Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Wednesday Morning Coffee

  • Hockey's Future recently published its list of the top 50 NHL prospects, and while they didn't make the initial list, Brock Nelson and Danny Kristo were two of the three NCAA products who received honorable mention recognition.
  • The Hockey News' 2012 NHL Draft Preview is out, and recruit Jordan Schmaltz is ranked as the #34 prospect. As THN takes a look ahead to future drafts, recruiting target Seth Jones and committed recruit Nick Schmaltz are ranked as the top prospects for 2013 and 2014, respectively. 
  • The New Jersey Devils evened their Eastern Conference semifinal series with Philadelphia at one game apiece by way of a 4-1 victory last night. Travis Zajac and Zach Parise each figured in on the scoring, with Zajac contributing a goal and Parise picking up an assist. The two former Sioux are the top two point producers for New Jersey during this year's playoffs as Zajac leads the way with eight points (5G, 3A) while Parise is right behind him with seven points (3G, 4A). The series resumes Thursday night when the action moves to New Jersey. Zajac's goal was a nifty backhanded wraparound that he was able to lift up and over the pad of Flyer goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. Check out the goal here:
  • The AHL's second round kicked off last night, and the St John's IceCaps took a 1-0 series lead by defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3-1. Jason Gregoire and Jake Marto have yet to make an appearance for the IceCaps during the playoffs. Abbotsford defeated Toronto 3-1 last night and the lone Marlie goal was scored by Matt Frattin, who now has four points (2G, 2A) in four playoff games. Here's the video of Frattin's goal:

  • The Oklahoma City Barons fire up their second round series against the San Antonio Rampage Thursday night, and Taylor Chorney will be back in OKC's lineup. He was forced to sit out the first round series with a knee injury.
  • The USHL's Western Conference finals begin tonight. The Lincoln Stars, featuring recruits Paul LaDue and Luke Johnson, open their best of five series at home against Waterloo. Green Bay and recruit Jordan Schmaltz open the Eastern Conference finals at home against Indiana tomorrow night.
  • The USHL held its annual Futures Draft last night, and the grandson of a former Sioux All-American was selected number three overall. Brad Schlossman did a nice breakdown of all the draft's local ties. The draft was for players with 1996 birth years, and with Brendan Lemieux (tendered by Green Bay-USHL), Nick Schmaltz (rights retained by Green Bay-USHL), and Chris Wilkie (USNTDP Under-17) already spoken for, no committed Sioux recruits were selected.

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