Photo: Tri-City Americans
The Canadian major junior hockey leagues (CHL) continued their play in December, generally through December 15, but then took a break for the Christmas holiday, with play resuming after Christmas.
None of the Capitals’ prospects from the Canadian junior hockey leagues were selected for the IIHF World Junior Championships for 2023-24, although goaltender Antoine Keller represented France in the IIHF Under 20 World Championships for Division 1.
At present, the Capitals have six 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, and center Patrick Thomas.
Starting in January, there will be an additional prospect, Alexander Suzdalev, who will play with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL. Suzdelev originally started this season with the Hershey Bears but got no playing time and was transferred to the second-tier Swedish league. Since he was only getting fourth-line minutes, he will now play Canadian junior hockey.
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 will 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.
ANDREW CRISTALL (LW) – 18 – DRAFTED 2023 (Second Round, 40th Overall)
Team: Kelowna Rockets League: Western Hockey League (WHL)
December was an amazing month for Cristall. As the Kelowna Rockets Twitter account posted on social media, “It’s Andrew Cristall’s world and we’re all living it.”
It’s Andrew Cristall’s world, we’re just living in it.
A hat trick and an assist on the night, so far for the @Capitals prospect.#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/dFSn4sfpDt
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) December 31, 2023
He started the month by scoring a goal and recording three assists in a 4-0 win against the Vancouver Giants on December 1 and thus, was voted the first star of the game. On December 12, he scored both goals in a 2-1 win against the Moose Jaw Warriors and was once again voted as the first star of the game.
On December 16, he recorded three primary assists in a 5-4 win in overtime and was voted third star of the game. He closed the month’s schedule by getting a hat trick and an assist in a wild 7-6 victory against the Calgary Hitman. His last goal in the game was the game-winner and he was voted third star of the game.
Cristall scored at least one goal or recorded at least one assist in all 10 of the games in which he played in December with his last pointless game occurring back on October 28. He now has a 16-consecutive game streak of recording at least one point and has six-game streak of recording at least one assist.
For December, he played in ten games, scoring seven goals and recording 15 assists for 22 points overall. His overall statistics for the season through December were 21 goals and 38 assists in 21 games. He ranks first 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. Despite his heroics in December, Canada still did not choose him for their World Junior squad.
Monthly Score: 4.5
BRETT HYLAND (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Seventh Round, 200th Overall)
Team: Brandon Wheat Kings League: Western Hockey League (WHL)
Photo: Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun
December was a productive month for Brett Hyland. He began the month by scoring a hat-trick in a 7-1 victory against the Regina Pats and was voted first star of the game. He continued his scoring on December 5 with a goal and an assist against the Red Deer Rebels in a 5-2 win. He was elected the third star of that game.
His next game on December 8, a 5-4 shootout win against the Moose Jaw Warriors, also featured a goal and an assist. He closed the month with a goal and two assists in a 5-3 victory against the Regina Pats on December 30. The only game in December where he did not record a single point was their game on December 29 against the Saskatoon Blazers.
During December, Hyland scored eight goals and recorded six assists for 14 points overall. For the season, Hyland has played in 34 games, scoring 19 goals and recording 11 assists for 30 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: 4.0
JAKE KARABELA (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2022 (Fifth Round, #149 Overall)
Team: Guelph Storm League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Karabela had a quiet start to December, as he recorded just one point in the team’s first four games. But then scored his first goal of the month on December 9 which was the team’s only goal in a 4-1 loss to the Erie Otters. After that, he either had a goal or an assist in his next four games. He scored 1 goal and recorded two assists in a 7-5 win against the Peterborough Petes on December 15. His goal was the first of the game. He had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 shootout win against the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds on Dec 16 and was the first star of the game. He scored goals in his last two games of the year. He scored the team’s first goal on December 30 in a 3-2 win against the Flint Firebirds. On December 31, he scored a goal during a 6-5 overtime loss on December 31, scoring at 18:25 in the second period, a goal which had put Guelph ahead 3-2 at the time.
During December, Karabela scored 5 goals and recorded 6 assists in 11 games. For the season thus far, he has 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 36 games. He is fourth place on the team in points with 31, ranks third on the team in goals, and is tied for fourth on the team in assists. He is tied for first on the team in power-play goals with 9.
Monthly Score: 3.5
ANTOINE KELLER (G) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Seventh Round, #206 Overall)
Team: Acadie-Bathurst League: Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)
In December, he played in four games, winning three and losing just one. During a 4-3 win against Chicoutimi Saguenéens on December 1, he made 38 saves out of 41 chances, compiling a save percentage of .927. He even scored the first goal of the game while his team was short-handed. He was voted as third star of the game.
1/2 Le but un peu moins glorieux alloué par les Saguenéens et crédité au gardien du Titan Antoine Keller 😬 #LHJMQ pic.twitter.com/mqs137LRJ9
— Jonathan Hudon 🎅 (@johudon) December 2, 2023
He won again on December 4 in a 3-2 overtime win against the Cape Breton Eagles. He made 19 saves out of 21 chances. Once again, he was voted third star of the game. He was the losing goaltender on December 6 in their 3-2 overtime loss against the Quebec Ramparts. He made 30 saves in 33 chances. He did not play again for Acadie-Bathurst until the game of December 31 where he was the winning goaltender in a 4-2 win against the St. John Sea Dogs. He made 25 saves in 27 chances.
During December, he made 122 saves, had a save percentage of .918, and a goals-against average of 2.46. His overall record is 11-7. His overall percentage is .904 with him making 592 saves and a goals-against average of 2.96.
Monthly Score: 3.5
PATRICK THOMAS (C) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Fourth Round, #104 Overall)
Team: Brantford Bulldogs League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Thomas had two assists in the game on December 1, a 4-3 Overtime loss against the Sarnia Sting. On December 7, in a 4-2 win against the Peterborough Petes, he had a goal and an assist. His goal was an empty net goal which came at 19:02 during third period and was the final goal of the game. On December 8, he had two assists in a 6-5 overtime loss against the Kitchener Rangers. The very next day, December 9, in a rematch of the previous day, he had a goal and two assists in a 5-4 overtime victory. He scored the team’s third goal at 7:56 in the third period which decreased their deficit to 4-3. He was elected the second star of the game. On December 28, he had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 win against the Oshawa Generals. Thomas scored a goal during a 7-4 loss to the Erie Otters.
During December, he played in 10 games, scored three goals, and recorded 9 assists in 10 games. For the season, he has eight goals and 28 assists in 34 games.
Monthly Score: 4.0
By Diane Doyle
