• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
How about that Russian Under-18 team at the Five Nations tournament? Are they good, or what?
On Thursday, this remarkably deep squad destroyed the Czech Republic 9-2 in Plymouth, Mich. At 2-0, Russia is the tourney's only undefeated team heading into Friday's showdown with Team USA. The Americans must win to have any chance at a tournament championship on home ice. This will likely be the U.S. NTDP Under-18 team's toughest test of the season.
One member of the Russian Five Nations squad made Thursday's list of draft prospects' top performances, along with a Finn, whose team beat Sweden in Thursday's other game. You'll also find a major-junior player and two high school kids from Minnesota. Take a look:
GRIGORI DENISENKO -- Denisenko was the main engine behind Russia's runaway 9-2 win over the Czechs at the Five Nations tourney. The highly-regarded prospect showcased his talent in front of countless scouts with two goals on Thursday. His first was the eventual-game-winner, snapping a 2-2 tie at 2:31 of the second period. His other goal came on a penalty shot at 16:01 of the second, as he beat talented Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal to make it 4-2. Denisenko now has three points in the tournament and is showing the flash that could make him a first-round pick (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
PAVEL GOGOLEV -- While other Russians were at Five Nations, Gogolev was starring for Peterborough in the Petes' 6-1 win over Mississauga on Thursday. He fired seven shots and recorded his second hat trick of season to earn No. 1 star honors. Denisenko, who finished a game plus-4 for the second time in 2017-18, began his scoring binge with the Petes' first goal to make it 1-1 on a power play at 6:40 of the opening period. His second goal, scored at 4:21 of the middle period, was the eventual game-winner for a 2-1 lead. Gogolev capped off his hat trick with an unassisted goal at 18:01 of the third. This was his fifth multi-goal game of the season, and he now has 23 goals in 53 OHL games. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JESPERI KOTKANIEMI -- As a Finnish Liiga regular, Kotkaniemi is one of the most experienced players at the Five Nations tournament, and it really showed on Thursday night as he put up two goals and two assists in the Finns' 5-3 win over Sweden. Kotkaniemi started his four-point evening with the primary assist on the game's first goal at 7:53 of the opening period. Five minutes later at 12:57, Kotkaniemi had another primary helper on a goal that tied the score at 2-2. Continuing his first-period rampage, Kotkaniemi scored at 15:46 to make it 3-2. He added another goal to make it 5-2 at 16:12 of the third period. These were Kotkaniemi's first points of the tournament, and doing this in front of so many scouts will raise his draft stock. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
DEMETRIOS KOUMONTZIS -- Arizona State is a new program in NCAA Division I hockey, and in Koumontzis they have a recruit who might one day be a superstar. The diminutive forward is currently starring in Minnesota high school hockey, and he made a mark Thursday in Edina's 6-3 win at Eden Prairie. Koumontzis scored two goals and added an assists to power the Hornets. His first goal opened the scoring at 1:18 of the first period. Later in the first at 12:45, Koumontzis assisted on a power-play goal that cut Eden Prairie's lead to 3-2. At 15:51 of the second, Koumontzis scored again to tie the game 3-3 and set off a run of four unanswered Edina goals. He now has 19 goals and 39 points in 23 games this season, which includes goals in three of his last four games. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JACK PERBIX -- Perbix, a Notre Dame recruit, continued to dominate Minnesota high school hockey with a goal and four assists in Elk River's 6-1 win over Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper on Thursday. All four of his assists came in the second period. The 6-foot-1 center kicked off his middle-period outburst with the primary assist on the game's first goal at 5:50. Another primary helper on the eventual game-winner followed for a 2-0 lead at 7:31. On a power play at 10:40, Perbix assisted on the 3-0 goal, and he picked up another primary assist as the Elks stretched it to 4-0 at 13:31. Perbix got power-play goal of his own for a 5-1 lead at 5:16 of the third period. Perbix is now tied for the state assists lead with 42 in 25 games. He is also tied for fourth in the state scoring race with 61 points and is riding a four-game scoring streak in which he has averaged more than three points per game. (Note: Eighth appearance on this list in 2017-18)