• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
Mondays are normally a slow day for draft-prospect action, but this Monday was special.
This Monday was Canada's annual Family Day. Citizens in most provinces are encouraged to engage in family activities, and what could be better for the typical Canadian family than going to a hockey game? This was particularly true in Ontario, since the OHL played a full slate. There were also games in the QMJHL, WHL, OJHL and other Tier II leagues.
So Monday's top-performances list is a bit longer than usual -- three players from the busy OHL, one familiar name from the QMJHL, and one from Junior A. Check them out here:
JACOB BERNARD-DOCKER -- The North Dakota hockey team has been a middle-of-the pack runner in the NCHC this season, but a great recruiting class is about to make the Fighting Hawks far more competitive. One of those recruits, defenseman Bernard-Docker, has had a huge season in the AJHL. He continued to shine on Monday, leading the Okotoks Oilers to a 7-4 win over the Calgary Canucks. Bernard-Docker scored twice in the victory to claim Home Team Star of the Game honors. He got it going with an unassisted goal at 14:50 of the first period for a 2-1 lead. He later made it 6-2 on a power play at 5:26 of the third. Since returning from an injury, Bernard-Docker has put up five points in three games. He has also been a star selection in back-to-back, two-goal games. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
EVAN BOUCHARD -- Some NHL team is going to be very lucky to get Bouchard in June. He's a top-five talent who will likely go outside that group. If it weren't for Rasmus Dahlin, he might be the best defenseman in this draft, and he is already the best of the major-junior blue-liners. On Monday, Bouchard continued his high-scoring ways with a goal and assist in London's 3-1 win over Windsor. The game's No. 1 star assisted on the first goal just 46 seconds after the opening faceoff. He then delivered the eventual game-winner on a power-play at 1:38 of the second, making it 2-0. With 21 goals and 73 points in 56 games, Bouchard ranks third in the OHL in assists and is No. 1 among defensemen. Riding a six-game point streak, he is ninth in the overall points race and the highest-scoring defenseman. Wow. (Note: 16th appearance on this list in 2017-18 -- leads all defensemen)
BRADY HINZ -- Earlier in the season, while he was with Sarnia, Hinz was a regular on this top-performances list. His offensive numbers have dipped since being traded to Peterborough, but he regained his October spark on Monday, scoring two goals and assisting on another in the Petes' 4-3 OT win over Niagara. Hinz earned No. 3 star honors and was the definite hero by game's end. His afternoon started with a goal at 15:02 of the first period for a 1-1 tie. In the second, Hinz assisted on a goal that put the Petes up 3-1 at 7:09. He went on to win the game with an unassisted goal at 1:48 of overtime -- picking up a loose puck at center ice and going all the way for the goal. It was his first multi-point performance with Peterborough and his first multi-point game since Dec. 15. Hinz might not get drafted because he's very small at 5-foot-8, but he has four three-point OHL games this season and deserves consideration. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ALLAN McSHANE -- McShane had a three-point day for Oshawa on Monday, leading the Generals to a 5-4 OT win over North Bay as the game's No. 1 star. His lone goal opened the scoring on a power play at 19:28 of the first period. He later had the primary assist on a power-play goal at 11:21 of the second for a 3-2 lead and helped make it 4-2 with an assist at 2:26 of the third. McShane is now just under a point-per-game average with 17 goals and 55 points in 56 OHL games. That includes his current 11-game point streak and five-game goal-scoring streak. He ranks second on the General in scoring behind 2017 Bruins second-rounder Jack Studnicka. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
FILIP ZADINA -- You can't say enough about this Czech star, who continues to amaze as a QMJHL rookie after being so dominant during the 2018 World Junior Championship tournament. On Monday, he scored twice during Halifax's 6-5 OT win over Rimouski. The first goal opened the scoring 36 seconds into the game. The second goal came minutes later, short-handed at 5:26, to make it 3-0. With the two goals, Zadina is now up to 39 goals and 69 points in 46 outings. That ranks him second in the league in goals, and he now has one more goal than 2017 No. 1 overall pick Nico Hischier scored for the Mooseheads last season. More important, he is in the midst of a seven-game scoring streak that has featured a total of 12 goals and a two-points-per-game average. (Note: 19th appearance on this list in 2017-18 -- leads all players)