CHL Coast to Coast: Four teams clinch playoff spots
(Photo Credit: Dal Colle – Aaron Bell/OHL Images, Bowey – Marissa Baecker)
Wednesday February 11, 2015
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
Four of the CHL’s top teams clinched playoff spots over the weekend with the Oshawa Generals, Kelowna Rockets, Brandon Wheat Kings and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada solidifying their places in junior hockey’s second season.
The Generals, who have been the top ranked team in the BMO CHL Top 10 Rankings for 11 straight weeks now, took victories over Windsor and Guelph last weekend to improve their record to 40-7-2-2. Oshawa boasts the OHL’s third ranked powerplay and top penalty kill, receiving strong contributions from goaltender Ken Appleby, centreman Cole Cassels, New York Islanders first round pick Michael Dal Colle and recently acquired wingers Matt Mistele and Michael McCarron. The Generals feature draft eligible defenceman and powerplay quarterback Mitchell Vande Sompel who represented the OHL in the 2014 SUBWAY Super Series.
While Oshawa is making waves in Ontario, the Kelowna Rockets and Brandon Wheat Kings hold commanding leads atop the WHL’s two conferences.
The Western Conference leading Kelowna Rockets hold a record of 42-8-3-1 this season, 16 points ahead of the second placed Everett Silvertips. Kelowna features a deep pool of talent that starts on the back end with blueliners Madison Bowey and Josh Morrissey. Draft eligible forward Nick Merkley leads all WHL rookies in scoring with 16 goals, 58 assists and 74 points in 54 games. Merkley is joined by recent San Jose Sharks signee Rourke Chartier, talented shooter Tyson Baillie, the physical presence of Tyrell Goulbourne and recently acquired NHL returnee Leon Draisaitl. The Rockets took weekend victories over Kamloops twice before defeating Prince George on Monday.
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Brandon Wheat Kings and their high-powered offence hold a 41-9-3-2 record, leading the CHL in scoring with 253 goals for. Leading scorer Tim McGauley is joined by brothers Peter and John Quenneville leading the attack. Recently acquired Calgary Flames first round pick Morgan Klimchuk came over in a deal with the Regina Pats, giving the Wheat Kings one of the most dynamic offenses in the WHL. From the blueline, Brandon features draft eligible rearguards Ivan Provorov and Ryan Pilon who both represented Team Orr in the 2015 BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game last month. The Wheat Kings won all three of their games last weekend, defeating Kootenay twice and handing Lethbridge a 7-2 defeat.
The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada is the lone QMJHL team to clinch a playoff spot, defeating Gatineau and Victoriaville last weekend. The Armada are steered by a strong veteran core that includes CHL Player of the Week Danick Martel, recently signed San Jose Sharks prospect Nikita Jevpalovs, 19 year-old winger Philippe Sanche overaged blueliner Daniel Walcott. In goal, the Armada feature draft eligible 18 year-old Samuel Montembeault who leads the QMJHL with a 2.57 goals-against-average. Blainville-Boisbriand has won seven of their last 10 games and have surrendered a league-low 141 goals.
Here’s a look at other headlines from across the Canadian Hockey League this week.
WHL
Hitmen on eight-game run: The Calgary Hitmen are in the midst of an eight game winning streak that dates back to January 18. With overaged forward Adam Tambellini’s 38 goals leading the way, the Hitmen have leaned heavily on a veteran core that includes captain Kenton Helgesen, winger Connor Rankin and reliable 19 year-old blueliner Colby Harmsworth. NHL prospects Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia) and Jake Virtanen (Vancouver) have also been keys to Calgary’s recent success.
Two Tigers lead WHL scoring: Medicine Hat Tigers Trevor Cox and Cole Sanford are 1-2 in the WHL scoring race with approximately 20 games remaining on the schedule. The two shooters have the Tigers in the Central Division lead with a record of 35-15-1-2. Cox, a 19 year-old veteran from Surrey, BC, is first on the team with 28 goals, 68 assists and 91 points in 53 games with go with a plus-minus rating of plus-27. The 19 year-old Sanford trails 10 points behind with 43 goals, 38 assists and 81 points in 53 games.
OHL
McDavid on 15-game point streak: Connor McDavid continues to produce. The 17 year-old draft eligible talent holds a current 15-game point streak that dates back to November 6, a date prior to a hand injury that sidelined him for a lengthy period. The Canadian junior gold medalist has registered 2.53 points-per-game this season with 25 goals, 51 assists and 76 points in just 30 games. McDavid and the Erie Otters are in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 36-11-1-2.
IceDogs catching fire: After a disappointing 2-13 start through their first 15 games this season, the Niagara IceDogs are among the hottest teams in the OHL since Christmas. Marty Williamson’s club has played to a 13-3-2-0 record in 18 games since returning from the holidays, putting a slew of early season injuries behind them and receiving strong contributions from Arizona Coyotes first rounder Brendan Perlini and New York Islanders prospect Josh Ho-Sang. The IceDogs come off a perfect weekend, one which saw victories over the Western Conference leading Soo Greyhounds and back-to-back wins over the London Knights.
QMJHL
Screaming Eagles making noise: The CHL’s eastern-most team is shooting up the QMJHL standings. The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles have won eight of their past 10 games as overaged scorer Kyle Farrell leads the way offensively alongside Russians Maxim Lazarev and draft eligible winger Evgeny Svechnikov. The 23-23-2-3 Eagles are currently in fifth place in the Maritimes Division, five points behind the Halifax Mooseheads.
Oceanic, Wildcats on the brink of securing playoff berths: Both the Rimouski Oceanic and Moncton Wildcats are in good shape to clinch playoff spots entering the weekend. Rimouski holds a record of 34-13-2-2 and has won eight of their past 10 contests. The Moncton Wildcats are one point behind, boasting a record of 34-16-0-3. Both teams have been dynamite on home ice this season, each collecting 20 of their 34 wins at home.