair of games this week vs. QMJHL foes, winning an 8-3 decision over Rouyn-Noranda on Thurdsay before dropping a 5-4 decision to Tremblay and Val-d'Or on Friday. Jaskin tallied a power-play goal and four assists during the week, while Veilleux struck for two power-play scores and added three assists. Both players were a minus-1 for the week as well.
Also just missing out on selection this week was Peoria blueliner Mark Cundari. The Ontario native has been arguably Peoria's best defenseman in the last week, posting three assists, a plus-4, and nine minutes in penalty time over the last seven days. Cundari's European teammates Sergey Andronov and Sebastian Wännström made key offensive contributions this week as well, both posting a goal (Wännström's first of his pro career) and an assist during Peoria's recent hot streak. Andronov's goal was particularly important, as it was the game-winner in Chicago last night.
*** FIRST Star *** | ** SECOND Star ** | * THIRD Star * |
Jake ALLEN | Phil McRAE | Francois TREMBLAY |
Peoria (AHL) | Peoria (AHL) | Val-d'Or (QMJHL) |
** 3 games played this week | ** 3 games played this week | ** 3 games played this week |
** 184 mins, 8 GA, 3-0-0 | ** 3 G, 1 A, minus-2 | ** 180 mins, 9 GA, 3-0-0 |
** 2.61 GAA, 92.6 save % | ** 0 PM, 1 PP, 0 SH, 1 GW | ** 3.00 GAA, 92.2 save % |
HONORABLE MENTION:
JORDAN BINNINGTON, G, Owen Sound (OHL): 2 GP, 120 mins, 4 GA, 1-1-0, 2.01 GAA, 93.8% save pct, 1 SO.
...
PAUL KARPOWICH, G, Evansville (ECHL): 1 GP, 60 mins, 0 GA, 1-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 100.0% save pct, 1 SO.
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THREE STAR POINT STANDINGS FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11-17-12
Players receive four points for being named First Star, three points for Second Star, two points for Third Star, and one point for Honorable Mention. The top ten prospects in the Three Star point standings for this week are as follows:
PLAYER | CLUB | POINTS |
Dmitri Jaskin | Moncton, QMJHL | 17 |
Ty Rattie | Portland, WHL | 13 |
Vladimir Tarasenko | SKA St Petersburg, KHL | 10 |
Ryan Tesink | Saint John, QMJHL | 9 |
Jake Allen | Peoria, AHL | 8 |
Yannick Veilleux | Moncton, QMJHL | 7 |
Jordan Binnington | Owen Sound, OHL | 6 |
Teemu Eronen | Jokerit, SM-Liiga | 3 |
Mackenzie Maceachern | Chicago, USHL | 3 |
Phil McRae | Peoria, AHL | 3 |
Francois Tremblay | Val-d'Or, QMJHL | 3 |