Toronto Maple Leafs prospect report: Dakota Joshua off to the Big10 finals

Nolan Vesey, we hardly knew ye. Drafting you to get your brother to sign here failed and now we bid you adieu. The Maine Black Bears are out of the playoffs, and his final entry into the prospect report is submitted.

That is unless, the Leafs sign him, but it doesn’t look likely.

In bigger news Dakota Joshua and the Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Michigan State Wolverines and are now off to Indiana to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the Big10 men’s hockey championship.

The CHL prospects are entering their final week of regular season play, so soon everyone will be in the playoffs. Best time of the year.

Ontario Hockey League

#77 - Eemeli Räsänen (D) - 0G, 1A
x - Kingston Frontenacs - 35-21-6-3
3rd in Eastern Conference, 12 points out of 1st

March 7th: vs Oshawa Generals
L 5-3 - 0G, 0A, -2
March 9th: vs Ottawa 67’s
W 7-2 - 0G, 1A, +1
March 10th: @ Ottawa 67’s
W 5-4 OT - 0G, 0A, +1

Barring a losing streak to end the season, the Frontenacs have the third seed in the Eastern Conference locked up. Räsänen has had a great post-draft season for a defensive defender and a long playoff run is expected by Kingston fans.

#55 - Keaton Middleton (D) - 0G, 0A, +1
x - Saginaw Spirit - 29-28-8-0
7th in Western Conference, 1 point out of 6th

March 9th: @ Guelph Storm
W 3-0 - 0G, 0A, +1
March 10th: @ Owen Sound Attack
L 5-0 - 0G, 0A, -1
March 11th: @ Kitchener Rangers
L 3-2 - 0G, 0A, +1

The Spirit could jump up to the 6th seed, but they would then play a harder opponent, as the Kitchener Rangers hold second as a division leader and the Sarnia Sting get umped down to third seed. Best to lose a few more games, which we know you can do Saginaw.

#15 - Fedor Gordeev (D) - 0G, 1A, +2
Flint Firebirds - 19-41-3-2
Eliminated from OHL playoffs

March 7th: @ Erie Otters
W 7-4 - 0G, 1A, +3
March 8th: @ Niagara IceDogs
L 8-2 - No Points
March 10th: vs London Knights
L 4-3 - 0G, 0A, -1

The Firebirds looking to draft second overall this summer, and can hope for a good season next year.

#19 - Ryan McGregor (F) - No Points
x - Sarnia Sting - 44-16-4-1
3rd seed in Western Conference, 19 points out of 1st

March 6th: @ Kitchener Rangers
L 5-2 - Did Not Play
March 10th: vs Guelph Storm
W 2-1 - No Points

The Sting are a great team, but they’re far behind the Greyhounds for first overall. McGregor is making his second comeback from his injury, hoping this one sticks so he can play all the Stings playoff games.

#52 - Nicolas Mattinen (D) - No Points
xy - Hamilton Bulldogs - 42-18-3-3
1st in Eastern Conference, 7 points ahead of 2nd

March 7th: vs Barrie Colts
L 6-3 - 0G, 0A, -1
March 10th: vs Niagara IceDogs
L 5-3 - No Points
March 11th: @ Oshawa Generals
W 6-4 - 0G, 0A, +1

The Bulldogs are first in the East, and are far favourites to face off against the Soo in the OHL Finals. Mattinen brings the team some Championship experience, if not some blue line offense.

Western Hockey League

#33 - Ian Scott (G) - 54sv, 63sh, .857sv%
Prince Albert Raiders - 32-25-9-2
2nd East Wild Card, 7 points ahead of 3rd.

March 7th: vs Edmonton Oil Kings
W 4-2 - 13sv, 15sh, .867sv%
March 9th: vs Moose Jaw Warriors
W 6-4 - 21sv, 25sh, .840sv%
March 10th: vs Calgary Hitmen
W 4-3 OT - 20sv, 23sh, .870sv%

Scott and the Raiders should lock up a playoff spot with their next win. That’s the good news, the bad news is they’ll be playing the league leading Moose Jaw Warriors in the first round.

Junior A

#24 - Ryan O'Connell (D) - Injured
Penticton Vees, BCHL
The Vees swept the Coquitlam Express in the first round.

O’Connell is injured and may miss the remainder of the season. The Vees will begin the second round against the Trail Smoke Eaters on March 16th.

NCAA

#13 - Nolan Vesey (F) - 1G, 3A, +1
Maine Black Bears
Swept by Providence 2-0, eliminated from Hockey East playoffs

March 9th: @ Providence
L 4-3 - 0G, 3A, +1
March 10th: @ Providence
L 3-2 - 1G, 0A

Despite scoring four points in two playoff games, the Black Bears fell in two games and are once again finished early in the playoffs. This may be the last we see of Vesey, as he becomes a free agent on August 15th if he’s not signed by the Leafs.

#31 - Joseph Woll (G) - 64sv, 67sh, .955sv%
Boston College Eagles
Swept Merrimack 2-0

March 9th: vs Merrimack
W 1-0 - 37sv, 37sh, 1.00sv%
March 10th: vs Merrimack
W 4-3 - 27sv, 30sh, .900sv%

One shutout, one .900 performance and the Eagles are off to face Boston U in the Hockey East Semi-Finals on Friday night.

#8 - Dakota Joshua (F) - 1G, 1A
Ohio State Buckeyes

March 10th: vs Michigan State
W 3-2 OT - 1G, 1A

The Buckeyes beat the Wolverines in the semi-finals and are now off to the Big10 finals to win their first conference championship since 1972.

Completed Seasons

#14 - JD Greenway (D)
Wisconsin Badgers

Prospects points tracker