By Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department
SPOTLIGHT ON PEORIA THIS WEEK:
Since the AHL is likely to be the highest level of hockey that we will see for a while.
RIVS FAN JERSEY DESIGN WINNER ANNOUNCED:
Earlier this week, the Rivermen announced the winning design in their first-ever Fan Jersey design contest, and a St. Louis-area graphic designer came away with top honors.
Ryan Malaschak,owner of Adrenaline Prints Screen Printing in Belleville, submitted the "anchor" logo and blue, gold and white design that edged out the three other finalists.
The jerseys will be worn by the Rivermen in their game on Dec. 15 at Carver Arena against the Milwaukee Admirals. The jerseys will be auctioned off to the public following the game.
(LINK to story at rivermen dot net)
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PROJECTED RIVERMEN ROSTER FOR 2012-13:
For the first time in a couple of years, the Rivermen will have not one, but two drafted Europeans on the Opening Day roster.
Russian Sergei Andronov, a 2009 selection (78th overall), was recently signed to an AHL-only contract by the Blues, and is in St. Louis now participating in informal team skates at St. Louis Mills. Earlier this summer, 2010 pick (44th overall) Sebastian Wännström announced that he was coming to North America as well, and would play in Peoria if that's what it took to prove himself to the Blues.
The additions of Wännström and Andronov provide a major boost to the skill level of Peoria's forward corps, which will see four of an AHL-leading six 20-goal scorers return up front for the 2012-13 season.
As it stands now, with an NHL lockout a virtual certainty, the following players can probably expect to be assigned to Peoria when new head coach Dave Allison opens training camp there later this month.
("+" - Players on AHL contracts; "*" - Players older than "prospect age" of 25 years)
LEFT WING: Stefan Della Rovere, Evgeny Grachev, Derek Nesbitt +, Chris Porter *, Jaden Schwartz.
CENTER: Jay Barriball, T.J. Hensick *, Philip McRae, Andrew Murray *, Anthony Nigro, Brett Sonne.
RIGHT WING: Sergei Andronov +, Cody Beach, Chris Bruton +, Adam Cracknell, Anthony Peluso, Tyler Shattock, Sebastian Wännström.
LEFT DEFENSE: Taylor Chorney *, Ian Cole, Mark Cundari, Cade Fairchild, Brett Ponich, Jeff Woywitka *.
RIGHT DEFENSE: Scott Ford *, David Shields.
GOALTENDER: Jake Allen, Paul Karpowich, Mike McKenna *.
The Rivermen will probably not keep more than 25 players on hand in Peoria, so our best guess as to which players will be getting a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art new arena in Evansville are Bruton, Cundari and Karpowich... plus either Cody Beach or Anthony Peluso, whichever one does not decisively win any fight he has during Peoria's brief exhibition season against in-state rivals Chicago (Oct. 1 at home, Oct. 5 in Hoffman Estates) and Rockford (Oct. 6 at home).
PROSPECT POLLING CONTINUES:
For the second week in a row, a prospect from the QMJHL has earned the most votes in the "Game Time" Summer 2012 Prospect Poll. Moncton Wildcat winger and 2011 Blues' draft pick (102nd overall) Yannick Veilleux takes the last spot in the Blues' "Sweet Sixteen" of prospects.
Vote for the 17th prospect in the Blues' system in the poll below.
ST. LOUIS BLUES TOP 20 PROSPECTS (1 THRU 16):
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1. | Vladimir TARASENKO | |||||||||
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| RW, shoots L. 5' 11, 210 lbs. Born 12-31-91, Novosibirsk, RUS. | STL 2nd pick (16th overall) in 2010 Entry Draft. |  |
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| 2011-12 | Sibir/SKA (KHL) | 54 GP, 23-24-47, plus-18, 15 PM, 7 PPG, 0 SHG, 6 GWG. 0.870 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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2. | Jaden SCHWARTZ | |||||||||
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| LW, shoots L. 5' 10, 180 lbs. Born 06-25-92, Melfort, SK. | STL 1st pick (14th overall) in 2010 Entry Draft. |  |
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| 2011-12 | Colorado College (WCHA) | 30 GP, 15-26-41, plus-6, 18 PM, 5 PPG, 0 SHG, 4 GWG. 1.367 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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3. | Ty RATTIE | |||||||||
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| RW, shoots R. 5' 11, 170 lbs. Born 02-05-93, Airdrie, AB. | STL 1st pick (32nd overall) in 2011 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Portland (WHL) | 69 GP, 57-64-121, plus-23, 54 PM, 26 PPG, 4 SHG, 9 GWG. 1.754 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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4. | Ian COLE | |||||||||
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| D, shoots L. 6' 01, 225 lbs. Born 02-21-89, Ann Arbor, MI. | STL 2nd pick (18th overall) in 2007 Entry Draft. |  |
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| 2011-12 | St. Louis (NHL) | 26 GP, 1-5-6, plus-7, 22 PM, 0 PPG, 0 SHG, 0 GWG. 0.231 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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5. | Jake ALLEN | |||||||||
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| G, catches L. 6' 02, 195 lbs. Born 08-07-90, Fredericton, NB. | STL 3rd pick (34th overall) in 2008 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Peoria (AHL) | 37 GP, 2088 Mins, 99 GA, 1203 SA, 2.84 GAA, 13-19-2, 1 SO, 0.918 Sv %. | |||||||||
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6. | Philip McRAE | |||||||||
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| C, shoots L. 6' 02, 200 lbs. Born 03-15-90, Apple Valley, MN. | STL 2nd pick (33rd overall) in 2008 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Peoria (AHL) | 71 GP, 23-16-39, minus-10, 26 PM, 7 PPG, 0 SHG, 2 GWG. 0.549 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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7. | Cade FAIRCHILD | |||||||||
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| D, shoots L. 5' 11, 190 lbs. Born 01-15-89, Duluth, MN. | STL 7th pick (96th overall) in 2007 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Peoria (AHL) | 68 GP, 8-26-34, plus-26, 32 PM, 2 PPG, 0 SHG, 3 GWG. 0.500 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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8. | Jordan SCHMALTZ | |||||||||
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| D, shoots R. 6' 02, 189 lbs. Born 10-08-93, Verona, WI. | STL 1st pick (25th overall) in 2008 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Sioux City/Green Bay (USHL) | 55 GP, 10-31-41, plus-11, 29 PM, 5 PPG, 1 SHG, 2 GWG. 0.745 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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9. | Anthony NIGRO | |||||||||
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| C, shoots L. 6' 00, 189 lbs. Born 01-11-90, Toronto, ON. | STL 9th pick (155th overall) in 2008 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Peoria (AHL) | 75 GP, 13-12-25, plus-12, 36 PM, 2 PPG, 1 SHG, 1 GWG. 0.333 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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10. | Brett PONICH | |||||||||
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| D, shoots L. 6' 07, 225 lbs. Born 02-21-91, Edmonton, AB. | STL 2nd pick (48th overall) in 2009 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Peoria (AHL) | 61 GP, 0-5-5, even, 47 PM, 0 PPG, 0 SHG, 0 GWG. 0.082 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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11. | Jani HAKANPÄÄ | |||||||||
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| D, shoots L. 6' 4, 211 lbs. Born 03-31-92, Kirkkonummi, FIN. | STL 5th pick (104th overall) in 2010 Entry Draft. |  |
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| 2011-12 | Blues Espoo (FIN) | 41 GP, 5-7-12, plus-6, 30 PM, 1 PPG, 0 SHG, 0 GWG. 0.293 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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12. | Nick WALTERS | |||||||||
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| D, shoots L. 6' 02, 187 lbs. Born 04-11-94, Edmonton, AB. | STL 5th pick (106th overall) in 2012 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Everett (WHL) | 62 GP, 6-12-18, minus-27, 95 PM, 3 PPG, 0 SHG, 1 GWG. 0.290 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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13. | Cody BEACH | |||||||||
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| RW, shoots R. 6' 05, 190 lbs. Born 08-08-92, Nanaimo, BC. | STL 6th pick (134th overall) in 2010 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 58 GP, 15-41-56, plus-12, 229 PM, 7 PPG, 0 SHG, 2 GWG. 0.966 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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14. | Joel EDMUNDSON | |||||||||
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| D, shoots L. 6' 04, 191 lbs. Born 06-28-93, Brandon, MB. | STL 2nd pick (46th overall) in 2011 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Moose Jaw (WHL) | 56 GP, 4-19-23, plus-13, 91 PM, 0 PPG, 0 SHG, 2 GWG. 0.411 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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15. | Ryan TESINK | |||||||||
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| C, shoots L. 5' 11, 160 lbs. Born 05-21-93, Saint John, NB. | STL 6th pick (162nd overall) in 2011 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Saint John (QMJHL) | 36 GP, 13-27-40, plus-23, 54 PM, 2 PPG, 3 SHG, 3 GWG. 1.111 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||
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16. | Yannick VEILLEUX | |||||||||
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| LW, shoots L. 6' 2, 190 lbs. Born 02-22-93, Ste-Hipolytte, PQ. | STL 4th pick (102nd overall) in 2011 Entry Draft. | |
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| 2011-12 | Shawinigan (QMJHL) | 59 GP, 27-31-58, plus-21, 69 PM, 11 PPG, 0 SHG, 6 GWG. 0.983 Pts/Gm. | |||||||||