Happy Halloween everyone!
Welcome back to the seventh weekly installment of the Flyers Junior Hockey Prospect Recap.
Halloween was incredibly rainy in the Toronto area, so as a result there were not that many trick-or-treaters in my neighbourhood. Although rain is nothing in comparison to the tornado warning that some parts of Pennsylvania were under on Halloween night. Hopefully everyone didn’t let the weather damper their spirits and had a great time dressing up and munching on some great treats.
Were any Flyers prospects more treat than trick this week? Some of the storylines from the Junior Hockey universe that we will be following up on in this week’s edition include:
Will Roddy Ross continue his solid play of late for the Seattle Thunderbirds?
Can Mason Millman continue to build on his recent play for the surging Saginaw Spirit?
Will Jay O’Brien extend his 3 game point streak and help continue Penticton’s winning streak?
This weeks edition covers the week that was in the CHL and the BCHL from Tuesday October 28th – Sunday November 3rd.
WHL (Western Hockey League)
Wyatte Wylie #29 (D) – Everett Silvertips (WHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 15 | +5 | 59 | 10 |
- Wyatte Wylie and the Everett Silvertips hosted the Portland Winterhawks on Friday night in a top of the U.S. Division of the Western Conference. Portland used their special teams to great advantage by opening the scoring with a powerplay goal and doubling their lead with a shorthanded marker in the first period. Portland scored another powerplay goal to extend their lead to 3-0 before Everett was able to get one back at 7:52 of the second period. Portland iced the game in the third period, winning the game by a score of 4-1. Wylie finished the game with a -2 rating and had 4 shots on goal.
- On Saturday night, the Everett Silvertips hosted the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers dominated in the shots on goal department, finishing the game with a 44-28 advantage. However, Kamloops could not convert on any of their 6 powerplay opportunities and Everett won the game by a score of 3-2. The Silvertips went 1 for 6 with the man advantage, and Wyatte Wylie picked up a powerplay assist on Everett’s second goal of the game. For the match, Wylie finished with 1 assist, a +1 rating, and 2 shots on goal.
- Sunday night saw the Everett Silvertips travel to Spokane to face the Chiefs. Spokane dominated the shots on goal in this game by a count of 40-25, and outshot Everett in every regulation period. Spokane’s persistence paid off as they scored the tying goal early on in the third period to force overtime. Tied 3-3 in the extra frame, the Silvertips claimed victory through a Bryce Kindopp penalty shot goal as Everett won the game by a score of 4-3. Wyatte Wylie had an excellent game offensively with 3 assists (2 of which came by way of the powerplay). He had a +1 rating and also had 2 shots on goal. Everett’s victory along with the Portland Winterhawks loss puts the Silvertips in first place both in the U.S. Division as well as the Western Conference.
Egor Zamula #9 (D) – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 | 14 | 4 | 11 | 15 | +16 | 41 | 4 |
- Monday night’s lone action saw Egor Zamula and the Calgary Hitmen host the Seattle Thunderbirds in a dual of Flyers prospects. The Thunderbirds struck quickly in the first period with 2 goals on their first 2 shots and hung on for a 2-1 regulation victory over the Hitmen. Zamula had an even rating to go along with 2 shots on goal, one being a slapshot from the point that was swallowed up with no rebound by fellow Flyers prospect Roddy Ross. Overall, Zamula had a quiet game by his standards and was bailed out by his goaltender after losing the puck to a Seattle forechecker while attempting to break out of the zone in the third period. Luckily for Zamula, Hitmen goaltender Brayden Peters made the save on the breakaway to keep Calgary in the game.
Here is the link to the video highlights for the game:
https://whl.ca/gamecentre/1016653/boxscore
- On Saturday night the Saskatoon Blades visited Egor Zamula and the Calgary Hitmen. Saskatoon opened the scoring in the first period and the teams alternated goals throughout the game. Unfortunately for the Hitmen, the Blades scored the last goal of the game in the middle of the third period as Saskatoon took this game by a score of 3-2. Zamula did not record a point and was a -1 for the evening with 2 shots on goal. Zamula also picked up a 2 minute minor penalty for cross checking at 3:46 of the third period.
- Sunday afternoon’s action saw the Calgary Hitmen host the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings. Despite a 40-28 shots advantage, the Hitmen lost the game by allowing a goal with 55 seconds left in regulation to lose the game by a score of 3-2. Egor Zamula did not register any points, had an even rating, and was credited for 3 shots on goal. Zamula has 15 points in 14 games played, but has been held off the scoresheet in the last three games.
Roddy Ross #1 (G) – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
| SEASON | GP | W | L | SO | MINS | SH | SAV | GAA | SAV% |
| 2019-2020 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 704 | 411 | 377 | 2.90 | 0.917 |
- Monday night’s only game on the WHL schedule saw Roddy Ross and the Seattle Thunderbirds visit the Calgary Hitmen in a game that featured two Flyers prospects. With a two goal lead in the first period, Ross was able to shut the door and preserve the victory as Seattle won the game by a score of 2-1. Ross allowed only 1 goal on 34 shots, including a blast from the point by fellow Flyers prospect Egor Zamula. Ross’ 33 save performance earned him the win as well as the Second Star of the game.
Here is the link to the video highlights for the game:
- Friday night, Roddy Ross once again got the start as the Seattle Thunderbirds went on the road to play the Tri-City Americans. After a scoreless first period, Ross got onto the scoresheet by picking up an assist as Seattle opened the scoring at 4:45 of the second period. After the goal, the game turned in favor of Tri-City as they scored twice in the second period to go into the third with a 2-1 lead. Seattle scored in the first minute of the final period, but 3 straight Americans goals (2 empty netters) decided the game in favor of Tri-City by a score of 5-2. Ross picked up the loss but still was impressive, allowing only 3 goals on 39 shots (36 saves) and kept Seattle in the game until he was pulled for an extra attacker. Ross tracked the puck well and kept himself squared to the shooters throughout the contest.
- Roddy Ross got a chance to rest on Saturday night as the Seattle Thunderbirds went on the road to play the Portland Winterhawks. Blake Lyda had a very strong game in relief turning aside 36 of 38 shots but Seattle lost the game by a score of 2-1. Unbelievably, Lyda was not named as one of the Three Stars of the Game. Seattle is currently at the bottom of the U.S. Division with 13 points in 15 games. To this point in the season, it is pretty clear that goaltending has not been the issue for the Thunderbirds. Their record would be dramatically improved if they can find a way to generate more offence and provide more goal support for their defencemen and goaltenders.
OHL (Ontario Hockey League)
Mason Millman #12 (D) – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 Saginaw Spirit | 17 | 5 | 5 | 10 | -7 | 33 | 10 |
- On Friday night the Saginaw Spirit and Mason Millman hosted the visiting Barrie Colts. The Colts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, and the teams each traded goals in the second period leading to a 3-1 Barrie lead after 40 minutes. Millman got credited with an even strength assist on a Saginaw goal to open the third period to narrow the gap to 3-2, as Saginaw tied the game to force overtime. With overtime solving nothing, the game went to a shootout with Barrie scoring on their two opening penalty shots to win the game 4-3. Millman finished the game with an even rating but tallied 1 assist and 4 shots on goal. He has been on a good run recently with 9 points in his last 6 games.
- Saturday night’s game between the Guelph Storm and the host Saginaw Spirit did not take place. According to the OHL, the game was postponed due to an issue with the ice surface and will be played at a later date. As of writing, no make up date has been announced.
QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
Egor Serdyuk #18 (RW) – Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 Victoriaville Tigres | 15 | 8 | 3 | 11 | -10 | 33 | 8 |
- Friday night saw the Victoriaville Tigres and Egor Serdyuk host the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Victoriaville fell behind 3-0 by the end of the first period and could not get any pucks past Drakkar goaltender Dakota Lund-Cornish as Baie-Comeau won the game by a final score of 5-0. The Tigres were outshot in every period of this game with the final totals being 34-25 in favor of Baie-Comeau. Victoriaville could not use the powerplay to get back into the game as they failed to score on four attempts with the man advantage. Serdyuk finished the game with a -3 rating and 1 shot on goal.
- On Saturday night, the Victoriaville Tigres hosted the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Egor Serdyuk was held off the scoresheet for the fourth straight game as the Tigres dropped a 3-1 decision to the Sagueneens. Serdyuk finished the game with an even rating and 3 shots on goal. While he did not get any penalties, Serdyuk served a too many men on the ice penalty for Victoriaville in the middle of the second period. Victoriaville continues to struggle as they currently sit in last place both in the Central Division as well as the Western Conference.
BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League)
Jay O’Brien #9 (RW) – Penticton Vees (BCHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-2020 | 20 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 29 |
- On Friday night, the Penticton Vees were looking to continue their 3 game winning streak as they took on the Surrey Eagles. Things did not start well for the Vees as Surrey took a 2-0 lead by the midway point of the first period. Penticton battled back with three straight goals to enter the final period squared at 3-3. Penticton broke the tie at 18:08 of the third and Jay O’Brien scored his 10th goal of the season into an empty net to seal the win for the Vees by a score of 5-3. O’Brien extended his points streak to 4 straight games while Penticton also brought their winning streak to 4 games.
- The Vees and Jay O’Brien put their respective streaks on the line on Saturday night, as the Penticton Vees faced off against the Victoria Grizzlies. O’Brien scored Penticton’s third goal of the game as the Vees won their fifth consecutive game by a score of 4-1. O’Brien’s points streak continued as his even strength goal ended up being the insurance marker only 36 seconds into the third period. Jay O’Brien leads the Vees in scoring with 29 points in 20 games and sits third in BCHL scoring.
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Hope you enjoyed this Halloween edition of the Flyers Junior Hockey Prospect Recap.
Feel free to leave any comments or feedback via twitter or at www.brotherlypuck.com .
Until next time from BrotherlyPuck.com,
I remain,
Manny Benevides
photo credit: nbcsports.com
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