Week 7 of the 2015-16 prospect update saw Pavel Zacha and Blake Speers get hot in OHL action, John Quenneville return for Brandon, Miles Wood and Alex Kerfoot continue to produce in NCAA action, and the Albany Devils stay hot.
This post will recap the 7th week of Devils prospect action for the 2015-16 season. It's highlighted by Pavel Zacha and Blake Speers producing in the OHL, John Quenneville returning to play for Brandon, Miles Wood and Alex Kerfoot staying productive in NCAA action, and the Albany Devils continuing to earn points thanks to strong special teams play. Check out the stats and recap below!
OHL
Name
Pos.
Age
Team
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
Connor Chatham
RW
20.06
Flint
18
3
8
11
0
24
5.08%
3.28
0.61
Height: 6'2
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
NHLe
Weight: 225
4
7
2
7
9
1
1
2
0
0
0
17
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
Josh Jacobs
D
19.76
Sarnia
20
1
10
11
1
14
1.96%
2.55
0.55
Height: 6'2
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
NHLe
Weight: 200
8
9
0
7
7
1
3
4
0
0
0
15
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
Pavel Zacha
C
18.62
Sarnia
15
9
5
14
6
26
17.65%
3.40
0.93
Height: 6'3
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
NHLe
Weight: 213
4
13
6
4
10
3
1
4
0
0
0
25
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
Blake Speers
RW
18.88
Sault Ste. Marie
20
5
14
19
-12
16
8.06%
3.10
0.95
Height: 5'11
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
NHLe
Weight: 183
9
14
3
7
10
2
7
9
0
0
0
26
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
Colton White
D
18.55
Sault Ste. Marie
20
1
8
9
-7
5
3.70%
1.35
0.45
Height: 6'1
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
NHLe
Weight: 185
7
8
0
4
4
1
4
5
0
0
0
12
Name
Age
GP
GS
W
L
OTL
SOL
GAA
SV%
GA%-
GSAA
GSAA/60
Mackenzie Blackwood
18.95
18
18
12
6
0
0
2.45
0.927
75
14.42
0.82
Height: 6'4
Barrie
SO
SO%
QS
QS%
RBS
RBS%
BO
BO%
EVG%
PPG%
SHG%
Weight: 215
OHL
2
11.11%
12
66.67%
2
11.11%
1
5.56%
83.72%
13.95%
2.33%
Connor Chatham played 2 games for Flint last week, adding 2 assists against Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday night to snap a 3 game point drought. Hopefully some his shots start to go in soon since his SH% is 5.08% right now.
We can all be happy with Pavel Zacha's week as he scored a goal against Flint on Friday and followed it up with a 2 goal performance on Saturday night against Guelph. He finished the week as a +2 with 8 penalty minutes and 8 shots on goal. He ended up winning 15/25 faceoffs against Flint too. Zacha's goal on Friday night was assisted by Josh Jacobs and ended up being the GWG. Speaking of Jacobs, he finished with the aforementioned assist as well as 4 shots on goal over the course of 2 games for Sarnia.
Blake Speers also had a nice week for himself. He had a monster game on Saturday night against Flint, scoring a goal and 2 assists along with 8 shots while winning 7/12 faceoffs as he earned 2nd star honors. His goal was the winner in overtime on the PP with Colton White getting the primary assist. Speers followed that performance up by adding an assist against Windsor on Sunday to extend his point streak to 5 games.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 2 starts for Barrie last week. He opened it up with a win against Saginaw on Saturday as he stopped 33 of 34 shots for his 12th Quality Start of the season. That was followed by a rare Really Bad Start the next night when he surrendered 4 goals on 13 shots in the 1st half of a game against North Bay. He's still atop multiple goaltending categories for the league.
I should also note that both Speers and Blackwood represented Team OHL against Team Russia in Owen Sound last Thursday. Speers had 2 penalty minutes while Blackwood went the distance with a 25 save shutout to earn 1st star.
WHL
Name
Pos.
Age
Team
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
Pts/GP
NHLe
John Quenneville
C
19.60
Brandon
16
9
11
20
10
15
1.25
28
Height: 6'1
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 205
7
16
5
7
12
3
4
7
1
0
1
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
Pts/GP
NHLe
Ryan Rehill
D
20.04
Kamloops
17
1
8
9
3
46
0.53
12
Height: 6'3
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 218
5
6
0
4
4
1
2
3
0
1
1
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
Pts/GP
NHLe
Brandon Baddock
C
20.65
Edmonton
21
6
3
9
-7
40
0.43
9
Height: 6'4
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 225
2
8
3
2
5
1
1
2
1
0
1
John Quenneville returned from his "upper body injury" to play for the first time since 11/1 for Brandon. He managed an assist, even rating, and 2 penalty minutes over the course of 2 games.
Ryan Rehill had an assist, +1 rating, and 4 penalty minutes in 2 games for Kamloops this past week. He earned 3rd star honors against Prince George on Sunday as he continues to be a minutes eater for the Blazers. Rehill has a goal and 3 assists after 5 games of action this month.
Brandon Baddock was held off the scoresheet in 2 games for Edmonton last week. He finished with a -2 rating and 6 penalty minutes.
NCAA
Name
Pos.
Team
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
FO%
NHLe
Alex Kerfoot
C
Harvard
6
2
6
8
4
6
13.33%
2.50
1.33
49.50%
44
Height: 5'10
Age
League
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 175
21.28
ECAC
2
4
1
2
3
0
4
4
0
0
0
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
Blks
NHLe
Steve Santini
D
Boston College
10
1
2
3
6
20
5.88%
1.70
0.30
18
8
Height: 6'2
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 208
20.71
Hockey East
1
2
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
FO%
NHLe
JD Dudek
C
Boston College
9
0
1
1
0
6
0.00%
0.67
0.11
50.00%
3
Height: 5'11
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 185
19.81
Hockey East
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
FO%
NHLe
Miles Wood
LW
Boston College
10
4
8
12
6
28
12.50%
3.20
1.20
100.00%
32
Height: 6'1
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 185
20.19
Hockey East
5
9
2
6
8
2
1
3
0
0
0
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
FO%
NHLe
Brett Seney
C
Merrimack
10
2
7
9
4
14
12.50%
1.60
0.90
55.20%
24
Height: 5'9
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Weight: 170
19.73
Hockey East
5
7
2
6
8
0
1
1
0
0
0
Alex Kerfoot continued to be productive for Harvard as he extended his point streak to 3 games. He had an assist and 2 shots on Friday against Quinnipiac. He followed that up with a goal and an assist against Princeton on Saturday night. He also had 5 shots and won 16/23 faceoffs that night. After 6 games of play, he is tied for 1st on the team in assists and is 2nd in points.
Boston College had a wild 6-4 victory over Michigan State on Friday. Santini ended up a -3 with 2 shots. Miles Wood does what he does best and scored a goal and added an assist to go along with 6 shots. Wood is now 3rd on the team in points and playing a well deserved top line role. JD Dudek was a -1 with 2 penalty minutes and he won 1/2 faceoffs.
Brett Seney was held off the scoresheet and without a shot on goal against UMass on Friday night. He rebounded on Saturday night with an assist, shot on goal, and won 8/13 faceoffs. After 10 games, he is 1st on the team in assists and tied for 2nd in points.
KHL
Name
Pos.
Team
GP
G
A
Pts
+/-
PIM
SH
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
FO%
ATOI
Artur Gavrus
LW
Dinamo Minsk
19
3
7
10
-1
0
41
7.32%
2.16
0.53
26.32%
16:54
Height: 5'10
Age
League
A1
Pts1
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
NHLe
Weight: 183
21.88
KHL
4
7
3
6
9
0
1
1
0
0
0
36
Artur Gavrus is yet to return to the Dinamo line up after sustaining a concussion on 10/19 against Metallurg Nk. He hinted that he was hoping to return soon in an interview last week with the Dinamo website. According to this quote from his coach, the injury seems to be more serious than what they initially thought. It seems his timetable to return is unknown at this point.
AHL
Name
Height
Weight
Age
Pos
GP
G
A
PTS
A1
Pts1
+/-
PIM
SH
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
GC
GC/GP
NHLe
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Mike Sislo
5'11
190
27.84
RW
14
8
5
13
2
10
-2
0
51
15.69%
3.64
0.93
5.64
0.40
37
2
1
3
5
4
9
1
0
1
Joseph Blandisi
6'0
200
21.35
C
13
6
5
11
4
10
-1
31
14
42.86%
1.08
0.85
4.56
0.35
33
2
4
6
4
1
5
0
0
0
Matt Lorito
5'9
170
25.39
LW
13
2
9
11
6
8
1
4
16
12.50%
1.23
0.85
3.49
0.27
33
0
3
3
2
6
8
0
0
0
Marc-Andre Gragnani
6'3
210
28.70
D
10
0
8
8
0
5
-7
0
6
0.00%
0.60
0.80
2.15
0.21
31
0
1
1
0
7
7
0
0
0
Corey Tropp
6'2
185
26.33
RW
14
3
5
8
3
6
4
23
23
13.04%
1.64
0.57
2.95
0.21
22
2
3
5
1
2
3
0
0
0
Reid Boucher
5'10
190
22.20
LW
9
6
2
8
2
8
3
4
30
20.00%
3.33
0.89
3.76
0.42
35
3
0
3
3
2
5
0
0
0
Blake Pietila
5'11
200
22.75
LW
14
4
3
7
2
6
0
0
21
19.05%
1.50
0.50
2.95
0.21
20
3
1
4
1
1
2
0
1
1
Vojtech Mozik
6'3
200
22.90
D
11
1
6
7
3
4
9
8
21
4.76%
1.91
0.64
2.15
0.20
25
1
4
5
0
2
2
0
0
0
Brandon Burlon
6'0
190
25.72
D
11
0
5
5
2
2
-2
7
9
0.00%
0.82
0.45
1.34
0.12
18
0
1
1
0
4
4
0
0
0
Dan Kelly
6'1
215
26.52
D
12
0
5
5
2
2
4
23
3
0.00%
0.25
0.42
1.34
0.11
16
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
2
2
Blake Coleman
5'11
200
23.98
C
10
2
2
4
1
3
2
14
17
11.76%
1.70
0.40
1.61
0.16
16
2
1
3
0
1
1
0
0
0
Jim O'Brien
6'3
195
26.81
C
8
2
2
4
1
3
-3
4
31
6.45%
3.88
0.50
1.61
0.20
20
0
1
1
1
1
2
1
0
1
Seth Helgeson
6'4
215
25.12
D
14
0
3
3
2
2
4
29
14
0.00%
1.00
0.21
0.81
0.06
8
0
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
Paul Thompson
6'1
200
26.98
RW
8
2
1
3
1
3
-1
4
20
10.00%
2.50
0.38
1.34
0.17
15
2
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ben Thomson
6'3
205
22.85
LW
11
2
1
3
1
3
-2
15
17
11.76%
1.55
0.27
1.34
0.12
11
2
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ryan Kujawinski
6'2
205
20.65
C
10
2
0
2
0
2
-2
2
5
40.00%
0.50
0.20
1.07
0.11
8
2
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Reece Scarlett
6'1
180
22.64
D
11
0
2
2
1
1
-4
6
10
0.00%
0.91
0.18
0.54
0.05
7
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
Rod Pelley
6'0
205
31.23
LW
14
0
1
1
0
0
0
13
14
0.00%
1.00
0.07
0.27
0.02
3
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Max Novak
5'11
180
24.61
RW
6
0
1
1
0
0
-1
0
12
0.00%
2.00
0.17
0.27
0.04
7
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Chris McKelvie
6'1
195
30.75
RW
11
0
1
1
0
0
-2
9
10
0.00%
0.91
0.09
0.27
0.02
4
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Graham Black
6'0
185
22.85
C
5
0
1
1
0
0
-2
0
5
0.00%
1.00
0.20
0.27
0.05
8
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Corbin McPherson
6'4
210
27.21
D
7
0
1
1
0
0
-2
4
9
0.00%
1.29
0.14
0.27
0.04
6
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Raman Hrabarenka
6'4
230
23.24
D
8
0
0
0
0
0
-2
20
9
0.00%
1.13
0.00
0.00
0.00
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond
6'1
210
30.47
RW
8
0
0
0
0
0
1
13
8
0.00%
1.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Name
Age
GP
GS
W
L
OTL
SOL
GAA
SV%
GA%-
GSAA
GSAA/60
Yann Danis
34.43
11
11
7
1
3
0
1.97
0.926
82
4.82
0.43
Height: 5'11
MIN
SO
SO%
QS
QS%
RBS
RBS%
BO
BO%
EVG%
PPG%
SHG%
Weight: 180
668.43
1
9.09%
8
72.73%
0
0.00%
1
9.09%
77.27%
22.73%
0.00%
Age
GP
GS
W
L
OTL
SOL
GAA
SV%
GA%-
GSAA
GSAA/60
Scott Wedgewood
23.27
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.00
0
0
0
0
Height: 6'2
MIN
SO
SO%
QS
QS%
RBS
RBS%
BO
BO%
EVG%
PPG%
SHG%
Weight: 195
0
0
0.00%
0
0.00%
0
0.00%
0
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Age
GP
GS
W
L
OTL
SOL
GAA
SV%
GA%-
GSAA
GSAA/60
Doug Carr
26.70
3
3
1
2
0
0
2.34
0.897
114
-0.88
-0.29
Height: 6'2
MIN
SO
SO%
QS
QS%
RBS
RBS%
BO
BO%
EVG%
PPG%
SHG%
Weight: 200
179.75
0
0.00%
1
33.33%
0
0.00%
0
0.00%
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
Albany earned at least a point in all 3 of their games this past weekend. They now have a 7 game streak where they have earned at least a point which is a big reason they are 2nd in their division right now with 19 points from 14 games. According to CHL Stats, they have the 2nd best Estimated Fenwick Close at 54.858% and a PDO of 102.493%. Albany currently has the 3rd ranked PP at 24.64% and 2nd ranked PK at 90.91%.
Injury Update: Paul Thompson returned from his upper body injury. Marc-Andre Gragnani (upper body), Jim O'Brien (ankle), and Scott Wedgewood (ankle) were sidelined.
Transactions: Albany recalled D Joe Faust from Adirondack (ECHL) on 11/14. C Blake Coleman was suspended for Albany's first game of the weekend due to an illegal check to the head from last week's action.
Friday 11/13: Albany defeated Providence 4-2. Reid Boucher had 2 goals while Joseph Blandisi and Blake Pietila had the other goals. Vojtech Mozik had 3 assists followed by Brandon Burlon with 2 as well as Helgeson, Pietila, and Tropp with 1 each. Boucher lead the way with 3 shots as the Devils were outshot 23-15. Danis made 21 saves on 23 shots. Albany went 2/4 on the PP and 5/6 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.
Line Up:
Lorito-Blandisi-Sislo
Boucher-Pietila-Tropp
McKelvie-Kujawinski-Thompson
Thomson-Pelley-Leblond
Helgeson-Mozik
Hrabarenka-Kelly
Burlon-Scarlett
Saturday 11/14: Albany defeated Lehigh Valley 2-1 in overtime. Mike Sislo had the Devils first goal on the PP with Matt Lorito and Blake Coleman picking up the assists. Joseph Blandisi scored the game winning goal with Corey Tropp getting the assist. Reid Boucher had 5 shots as the Devils outshot the Phantoms 29-22. Doug Carr picked up his first ADevils win with 21 saves on 22 shots. Albany went 1/3 on the PP and 4/4 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.
Sunday 11/15: Albany lost to Springfield 2-1 in overtime. Paul Thompson had the Devils goal with Vojtech Mozik and Dan Kelly picking up the assists. Thompson also led the Devils with 4 shots as they were outshot 37-34. Danis made 35 saves on 37 shots. Albany went 0/3 on the PP and 5/5 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.
Strong Special Teams: As I mentioned above, Albany currently has the 3rd most successful PP and 2nd most successful PK. Albany's PP has only gone 3 out of their 14 games without a goal. They have 4 games of 2+ PPG's. Their due for some regression but it's certainly an encouraging sign to start the season.
Also Riding the Percentages: Joseph Blandisi is off to an awesome start to his professional career with 6 goals and 5 assists after 13 games. He is only generating 1.08 shots per game and has a crazy 42.86 SH% which obviously won't last. He is a center that has shown playmaking ability at every level so I don't want to get on him too much for a low shots per game number since we don't know just how much he is setting up per game with his passing ability. You can also add in Blake Pietila who is surprisingly a 0.50 Pts/GP player right now, but has a 19.05 SH% to help boost his numbers.
Ben Johnson Update: Here is the latest from Tom Gulitti:
Ontario court Justice Micheline Rawlins ruled today that Devils' prospect Ben Johnson was not guilty of sexual assault in a Jan. 13, 2013 alleged incident in the washroom of a Windsor, Ontario bar.
Johnson, 21, still has to face second charge of sexual assault from an March 17, 2013 alleged incident involving a 16-year-old female that took place in a different Windsor bar. That trial will not begin hearing evidence until 2016.
In the meantime, Johnson will remain away from the Devils' organization until that case has been settled.
Coming Up: Albany takes on Springfield on Friday night and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night.
ECHL
Name
Height
Weight
Age
Pos
GP
G
A
PTS
A1
Pts1
+/-
PIM
SH
SH%
SH/GP
Pts/GP
EVG
EVA
EV Pts
PPG
PPA
PP Pts
SHG
SHA
SH Pts
Joe Faust
5'11
207
24.02
D
10
0
4
4
3
3
-1
6
12
0.00%
1.20
0.40
0
2
2
0
2
2
0
0
0
Name
Age
GP
GS
W
L
OTL
SOL
GAA
SV%
GA%-
GSAA
GSAA/60
Ken Appleby
20.62<