Capitals CHL Prospects Monthly Report: Andrew Cristall Continues Scoring Pace, Alexander Suzdalev Settles In With Saskatoon, Cam Allen Returns From Shoulder Surgery


Photo: Saskatoon Blades

The Canadian major junior hockey leagues (CHL) continued their play in January following the Christmas and New Years holiday break. January was notable for one prospect returning to Canadian Junior Hockey after playing hockey in Sweden (Alexander Suzdalev) and another prospect getting his first action this season after recovering from  shoulder surgery (Cam Allen). One prospect missed the entire month of January due to illness (Patrick Thomas).

At present, the Capitals have seven prospects playing in Canada’s major junior leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJML). The prospects in those leagues are: defenseman Cam Allen, left wing Andrew Cristall, left wing Brett Hyland, left wing Jake Karabela, goaltender Antoine Keller, center Patrick Thomas, and Alexander Suzdalev.

CHL (WHL/OHL/QMJHL)

CAM ALLEN (D) – 18 – DRAFTED 2023 (Fifth Round, #136 Overall)

Team: Guelph Storm    League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

On August 30, Allen underwent shoulder surgery and was estimated to be out until after the New Year. He had played through nagging shoulder issues last season and then tweaked it at the Capitals Development Camp. On January 26, Allen finally played his first game of the season, a 3-2 overtime win against the Sarnia Sting. He played again on January 28, a 7-1 loss to Owen Sound. He was kept off the scoresheet in both games, but his return was welcome. On a more positive note, he was one of the Alternate Captains in both the games in which he played.

Capitals Defensive Prospect Cam Allen Set To Return To OHL Action Following Shoulder Surgery | NoVa Caps (novacapsfans.com)

Monthly Score: Incomplete

ANDREW CRISTALL (LW) – 18 – DRAFTED 2023 (Second Round, 40th Overall)

Team: Kelowna Rockets    League: Western Hockey League (WHL)

Photo: Steve Dunsmoor

On January 5, he had three assists in a 4-3 win against the Edmonton Oil Kings, assisting on each of the team’s first three goals. He scored the team’s first goal in a 6-3 loss to the Wenatchee Wild on January 6.

Cristall scored two goals and recorded an assist in a 5-2 win against the Seattle Thunderbirds on January 10 and was voted first star of the game for his efforts.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Cristall scored the first goal in a 5-2 loss against the Prince George Cougars on January 12. The next day, he had two assists in a 3-2 shootout win against Prince George, as he assisted on both of his team’s goals. He scored on a penalty shot for the team’s first goal near the end of the third period during a 5-4 loss against the Portland Winterhawks on January 17.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Cristall scored one goal and recorded one assist during a 5-2 victory against the Vancouver Giants on Jan 19. His assist came on the game-winning goal that was scored at 11:52 during the third quarter. He was voted the second star of the game.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Cristall’s point streak ended in the Rockets’ 4-2 loss against the Vancouver Giants on January 21, a game where he was -2. This ended a 23-game streak where he had obtained at least one point from either a goal or an assist. He had recorded at least one point in the first seven games in January before the streak ended. He returned to the scoresheet on January 26 when he scored the team’s first goal and assisted on the second goal during a 4-3 overtime loss against the Kamloops Blazers.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Cristall closed-out January with his 50th assist of the season on the team’s second goal against the Portland Winterhawks, as Kelowna broke a four-game losing streak by winning 4-3.

During January, Cristall played in eleven games, scoring seven goals and recording 11 assists for 22 points overall. His overall statistics for the season through January were 28 goals and 50 assists in 41 games. He ranks first place in assists and points for the team and is second in goals only to Tig Iginla. He is fifth in assists for the Western Hockey League, as a whole.

Monthly Score: 4.1

BRETT HYLAND (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Seventh Round, 200th Overall)

Team: Brandon Wheat Kings   League: Western Hockey League (WHL)

January did not start off well for Hyland as he took three minor penalties in the game on January 1 where they lost 4-0 to the Saskatoon Blades. He scored the team’s first goal during their 3-2 overtime win against the Victoria Royals on January 9 and was voted second star of the game. It was his 20th goal of the season.

Photo: Brandon Wheat Kings

Hyland scored the team’s first goal in a 7-3 loss to the Swift Current Broncos on January 12 and recorded an assist in the team’s first goal in a 6-4 win against Prince Albert on January 14.

During a 6-0 victory on January 20 against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, Hyland scored the first goal and the last goal and recorded an assist on a power play goal. He was voted the second star of the game. On January 21, he scored a goal in a 7-3 loss against Medicine Hat Tigers. It was his team’s second goal and, at the time, tied the game at 2-2.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

On January 27, he scored a goal during a 5-3 loss to the Red Deer Rebels.

During January, Hyland played in 10 games, scored six goals, and recorded two assists for 8 points overall. For the season, Hyland has played in 44 games, scoring 25 goals, and recording 13 assists for 38 points overall. He ranks first on his team in goals, ranks third in overall points, and is second in power-play goals with four.

Monthly Score: 3.5

JAKE KARABELA (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2022 (Fifth Round, #149 Overall)

Team: Guelph Storm    League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

On January 7, Karabela scored a goal and recorded an assist in a 3-2 overtime win against the Sarnia Sting. His goal was the team’s first goal while his assist came on the team’s second goal. He was voted the second star of the game.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Karabela scored his team’s first goal on a power play in a 5-2 loss against the Saginaw Spirits on January 13.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Karabela scored no more goals during January but assisted on goals in six different games throughout the month. One of his most notable assists was for the game-winning overtime goal against the Sarnia Sting on January 26.

During January, Karabela scored 2 goals and recorded 6 assists in 9 games. For the season thus far, he has 17 goals and 23 assists for 31 points in 36 games. He ranks third on the team in points with 40, ranks third on the team in goals, and ranks fourth on the team in assists. He is tied for first on the team in power-play goals with 11.

Monthly Score: 2.8

ANTOINE KELLER (G) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Seventh Round, #206 Overall)

Team: Acadie-Bathurst    League: Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

Keller played in four games in January. He was the winning goaltender in a 2-0 win against the Shawinigan Cataractes on January 5 where he made 26 saves and was awarded the first star of the game. He then lost his next two games, a 6-2 loss to the Drummondville Voltigeurs on January 6 and a 3-1 loss to the Cape Breton Eagles. He did not play again until January 28 when he played the last two periods of a 5-3 loss to the Charlottetown Islanders and was charged with the loss as he gave up the game-winning goal during the second period.

During January, he made 100 saves, had a save percentage of .900, and a goals-against average of 2.75. His overall record is 12-10. His overall save percentage is .903 with him making 692 saves and a goals-against average of 2.93.

Monthly Score: 2.4

PATRICK THOMAS (C) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Fourth Round, #104 Overall)

Team: Brantford Bulldogs    League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

Thomas did not play in any games during January. On January 4, he was announced as unavailable due to illness and has still not returned to action. Every so often, it would be reported that he was still not available. There have been no details as to the nature of his illness or if an injury is also involved.

For the season, he has eight goals and 28 assists in 34 games.

Monthly Score: Incomplete

ALEXANDER SUZDALEV (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2022 (Third Round, #70 Overall)

Team: Saskatoon Blades    League: Western Hockey League (WHL)

Suzdalev joined the Saskatoon Blades in early January and has generally earned points. He earned an assist in his very first game on January 6, which was a 2-1 shootout loss against the Prince Albert Raiders. On January 10, he made his home game debut and scored a hat trick during a 7-2 win against the Vancouver Giants. He was named the first star of the game for his performance.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Suzdalev scored the team’s first goal in his next game, a 5-4 overtime win against the Victoria Royals. He was held pointless during their game on January 14. But, after that, scored at least one assist in the next five games he played. This included a two-assist game during a 4-2 win against the Calgary Hitmen. The point streak ended in the game on January 28. He earned an assist during Saskatoon’s 9-3 win against the Regina Pats.

He played in 10 games during January, scoring four goals and recording nine assists for 13 points on the season.

Monthly Score: 4.0

By Diane Doyle





Source link

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR