Catching the Torch: Beaulieu Conquers

Written by Robert Rice, AllHabs.net

The Three Stars of the Week

1. D Nathan Beaulieu

Since the beginning of February, Nathan Beaulieu has become the most dangerous defenceman in the Quebec Major Junior league and the star blueliner has not given any indication he’s slowing down. Beaulieu began his week by helping to power a victory for his Saint John Sea Dogs over the Moncton Wildcats marking the game-winning goal and adding two assists as well. Beaulieu would next collect two assists in an definitive 8-1 rout of Cape Breton on Friday. Beaulieu would finish his week with a goal and assist in a 5-2 victory over Acadie-Bathurst on Saturday, raising him to 51 points on his season and his first career 50-point season. Beaulieu’s 50-point benchmark also raised him to 151 career points in the QMJHL. Since February 3^rd, Beaulieu has scored 21 points in 12 games, is ranked 5^th overall in league defensive scoring and is 2nd in points per game as a defenceman. Beaulieu was drafted in the 1^st round, 17^th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011 Entry Draft.

2. RW Patrick Holland

Patrick Holland continues his impressive final year in the Western Hockey League while maintaining his status as the league’s assists leader. Holland would score a goal and assist in his first game of the week, helping to lead Tri-City to a 3-1 victory over Seattle on Tuesday. Holland would next add two more assists to his totals in an eventual 6-4 loss to the Portland Winterhawks on Friday night. Holland would reach a notable milestone on Saturday, his single assist was also his 100^th point of the season, but it was on a sour note as Tri-City fell 4-1 to Everett. Holland finished his week with another assist in a tight 4-3 victory over Portland on Sunday, which also extended his points streak to 14 straight games. Holland has scored three goals and 27 assists in his 14-game points streak and has at least one assist in each game dating back to February 10^th. Holland is currently 6^th overall in WHL scoring and leads the league in assists with 77. Holland was drafted in the 7^th round, 193^rd overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2010 Entry Draft and was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens in the Mike Cammalleri trade.

3. RW Brendan Gallagher

Gallagher continues to set the pace as one of the most explosive scoring forwards in the WHL as he inches towards the end of his junior career. Gallagher would begin his week by marking a goal and assist for his Vancouver Giants in what became an unfortunate 6-4 loss to Medicine Hat on Friday. Gallagher would reach a familiar career milestone on Saturday, scoring a goal for his 3^rd consecutive 40-goal season in what was unfortunately, a 5-2 loss to Victoria. Gallagher would close out his week with an assist on the opening, and eventual game-winning goal of a 6-0 win on Sunday in a rematch with Victoria. Gallagher’s push to 40 goals is the fastest of his career with a notable scoring pace of .82 goals per game, 4^th-best in the league. Gallagher is currently 7^th in the WHL in goals and every player ahead of him has played at least 10 more games than he has. Gallagher was drafted in the 5^th round, 147^th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 Entry Draft.

 On The Radar:

• C Andreas Engqvist scored two goals and an assist with Hamilton to maintain his scoring lead on the team.
• D Morgan Ellis scored a goal and two assists to place 7^th overall in defensive scoring in the QMJHL. Ellis has marked 24 points in 22 games since being traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes.
• RW Danny Kristo scored two goals and two assists over the weekend for new career highs in both goals and assists with 17 goals, 23 assists for his first 40-point season in NCAA hockey.
• LW Steve Quailer recorded two assists for a new career high of 17 and tied his career high in points of 25, in 15 fewer games with Northeastern University.

 

Question Marks:

• LW Olivier Archambault is out indefinitely with a concussion.
• LW Olivier Fortier is day to day with a knee injury.
• D Scott Kishel has been demoted to the bubble category of prospects after being a healthy scratch for four of Minnesota-Duluth’s last eight games.
• D Brendon Nash is recovering from shoulder surgery.
• D Jarred Tinordi is day to day with a knee injury.
• D Dustin Walsh is out with a hip injury.

 

Complete Statistics for the week of February 27th, 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 25-26-1-4, are 5^th in their Division, 13^th in their Conference, 27^rd overall in the AHL.

 

RW Alexander Avtsin: 20 years old, 6’2″, 199 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	45GP	6G	7A	-17	26 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	0A	-2	4 PIM
Complete Stats	48GP	6G	7A	-19	30 PIM

C Philip DeSimone 24 years old, 6’1”, 188 pounds, LH shot.

Season Stats	55GP	11G	15A	-16	28 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	1G	0A	-2	0 PIM
Complete Stats	58GP	12G	15A	-18	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	42GP	9G	8A	-7	34 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	42GP	9G	8A	-7	34 PIM

C Andreas Engqvist: 23 years old, 6’4″, 191 pounds, RH shot.              

Season Stats	42GP	16G	14A	0	26 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	2G	1A	0	2 PIM
Complete Stats	45GP	18G	15A	0	28 PIM

C Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 180 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	25GP	9G	8A	-6	12 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	2A	0	8 PIM
Complete Stats	27GP	9G	10A	-6	20 PIM

D Frédéric St-Denis: 26 years old, 5’11”, 193 pounds, LH shot.

Season Stats	46GP	3G	22A	-4	12 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	0A	-1	2 PIM
Complete Stats	49GP	3G	22A	-5	14 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

 LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’2”, 190 pounds, LH shot.

Season Stats

25GP

4G

12A

-2

10 PIM

RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats

31GP

13G

18A

+3

28 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	23GP	15-7-0	2.51 GAA	.911 %
Weekly Stats	4GP	1-3-0	3.00 GAA	.888 %
Complete Stats	27GP	16-9-0	2.67 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 Archambault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.

Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs

25W, 29L, 2 OTL, 7 SOL – 14^th of 17^th 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

47W, 14L, 0 OTL, 2 SOL- 1^st of 17^th overall in the QMJHL

Season Stats	46GP	9G	35A	+33	89 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	2G	5A	+9	2 PIM
Complete Stats	49GP	11G	40A	+42	91 PIM

C Michaël Bournival: 19 years old, 6’, 187 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Team Captain

42W, 14L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL – 2^nd of 17^th overall in the QMJHL.

Season Stats	34GP	27G	24A	+13	21 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	1A	+1	0 PIM
Complete Stats	36GP	27G	25A	+14	21 PIM

D Morgan Ellis: 19 years old, 6’2″, 204 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Alternate Captain

42W, 14L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL – 2^nd of 17^th overall in the QMJHL

Season Stats	54GP	13G	33A	+18	45 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	1G	2A	+3	4 PIM
Complete Stats	56GP	14G	35A	+21	49 PIM

OHL:

D Jarred Tinordi: 19 years old, 6’6″, 215 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: London Knights – Team Captain

45W, 16L, 0 OTL, 1 SOL – 1st of 20^th overall in the OHL

Season Stats	42GP	2G	14A	+39	63 PIM
Weekly Stats	1GP	0G	0A	+1	0 PIM
Complete Stats	43GP	2G	14A	+40	63 PIM

WHL:

D Darren Dietz: 18 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain

36W, 27L, 1 OTL, 2 SOL – 12^th of 22^nd overall in the WHL

Season Stats	63GP	14G	23A	+7	107 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	1A	-4	4 PIM
Complete Stats	66GP	14G	24A	+3	111 PIM

RW Brendan Gallagher: 19 years old, 5’8″, 175 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Vancouver Giants – Team Captain

37W, 25L, 1 OTL, 3 SOL – 9^th of 22^nd overall in the WHL

Season Stats	46GP	38G	33A	+18	58 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	2G	2A	+5	4 PIM
Complete Stats	49GP	40G	35A	+23	62 PIM

RW Patrick Holland: 20 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Tri-City Americans

46W, 17L, 1 OTL, 2 SOL – 2^nd of 22^nd overall in the WHL

Season Stats	60GP	23G	72A	+37	42 PIM
Weekly Stats	4GP	1G	5A	0	6 PIM
Complete Stats	64GP	24G	77A	+37	48 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

(21W, 11L, 4T)

Season Stats	35GP	4G	15A	+12	18 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	35GP	4G	15A	+12	18 PIM

RW Danny Kristo: 21 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.

NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux

(20W, 12L, 3T)

Season Stats	33GP	15G	21A	+10	31 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	2G	2A	+3	0 PIM
Complete Stats	35GP	17G	23A	+13	31 PIM

C Mark MacMillan: 19 years old, 6’, 170 pounds, LH shot.

NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux

(20W, 12L, 3T)

Season Stats	33GP	4G	9A	-7	22 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	1G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	35GP	5G	9A	-7	22 PIM

D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’3”, 222 pounds, RH shot.

NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines

(21W, 11L, 4T)

Season Stats	35GP	2G	13A	+12	63 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	35GP	2G	13A	+12	63 PIM

LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 200 pounds, LH shot.

NCAA Team: Northeastern University Huskies

(13W, 16L, 5T)

Season Stats	24GP	8G	15A	+7	34 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	2A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	26GP	8G	17A	+7	34 PIM

C Dustin Walsh: 20 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, LH shot.

NCAA Team: Dartmouth College Big Green

(13W, 14L, 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

35W, 7L, 10 OTL – 1^st of 14^th overall in the league

Season Stats

17GP

2G

0A

+1

4 PIM

Czech First League Team: HC Berountsi Medovi

20W, 29L, 3 OTL – 13^th of 14^th overall in the League

Season Stats

21GP

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

(26W, 18L, 10 OTL – 6^th of 12 overall in the League)

Season Stats	47GP	7G	11A	-10	6 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	49GP	7G	11A	-10	6 PIM

Allsvenskan Team: Bofors IK Karlskoga

(33W, 15L, 1 OTL – 3^rd of 14^th overall in the League)

Season Stats	3GP	1G	1A	-1	4 PIM
Weekly Stats	0GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	3GP	1G	1A	-1	4 PIM