Welcome back to the ninth weekly installment of the Flyers Junior Hockey Prospect Recap.
So here we are in the middle of November and I am looking outside to our first healthy dose of snow for the winter. After two shovelling sessions (what someone on Twitter referred to as Canadian cardio), I was amazed to hear that this storm of 15-20 cm’s (6-8 inches) was the most snow that southern Ontario has had in 70 years in mid-November. Way too early for this. Ah well, at least the Flyers play of late has kept me warm, positive, and upbeat.
On to the future Flyers! Some of the Flyers related storylines from the Junior Hockey universe that are that we will be following up on in this week’s edition include:
Can Wyatte Wylie get the Gordie Howe hat trick two weeks in a row? Will the Everett Silvertips continue to stay on top of both the U.S. Division and the Western Conference?
Will Jay O’Brien continue to pick up points for the Penticton Vees and extend his current point streak of eight games?
How will Egor Zamula fare for Team Russia as they play the WHL in the 2019 Canada-Russia Series?
Here are some highlights from Game #5 of the 2019 Canada-Russia Series. Zamula is #31 for the Team Russia:
This weeks edition covers the week that was in the CHL and the BCHL from Tuesday November 11th – Sunday November 17th.
WHL (Western Hockey League)
Wyatte Wylie #29 (D) – Everett Silvertips (WHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 | 19 | 5 | 13 | 18 | +8 | 72 | 17 |
- On Saturday night, the Everett Silvertips played host to the visiting Winnipeg Ice. The opening 5 minutes of the game were regrettable from the Silvertips point of view, as Winnipeg jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage. Everett righted the ship though, tying the game by the end of the first and adding two more goals in the second period to take a 4-2 lead. Everett could not hold the lead though, and Winnipeg scored twice to end regulation time at a score of 4-4. The Ice won the game in overtime at the 0:39 second mark to win the game by a score of 5-4. Wyatte Wylie did not get any points in the contest, and finished the game with a -1 rating and 4 shots on goal.
- On Sunday night, the Everett Silvertips hosted the visiting Spokane Chiefs. In what turned into a low scoring affair, Wyatte Wylie scored the game winning goal on the powerplay at 6:08 of the second period. Everett controlled the game for the first two periods, but the Chiefs pushed back in the third period with a 12-2 shot advantage without being able to put one past Silvertips goalie Dustin Wolf. The Silvertips added an empty net goal in the final minute, securing a 2-0 shutout victory. Wylie finished the game with 1 goal (his 5th of the season), an even rating, and 4 shots on goal. Wylie was also named as the game’s Second Star.
The Everett Silvertips continue to be on top of the U.S. Division with 29 points from 19 games. Everett is also currently the number 1 seed in the Western Conference.
Egor Zamula #9 (D) – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 | 19 | 6 | 12 | 18 | +18 | 51 | 6 |
- On Saturday night the Calgary Hitmen visited the Saskatoon Blades. Egor Zamula made the trip, fresh off representing Team Russia in the 2019 Canada-Russia Series against the WHL. Zamula was held pointless as the Calgary Hitmen defeated Saskatoon by a score of 4-1. Zamula finished the game with an even rating and 2 shots on goal.
- Sunday night had the Calgary Hitmen travel to Prince Albert to face off against the Raiders. Top 2020 NHL Draft prospect Kaiden Guhle opened the scoring for the Raiders with his 4th goal of the season. The Hitmen responded with a shorthanded goal to head into the first intermission tied 1-1. Egor Zamula got an assist on the powerplay to help Calgary tie the game 2-2 early in the third period. Both teams continued to trade goals with the score still tied 4-4 at the end of regulation time. In overtime, Ozzy Wiesblatt provided the heroics as he scored the tying goal to force overtime and scored the game winner at 1:12 of the extra period. Prince Albert defeated the Calgary Hitmen by a score of 5-4. Zamula finished the game with 1 assist, an even rating, and 0 shots on goal.
The Calgary Hitmen have 23 points from 19 games played. They currently hold the first playoff wildcard spot and are in 4th place in the Central Division.
Roddy Ross #1 (G) – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
| SEASON | GP | W | L | SO | MINS | SH | SAV | GAA | SAV% |
| 2019-2020 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 887 | 536 | 488 | 3.25 | 0.910 |
- On Saturday night, the Seattle Thunderbirds hosted the visiting Portland Winterhawks. Roddy Ross got the start in goal looking for more goal support to try to improve the Thunderbirds hopes to get a playoff spot. Regulation time finished with the score tied 4-4 and the game could have ended in overtime but Seattle could not convert on a penalty shot. As a result, the game had to be decided in a shootout. Ross stopped both shooters that he faced, and Seattle scored on both of their attempts as the Thunderbirds won the game by a score of 5-4. Ross got the win as he allowed 4 goals on 51 shots (47 saves) and Seattle was outshot in every period of the game (except overtime).
The Seattle Thunderbirds only played 1 game this week and find themselves on the outside of the playoffs. With 15 points in 18 games, Seattle is 6 points back of the last wildcard spot that is currently occupied by the Victoria Royals.
OHL (Ontario Hockey League)
Mason Millman #12 (D) – Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 Saginaw Spirit | 21 | 5 | 6 | 11 | -3 | 39 | 14 |
- On Thursday night the Saginaw Spirit hosted the Ottawa 67’s. This game would once again require some late game heroics as top 5 draft candidate for the 2020 NHL Draft Cole Perfetti scored the winning goal with 1:42 remaining to give Saginaw the 4-3 win. Mason Millman did not get a point in this game but did finish as a +1 and 1 shot on goal. Millman was also assessed a 2 minute minor penalty for hooking at 7:31 of the first period. Perfetti now has 7 goals and 33 points in 20 games this season. The Saginaw Spirit have now won 3 games in a row.
- Saturday night saw the Saginaw Spirit head out on the road to face the red hot Guelph Storm. Something had to give in this one as Guelph came into this game with a seven game winning streak and the Spirit had a three game streak of their own. Saginaw opened the scoring in the second period through impressive rookie defenceman Ilya Solovyov. Guelph responded in the same frame with two goals of their own to take the lead heading into the third period. Saginaw dominated the shots on goal in the final period 8-2, but could not find a goal as the Guelph Storm closed out the game by a score of 2-1. Mason Millman did not score any points but finished the game with an even rating and 2 shots on goal. Millman also took the first minor penalty of the game at 9:17 of the first period and sat in the penalty box for high sticking.
The Saginaw Spirit dropped to 3rd place in the West Division and sit in 4th in the conference. They currently are in a playoff spot and have 26 points from 21 games played.
QMJHL (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)
Egor Serdyuk #18 (RW) – Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | S | PIM |
| 2019-2020 Victoriaville Tigres | 18 | 8 | 5 | 13 | -9 | 37 | 10 |
- Friday night saw the Victoriaville Tigres welcome top prospect Alexis Lafreniere and the visiting Rimouski Oceanic. The aforementioned Lafreniere has feasted on QMJHL opposition this season and has had some memorable performances against the Tigres. In this game, Lafreniere picked up 2 assists to help Rimouski defeat Victoriaville by a score of 4-1. In 22 games, Lafreniere has now amassed 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points. Egor Serdyuk was not in the lineup for the game. According to La Nouvelle Union, Serdyuk was a last minute scratch from the lineup due to a lower body injury. We will see if he suits up for Victoriaville in tomorrow night’s game.
- On Saturday night, the Victoriaville Tigres hosted the Cape Breton Eagles. Cape Breton started quickly and scored 4 goals in the first period to head into the intermission with a 4-0 lead. The teams traded goals in the second period and Victoriaville came out in the third looking to kickstart a comeback. The Tigres ended up with a 15-5 shots advantage and scored three goals, but the comeback fell just short as the Cape Breton Eagles took the game by a score of 5-4. Egor Serdyuk was not in the lineup once again for Victoriaville. It is unclear if the lower body injury is the same injury that nagged Serdyuk earlier in the season.
Th Victoriaville Tigres returned to the bottom of the Western Conference standings (8th place) with 16 points in 24 games. They are 4 points out of a playoff spot.
BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League)
Jay O’Brien #9 (RW) – Penticton Vees (BCHL)
| SEASON | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
| 2019-2020 Penticton Vees | 25 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 33 |
- On Wednesday night, the Penticton Vees went on the road and faced off against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. It was the first of two consecutive meetings between the teams. Both teams were tied after the opening two periods of play; 2-2 after the first period and 3-3 after the second period. The final frame saw Salmon Arm score the winner at 1:04 on the powerplay as the Vees dropped this game by a score of 4-3. Jay O’Brien was held off the scoresheet in this contest and had his points scoring streak snapped at 8 games. The Vees deserved a better fate in this one as their powerplay came alive going 3 for 8, and they outshot Salmon Arm in every period for a total of 35-20 (including 11-5 in the third period).
- Friday night saw the return match between the Vees and the Silverbacks. Jay O’Brien was on the scoresheet in every period of the game as Penticton defeated Salmon Arm by a score of 6-3. O’Brien picked up his first assist of the evening at 16:32 of the first period to help give the Vees a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission. In the second period, O’Brien scored his 15th goal of the season (and ended up getting credited as the game winning goal) to extend the Vees lead to 4-2. O’Brien added 2 assists in the third period (one on an empty net goal) to complete his 4 point night. He also added 2 minutes in penalties by taking a tripping penalty at 17:22 of the second period. It must be noted that O’Brien’s 1 goal and 3 assists all came at even strength. He was also awarded the game’s Second Star for his performance.
Here are the video highlights of Jay O’Brien’s 4 point game:
- Saturday night had the Penticton Vees play against the Wenatchee Wild for the third time in under 2 weeks. Jay O’Brien notched his 25th assist of the season on Penticton’s opening goal on the powerplay at 18:30 of the first period. That goal tied the game 1-1 which was where the score line stayed throughout the rest of regulation time. In overtime, Penticton secured the 2-1 win through a Tyler Ho goal at 4:45 of the extra period.
The Penticton Vees have opened up a 4 point lead on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at the top of the Interior Division. The Vees have 41 points in 26 games and trail the Coquitlam Express by only 1 point for the conference lead.
After this week, Jay O’Brien now has 40 points in 26 games for a 1.54 points per game average. He is second in BCHL scoring, closing the gap for the scoring lead to 9 points with 1 game in hand.
***
Hope you enjoyed this early November 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: NHL.com
brotherlypuck.com 