We’re down to two active prospects in North America, as Filip Kral and JD Greenway both bowed out of their respective playoff races. Ian Scott and the Prince Albert Raiders continue to dominate the WHL post-season, and Fedor Gordeev and the Guelph Storm made another come from behind series win.
Ontario Hockey League
#29 - Fedor Gordeev (D)
Guelph Storm
Win Western Conference Finals vs Saginaw Spirit 4-3
Game 1 - Loss - 7-2 - 0G, 0A, -1
Game 2 - Loss - 4-3 OT - No Points
Game 3 - Win - 5-2 - 0G, 1A, +1
Game 4 - Loss - 4-1 - 0G, 0A, -2
Game 5 - Win - 4-0 - No Points
Game 6 - Win - 5-1 - 1G, 0A, +1
Game 7 - Win - 3-2 - No Points
After coning back from a 3-0 hole in round two, the Storm made it to the OHL Championship Series with a 3-1 comeback over the Saginaw Spirit. It helps that the Spirit’s starting goalie was suspended for five games, forcing them to play their rookie back up for the remainder of the series.
Guelph stormed back and won hour of those five games, which proves pestering a goalie until they toss the puck in the air and baseball bat it to the other end of the ice is a good strategy. Who knew?
Now the Storm face the Ottawa 67’s for the J. Ross Robertson Cup and the chance to represent the OHL at the Memorial Cup in Halifax. The 67’s have been the most dominant team in the OHL, and when they had run away with first place, went out and traded for one of the best goalies in the league with Mikey DiPietro. DiPietro hasn’t been himself in the playoffs, allowing some close games against the Hamilton Bulldogs and Sudbury Wolves on the way to the finals.
OHL Championship Series vs Ottawa 67’s
Game 1 - Away - Thurs. May 2nd
Game 2 - Away - Sat. May 4th
Game 3 - Home - Mon. May 6th
Game 4 - Home - Wed. May 8th
Game 5 - Away - Fri. May 10th
Game 6 - Home - Sun. May 12th
Game 7 - Away - Mon. May 13th
Western Hockey League
#18 - Filip Kral (D)
Spokane Chiefs
Lost Western Conference Final to the Vancouver Giants 4-1
Game 1 - Loss - 4-1 - 0G, 0A, +1
Game 2 - Loss - 4-2 - 0G, 0A, -1
Game 3 - Win - 3-2 OT - 0G, 0A, +1
Game 4 - Loss - 4-3 OT - Did Not Play: Injury
Game 5 - Loss - 3-2 - Did Not Play: Injury
Kral missed the final two games after a hit he took in the first period of game three. The Chiefs missed him on defense, and after two close games, Vancouver won and moved on to the WHL Final.
#33 - Ian Scott (G)
Prince Albert Raiders
Win Eastern Conference Finals vs Edmonton Oil Kings 4-2
Game 1 - Win - 1-0 - 26sh, 26sv, 1.000sv%
Game 2 - Loss - 4-3 OT - 30sv, 34sh, .882sv%
Game 3 - Loss - 5-1 - 34sv, 39sh, .872sv%
Game 4 - Win 2-1 - 25sv, 26sh, .962sv%
Game 5 - Win - 4-0 - 24sv, 24sh, 1.000sv%
Game 6 - Win - 4-2 - 32sv, 34sh, .941sv%
The Raiders have made it to their first WHL Final since they won the WHL title and Memorial Cup in 1985. Scott helped lead the way for Prince Albert by posting a .924sv% with two shutouts.
Their opponent in the WHL final is the Vancouver Giants, who won the BC Division and Western Conference in the regular season, and eliminated our boy Filip Kral up there in the Western Conference Final. If Scott plays to his standard for this season the Giants will be in trouble, as they only scored 228 goals over the regular season. Not a huge offensive threat combined with a top of the league goaltender and stingy defense is a recipe for a quick series. Fingers crossed we’ll see the Raiders in Halifax.
WHL Final schedule - vs Vancouver Giants
Game 1 - Home - Fri. May 3
Game 2 - Home - Sat. May 4
Game 3 - Away - Tues. May 7
Game 4 - Away - Wed. May 8
Game 5 - Home - Fri. May 10
Game 6 - Away - Sun. May 12
Game 7 - Home - Mon. May 13
USHL
#14 - JD Greenway (D)
Dubuque Fighting Saints
Eliminated in round two vs Muskegon Lumberjacks 3-1
Game 1 - Loss - 4-0 - 0G, 0A, -2
Game 2 - Loss - 5-1 - 0G, 0A, -2
Game 3 - Win - 5-1 - 3G, 1A
Game 4 - Loss - 2-1 - Did Not Play: Suspended
The Fighting Saints were eliminated in four games by the Lumberjacks in their best of five round two series. Greenway was off the score sheet until game three when he had four points, but was also ejected for abuse of officials. Dubuque would lose their final game while Greenway sat.
I guess if the Leafs trade Kadri, they’ll have a replacement.
Previously eliminated prospects
#33 - Zachary Bouthillier (G) - Saint John Sea Dogs, QMJHL
Signed a contract with the ECHL Newfoundland Growlers for the remainder of the season, was then called up to the AHL.
#31 - Joseph Woll (G) - Boston College, NCAA
He’s left school and signed a contract to start next season.
#19 - Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (C) - Peterborough Petes, OHL
He joined the Marlies, but was sent down to the ECHL Newfoundland Growlers, where they’re playing the Manchester Monarchs in the second round of the ECHL playoffs.
#19 - Ryan McGregor (F) - Sarnia Sting, OHL
McGregor has been released from his ATO with the Marlies.
#8 - Dakota Joshua (F) / Ryan O’Connell (D) - Ohio State Buckeyes, NCAA
Both are still in school, Joshua is in his final year as a Leafs prospect and his rights will expire August 15th.
#11 - Mac Hollowell (D) - Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL
Hollowell is now with the Marlies on an ATO for the playoffs.
#18 - Riley Stotts (C) - Calgary Hitmen, WHL
Word is he’s working out with the Marlies unofficially.
