Written by Robert Rice, AllHabs.net
The Three Stars of the Week
1. RW Brendan Gallagher
It is becoming hard to find adjectives to describe what the diminutive scoring star is doing in his final year of junior hockey. In the stinging 6-5 loss to Team Russia at the World Junior Championships, Gallagher took over the 3rd period of the game when the score was 6-2 as the principal engine of Canada’s comeback attempt. In less than five minutes, Gallagher had a goal and two assists to bring Canada to within a goal of forcing overtime. The effort fell short, but Gallagher can easily be credited with making the final score honest for Team Canada. Gallagher would finish the tournament with three goals, three assists with Team Canada in their Bronze Medal finish at the 2012 World Junior Championships. Gallagher however, is not a player who has ever taken any kind of defeat or disappointment likely in his life. His distaste for missing out on opportunity was demonstrated in his return to the Vancouver Giants in his greatest game in the WHL to date. It took Gallagher less than seven minutes to have his first assist and goal in a game against the Portland Winterhawks, before the game was even halfway over he had two goals and two assists. Gallagher would end his night with three goals and four assists in an 8-4 victory, snapping his previous career best of five points in a game while notching his 4th hat trick this season. This week also marked Gallagher hitting another milestone by passing 250 career points in the WHL for a total of 256 career points, all with Vancouver. Gallagher is currently 14th overall in WHL scoring with 27 goals, 26 assists but 12 of the 13 skaters ahead of him have played at least 8 more games, he is also 5th in goals. Gallagher was drafted in the 5th round, 147th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 Entry Draft.
2. D Morgan Ellis
It is not always easy to change teams but Morgan Ellis is determined to make of a new opportunity. Ellis arrived to the Shawinigan Cataractes in a trade after playing for three and a half seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, the last year and a half as team captain. Ellis started his week on Wednesday against Rimouski Oceanic with a goal and two assists in an 8-3 victory, tying his mark of 8 goals from last year, but in 30 fewer games. Ellis would pass his career best in goals in the following game, getting Shawinigan’s first goal and adding an assist later in what would be a 6-goal rally from a 2-0 deficit over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. The victory over Chicoutimi would also mark Ellis’s 2nd consecutive 30-point season. Ellis would finish his week on Sunday by assisting on the initial game tying goal for Shawinigan against the Victoriaville Tigres to make the score 1-1, than later scored his third goal in three games for the game-winner in an eventual 4-2 victory. Ellis’s 3 goals and 4 assists raised him to 7th overall in scoring by defencemen in the QMJHL. Ellis was drafted in the 4th round, 117th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 Entry Draft.
3. RW Aaron Palushaj
If the Hamilton Bulldogs are to have success this season, it will likely be in large part to the prodigious scoring of Aaron Palushaj. Palushaj flashed his offensive skills in a tight three game in three day schedule that had him lead the team in points and establish himself as the team scoring leader. Palushaj would score two goals and an assist as he helped guide a 5-2 victory for the Hamilton Bulldogs over the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night, scoring the 1st and 4th goals of the game, than assisting on an assuredly deciding empty-net goal in the victory. Palushaj would continue his campaign in a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Saturday as he would assist on the opening goal of the game and later adding an assist in a 4-1 victory for Hamilton. Palushaj would finish his weekend with a pair of assists on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Barons including a hand in the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory. Palushaj now has 23 points in 21 games in Hamilton and is the scoring leader on the Bulldogs. Palushaj was drafted in the 2nd round, 44th overall by the St Louis Blues in the 2007 Entry Draft and was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Matt D’Agostini.
Special Note: Catching the Torch congratulates Nathan Beaulieu, Michaël Bournival and Brendan Gallagher in their Bronze Medal victory with Team Canada.
On The Radar: LW Olivier Archambeault scored two goals and four assists. D Nathan Beaulieu recorded two assists in his first game back with the Saint John Sea Dogs. C Michaël Bournival scored a goal and assist in his first game back with the Shawinigan Cataractes. C Andreas Engqvist scored three goals and three assists, topping his last season goals mark of 10 goals in 71 games with 12 goals in 21 games. Engqvist is also riding an 8 game points streak of 8 goals, 5 assists. D Jarred Tinordi was named one of the Top three players on Team USA at the World Junior Championships and recorded an assist in his first game back with the London Knights and is +22 in 22 games this season.
Question Marks: C Olivier Fortier is out with an undisclosed upper-body injury. D Brendon Nash is still on injured reserve following shoulder surgery. C Daniel Pribyl continued to struggle with injury and missed half the games at the World Junior Championships. C Dustin Walsh has reinjured his knee, but is expected to return next week.
World Juniors:
D Nathan Beaulieu: 19 years old, 6’3”, 191 pounds, LH shot.
Team Canada – Bronze Medalist
| Tournament Stats | 6GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 16 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 19 years old, 6’, 187 pounds, LH shot.
Team Canada – Bronze Medalist
| Tournament Stats | 5GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 2 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 19 years old, 5’8″, 175 pounds, RH shot.
Team Canada – Bronze Medalist
| Tournament Stats | 6GP | 3G | 3A | +5 | 12 PIM |
D Jarred Tinordi: 19 years old, 6’7″, 215 pounds, LH shot.
Team USA – Alternate Captain
| Tournament Stats | 6GP | 1G | 1A | +7 | 6 PIM |
C Daniel Pribyl: 19 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, RH shot.
Team Czech Republic – Alternate Captain
| Tournament Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | +3 | 0 PIM |
Complete Statistics for the week of January 2nd, 2011
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 10 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs have a record of 16-14-1-4, are 3rd in their Division, 10th in their Conference, 19th overall in the AHL.
RW Alexander Avtsin: 20 years old, 6’2″, 199 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 32GP | 4G | 5A | -11 | 16 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 35GP | 5G | 6A | -9 | 18 PIM |
C Philip DeSimone 24 years old, 6’1”, 188 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 32GP | 7G | 7A | -12 | 26 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 35GP | 7G | 8A | -12 | 26 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 20 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 23GP | 5G | 4A | -7 | 21 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | 0 | 6 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 26GP | 6G | 4A | -7 | 27 PIM |
C Andreas Engqvist: 23 years old, 6’4″, 191 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 19GP | 9G | 4A | +6 | 18 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 3G | 3A | +5 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 22GP | 12G | 7A | +11 | 18 PIM |
C Louis Leblanc: 20 years old, 6’, 180 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 14GP | 4G | 6A | -5 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 17P | 5G | 6A | -4 | 6 PIM |
RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 18GP | 6G | 10A | 0 | 20 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 3G | 4A | +6 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 21GP | 9G | 14A | +6 | 24 PIM |
D Frédéric St-Denis: 25 years old, 5’11”, 193 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 23GP | 3G | 13A | -2 | 6 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | +3 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 26GP | 3G | 13A | +1 | 6 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 |
Injured:
C Olivier Fortier: 22 years old, 6’, 185 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 20GP | 6G | 4A | -2 | 2 PIM |
D Brendon Nash: 23 years old, 6’3″, 210 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
Assigned to the ECHL:
G Peter Delmas: 21 years old, 6’2”, 188 pound, Catches Left.
ECHL:
| Season Stats | 11GP | 6-3-0 | 2.40 GAA | .902% |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2-1-0 | 2.66 GAA | .918% |
| Complete Stats | 14GP | 8-3-0 | 2.47 GAA | .908% |
The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currentlyfeature 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: 18 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.
Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs
17W, 21L, 2OTL, 3 SOL – 13th of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
| Season Stats | 34GP | 11G | 18A | -16 | 17 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 2G | 4A | 0 | 5 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 37GP | 13G | 22A | -16 | 22 PIM |
D Nathan Beaulieu: 19 years old, 6’3”, 191 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Saint John Sea Dogs – Alternate Captain
31W, 12L, 0 OTL, 2 SOL- 2nd of 17th overall in the QMJHL
| Season Stats | 30GP | 8G | 18A | +20 | 57 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 2A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 31GP | 8G | 20A | +21 | 59 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 19 years old, 6’, 187 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Team Captain
29W, 10L, 2 OTL, 2 SOL – 3rd of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
| Season Stats | 16GP | 15G | 9A | +5 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 1G | 1A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 17GP | 16G | 10A | +6 | 6 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 19 years old, 6’2″, 204 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes
29W, 10L, 2 OTL, 2 SOL – 3rd of 17th overall in the QMJHL
| Season Stats | 34GP | 7G | 18A | -3 | 18 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 3G | 4A | +2 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 37GP | 10G | 22A | -1 | 22 PIM |
OHL:
D Jarred Tinordi: 19 years old, 6’7″, 215 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: London Knights – Team Captain
30W, 8L, 0 OTL, 1 SOL – 1st of 20th overall in the OHL
| Season Stats | 20GP | 0G | 7A | +18 | 49 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | +4 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 22GP | 0G | 8A | +22 | 49 PIM |
WHL:
D Darren Dietz: 18 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
23W, 17L, 0 OTL, 1 SOL – 10th of 22nd overall in the WHL
| Season Stats | 39GP | 5G | 14A | +11 | 67 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 41GP | 6G | 14A | +10 | 67 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 19 years old, 5’8″, 175 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Vancouver Giants – Alternate Captain
(25W, 14L, 1 OTL, 1 SOL – 7th of 22nd overall in the WHL)
| Season Stats | 28GP | 24G | 22A | +12 | 39 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 3G | 4A | +3 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 29GP | 27G | 26A | +15 | 41 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
(12W, 8L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 22GP | 3G | 11A | +7 | 6 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 24GP | 3G | 12A | +8 | 6 PIM |
D Scott Kishel: 22 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
{14W, 3L, 3T)
| Season Stats | 18GP | 2G | 12A | +12 | 14 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 20GP | 3G | 12A | +13 | 14 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 21 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
(11W, 8L, 2T)
| Season Stats | 20GP | 11G | 12A | +3 | 12 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 21GP | 11G | 13A | +4 | 12 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 19 years old, 6’, 170 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
(11W, 8L, 2T)
| Season Stats | 20GP | 3G | 5A | -6 | 8 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 1G | 0A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 21GP | 4G | 5A | -4 | 10 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’3”, 222 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines
(12W, 8L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 22GP | 2G | 10A | +6 | 26 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 24GP | 2G | 10A | +8 | 28 PIM |
LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 200 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: Northeastern University Huskies
(8W, 7L, 3T)
| Season Stats | 16GP | 7G | 11A | +10 | 16 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 7G | 11A | +10 | 16 PIM |
C Dustin Walsh: 20 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: Dartmouth College Big Green
(7W, 6L, 2T)
| Season Stats | 7GP | 3G | 6A | +4 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 8GP | 3G | 7A | +5 | 2 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Reppublic. 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
25W, 6L, 6 OTL – 2nd of 14th overall in the league
| Season Stats | 15GP | 2G | 0A | +1 | 2 PIM |
Czech First League Team: HC Berountsi Medovi
(16W, 19L, 2 OTL – 10th of 14th overall in the League)
| Season Stats | 8GP | 5G | 3A | 0 | 2 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden.
D Magnus Nygren: 21 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Farjestads BK
(18W, 10L, 7 OTL – 5th of 12 overall in the League)
| Season Stats | 33GP | 6G | 9A | -8 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 35GP | 6G | 9A | -9 | 6 PIM |
Hey Robert, just wondering: what about Mark Mitera? Wasn’t he a 1st rounder who’s now with Hamilton, via trade? 6’3″, stay at home type who can play with a physical edge? How’s his play been in your eyes, and does he have an NHL future ahead of him?
At present, I’ve seen no reports and nothing in his stats line to indicate that Mitera can ever make it off of the Bulldogs. Unremarkable season at best.