It would have been a story book ending to a career, captaining your team to the championship. In a hard fought game against Denver on Saturday night in Chicago, Dominic Toninato and the University of Minnesota - Duluth Bulldogs fell just one goal shy of winning the NCAA National Championship. Losing 3-2 is a rough way to end your time with a team, but Toninato had a great four years with UMD. The question now, is will the Maple Leafs sign him?
They have until mid-August to make their move.
In the CHL playoffs the London Knights upset the Erie Otters in game one of their second round series, winning 2-0 despite being outshot 46-12. The Otters wouldn’t have any of that and came back to win game two 5-2.
In the battle of Leafs prospects, Nikita Korostelev and the Peterborough Petes lead Stephen Desrocher and the Kingston Frontenacs 2-0 in their series.
Adam Brooks and the Regina Pats are tied with the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL, and in the Q Martins Dzierkals missed the first two games of this series with a lower body injury.
Ontario Hockey League
JJ Piccinich (F) / Nicolas Mattinen (D)
0G, 0A, -1 / 0G, 0A, -2
London Knights
Series vs Erie Otters tied 1-1
April 6th - Away
W 2-0 - No Points / No Points
April 7th - Away
L 5-1 - 0G, 0A, -1 / 0G, 0A, -2
Stephen Desrocher (D) - 0G, 0A, -1
Kingston Frontenacs
Trailing series vs Peterborough Petes 0-2
April 6th - Away
L 4-2 - No Points
April 9th - Away
L 4-1 - 0G, 0A, -1
Nikita Korostelev (F) - 1G, 2A, +3
Peterborough Petes
Leading series vs Kingston Frontenacs 2-0
April 6th - Home
W 4-2 - 1G, 1A, +2
April 9th - Home
W 4-1 - 0G, 1A, +1
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
Martins Dzierkals (F) - Did Not Play (Injury)
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies
Series vs Chicoutimi Sagueens tied 1-1
April 7th - Home
W 6-2 - Did Not Play (Injury)
April 8th - Home
L 5-2 - Did Not Play (Injury)
Western Hockey League
Adam Brooks (F) - 0G, 2A
Regina Pats
Series vs Swift Current Broncos tied 1-1
April 6th - Home
L 2-1 OT - 0G, 1A, -1
April 7th - Home
W 6-2 - 0G, 1A, +1
NCAA
Dominic Toninato (F) - 0G, 1A, +1
U-Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
April 6th vs Harvard
W 2-1 - 0G, 1A, +2
April 8th vs Denver
L 3-2 - 0G, 0A, -1
Completed seasons:
Nolan Vesey (F) - Maine Black Bears
Vesey has one more year to go with Maine, and is looking to return.
JD Greenway (D) - Wisconsin Badgers
The Freshman will return to the Badgers next year.
Joseph Woll (G) - Boston College Eagles
The Freshman will return to the Eagles next year.
Keaton Middleton (D) - Saginaw Spirit
Middleton could return for an overage year in the OHL next season.
Dakota Joshua (F) - Ohio State Buckeyes
Dakota will be returning to the Buckeyes next season.
Jack Walker (F) - Victoria Royals
Walker’s time in the CHL is now over. The overager missed his final playoff series due to injury, but is now free to sign a PTO/ATO with the Marlies/Solar Bears for the remainder of the year.
Vladimir Bobylyov (F) - Victoria Royals
Bobylyov could sign with the Marlies for the remainder of the season, and is eligible for an overage year in Victoria. It will be interesting to see where he ends up - On a Marlies/Solar Bears deal, on a Leafs/Marlies deal or back in the WHL.
Jeremy Bracco (F) - Windsor Spitfires
Bracco and the Spitfires aren’t quite done. They’re hosting the 99th Memorial Cup tournament, so they now have 6 weeks to rest and practice before they face off with the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL champions.
Dominic Toninato (F) - U-Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
After losing the NCAA Championship to Denver, the Bulldogs captain’s NCAA career is most likely over. Over hour years with UMD, Toninato has played 149 games, scored 54 goals, added 36 assists, totaling 90 points. He’s not signed by the Maple Leafs yet, and could become a free agnet in August if he doesn’t receive an offer.
