Monday, November 24, 2008

Weekly Awards

WHL Press Release

CALGARY, AB. - The BOSTON PIZZA WHL Player of the Week is forward Scott Glennie of the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Glennie picked up eight points, scoring six goals and two assists to go with a +2 rating, in three games over the past week, helping the Wheaties post a 2-0-0-1 record in that span.

On Tuesday, November 18th, the Wheat Kings hosted the 2008 Memorial Cup Champion Spokane Chiefs at Westman Place in Brandon. Glennie scored two goals, one on the power play, as the Wheat Kings downed the Chiefs 4-1. He was also named the games 1st Star.

On Friday, November 21st, the Kootenay Ice stopped into Brandon to face the Wheat Kings. Glennie netted one goal and added two assists in an offensive battle that saw the Ice defeat the Wheat Kings 7-6 in a shoot-out. The next evening, Saturday, November 22nd, the Wheaties were at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon facing the WHL East Division leading Blades. Glennie picked up his second career WHL hat-trick, which included the over-time winner, as his Wheat Kings defeated the Blades 5-4. He also was named the games 1st Star.

With the Wheat Kings claiming five of a possible six points this past week they keep pace in a tight WHL East Division and sit just six points behind the first place Saskatoon Blades with their 14-9-1-1 record.

Glennie, a 17-year-old native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is currently playing his second full season in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings. Eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal this summer, NHL Central Scouting ranked Glennie fourth among all WHL Skaters in their preliminary rankings last week.

The WHL has also nominated Ryan Holfeld of the Medicine Hat Tigers for the ADT CHL Goaltender of the Week Award. Holfeld posted a 2-0-0-0 record this past week, allowing just two goals on 66 shots for a 1.000 goals-against average and an impressive .970 save percentage.

Holfeld, a 19 year-old from LeRoy, Saskatchewan, is in his third season with the Medicine Hat Tigers organization. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2004 Bantam Draft and to date has starred in 87 games for the Tigers collecting 49 wins.

Boston Pizza WHL Player of the Week
Sept. 18 – Sept. 21: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats
Sept. 22 – Sept. 28: Joel Broda, Moose Jaw Warriors
Sept. 29 – Oct. 5: Casey Pierro-Zabotel, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 6 – Oct. 12: Evander Kane, Vancouver Giants
Oct. 13 – Oct. 19: Jay Fehr, Brandon Wheat Kings
Oct. 20 – Oct. 26: Jamie Benn, Kelowna Rockets
Oct. 27 – Nov. 2: Dana Tyrell, Prince George Cougars
Nov. 3 – Nov. 9: C.J. Stretch, Kamloops Blazers
Nov. 10 – Nov. 16: Andy Smith, Chilliwack Bruins
Nov. 17 – Nov. 23: Scott Glennie, Brandon Wheat Kings

Hockey's Future did a piece on Glennie not too long ago.

OHL Press Release

The Ontario Hockey League today announced that forward Eric Tangradi of the Belleville Bulls is the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 23. Tangradi led the OHL in scoring this week with four goals and five assists for nine points earning a league best plus-minus rating of plus-6 in three games.

Tangradi began his week on Wednesday night with his best game of the season. He scored two goals and three assists for five points and was named the first star of the game in an 8-1 win for the Bulls over the visiting Niagara IceDogs. On Friday night Tangradi scored two goals including the game-tying marker with two seconds to play in regulation time. Tangradi was named the second star of the game as the Bulls would fall to the Kingston Frontenacs 5-4. Tangradi would finish his week by setting up the game-tying and game-winning goals as the Bulls beat the Sarnia Sting 3-2 at home. His two assists gave him second star of the game honours.

Tangradi, a 19-year-old from Philadelphia, PA is in his third season with the Belleville Bulls. He was selected in the second round, 42nd overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Anaheim Ducks. In 26 games so far this season, Tangradi has 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points which places him fourth overall in league scoring.

Other top performers considered for the Boston Pizza OHL Player of the Week award included Josh Brittain of the Kingston Frontenacs who scored five goals and two assists for seven points in three games, also representing Team OHL in the 2008 ADT Canada Russia Challenge in Guelph on Thursday night. Alex Pietrangelo of the Niagara IceDogs scored three goals and three assists in three games in his first full week back with the club. Pietrangelo will represent the host Niagara IceDogs tonight in the ADT Canada Russia Challenge in St. Catharines. Edward Pasquale of the Saginaw Spirit won three games between the pipes with a 1.94 goals-against-average and a .941 save percentage.

2008-09 Boston Pizza OHL Players of the Week

Nov. 24 – Eric Tangradi, Belleville Bulls

Nov. 17 – Mathew Sisca, Niagara IceDogs

Nov. 10 – Cody Hodgson, Brampton Battalion

Nov. 3 – Ryan Ellis, Windsor Spitfires

Oct. 27 – Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires
Oct. 20 – Brandon Foote, Brampton Battalion
Oct. 13 – Justin DiBenedetto, Sarnia Sting
Oct. 6 – Stefan Della Rovere, Barrie Colts
Sept. 29 – Luke Pither, Guelph Storm
Sept. 22 – Matt Lyall, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

QMJHL Press Release

BOUCHERVILLE, Monday, November 24, 2008 – Saint John Sea Dogs forward Michael Kirkpatrick and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies goaltender Antoine Lafleur today were named the TELUS offensive and defensive players of the week for the period extending from November 17 to 23.

In only two games, Kirkpatrick recorded four goals, including a game-winner, and added an assist. Moreover, two of his goals were scored shorthanded. The Sea Dogs forward enjoyed his best game of the week versus the Moncton Wildcats, registering four points in a 6-5 shootout victory. Kirkpatrick was later named the game’s first star.

Spencer Jezegou (Titan), Gabriel Dumont (Voltigeurs) and Nick Layton (Juniors) were also considered.

Antoine Lafleur claims this week’s defensive prize. During two road wins, Lafleur blocked 49 shots to post a 1.49 goals-against-average and .942 save percentage. He was also named the first star following the Huskies’ 2-1 victory over the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Rouyn-Noranda leads the TELUS Western division standings with 34 points.

Marc-André Bourdon (Huskies), Dmitri Kulikov (Voltigeurs) and Bobby Nadeau (Rocket) were also strong candidates.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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