• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
The second day of the World Under-18 championships in Russia was a less eventful than the first. There were no upsets or real surprises. Two players from the tournament are on the list of top performances below.
Major-junior playoffs also continued Friday with the QMJHL and WHL opening final fours. Unfortunately, the teams remaining in both of those leagues are really thin on 2018 draft prospects, so the World Under-18 is far more interesting at this point.
It is hard to believe that the draft in Dallas takes place in only 62 days. That's exactly two months from this weekend. Most prospects are done for the season and locked into their rankings, but the three listed here still have a chance to boost their stock:
JUSTIN DUCHARME -- It was a career night for Bathurst forward Ducharme, who erupted for two goals and an assist in a 6-3 win over Victoriaville. Ducharme was an unlikely hero in the QMJHL semifinal opener with the first playoff goals of his career and his first three-point performance. The game's No. 2 star scored short-handed at 7:38 of the first period for a 1-1 tie and again at 19:22 of the first to put his team up for good at 2-1. He closed his scoring spree with the primary assist on a goal at 9:49 of the second, stretching the lead to 5-1. A QMJHL rookie, Ducharme now has eight points in 11 postseason games.
JACK McBAIN -- The Boston College recruit helped Canada's World Under-18 team crush Belarus 8-3 with a goal and two assists. McBain, one of only two CJHL players on the Canadian roster, opened the scoring just 1:19 into the game and picked up an assist at 12:48 of the first period, pushing the lead to 5-2. At 4:44 of the third, he recorded another assist for a 7-3 lead. All of his points came due to great chemistry with linemate Serron Noel. (Note: 13th appearance on this list in 2017-18)
SERRON NOEL -- Noel was a force for Team Canada in it second game at the World Under-18's -- scoring two goals and three points in an 8-3 rout of Belarus. The Oshawa Generals star, ranked 10th among North Americans by Central Scouting, picked up the lone assist on linemate Jack McBain's opening goal at 1:19 of the first period. Later in the first, he scored at 12:48 to make it 5-2, and he tallied his second goal at 4:44 of the third for a 7-3 lead. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)