QMJHL
Michael Lambert- LW. Has really stepped it up this year, as he leads his team in scoring and is 2nd in the Q in scoring. He has been named to the Team QMJHL in the Remax games vs Team Russia. Playing on the top line and getting lots of PP time, Lambert so far is doing a good job of earning himself a contract before the June 1st deadline. His 4 game winning goals are tops in the Q as well, as he is scoring some big goals for the Rocket. He has an outside shot at making Team Canada’s U-20 team, as he was one of the top scorers for the Team Canada U-18 team in 2002.
Cory Urquhart- C. The Lambert Urquhart line has been one of the better lines in the Q, as they wreak havoc on the Q goalies and defense. Urquhart is 2nd on the team in scoring, and 3rd in the QMJHL in scoring as well. Urquhart also has been named to the Remax games vs Team Russia, and has an outside chance of making Team Canada as well.
Maxim Lapierre- C. Playing on the 3rd line, without top notch wingers, Lapierre hasn’t been able to produce much offense, but he has been playing a gritty game. Although he doesn’t have many goals, he does have 3 game winners, which is near the top of the league, behind teammate Michael Lambert, and he has been strong in the face-off circle at 53%.. Next year should be a real test for him, as he should receive much more ice time.
Jimmy Bonneau- LW. Has played in every game, and has made a name for himself as one of the top fighters in the QMJHL.
Danny Stewart- LW/C. Is benefitting from playing with the very talented Sidney Crosby, as Stewart is in the top 10 in scoring in the Q, and 3rd on his team in scoring. Stewart has struggled in the face-off circle, but his improvement in his own end, along the boards, and his 3 game winning goals show he has progressed over last season.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Michael Lambert | PEI | 23 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 18 | +17 |
Cory Urquhart | PEI | 23 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 14 | +14 |
Maxim Lapierre | PEI | 22 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 31 | -2 |
Jimmy Bonneau | PEI | 25 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 89 | -2 |
Danny Stewart | Rimouski | 24 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 35 | +11 |
OHL
Corey Locke- C. After leading the entire CHL in scoring last year, Locke had a difficult task of adjusting to new linemates, and a team without the talented and experienced players of last year. So far so good, as Locke is 3rd in the OHL in scoring, and he has close to double the points of any player on his team. Locke was also named to Team OHL in the Remax games vs Team Russia. He also has a good chance to make Team Canada’s U-20 WJC roster.
Andre Deveaux- C. Being traded last year looks like it’s paying off big rewards to the big center, as he has an increased role on the team taking the late important face-offs. What’s most impressive is his improvement in his own end, where he was a -21 last season, he’s a team leading +11, while he’s also shown improvement on the score sheet and in taking less penalties.
Mark Flood- D. Flood is currently 2nd on his team in scoring, while he plays on the top pairing, and gets both PP and PK time.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Cory Locke | Ottawa | 19 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 26 | +2 |
Andre Deveaux | OS | 20 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 38 | +11 |
Mark Flood | Petes | 18 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 6 | -1 |
NCAA
Ryan O’Byrne- D. After leaving the BCJHL for the NCAA, O’Byrne has been able to play in every game so far for Cornell University, one of the top teams in the NCAA. They currently sit atop the ECAC conference. O’Byrne has yet to record a point, but he does lead the team in penalty minutes with 20. Playing for a strongly coached team should be a great experience for O’Byrne.
Ryan Glenn- D. Has picked it up some, with a two goal game the other night. Still needs to show a lot, if he is to earn a contract this summer, when his NCAA career ends.
Scott Selig- RW. A disappointing start to the season to say the least. Selig has yet to register a point this season, and currently is either injured or benched, as he has missed two games lately. With 0 points in his senior year, things are not going well if he’s too earn a contract this summer, when his NCAA career is over.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Ryan O’Byrne | Cornell | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
|
Ryan Glenn | St. LU | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 | -1 |
Scott Selig | Northeast | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 |
Sweden
Johan Eneqvist- C/LW. After leaving Leksand of the SEL, for Hammerby a tier-2 league, Eneqvist has gone from the 4th line to one of the top lines on the top team in the tier-2 league. With his team having only 1 loss this season, Eneqvist is surrounded by quality forwards.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Johan Eneqvist | Hammerby | 19 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 12 |
|
Russia
Andrei Kastsitsyn- C/LW. After starting in the RSL, then being sent down and producing very well, he was called up to the RSL and hasn’t be sent back since. He is currently playing on the 4th line for CSKA, with limited ice time, under what is know as a very strict coach. Teammate Zherdev has also had problems getting ice time, as he has been benched at times, so it’s clear ice time will be hard to come by for the young Belarus star.
Konstantin Korneev- D. After his team from last year was regulated to the high league, Korneev found himself on the AK Bars squad, after having interest from several RSL teams for his services. AK Bars is a team with some very talented players, so ice time is limited for Korneev, who plays mostly on the 4th pairing, on one of the few teams that carries 4 pairings of defense. He was named to the Russian Senior National Team recently, a good sign for the 19 year old, and he has also been named to the Russian Junior National Team U-20 team.
Alex Buturlin- RW. Playing on the 1st and 2nd line, Buturlin is one of the top scorers on his team. He was also named to the Russian Senior National Team recently, although he did not pick up any points in the two games he played for them.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Andrei Kastsitsyn | CSKA | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
|
| CSKA-2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 4 |
|
Alex Buturlin | Lada | 18 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 30 |
|
K. Korneev | AK Bars | 22 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
|
Finland
Oskari Korpikari- D. Playing on the 3rd pairing, Korpikari has been steady in his own end, while playing for one of the top teams in the sm-liiga. Korpikari should play for Team Finland’s Junior National U-20 Team next month. Hab ‘97 draft pick Iikkola Mikkola is 2nd on the team in +/- with a +11.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Oskari Korpikari | Karpat | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | +2 |
Czech Republic
Tomas Linhart – D. Playing in the Mens Div 1, and spending time in the junior league as well, Linhart has been shipped around this year, but is getting playing time in both leagues. He also played for the Czech Junior National Team, in a recent U-20 tournament. He has played for two different teams in the mens league, which I don’t have a reason as to why just yet.
Name | Team | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Pim | +/- |
Tomas Linhart | Hardec | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | +1 |
| Pardubice | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| juniors | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 18 | E |