Scoring titles still up for grabs
By Aaron Bell
The Canadian Hockey League scoring race is coming down to the wire in all three leagues. Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, all three scoring titles are separated by just three points and all three trophies are still very much up for grabs.
In the Western Hockey League, Brendan Leipsic of the Portland Winterhawks leads the way with 115 points – three ahead of teammate Nicolas Petan. In the Ontario Hockey League, Charles Sarault of the Sarnia Sting (104 points) holds a three point lead over Vincent Trocheck of the Plymouth Whalers and Nick Cousins of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Ben Duffy (104 points) of the PEI Rocket has a three point lead over teammate Josh Currie and Jonathan Drouin of the Halifax Mooseheads.
The WHL winner is likely going to walk away with national bragging rights as well.
Leipsic has made huge strides offensively in his third season with the Winterhawks. The 18-year-old from Winnipeg has at least one point in all but nine games all season. He is also tied for the league lead with 45 goals.
Meanwhile Petan – who doesn’t’ turn 18 until later this month – has also blossomed into a scoring star. After scoring 14 goals and 35 points last season, he is also tied for the league scoring lead with 45 goals and his
112 points are just three points behind Leipsic for the highest totals in the CHL.
“It’s not just one or two things on why Brendan and Nic have been so successful, it’s a combination of their skill, hockey sense, work ethic, and determination,” Winterhawks’ interim coach Travis Green told Yahoo Sports.
“They never take a night off. They’re just great players in this league with bright futures.”
It’s safe to say that Sarault’s future has become a lot brighter during his time in Sarnia. The overager from Fournier, ON scored 19 goals and 63 points in his first three OHL seasons with the Kingston Frontenacs but quickly blossomed into an offensive star after arriving in Sarnia last season. He has 22 goals and 104 points this year and hopes to become the first Sarnia player since Peter Sarno in 1999 to win the OHL scoring title.
Sarault signed with the Anaheim Ducks earlier this month and said that his confidence has been a key to his scoring success this season.
“I think confidence had a lot to do with that and a couple bounces that went my way and playing with some good players.” Sarault told the Sarnia Observer. “It’s been a good experience in Sarnia and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Duffy opened up a slim lead on Currie and Drouin when he scored a pair of goals and added an assist against the Moncton Wildcats on Tuesday.
Duffy has just four penalty minutes this season and is a finalist for the QMJHL’s Frank J. Selke Trophy for sportsman of the year.