By Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

TORONTO, ON — Due to the season closing out in various leagues or playoffs commencing, Catching the Torch is moving to a Playoff Coverage format, examining the results of each round of the CHL Playoffs.

 

Rocket Richard Award: In honour of the finest playoff scorer in Canadiens history, this award will go to the best player at the conclusion of each round of the CHL playoffs.

 

 LW Charles Hudon

 

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens have often been defined by the success of their best forward and captain this season in Charles Hudon and their playoff series against the Quebec Remparts was no exception. Hudon would mark two assists in the opening game of the series in a 6-3 win for Chicoutimi. Hudon would go without a point in Game 2 game, a 5-1 loss as the series was tied 1-1. Hudon would score two goals in Game 3, but again Chicoutimi found itself falling short in a 6-3 loss. Hudon and the rest of his team would be shut out as they would be pushed to the brink in a 4-0 shutout in Game 4 to put Chicoutimi in a 1-3 series deficit against Quebec. Hudon would rally Chicoutimi in Game 5 though, scoring two goals and an assist for a 3-1 victory to extend Chicoutimi some life. Hudon would show himself to be just as productive in Game 6, scoring a goal and two assists but the effort would unfortunately fall short as Quebec would win in a 4-3 overtime decision to eliminate Chicoutimi.

 

Hudon’s 5 goals and 5 assists in 6 games placed him at 7^th overall in Quebec Major Junior playoff scoring through the first round. Hudon is expected to join the Hamilton Bulldogs on an Amateur Try-Out contract for the remaining games in the AHL season, but will rejoin Chicoutimi next season to complete his junior commitments. Charles Hudon was drafted in the 5^th round, 122^nd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.

 

 

Due to Olivier Archambault, Charles Hudon, Darren, Dietz, Dalton Thrower being eliminated from the CHL Playoffs and Tim Bozon being injured for what is considered the long term in Kamloops, this will be the only CHL Playoffs Report this season. Final reports will cover the Hamilton Bulldogs regular season, Magnus Nygren’s work in the Elitserien post-season and Erik Nyström’s play in the Swedish Allsvenskan Relegation series.

 

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
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 26-34-1-5 this season, 5^th in the North Division, 29^th overall in the AHL.

 

 

D Nathan Beaulieu: 20 years old, 6’2”, 194 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats	59GP	6G	16A	-9	52 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	3A	+1	4 PIM
Complete Stats	62GP	6G	19A	-8	56 PIM

 

C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats	54GP	7G	15A	+4	20 PIM
Weekly Stats	5GP	1G	1A	-2	0 PIM
Complete Stats	59GP	8G	16A	+2	20 PIM

 

C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats	52GP	15G	15A	+2	81 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	1G	0A	-2	2 PIM
Complete Stats	54GP	16G	15A	0	83 PIM

 

D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats	56GP	3G	4A	-13	53 PIM
Weekly Stats	5GP	1G	0A	-2	0 PIM
Complete Stats	61GP	4G	4A	-15	53 PIM

 

RW Patrick Holland: 21 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats	59GP	8G	14A	-8	4 PIM
Weekly Stats	5GP	0G	3A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	64GP	8G	17A	-8	4 PIM

 

RW Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats	47GP	9G	4A	-10	41 PIM
Weekly Stats	5GP	0G	3A	0	2 PIM
Complete Stats	52GP	9G	7A	-10	43 PIM

 

D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’2”, 219 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats	24GP	4G	4A	-3	15 PIM
Weekly Stats	5GP	2G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	29GP	6G	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	2GP	0G	1A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	57GP	2G	10A	-7	51 PIM

 

G Dustin Tokarski: 23 years old, 5’11”, 198 pounds, Catches left.

 

Season Stats	43GP	22-12-4	2.29 GAA	.911%
Weekly Stats	3GP	1-2-0	2.00 GAA	.934%
Complete Stats	46GP	23-14-4	2.27 GAA	.913%

 

C Brady Vail: 19 years old, 6’, 195 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats

5GP

1G

1A

+1

0 PIM

 

 

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

Playoff Record: 1-4 – Eliminated in 1^st round

 

Season Stats

64GP

32G

34A

-6

56 PIM

 

Playoff Stats

5GP

2G

4A

0

0 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

Playoff Record: 2-4 – Eliminated in 1^st round

 

 

Season Stats

56GP

30G

41A

+15

66 PIM

 

Playoff Stats

6GP

5G

5A

-2

8 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

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

Playoff Record: 4-2

 

Season Stats

69GP

36G

55A

+37

58 PIM

 

Playoff Stats

3GP

2G

0A

0

2 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

Playoff Record: 0-4 – Eliminated from the Post-Season

 

Season Stats

72GP

24G

34A

+9

100 PIM

 

Playoff Stats

4GP

1G

1A

-2

2 PIM

 

D Dalton Thrower: 19 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades

Team Record: 44-22-2-4

Playoff Record: 0-4 – Eliminated from the Post-Season

 

Season Stats

54GP

6G

21A

+18

89 PIM

 

Playoff Stats

4GP

0G

0A

-4

6 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: 18-19-3

Season over, did not qualify for the NCAA National Tournament.

 

Season Stats	30GP	6G	13A	0	4 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	32GP	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: 22-13-7 – Season over, was eliminated from the NCAA National Tournament in the 2nd round.

 

Season Stats	37GP	24G	26A	+15	22 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	2G	0A	+2	2 PIM
Complete Stats	40GP	26G	26A	+17	24 PIM

 

C Mark MacMillan: 21 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.

NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux

Team Record: 22-13-7 – Season over, was eliminated from the NCAA National Tournament in the 2nd round.

 

Season Stats	39GP	13G	12A	+11	20 PIM
Weekly Stats	3GP	0G	0A	-1	8 PIM
Complete Stats	42GP	13G	12A	+10	28 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: 3-4 (eliminated)

 

Playoff Stats	4GP	0G	0A	-1	4 PIM
Weekly Stats	2GP	0G	0A	0	0 PIM
Complete Stats	6GP	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: 2-4 – Season Over.

Season Stats

35GP

6G

3A

+1

6 PIM

 

Playoff Stats	3GP	0G	1A	0	0 PIM
Weekly Stats	1GP	0G	1A	-1	0 PIM
Complete Stats	4GP	0G	2A	-1	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: 4-3

 

Season Stats

51GP

13G

19A

+11

49 PIM

 

Round 1 Stats	5GP	0G	3A	+5	6 PIM
Round 2 Stats	2GP	0G	0A	-3	2 PIM
Playoff Stats	7GP	0G	3A	+2	8 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: 5-3

 

Season Stats

23GP

5G

6A

-3

4 PIM

 

Relegation Series Stats

5GP

0G

2A

-3

2 PIM