Prospect Report, Overseas Roundup and The Week Ahead 11/12-11/18

Texas Stars

The best thing you could say about the Texas Stars this week was that the team got progressively better as the week went on. They lost 3-0 to the Toronto Marlies, a 5-4 shootout loss to the Lake Erie Monsters and then finally got back in the win column with a 4-2 win over the Houston Aeros.

Goaltending is still the big issue with this team as both Jack Campbell and Cris Nilstorp are letting really simple saves get past them. Campbell saved 22 of 26 in his only start last week while Nilstorp stopped 40 of 45. Both of the netminders need to up their game if the Stars hope to go on any type of extended winning streak.

The defensemen actually played well last week. Big Jamie Oleksiak probably had his best week so far as a pro as he looked a more fluid on the ice. He was making a bigger impact on the game and that's definitely a welcome sight. Other defensemen that impressed: Cam Barker (no really, he was quite good) and Brendon Dillon. Jordie Benn suffered an injury during the Aeros game and he'll be out for a while. Patrick Nemeth will have to pick up the slack while Benn is out.

The standout forward for the week was Tomas Vincour. He scored two goals and had one assist, but he was all over the ice and had a ton of energy out there. He's working really well with Cody Eakin. Another positive from last week; the Stars scored three power play goals which equaled their total for the entire season.

Nov. 15 - San Antonio Rampage @ Texas Stars

Nov. 17 - Charlotte Checkers @ Texas Stars

 

The Overseas Pros

All European leagues had last week off so no games were played. By anyone. At all.

Jamie Benn - Hamburg Freezers

The younger Benn has been on a tear in the DEL so hopefully the week off didn't take away his momentum.

Nov. 16 - Straubing Tigers @ Hamburg Freezers

Nov. 18 - Hamburg Freezers @ Adler Mannheim

Jaromir Jagr - HC Kladno

Jagr has also been just as hot as Benn lately so hopefully his good play continues coming off the bye week.

Nov. 12 - Kladno vs Trinec

Nov. 14 - Kladno vs Ceske Budejovice

Nov. 18 - Kladno vs Zlin

Stephane Robidas - HIFK Helsinki

Nov. 15 - Helsinki vs Jokerit

Nov. 17 - Helinki vs TPS Turku

Tom Wandell - Severstal Cherepovets

Nov. 16 - Severstal vs UHC Dynamo

Nov. 18 - Severstal vs SKA St. Petersburg

Philip Larsen - Rauman Lukko

Nov. 13 - Raumann Lukko vs Hameenlinna 

Nov. 16 - Raumann Lukko vs Pelicans Lahti

 

CHL Prospects

Radek Faksa - Kitchener Rangers

Faksa had his third quiet week in a row as he managed one goal in two games played last week. He ended up missing the Rangers final game of the week on Sunday with an illness of some sort, something that has been bothering him for the past week and a half now. It's been sapping his energy and he just hasn't been able to keep up so that's probably why he's been playing poorly as of late. On a positive note, the Rangers won all three games to run their win streak to five games.

Hopefully Faksa is able to get back onto the ice soon and fully healthy. The Rangers play a triple header this weekend (with travel required before each one) so he probably won't have the energy to compete in all three, if at all.

Nov. 16 -  Erie Otters @ Kitchener Rangers

Nov. 17 - Kitchener Rangers @ Owen Sound Attack

Nov. 18 - London Knights @ Kitchener Rangers

 

Brett Ritchie - Niagara IceDogs

It wasn't anywhere close to what he had last week, but Brett Ritchie had another week of play. He had another two goals and an assist in two games as he continues to be one of the hottest players in the OHL right now.

He's still third in total points and goals in the OHL and number 15 in assists. He has at least one point in five straight games and nine of his last 11. He has had a multi-point effort in six of the last nine games.

One thing to note is that while Ritchie has 16 goals on the season, nine of them have been assisted in some way by Ryan Strome (the leading scorer in the OHL). It will be interesting to see if he can keep this type of play without Strome to feed him the puck when he reaches the next level.

Nov. 14 - Niagara IceDogs @ Erie Otters

Nov. 17 - Niagara IceDogs @ Ottawa 67's

Nov. 18 - Niagara IceDogs @ Kingston Frontenacs

 

Gemel Smith - Owen Sound Attack

Smith is just chugging along at his own consistent pace as he had two goals and an assist in Owen Sound's three games last week. He had only his sixth pointless game (out of 20 played) in a game against Guelph but rebounded to finish the week playing well.

It's nothing too jaw-dropping from Smith, but he's just continuing to put up points.

Nov. 16 - Owen Sound Attack @ London Knights

Nov. 17 - Kitchener Rangers @ Owen Sound Attack

Nov. 18 - Windsor Spitfires @ Owen Sound Attack

 

Matej Stransky - Saskatoon Blades

Stransky had a five-game point streak snapped against the Seattle Thunderbirds but managed to put up two assists during the Blades two games last week. He's been playing very well since Oct. 12 and so far it looks like he'll do well in November as well.

Stransky now has at least one point in nine of his last 11 games. He's got a good chance to put up more points this week as the Blades take on two of the worst defensive teams in the WHL.

Nov. 16 - Saskatoon Blades @ Prince George Cougars

Nov. 18 - Saskatoon Blades @ Vancouver Giants

 

Mike Winther - Prince Albert Raiders

Winther was the standout prospect for the Dallas Stars this week. In three games played, he had three goals and two assists. He's had a weird run lately where he'll have two solid games in row before cooling off for a week. It's been happening for the past month and if it holds to form, he'll be held scoreless next week.

He's shown great bursts of talent but just needs some more consistency.

Nov. 16 - Prince Albert Raiders @ Lethbridge Hurricanes

Nov. 17 - Prince Albert Raiders @ Edmonton Oil Kings

Nov. 18 - Prince Albert Raiders @ Red Deer Rebels

 

Branden Troock - Seattle Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds played four games last week and the big bodied Troock didn't see a single minute of playing time. I'm pretty sure he's healthy so unless he has an injury that hasn't been disclosed, he's been riding the pine for a while. He's only played in three games since Oct. 16.

Nov. 16 - Medicine Hat Tigers @ Seattle Thunderbirds

Nov. 17 - Spokane Chiefs @ Seattle Thunderbirds

 

Troy Vance - Victoriaville Tigers

Troy Vance had one of his most productive weeks of the season for the Tigers with a goal and two assists in their two games last week. He now has at least one point and one assist in three straight games and 11 total points on the season. He's been playing very well lately.

Nov. 15 - Victoriaville Tigers @ Quebec Remparts

Nov. 18 - Victoriaville Tigers @ Chicoutimi Saguenéens

Maxime Lagace - Prince Edward Island Rocket

Lagace got himself a very rare win this past week when the Rocket beat Rimouski Oceanic 4-3. Lagace allowed three goals (which is a major improvement actually) on 39 shots. He continues to struggle to stop the puck, but at least it wasn't cringeworthy this time to look at his numbers.

Nov. 14 - PEI Rocket @ Cape Breton Screaming Eagles

Nov. 16 - Acadie-Bathurst Titan @ PEI Rocket

Nov. 17 - Val-d'Or Foreurs @ PEI Rocket