 |
|
|
Prospects Watch Big, two-way checker Matthias having solid OHL season ... Shawn Matthias’s offensive numbers aren’t eye-popping, but his on-ice play is drawing rave reviews from the Detroit Red Wings. The 6-foot-3, 211-pound forward, drafted 47th overall by the Red Wings this summer, has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 20 games with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. “He’s a just a great big kid, a two-way checker,” said Red Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell. “His numbers are good and he doesn’t even play on the first power-play unit. He kills all their penalties.” The Bulls are the top team in the East Division at 11-7-0-2. Tyler Donati, a tryout at Detroit’s camp this fall, is Belleville’s primary scorer, with 36 points in 20 games. The Red Wings plan to re-invite Donati and his twin brother, Justin, back to camp next year as free agents. Matthias, an 18-year-old, has bounced back after struggling at the Red Wings’ training camp in Traverse City, Mich., in September. “He was almost like a deer in the headlights, just in awe of everything,” said McDonnell. “But he’s been great in Belleville. His size is something we’d love to have, especially when you can skate like he can.” In other OHL news, Red Wings prospect Jan Mursak of the Saginaw Spirit extended his league-best, season-long scoring streak to 21 games this week. The 5-foot-11, 167-pound winger now has 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points and sits sixth in the OHL scoring race. The Red Wings are impressed with how fast the Slovenian has adjusted to North America, but his strength is a big concern. “He’s as weak as a noodle right now, but you wouldn’t know it watching him,” said McDonnell. “He’s real strong on his feet so when he comes out of the corner, he doesn’t get trapped too much. He’s very competitive.” NOTES: Forward Darren Helm (Medicine Hat, Western Hockey League) will play in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge later this month ... Forward Darryl Bootland (Grand Rapids, American Hockey League) fought former Colorado Avalanche agitator Mike Keane early in the week, but was a surprise healthy scratch later in the week ... Forward Eric Himelfarb (Grand Rapids, AHL) and defenseman Juho Mielonen (Ilves Tampere, Finnish under-20) have been out of their lineups recently with various injuries. HOT: Forward Johan Ryno (AIK, Sweden’s second level) had three assists in a game this week, his first points of the season. Ryno is playing on AIK’s top line with David Engblom, who was drafted in 1995 by the Red Wings ... Forward Cory Emmerton (Kingston, OHL) had six points in three games this week ... Forward Andreas Sundin (Jukurit, Finland’s second level) is 13th in league scoring with 11 goals and six assists in 18 games. COLD: Forward Evan McGrath (Grand Rapids, AHL) is pointless in four games ... Defenseman Derek Meech (Grand Rapids, AHL) is doing a good job with more responsibility this season, but he is on pace for the worst offensive numbers of his career, with just one point in 15 games ... Defenseman Miroslav Blatak (Mora, Swedish Elite League) went pointless in three games for the Czech Republic at the Karjala Cup this weekend. The following is this season’s statistical report to date:
The following is this season's statistical report for goaltenders to date:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||