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Catching the Torch: Kristo Takes the Lead

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Catching the Torch: Kristo Takes the Lead

by Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

TORONTO, ON — This week in review (December 31 – January 6), the glory comes to a solid veteran of Catching the Torch.

Your comments are most welcome. If you have a question about any of the prospects email me, and perhaps it will be answered in the weekly All Habs Mailbag feature that appears on these pages on Thursdays.

 

The Three Stars

 

1. RW Danny Kristo

kristoWhile a holiday break interrupted his schedule at North Dakota, Danny Kristo does not appear to have lost a step from inaction. Kristo would begin a weekend series against the College of the Holy Cross marking a goal and assist as North Dakota leapt out to a 5-0 lead for an eventual 5-2 victory. Kristo would repeat his scoring feat the following night in a rematch against Holy Cross, marking an assist and scoring the game-winning goal to give North Dakota a sweep of their weekend series. Kristo’s 4 points on the week mark him becoming the career scoring leader among active players in NCAA hockey with 133 career points. He is currently on a 5-game points streak of 5 goals and 4 assists and is ranked 11th in NCAA scoring. Danny Kristo was drafted in the 2nd round, 56th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.

 

2. C Alex Galchenyuk

Alex Galchenyuk has played what is almost certainly his only turn in the World Junior Championships, but the Team USA forward did not leave empty-handed. Galchenyuk would mark a goal and assist against Slovakia in the final game for Team USA in the round-robin portion of the tournament, in a 9-3 rout.  Galchenyuk would also collect  an assist against the Czech Republic as the United States would shut them out 7-0. Galchenyuk would advance with Team USA but would go pointless in the Semi-Final and Gold Medal Game victories by Team USA, as they claimed their 2nd Gold Medal in 4 years. Galchenyuk would finish the Tournament with 8 points in 7 games, 1 point out of the team lead. He was also named the OHL Player of the Month for December, with 11 goals and 6 assists over 7 games for the month. Alex Galchenyuk was drafted in the 1st round, 3rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.

 

3. LW Tim Bozon

After a noted quiet period of goal scoring with the Kamloops Blazers, Tim Bozon has become resurgent of late. Bozon would lead the Blazers in a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants to start the week, scoring a goal and two assists in the win. Bozon would next add an assist to his scoring totals in a 6-1 victory for the Blazers over the Seattle Thunderbirds. Bozon is currently enjoying a 5-game points streak of 7 goals and 5 assists and is 5th overall in WHL scoring. Tim Bozon was drafted in the 3rd round, 64th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.

 

 

On The Radar:

 

–         RW Sebastian Collberg scored a goal and assist with Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships and earned a Silver Medal. He has 8 goals and 5 assists in 12 career World Junior Championship games.

–         D Darren Dietz scored a goal and assist, he is tied for the goal scoring lead for WHL defencemen with 11 on his season.

–         C Gabriel Dumont scored a goal and assist

–         RW Brendan Gallagher scored a goal and assist.

–         LW Charles Hudon scored two goals and one assist.

 

Question Marks:

 

–         D Mac Bennett has 2 points in his last 10 games.

–         C Michaël Bournival has 1 point in his last 11 games.

–         LW Blake Geoffrion is out indefinitely while recovering from a depressed skull fracture.

–         RW Louis Leblanc has 1 point in his last 15 games.

–         D Brendon Nash has been axed from Catching the Torch following his being loaned to the AHL San Antonio Rampage. Loan likely indicates MTL considers him outside the depth chart.

–         C Joonas Nättinen is out with a shoulder injury.

–         RW Aaron Palushaj is out with a shoulder injury.

–         D Greg Pateryn is out indefinitely with a fractured elbow.

–         LW Steve Quailer has 1 point in his last 12 games.

 

 

World Junior Championships

 

 

 

 

RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.

Team Sweden – Silver Medalist

 

Tournament Stats 6GP 4G 2A -1 2 PIM

 

C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.

Team USA – Gold Medalist

 

Tournament Stats 7GP 2G 6A +2 4 PIM

 

Complete Statistics for the week of December 31st, 2012
Legend
Skaters:
Games Played, Goals, Assists, +/-, Penalty Minutes
Goalies: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses, Goals Against Average, Save Percentage
Teams: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses. For NCAA, Wins, Losses, Ties. For Elitserien/Allsvenskan/Extraliga, Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses.
Season Stats: Season scoring prior to the past week.

The AHL Report: The Hamilton Bulldogs have been the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since 2002. It is the most common route for developing Montreal Canadiens prospects into full-time members of the organization. There are currently 13 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs are 18-17-1-3 this season, 5th in the North Division, 30th overall in the AHL.

 

D Nathan Beaulieu: 20 years old, 6’2”, 194 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats 29GP 2G 10A -7 35 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 0G 0A -4 0 PIM
Complete Stats 33GP 2G 10A -11 35 PIM

 

C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats 28GP 2G 9A -3 12 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 0G 0A -1 0 PIM
Complete Stats 32GP 2G 9A -4 12 PIM

 

C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 30GP 9G 9A +6 37 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 1G 1A -2 6 PIM
Complete Stats 34GP 10G 10A +4 43 PIM

 

D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.

Season Stats 27GP 3G 4A -3 31 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 0G 0A -5 0 PIM
Complete Stats 31GP 3G 4A -8 31 PIM

 

RW Brendan Gallagher: 20 years old, 5’9″, 182 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 30GP 9G 9A 0 46 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 1G 1A +1 0 PIM
Complete Stats 34GP 10G 10A +1 46 PIM

 

LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’1”, 190 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats 10GP 4G 2A -3 9 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 10GP 4G 2A -3 9 PIM

 

RW Patrick Holland: 20 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 30GP 3G 6A -9 2 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 1G 0A +1 0 PIM
Complete Stats 34GP 4G 6A -8 2 PIM

 

RW Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 18GP 3G 2A +1 15 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 0G 0A -1 2 PIM
Complete Stats 22GP 3G 2A 0 17 PIM

 

C Joonas Nättinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 187 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 24GP 5G 4A +6 8 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 24GP 5G 4A +6 8 PIM

 

RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 21GP 7G 3A -9 18 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 21GP 7G 3A -9 18 PIM

 

D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’2”, 219 pounds, RH shot.

 

Season Stats 7GP 0G 1A -3 0 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 7GP 0G 1A -3 0 PIM

 

LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 209 pounds, LH shot.

 

Season Stats 29GP 4G 3A -1 17 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 0G 1A -1 4 PIM
Complete Stats 33GP 4G 4A -2 21 PIM

 

D Jarred Tinordi: 20 years old, 6’6″, 218 pounds, LH shot

 

Season Stats 30GP 1G 4A -3 33 PIM
Weekly Stats 4GP 0G 0A 0 2 PIM
Complete Stats 34GP 1G 4A -3 35 PIM

 

 

The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currently feature prospects playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). These leagues can be considered the primary conduit towards professional hockey in North America.

 

QMJHL:

 

LW Olivier Archambault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.

Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs

Team Record: 23-14-1-1

 

Season Stats 38GP 16G 20A +1 22 PIM
Weekly Stats 1GP 1G 1A -1 2 PIM
Complete Stats 39GP 17G 21A 0 24 PIM

 

LW Charles Hudon: 18 years old, 5’10”, 171 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Chicoutimi Saguenéens – Team Captain

Team Record: 19-18-2-2

 

Season Stats 27GP 18G 18A +7 32 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 2G 1A +1 2 PIM
Complete Stats 29GP 20G 19A +8 34 PIM

OHL:

 

C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Sarnia Sting – Team Captain

Team Record: 24-13-0-3

 

Season Stats 33GP 27G 34A +16 22 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 33GP 27G 34A +16 22 PIM

 

C Brady Vail: 18 years old, 6’, 195 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Windsor Spitfires – Alternate Captain

Team Record: 14-19-1-5

 

Season Stats 37GP 13G 21A -6 22 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 0G 2A -2 0 PIM
Complete Stats 39GP 13G 23A -8 22 PIM

 

WHL:

LW Tim Bozon: 18 years old, 6’0”, 183 pounds, LH shot.

Junior Club: Kamloops Blazers

Team Record: 28-10-2-2

 

Season Stats 39GP 24G 29A +26 40 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 1G 3A +1 0 PIM
Complete Stats 41GP 25G 32A +27 40 PIM

 

D Darren Dietz: 19 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain

Team Record: 21-18-0-1

 

Season Stats 38GP 10G 12A -21 61 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 1G 1A +3 4 PIM
Complete Stats 40GP 11G 13A -18 65 PIM

 

D Dalton Thrower: 19 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.

Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades

Team Record: 21-18-0-1

 

Season Stats 23GP 3G 8A +9 43 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 0G 1A +4 6 PIM
Complete Stats 25GP 3G 9A +13 49 PIM

 

 

 

US College Hockey (NCAA) Report: The Canadiens have drafted a number of college players in recent years, these are generally ‘project players’ who benefit from additional years in lower level hockey to develop their skills.

 

D Mac Bennett: 21 years old,  6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines – Alternate Captain

Team Record: 7-11-2

 

Season Stats 19GP 4G 8A +3 4 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 29GP 4G 8A +3 4 PIM

RW Danny Kristo: 22 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Alternate Captain

Team Record: 12-5-3

 

Season Stats 16GP 8G 13A +11 14 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 2G 2A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 18GP 10G 15A +11 14 PIM

 

C Mark MacMillan: 20 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.

NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux

Team Record: 12-5-3

 

Season Stats 18GP 7G 8A +11 8 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 0G 1A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 20GP 7G 9A +11 8 PIM

 

 

Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic.

 

 

C Daniel Pribyl: 20 years old, 6’3”, 193 pounds, RH shot.

Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Praha

Team Record: 18-16-2

 

Season Stats 24GP 4G 5A +4 8 PIM
Weekly Stats 2GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 26GP 4G 5A +4 8 PIM

 

Elitserien Report: The Elitserien or Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. A prospect playing well in this league is a typical indication they may be ready for the NHL. The Allsvenskan is the secondary professional league of Sweden, playing directly under the Elitserien.

 

RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.

Elitserien Team: Frölunda HC

Team Record: 18-15-3

 

Season Stats 16GP 0G 2A +2 2 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 16GP 0G 2A +2 2 PIM

 

Allsvenskan Team: Örebro HK

Team Record: 18-14-3

                                               

Season Stats 15GP 6G 2A +4 2 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 15GP 6G 2A +4 2 PIM

 

D Magnus Nygren: 22 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.

Elitserien Team: Färjestads BK

Team Record: 21-10-5

 

Season Stats 30GP 6G 11A +10 41 PIM
Weekly Stats 1GP 0G 1A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 32GP 6G 12A +10 41 PIM

 

RW Erik Nyström

Allsvenskan Team: Karlskrona HK

Team Record: 8-26-0

 

Season Stats 10GP 2G 3A +2 2 PIM
Weekly Stats 0GP 0G 0A 0 0 PIM
Complete Stats 10GP 2G 3A +2 2 PIM