By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
A VERY HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY TO ALL YOU HOCKEY MOMS OUT THERE...
...especially Prospect Mom out here in Coyotes Country, and Friends of "Prospect Sunday" Angela and Jenn-Jenn.
Another short and sweet week, as there's just not much to talk about right now in the World O' Prospects. After the Memorial Cup, there will be heavy emphasis on the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Oh, and the Russians inexplicably continue to refuse to give Vladimir Tarasenko a chance to earn a spot on the World Championships roster. Are the powers-that-be in Russian hockey punishing T-90 for publicly expressing a desire to play in the NHL? And will this drive Tarasenko to sign with the Blues sooner rather than later, notwithstanding any threats about being banned from the Sochi Olympics in 2014 if he abandons the KHL?
I will try to stay on top of this story as best I can, with any details or breaking news posted here as soon as I hear them.
-- B.
PROSPECT PROMOTIONS / DEMOTIONS:
None to report this week.
PROSPECT TRADES:
None to report this week.
PLAYERS ON SICK CALL:
None to report this week.
PLAYERS RETURNED TO DUTY:
None to report this week.
PLAYERS ON SUSPENSION:
None to report this week.
PROSPECT NEWS AND NOTES:
ITEM: PROSPECT PLAYOFF UPDATE.
NHL: Nothin'.
AHL: Nothin'.
ECHL: Nothin'.
EUROPE: Nothin'.
QMJHL: The Saint John Sea Dogs are your President's Cup champions for the second consecutive season, earning a spot in the Memorial Cup tournament to be played May 20-27 in Shawinigan.
Blues' prospects Stephen Macaulay or Ryan Tesink were not key contributors on offense in the final series, being overshadowed by Saint John's more high-profile forwards. Tesink posted an assist, two penalty minutes, and a plus-1 in the four games of the Final series, and finished the playoffs with a 7-6-13 scoring line (plus-5, 24 PM, 2 PPG, 2 GWG) in 17 games. Macaulay, meanwhile, picked up a goal and an assist in the Finals, both coming in Saint John's 6-4 win over Rimouski in Game Three. Tesink and Blues' 2011 Traverse City invitee Maxime Villemaire assisted on Macaulay's goal, which put the Sea Dogs ahead to stay in that game.
Macaulay, a 2010 draft pick of the Blues who is likely to sign an ELC this summer and turn pro with the Peoria Rivermen in 2012-13, finished the playoffs with a 6-7-13 scoring line (plus-5, 10 PM, 1 PPG, 1 GWG) in 17 games.
OHL: The London Knights are your Rogers OHL Champions for the 2011-12 season, defeating the Niagara Ice Dogs and Blues' prospect Brock Beukeboom four games to one. The Ice Dogs took the series opener in double overtime by a 3-2 score at London's John Labatt Centre before dropping four straight games to the powerhouse Knights.
Beukeboom, who like Macaulay is also a 2010 draftee (by Tampa, acquired in the Eric Brewer trade) and expected to sign his ELC this summer, picked up a pair of assists and four penalty minutes in four Finals appearances, but was a minus-4 in the Finals and was not dressed for Game Five. In 19 playoff contests, the 6' 2, 197-pound right-shooting blueliner from Uxbridge, Ontario posted a 2-3-5 scoring line, with a minus-1 and 10 minutes in the sin bin.
WHL: Out in the wild, wild West, it all comes down to one game at the historic Rexall Place (formerly Northlands Coliseum) in Edmonton.
Ty Rattie and the Portland Winterhawks evened their best-of-seven Ed Chynoweth Cup Final series with the Edmonton Oil Kings at three games apiece with a 3-2 win at the Rose Garden, across the Willamette River from downtown Portland, on Saturday night. The Hawks got a goal from Pittsburgh first-rounder Joe Morrow, and a pair (including the game-winner) from Columbus prospect Olivier Gabriel to send the series back to Edmonton for what should be a classic Game Seven tonight.
The game for all the marbles in the 'Dub is scheduled for 8:00 PM CDT, and the Hawks' radio stream can be found HERE for those interested in listening live online.
Rattie has been held pretty much in check by Edmonton in the Finals, picking up "only" two goals (both on the power play) and four points in five appearances; remember, he sat out Game Two on concussion watch. As a result, he has fallen behind linemate and 2010 Calgary draftee Sven Bärtschi in the WHL playoff scoring race. Bärtschi now leads with 34 points (14 G, 20 A) in 21 games, while Rattie is right behind with 33 points (19 G, 14 A) in 20 games.
The Airdrie, Alberta native continues to lead all WHL players in playoff goals (19) and power-play goals (7), and he has a plus-12, 12 penalty minutes, a shorthanded goal (an OT game-winner vs. Tri-Cities in Game 2 of the Western Conference final) and two game-winning goals to add to that impressive scoring line.