Written by Robert Rice, AllHabs.net
The Three Stars of the Week
1. D Darren Dietz
While Dietz finds himself playing on a rather deep lineup of defensive strength on the Saskatoon Blades, his impact over the past week will not soon be forgotten. Dietz would go scoreless in his first game of the week with Saskatoon in a 1-0 loss to Regina. Dietz would begin his scoring by collecting an assist on Wednesday as the Blades suffered a 5-2 loss against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Dietz’s impact was much more notable though on Friday night, as his play put him in the Western Hockey League record book and delivered a win for his team. Dietz would score four goals against the Swift Current Broncos in a 7-3 victory for Saskatoon, tying the WHL record for goals in a game by a defencemen. Dietz’s scoring would end for the week there, as the Blades suffered an 8-3 loss in a bit of revenge by Swift Current on Saturday night. Dietz’s 14 goals this season has him tied for 4th overall in goals by a defencemen in the WHL. Dietz was drafted in the 5th round, 138th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011 Entry Draft.
2. RW Patrick Holland
If there is one thing Holland has been consistent with this season for the Tri-City Americans, it is setting up his teammates with timely passes. Holland began his week notching a pair of assists on Tuesday night in an eventual 5-4 loss to the Vancouver Giants. Holland would mark a single assist on Wednesday night in a 5-3 loss to Portland. Holland’s helpful ways continued on Friday night as he would add two assists in a 5-2 victory over Seattle. Holland’s most notable performance came on Saturday night as he would assist on all three of Tri-City’s goals in a 3-2 victory over Spokane. Holland’s eight assist week raised him to 60 total on his season over 58 games, matching his career output in assists over 131 career games heading in to the 2011-12 season. Holland is currently 9th overall in WHL scoring. Holland was drafted in the 7th round, 193rd overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2010 Entry Draft and was acquired by Montreal as part of the Michael Cammalleri trade.
3. RW Brendan Gallagher
Gallagher’s final season in the Western Hockey League is set to be one that will define the record book of the Vancouver Giants. The week began by Gallagher taking hold as the career franchise goal scoring leader of the Giants. Gallagher would record his 5th hat trick of the season in a 5-4 shootout victory over Tri-City, which also saw Gallagher notch a shootout goal as part of the victory. The hat trick lifted Gallagher to sole possession of the team franchise goal record with 129 career goals. Gallagher would next mark an assist on Wednesday night as part of a 2-1 victory over Spokane. Gallagher would pick up his 4th goal of the week on Friday as part of a 6-1 victory over Edmonton. Gallagher would miss the scoresheet for the rest of the Giant’s marathon week in a shootout loss to Everett 4-3 on Saturday and than a 3-1 loss to Red Deer on Sunday. Gallagher’s 35 goals in 44 games is good enough for 8th in goal scoring in the WHL, with all players ahead of him playing at least 8 more games. Gallagher was drafted in the 5th round, 147th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 Entry Draft.
On The Radar:
D Nathan Beaulieu marked two assists for his 3rd straight 40-point season with the Saint John Sea Dogs and has ten assists in a six game point streak.- C Philip DeSimone scored three goals and one assist with Hamilton.
- C Andreas Engqvist scored a goal and two assists for a 30-point season in Hamilton.
- Catching the Torch welcomes newcomer LW Blake Geoffrion, who scored a goal and four assists in his first two games with Hamilton.
- C Joonas Nättinen gets an honorable mention out of the bubble category this week, with a notable four goals and one assist for Hamilton. Nättinen was also named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week.
- D Jarred Tinordi celebrates his 20th birthday today, while continuing to lead the OHL in plus/minus with a +39 rating, which is also +12 better than any of his London Knights teammates.
Question Marks:
- LW Olivier Archambault is out indefinitely with a concussion.
- RW Alexander Avtsin is out with a wrist injury.
- C Gabriel Dumont is out with an undisclosed injury.
- LW Olivier Fortier is out with an undisclosed injury.
- D Brendon Nash is recovering from shoulder surgery.
Complete Statistics for the week of February 13th, 2012
Legend
Skaters: Games Played, Goals, Assists, +/-, Penalty Minutes
Goalies: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses, Goals Against Average, Save Percentage
Teams: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses, Ties (for NCAA teams only)
Season Stats: Season scoring prior to the past week.
The AHL Report: The Hamilton Bulldogs have been the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since 2002. It is the most common route for developing Montreal Canadiens prospects into full-time members of the organization. There are currently 11 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs have a record of 24-23-1-4, are 4th in their Division, 12th in their Conference, 23rd overall in the AHL.
RW Alexander Avtsin: 20 years old, 6’2″, 199 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 42GP | 6G | 6A | -12 | 24 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -3 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 44GP | 6G | 6A | -15 | 24 PIM |
C Philip DeSimone 24 years old, 6’1”, 188 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 49GP | 8G | 13A | -18 | 28 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 3G | 1A | +3 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 52GP | 11G | 14A | -15 | 28 PIM |
G Peter Delmas: 21 years old, 6’2”, 188 pound, Catches Left.
| Season Stats | 1GP | 1-0-0 | 1.00 GAA | .963% |
C Gabriel Dumont: 21 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 40GP | 8G | 7A | -8 | 34 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 42GP | 9G | 8A | -7 | 34 PIM |
C Andreas Engqvist: 23 years old, 6’4″, 191 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 36GP | 15G | 12A | 0 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 2A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 39GP | 16G | 14A | +1 | 24 PIM |
LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’2”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 20GP | 2G | 7A | -3 | 8 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 4A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 22GP | 3G | 11A | -2 | 8 PIM |
RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 30GP | 13G | 15A | +2 | 28 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 3A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 31GP | 13G | 18A | +3 | 28 PIM |
D Frédéric St-Denis: 26 years old, 5’11”, 193 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 40GP | 3G | 18A | -5 | 12 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +3 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 43GP | 3G | 19A | -2 | 12 PIM |
Called up to Montreal:
RW Mike Blunden: 25 years old, 6’4”, 218 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 16GP | 3G | 4A | 0 | 8 PIM |
C Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 180 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 25GP | 9G | 8A | -6 | 12 PIM |
Injured:
C Olivier Fortier: 22 years old, 6’, 185 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 29GP | 7G | 6A | 0 | 14 PIM |
D Brendon Nash: 23 years old, 6’3″, 210 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
ECHL:
G Peter Delmas: 21 years old, 6’2”, 188 pound, Catches Left.
| Season Stats | 18GP | 12-6-0 | 2.48 GAA | .911 % |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0-2-0 | 3.50 GAA | .887 % |
| Complete Stats | 20GP | 12-8-0 | 2.58 GAA | .908 % |
The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currently feature prospects playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). These leagues can be considered the primary conduit towards professional hockey in North America.
QMJHL:
LW Olivier Archambeault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.
Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs
24W, 26L, 2 OTL, 6 SOL – 12th of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
| Season Stats | 41GP | 13G | 22A | -20 | 24 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 41GP | 13G | 22A | -20 | 24 PIM |
D Nathan Beaulieu: 19 years old, 6’3”, 191 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Saint John Sea Dogs – Alternate Captain
41W, 14L, 0 OTL, 2 SOL- 2nd of 17th overall in the QMJHL
| Season Stats | 41GP | 8G | 30A | +26 | 77 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | +5 | 6 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 43GP | 8G | 32A | +31 | 83 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 19 years old, 6’, 187 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Team Captain
39W, 12L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL – 1st of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
| Season Stats | 29GP | 25G | 21A | +14 | 15 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 31GP | 25G | 21A | +14 | 19 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 19 years old, 6’2″, 204 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes
39W, 12L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL – 1st of 17th overall in the QMJHL
| Season Stats | 49GP | 12G | 29A | +13 | 35 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | +2 | 6 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 51GP | 12G | 30A | +15 | 41 PIM |
OHL:
D Jarred Tinordi: 19 years old, 6’6″, 215 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: London Knights – Team Captain
42W, 12L, 0 OTL, 1 SOL – 1st of 20th overall in the OHL
| Season Stats | 36GP | 1G | 14A | +38 | 59 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 38GP | 1G | 14A | +39 | 61 PIM |
WHL:
D Darren Dietz: 18 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
35W, 24L, 0 OTL, 1 SOL – 10th of 22nd overall in the WHL
| Season Stats | 56GP | 10G | 21A | +10 | 90 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 4G | 1A | -2 | 13 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 60GP | 14G | 22A | +8 | 103 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 19 years old, 5’8″, 175 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Vancouver Giants – Team Captain
(35W, 21L, 1 OTL, 3 SOL – 7th of 22nd overall in the WHL)
| Season Stats | 39GP | 31G | 32A | +14 | 49 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 5GP | 4G | 1A | +2 | 7 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 44GP | 35G | 33A | +16 | 56 PIM |
RW Patrick Holland: 20 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Tri-City Americans
(40W, 15L, 1 OTL, 2 SOL – 2nd of 22nd overall in the WHL)
| Season Stats | 54GP | 20G | 52A | +26 | 38 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 8A | +3 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 58GP | 20G | 60A | +29 | 40 PIM |
US College Hockey (NCAA) Report: The Canadiens have drafted a number of college players in recent years, these are generally ‘project players’ who benefit from additional years in lower level hockey to develop their skills.
D Mac Bennett: 20 years old, 6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines
(20W, 10L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 31GP | 3G | 13A | +8 | 14 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 33GP | 3G | 13A | +7 | 16 PIM |
D Scott Kishel: 22 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
(20W, 7L, 5T)
| Season Stats | 29GP | 3G | 14A | +18 | 31 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 3G | 14A | +18 | 31 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 21 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
(17W, 11L, 3T)
| Season Stats | 29GP | 14G | 17A | +8 | 25 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | +1 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 31GP | 14G | 19A | +11 | 29 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 19 years old, 6’, 170 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
(17W, 11L, 3T)
| Season Stats | 29GP | 4G | 8A | -6 | 20 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 31GP | 4G | 8A | -8 | 22 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’3”, 222 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines
(20W, 10L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 31GP | 2G | 12A | +8 | 61 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 33GP | 2G | 13A | +8 | 61 PIM |
LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 200 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: Northeastern University Huskies
(11W, 14L, 5T)
| Season Stats | 22GP | 8G | 14A | +11 | 34 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 22GP | 8G | 14A | +11 | 34 PIM |
C Dustin Walsh: 20 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: Dartmouth College Big Green
(10W, 13L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 8GP | 3G | 7A | +5 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 8GP | 3G | 7A | +5 | 2 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic. The First League is the league that plays under it.
C Daniel Pribyl: 18 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, RH shot.
Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Praha
34W, 7L, 9 OTL – 1st of 14th overall in the league
| Season Stats | 17GP | 2G | 0A | +1 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 17GP | 2G | 0A | +1 | 4 PIM |
Czech First League Team: HC Berountsi Medovi
(20W, 27L, 3 OTL – 13th of 14th overall in the League)
| Season Stats | 17GP | 9G | 4A | -1 | 6 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -3 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 19GP | 9G | 4A | -4 | 6 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. The Allsvenskan league plays under it.
D Magnus Nygren: 21 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Farjestads BK
(23W, 15L, 10 OTL – 9th of 12 overall in the League)
| Season Stats | 41GP | 6G | 11A | -9 | 6 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 44GP | 7G | 11A | -9 | 6 PIM |
Allsvenskan Team: Bofors IK Karlskoga
(31W, 15L, 1 OTL – 3rd of 14th overall in the League)
| Season Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 1G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | -1 | 4 PIM |
I happened to go to my first Blades game of the year and got to see Dietz play for the first time. I kept my eye on only him when he was on the ice and I was lucky enough to witness the record night he had. He was on the ice quite a bit, and I assumed he was their top defenceman especially now that Siemens is injured. He was used on the PP and the PK. Here’s a run down of the positives of his game:
He made good crisp passes. I only remember him making one bad pass and it was when he went D to D and he passed it behind his partner.
He reads the play well. A number of times he picked off passes going through the neutral zone. He jumped up into the rush several times which resulted in two of his goals.
He was sound defensively. I never saw his man get away with anything.
Wicked wristshot. Two of his goals, and 1 shot off the cross bar were the result of a quick wrist shot. Very nice!
And the negatives:
He doesn’t have the swiftest feet. He’s not slow as he was able to jump up into the rush several times, but his explosiveness and his lateral movement isn’t amazing. A couple times the other team was almost able to skate around him to drive to the net, they didn’t as he would pokecheck them right away, but he wasn’t able to close the gap sometimes and was reaching to make those pokechecks.
He’s not the solidest guy out there. I only saw him lose one puck battle along the boards (and it may have been caused by a lucky bounce), but you could tell he’s not the thickest guy out there. He’s not pushed around, but he’s no Emelin. His hits aren’t too powerful.
Other than that (and those are small negatives), his game was pretty much clean. That’s only the first time I’ve seen him, and he did have a really good night so he probably didn’t make many mistakes.
Thanks for the scouting notes!
Thanks SF, nice to hear a breakdown of Dietz, Stev. Hopefully he fills out and works on his skating over the next couple of years. Fortunately, those are two traits a prospect can work on, whereas reading plays seems like more of a natural talent.
Anyways, I just noticed Tinordi is listed at 6’6″ now, did they tweak his stats during the draft to make him seem like a better asset? or was he always listed at 6’6″?
[…] Catching the Torch: Dietz Dominates […]