• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
In last night's report, I noted the performance of a goalie named Matt
Sankner, who plays for the South Kent Selects Academy's U18 team. Sankner
had recorded a 5-0 shutout win, and I felt he deserved some publicity. Well,
tonight, he made an even biggers statement. Playing in an AYHL game against
the New Jersey Rockets, Sankner put together another 5-0 shutout, and this
time he made 51 saves for Selects Academy.
It's probably not worth getting too excited about the performance of a goaltender playing in a fairly low level of U.S. hockey for players his age. At the same time, it would be crazy not to notice this, so here's another big shoutout for Sankner, a New Jersey native who most recently had played in the Philadelphia area, and might still be looking for a scholarship.
So enough about Sankner, because he can't keep this up, can he? Can he? Now it's on to the day's Top 10 draft-eligible prospects from around the hockey world:
NICOLAS BEAUDIN -- Beaudin came through in style for Drummondville, sparking the Voltigeurs to a 6-5 shootout win at Val d'Or. He scored two goals on five shots, and his second goal was as clutch as they come. Training 5-4 in the third period, Beaudin tied the game with under three minutes to go. He missed his shootout bid, but his team went on to win all the same.
LUKAS DOSTAL -- Dostal is one of the two top-notch Czech goalies in this draft, and he was recently moved up to the WSM Liga. He didn't waste any time notching his first victory in his WSM debut, as he stopped 35 of 37 shots in Trebic's 4-2 win over Prerov. Dostal will be battling Jakub Skarek to see which Czech netminder is drafted first in June.
CARL JAKOBSSON -- Playing for Karlstad Farjestad's U20 team, Jakbosson had a goal and an assist in a 6-2 win over Sodertalje. The goal, scored on a power play, was Jakobsson's first in the U20 division. All of the Swedish prospects are playing in Rasmus Dahlin's shadow this year, but Jakobsson, a 6-foot-1 left wing, is a player to watch.
JORDAN KOOY -- Kooy, who played in only 11 OHL games last season, was brilliant in goal for London, making 39 saves in a 3-2 OT win at Saginaw. He was hardly one of the most heralded goaltending prospects coming into the season, but if he continues to perform like his did in his season debut, draft watchers could be hearing his name more often.
PHILIPP KURASHEV -- A Swiss forward who came over to North America last season, Kurashev is off to a great start for the QMJHL's Quebec Remparts. He picked up a goal and two assists, and was plus-3 with four quality scoring chances in Quebec's 4-1 win at Baie-Comeau. Kurashev, the game's No. 3 star, looks like he's tuning up for his second World Junior Championship tournament later this season.
KEVIN MANDOLESE -- There's little argument that Mandolese is one of the top major-junior goaltending prospects for the 2018 draft. He showed why in a 3-1 win at Saint John, stopping 28 of 29 shots to earn No. 3 star honors. The QMJHL has two standout, NHL-sized goalies in Mandolese and Alexis Gravel, who will both go early in the draft.
ALLAN McSHANE -- McShane, a center, is on a mission to be a first-round pick this year, and he made some great headway with five assists in the Oshawa Generals' 7-4 OHL win at Sault Ste. Marie after scoring a goal in the team's opener a night earlier. With his five assists, McShane became the first CHL draft-eligible draft prospect to post a five-point night in the 2017-18 season.
NIKLAS NORDGREN -- Not a huge year for Finnish talent, but Nordgren is off to a very good start in the U20 league. He's a very small winger at 5-foot-8, but he dominated in Helsinki IFK's 4-1 win at Lappeenranta. Nordgren had a goal and two assists, as well as six shots on net and a plus-3 rating. If you're a fan of diminutive Europeans, start following this guy.
SERRON NOEL -- Guess who got the benefit of Oshawa center McShane's five-point night. It was his linemate, Noel, who had a hat trick for the Generals in the 7-4 blitz of the Greyhounds. Needless to say, Noel, already considered a high-end prospects, was named the game's No. 1 star.
JETT WOO -- Last year it was Nico Hischier as the major-junior darkhorse who rocketed up the rankings. This year, it just might be Woo. Yes, he came into the season as a highly-regarded prospect, but he's aready playing above expectations. Coming off a big night in the Moose Jaw Warriors' opener, Woo rebounded with a goal, an assist, and a plus-3 rating in his team's 7-3 win over visiting Prince Albert. Woo had the game-winner and came away as the No. 1 star. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)