by Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
TORONTO, ON — This week in review (March 11th – March 17th), top honours belong to a prospect who has been a dominant name on the scoresheet this season.
Your comments are most welcome. If you have a question about any of the prospects email me, and perhaps it will be answered in the weekly All Habs Mailbag feature that appears on these pages on Thursdays.
With the conclusion of the Canadian Hockey League Regular Schedule and the playoffs already going on in Europe, Catching the Torch will be shifting to last year’s “Playoff March” format and will give reports at the conclusion of each round of the CHL playoffs for action in all other active leagues.
The Three Stars
1. LW Tim Bozon
As the regular season in the Western Hockey League drew to a close, Tim Bozon made sure to close it out on a high note with the Kamloops Blazers. Bozon would put on one of his best games of the season for Kamloops on Friday, scoring two goals and two assists in a 5-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars. Bozon would not notably slow down in the following game, scoring a goal and two assists as Kamloops would shut out Prince George in a 7-0 victory in the back to back series to end their season. Bozon over the weekend would match his previous season mark of 36 goals and reach 55 assists, 20 more than he had last season, finishing 9th overall in WHL scoring. Tim Bozon was drafted in the 3rd round, 64th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.
2. RW Danny Kristo
In college hockey this past season, there have been few players as dominant as Danny Kristo while he continues to lead the University of North Dakota in scoring. Kristo’s scoring talent would be a key factor this past week to help North Dakota in their opening series of their Conference Tournament. Kristo would begin the weekend series leading North Dakota with two goals and an assist in a 5-3 victory over Michigan Tech. Kristo would score the lone goal for North Dakota in a 2-1 loss to Michigan Tech the following game. Kristo would pick up an assist as North Dakota would blank Michigan Tech in a 6-0 victory to win the Best-of-Three series and move on to the next stage of Tournament. Kristo is currently 3rd overall in NCAA scoring. Danny Kristo was drafted in the 2nd round, 56th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.
3. D Darren Dietz
Darren Dietz has been one of the leading offensive defencemen in the WHL this season and as the regular season closed out for the Saskatoon Blades, he did not slow down. Dietz would start the week going without a point in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oil Kings but soon picked his pace up. Dietz would score his 24th goal of the season, a goal in an eventual 6-5 overtime loss to the Prince Albert Raiders. Dietz would finish his week marking three assists in a 4-3 shootout loss to Prince Albert in a rematch. Dietz’s 24 goals this season led all WHL defencemen and his 58 points ranked him 3rd overall in WHL defensive scoring. Darren Dietz was drafted in the 5th round, 138th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011 NHL Draft.
On The Radar: 
– D Nathan Beaulieu scored two assists.
– D Mac Bennett scored two assists.
– LW Charles Hudon scored two assists.
– D Dalton Thrower scored a goal and assist.
Question Marks:
– D Morgan Ellis has no points in his last 31 games.
– RW Louis Leblanc has 1 point in his last 7 games.
NHL Graduates:
C Alex Galchenyuk: 19 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Sarnia Sting – Team Captain
| Season Stats | 33GP | 27G | 34A | +16 | 22 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 20 years old, 5’9″, 182 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 36GP | 10G | 10A | -1 | 61 PIM |
Season-Ending Injuries:
LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’1”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 10GP | 4G | 2A | -3 | 9 PIM |
C Joonas Nättinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 187 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 24GP | 5G | 4A | +6 | 8 PIM |
Complete Statistics for the week of March 11th, 2013
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. For NCAA, Wins, Losses, Ties. For Elitserien/Allsvenskan/Extraliga, Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses.
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 9 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs are 24-31-1-5 this season, 5th in the North Division, 29th overall in the AHL.
D Nathan Beaulieu: 20 years old, 6’2”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 57GP | 6G | 14A | -10 | 50 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 59GP | 6G | 16A | -9 | 52 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 52GP | 7G | 15A | +5 | 20 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 54GP | 7G | 15A | +4 | 20 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 52GP | 15G | 15A | +2 | 81 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 52GP | 15G | 15A | +2 | 81 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 54GP | 3G | 4A | -12 | 53 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 56GP | 3G | 4A | -13 | 53 PIM |
RW Patrick Holland: 21 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 57GP | 7G | 14A | -7 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 59GP | 8G | 14A | -8 | 4 PIM |
RW Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 45GP | 9G | 4A | -9 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 47GP | 9G | 4A | -10 | 41 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’2”, 219 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 22GP | 4G | 4A | -3 | 15 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 24GP | 4G | 4A | -3 | 15 PIM |
D Jarred Tinordi: 21 years old, 6’6″, 218 pounds, LH shot
| Season Stats | 55GP | 2G | 9A | -7 | 51 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 55GP | 2G | 9A | -7 | 51 PIM |
G Dustin Tokarski: 23 years old, 5’11”, 198 pounds, Catches left.
| Season Stats | 41GP | 22-11-4 | 2.25 GAA | .912% |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0-1-0 | 3.18 GAA | .903% |
| Complete Stats | 43GP | 22-12-4 | 2.29 GAA | .911% |
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
Team Record: 38-26-2-2
| Season Stats | 62GP | 31G | 34A | -7 | 52 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 0A | +1 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 64GP | 32G | 34A | -6 | 56 PIM |
LW Charles Hudon: 18 years old, 5’10”, 171 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Chicoutimi Saguenéens – Team Captain
Team Record: 30-31-2-5
| Season Stats | 54GP | 30G | 39A | +13 | 66 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | +2 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 56GP | 30G | 41A | +15 | 66 PIM |
OHL:
C Brady Vail: 19 years old, 6’, 195 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Windsor Spitfires – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 26-33-3-6
| Season Stats | 65GP | 19G | 35A | -20 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | -3 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 68GP | 20G | 35A | -23 | 43 PIM |
WHL:
LW Tim Bozon: 18 years old, 6’0”, 183 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Kamloops Blazers
Team Record: 47-20-2-3
| Season Stats | 67GP | 33G | 51A | +30 | 58 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 3G | 4A | +7 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 69GP | 36G | 55A | +37 | 58 PIM |
D Darren Dietz: 19 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 44-22-2-4
| Season Stats | 69GP | 23G | 31A | +10 | 98 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 3A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 72GP | 24G | 34A | +9 | 100 PIM |
D Dalton Thrower: 19 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades
Team Record: 44-22-2-4
| Season Stats | 52GP | 5G | 20A | +18 | 89 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 54GP | 6G | 21A | +18 | 89 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: 21 years old, 6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 17-18-3
| Season Stats | 26GP | 6G | 11A | -1 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 28GP | 6G | 13A | 0 | 4 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 22 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 21-11-7
| Season Stats | 34GP | 21G | 24A | +12 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 3G | 2A | +4 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 37GP | 24G | 26A | +16 | 22 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 21 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Team Record: 21-11-7
| Season Stats | 36GP | 13G | 12A | +10 | 20 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 39GP | 13G | 12A | +11 | 20 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic.
C Daniel Pribyl: 20 years old, 6’3”, 193 pounds, RH shot.
Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Prague
Team Record: 29-19-4
| Season Stats | 42GP | 12G | 10A | +14 | 10 PIM |
Team Playoff Record: 2-3
| Playoff Stats | 4GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 4 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Elitserien or Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. A prospect playing well in this league is a typical indication they may be ready for the NHL. The Allsvenskan is the secondary professional league of Sweden, playing directly under the Elitserien.
RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Frölunda HC
Team Record: 29-21-5
Playoff Record: 1-2
| Season Stats | 35GP | 6G | 3A | +1 | 6 PIM |
| Playoff Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
Allsvenskan Team: Örebro HK
| Season Stats | 15GP | 6G | 2A | +4 | 2 PIM |
D Magnus Nygren: 22 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Färjestads BK
Team Record: 34-14-7
Playoff Record: 3-0
| Season Stats | 51GP | 13G | 19A | +11 | 49 PIM |
| Playoff Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +3 | 4 PIM |
RW Erik Nyström: 19 years old, 5’11”, 176 pounds, LH shot.
Allsvenskan Team: Karlskrona HK
Team Record: 12-38-2
Relegation Series Record: 2-1
| Season Stats | 23GP | 5G | 6A | -3 | 4 PIM |
| Relegation Series Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 0 PIM |
[…] Pour voir les statistiques complètes des espoirs du Canadien dans les différentes ligues où ils évoluent présentement, veuillez consulter le texte original de Robert en version anglaise. […]
[…] Catching The Torch: Bozon’s Reign […]