by Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
TORONTO, ON — This week in review (December 31 – January 6), the glory comes to a solid veteran of Catching the Torch.
Your comments are most welcome. If you have a question about any of the prospects email me, and perhaps it will be answered in the weekly All Habs Mailbag feature that appears on these pages on Thursdays.
The Three Stars
1. RW Danny Kristo
While a holiday break interrupted his schedule at North Dakota, Danny Kristo does not appear to have lost a step from inaction. Kristo would begin a weekend series against the College of the Holy Cross marking a goal and assist as North Dakota leapt out to a 5-0 lead for an eventual 5-2 victory. Kristo would repeat his scoring feat the following night in a rematch against Holy Cross, marking an assist and scoring the game-winning goal to give North Dakota a sweep of their weekend series. Kristo’s 4 points on the week mark him becoming the career scoring leader among active players in NCAA hockey with 133 career points. He is currently on a 5-game points streak of 5 goals and 4 assists and is ranked 11th in NCAA scoring. Danny Kristo was drafted in the 2nd round, 56th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2008 NHL Draft.
2. C Alex Galchenyuk
Alex Galchenyuk has played what is almost certainly his only turn in the World Junior Championships, but the Team USA forward did not leave empty-handed. Galchenyuk would mark a goal and assist against Slovakia in the final game for Team USA in the round-robin portion of the tournament, in a 9-3 rout. Galchenyuk would also collect an assist against the Czech Republic as the United States would shut them out 7-0. Galchenyuk would advance with Team USA but would go pointless in the Semi-Final and Gold Medal Game victories by Team USA, as they claimed their 2nd Gold Medal in 4 years. Galchenyuk would finish the Tournament with 8 points in 7 games, 1 point out of the team lead. He was also named the OHL Player of the Month for December, with 11 goals and 6 assists over 7 games for the month. Alex Galchenyuk was drafted in the 1st round, 3rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.
3. LW Tim Bozon
After a noted quiet period of goal scoring with the Kamloops Blazers, Tim Bozon has become resurgent of late. Bozon would lead the Blazers in a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Giants to start the week, scoring a goal and two assists in the win. Bozon would next add an assist to his scoring totals in a 6-1 victory for the Blazers over the Seattle Thunderbirds. Bozon is currently enjoying a 5-game points streak of 7 goals and 5 assists and is 5th overall in WHL scoring. Tim Bozon was drafted in the 3rd round, 64th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.
On The Radar: 
– RW Sebastian Collberg scored a goal and assist with Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships and earned a Silver Medal. He has 8 goals and 5 assists in 12 career World Junior Championship games.
– D Darren Dietz scored a goal and assist, he is tied for the goal scoring lead for WHL defencemen with 11 on his season.
– C Gabriel Dumont scored a goal and assist
– RW Brendan Gallagher scored a goal and assist.
– LW Charles Hudon scored two goals and one assist.
Question Marks:
– D Mac Bennett has 2 points in his last 10 games.
– C Michaël Bournival has 1 point in his last 11 games.
– LW Blake Geoffrion is out indefinitely while recovering from a depressed skull fracture.
– RW Louis Leblanc has 1 point in his last 15 games.
– D Brendon Nash has been axed from Catching the Torch following his being loaned to the AHL San Antonio Rampage. Loan likely indicates MTL considers him outside the depth chart.
– C Joonas Nättinen is out with a shoulder injury.
– RW Aaron Palushaj is out with a shoulder injury.
– D Greg Pateryn is out indefinitely with a fractured elbow.
– LW Steve Quailer has 1 point in his last 12 games.
World Junior Championships
RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.
Team Sweden – Silver Medalist
| Tournament Stats | 6GP | 4G | 2A | -1 | 2 PIM |
C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Team USA – Gold Medalist
| Tournament Stats | 7GP | 2G | 6A | +2 | 4 PIM |
Complete Statistics for the week of December 31st, 2012
Legend
Skaters: Games Played, Goals, Assists, +/-, Penalty Minutes
Goalies: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses, Goals Against Average, Save Percentage
Teams: Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses, Shootout Losses. For NCAA, Wins, Losses, Ties. For Elitserien/Allsvenskan/Extraliga, Wins, Losses, Overtime Losses.
Season Stats: Season scoring prior to the past week.
The AHL Report: The Hamilton Bulldogs have been the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since 2002. It is the most common route for developing Montreal Canadiens prospects into full-time members of the organization. There are currently 13 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs are 18-17-1-3 this season, 5th in the North Division, 30th overall in the AHL.
D Nathan Beaulieu: 20 years old, 6’2”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 29GP | 2G | 10A | -7 | 35 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 0A | -4 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 33GP | 2G | 10A | -11 | 35 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 28GP | 2G | 9A | -3 | 12 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 32GP | 2G | 9A | -4 | 12 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 30GP | 9G | 9A | +6 | 37 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 1G | 1A | -2 | 6 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 34GP | 10G | 10A | +4 | 43 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 27GP | 3G | 4A | -3 | 31 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 0A | -5 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 31GP | 3G | 4A | -8 | 31 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 20 years old, 5’9″, 182 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 30GP | 9G | 9A | 0 | 46 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 1G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 34GP | 10G | 10A | +1 | 46 PIM |
LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’1”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 10GP | 4G | 2A | -3 | 9 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 10GP | 4G | 2A | -3 | 9 PIM |
RW Patrick Holland: 20 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 30GP | 3G | 6A | -9 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 1G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 34GP | 4G | 6A | -8 | 2 PIM |
RW Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 18GP | 3G | 2A | +1 | 15 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 22GP | 3G | 2A | 0 | 17 PIM |
C Joonas Nättinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 187 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 24GP | 5G | 4A | +6 | 8 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 24GP | 5G | 4A | +6 | 8 PIM |
RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 21GP | 7G | 3A | -9 | 18 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 21GP | 7G | 3A | -9 | 18 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’2”, 219 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 7GP | 0G | 1A | -3 | 0 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 7GP | 0G | 1A | -3 | 0 PIM |
LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 209 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 29GP | 4G | 3A | -1 | 17 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 33GP | 4G | 4A | -2 | 21 PIM |
D Jarred Tinordi: 20 years old, 6’6″, 218 pounds, LH shot
| Season Stats | 30GP | 1G | 4A | -3 | 33 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 4GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 34GP | 1G | 4A | -3 | 35 PIM |
The Juniors Report: The Canadiens currently feature prospects playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). These leagues can be considered the primary conduit towards professional hockey in North America.
QMJHL:
LW Olivier Archambault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.
Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs
Team Record: 23-14-1-1
| Season Stats | 38GP | 16G | 20A | +1 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 1G | 1A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 39GP | 17G | 21A | 0 | 24 PIM |
LW Charles Hudon: 18 years old, 5’10”, 171 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Chicoutimi Saguenéens – Team Captain
Team Record: 19-18-2-2
| Season Stats | 27GP | 18G | 18A | +7 | 32 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 2G | 1A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 29GP | 20G | 19A | +8 | 34 PIM |
OHL:
C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Sarnia Sting – Team Captain
Team Record: 24-13-0-3
| Season Stats | 33GP | 27G | 34A | +16 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 33GP | 27G | 34A | +16 | 22 PIM |
C Brady Vail: 18 years old, 6’, 195 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Windsor Spitfires – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 14-19-1-5
| Season Stats | 37GP | 13G | 21A | -6 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | -2 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 39GP | 13G | 23A | -8 | 22 PIM |
WHL:
LW Tim Bozon: 18 years old, 6’0”, 183 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Kamloops Blazers
Team Record: 28-10-2-2
| Season Stats | 39GP | 24G | 29A | +26 | 40 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 3A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 41GP | 25G | 32A | +27 | 40 PIM |
D Darren Dietz: 19 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 21-18-0-1
| Season Stats | 38GP | 10G | 12A | -21 | 61 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 1A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 40GP | 11G | 13A | -18 | 65 PIM |
D Dalton Thrower: 19 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades
Team Record: 21-18-0-1
| Season Stats | 23GP | 3G | 8A | +9 | 43 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | +4 | 6 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 25GP | 3G | 9A | +13 | 49 PIM |
US College Hockey (NCAA) Report: The Canadiens have drafted a number of college players in recent years, these are generally ‘project players’ who benefit from additional years in lower level hockey to develop their skills.
D Mac Bennett: 21 years old, 6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 7-11-2
| Season Stats | 19GP | 4G | 8A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 29GP | 4G | 8A | +3 | 4 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 22 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 12-5-3
| Season Stats | 16GP | 8G | 13A | +11 | 14 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 2G | 2A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 18GP | 10G | 15A | +11 | 14 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 20 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Team Record: 12-5-3
| Season Stats | 18GP | 7G | 8A | +11 | 8 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 20GP | 7G | 9A | +11 | 8 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic.
C Daniel Pribyl: 20 years old, 6’3”, 193 pounds, RH shot.
Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Praha
Team Record: 18-16-2
| Season Stats | 24GP | 4G | 5A | +4 | 8 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 26GP | 4G | 5A | +4 | 8 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Elitserien or Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. A prospect playing well in this league is a typical indication they may be ready for the NHL. The Allsvenskan is the secondary professional league of Sweden, playing directly under the Elitserien.
RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Frölunda HC
Team Record: 18-15-3
| Season Stats | 16GP | 0G | 2A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 0G | 2A | +2 | 2 PIM |
Allsvenskan Team: Örebro HK
Team Record: 18-14-3
| Season Stats | 15GP | 6G | 2A | +4 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 15GP | 6G | 2A | +4 | 2 PIM |
D Magnus Nygren: 22 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Färjestads BK
Team Record: 21-10-5
| Season Stats | 30GP | 6G | 11A | +10 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 32GP | 6G | 12A | +10 | 41 PIM |
RW Erik Nyström
Allsvenskan Team: Karlskrona HK
Team Record: 8-26-0
| Season Stats | 10GP | 2G | 3A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 10GP | 2G | 3A | +2 | 2 PIM |