by Robert Rice, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
TORONTO, ON — This week in review (December 24-30), the glory comes to a new face at the top of the Three Stars Selections.
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.
Catching the Torch – The Three Stars
1. C Gabriel Dumont
While his 51-goal season in his final year in the Quebec Major Juniors is well behind him, Gabriel Dumont finds himself starting to find an offensive touch in the AHL this season. Dumont began his week adding in a assist in a literal last-second goal as the Hamilton Bulldogs attempted a late comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Toronto Marlies in an final 3-2 loss. Dumont’s next game however was probably the best scoring performance seen by any Hamilton Bulldog in a year or better and certainly the best pro game of Dumont’s career. Scoring his first professional hat trick along with two assists, Dumont powered a 6-3 defeat of the St. John’s IceCaps to help the Hamilton Bulldogs end an ugly 5-game skid. Dumont would miss the scoresheet in his final game of the week against the Lake Erie Monsters, a 4-0 shutout of the Bulldogs. Gabriel Dumont was drafted in the 5th round, 139th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2009 NHL Draft.
2. C Alex Galchenyuk
Alex Galchenyuk has taken a short break from his MVP role on the Sarnia Sting to be the top offensive weapon for Team USA at the World Junior Championships. Galchenyuk would start things off scoring a goal and two assists in an 8-0 rout of Germany for Team USA’sopening game. Galchenyuk would find himself a bit stifled in the next two contests, marking an assist on the lone goal for Team USA in a 2-1 loss against Russia, and then repeating with identical results against Canada marking a single assist in a 2-1 loss for Team USA. Galchenyuk through three games, leads Team USA in scoring with a goal and four assists. Alexander Galchenyuk was drafted in the 1st round, 3rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft..
3. RW Sebastian Collberg
Sebastian Collberg finds himself suiting up for Team Sweden in the World Junior Championships this week and picking up where he left off in the 2012 Tournament. Collberg would start by marking a goal in a 4-1 victory over the Czech Republic. Collberg would score a goal in the following game as well against Switzerland, tying the game up at 1 in a more tightly contested match that would end in a 3-2 shootout victory for Sweden. Collberg would end his week scoring a goal and assist in a 5-1 rout of Latvia. Collberg has scored 7 goals in 10 career games in the World Junior Championships. Sebastian Collberg was drafted in the 2nd round, 33rd overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2012 NHL Draft.
On The Radar: 
– D Nathan Beaulieu scored a goal and one assist.
– LW Tim Bozon scored five goals and one assist.
– D Darren Dietz scored a goal and three assists.
– D Morgan Ellis scored a goal and one assist.
– RW Erik Nyström with 1 goal, one assist this week and 5 points in 10 games in the Swedish Allsvenskan has been permanently added to Catching the Torch.
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Question Marks:
– D Mac Bennett has 2 points in his last 10 games.
– LW Blake Geoffrion is out indefinitely while recovering from a depressed skull fracture.
– 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 11 games.
World Junior Championships Section
RW Sebastian Collberg: 18 years old, 5’11”, 180 pounds, RH shot.
Team Sweden (3-0-0)
| Tournament Stats | 3GP | 3G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Team USA (1-2-0)
| Tournament Stats | 3GP | 1G | 4A | +3 | 2 PIM |
Complete Statistics for the week of December 24th, 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 15 members of the Hamilton Bulldogs that can be thought to have future consideration for an NHL position. The Hamilton Bulldogs are 11-16-1-2 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 | 26GP | 1G | 9A | -6 | 33 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 29GP | 2G | 10A | -7 | 35 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 20 years old, 5’11, 191 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 25GP | 2G | 9A | -3 | 12 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 28GP | 2G | 9A | -3 | 12 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 22 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 27GP | 6G | 6A | +3 | 33 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 3G | 3A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 9G | 9A | +6 | 37 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 20 years old, 6’1″, 202 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 24GP | 2G | 3A | -5 | 29 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 1A | +2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 27GP | 3G | 4A | -3 | 31 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 20 years old, 5’9″, 182 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 27GP | 9G | 8A | +1 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 5 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 9G | 9A | 0 | 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 | 27GP | 3G | 5A | -8 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 3G | 6A | -9 | 2 PIM |
C Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 190 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 15GP | 3G | 2A | -2 | 13 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | +3 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 18GP | 4G | 2A | +1 | 15 PIM |
D Brendon Nash: 23 years old, 6’3″, 206 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 22GP | 0G | 7A | +3 | 39 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | +2 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 25GP | 1G | 7A | +5 | 39 PIM |
C Joonas Nättinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 187 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 22GP | 5G | 4A | +6 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 4 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 | 27GP | 4G | 3A | 0 | 17 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 29GP | 4G | 3A | -1 | 17 PIM |
D Jarred Tinordi: 20 years old, 6’6″, 218 pounds, LH shot
| Season Stats | 27GP | 1G | 3A | -3 | 19 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | 0 | 14 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 1G | 4A | -3 | 33 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: 23-14-0-1
| Season Stats | 37GP | 16G | 20A | +2 | 20 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 1GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 38GP | 16G | 20A | +1 | 22 PIM |
LW Charles Hudon: 18 years old, 5’10”, 171 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Chicoutimi Saguenéens – Team Captain
Team Record: 17-18-2-2
| Season Stats | 27GP | 18G | 18A | +7 | 32 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 27GP | 18G | 18A | +7 | 32 PIM |
OHL:
C Alex Galchenyuk: 18 years old, 6’0”, 194 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Sarnia Sting – Team Captain
Team Record: 20-12-0-3
| 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: 14-17-1-5
| Season Stats | 35GP | 13G | 19A | -1 | 22 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 2A | -5 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 37GP | 13G | 21A | -6 | 22 PIM |
WHL:
LW Tim Bozon: 18 years old, 6’0”, 183 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Kamloops Blazers
Team Record: 26-10-2-2
| Season Stats | 37GP | 19G | 28A | +23 | 36 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 5G | 1A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 39GP | 24G | 29A | +26 | 40 PIM |
D Darren Dietz: 19 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
Team Record: 19-18-0-1
| Season Stats | 35GP | 9G | 11A | -20 | 51 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 3A | -1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 38GP | 10G | 14A | -21 | 53 PIM |
D Dalton Thrower: 18 years old, 5’11”, 200 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades
Team Record: 19-18-0-1
| Season Stats | 20GP | 2G | 8A | +11 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 1G | 0A | -2 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 23GP | 3G | 8A | +9 | 43 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: 7-10-2
| Season Stats | 17GP | 4G | 8A | +4 | 4 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | -1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 19GP | 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: 10-5-3
| Season Stats | 16GP | 8G | 13A | +11 | 14 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 16GP | 8G | 13A | +11 | 14 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 20 years old, 6’, 183 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Team Record: 10-5-3
| Season Stats | 18GP | 7G | 8A | +11 | 8 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 18GP | 7G | 8A | +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: 16-16-2
| Season Stats | 21GP | 4G | 5A | +3 | 6 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 3GP | 0G | 0A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 24GP | 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: 18-14-3
| 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: 17-13-3
| 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: 20-10-4
| Season Stats | 28GP | 6G | 11A | +9 | 41 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 0G | 0A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 30GP | 6G | 11A | +10 | 41 PIM |
RW Erik Nyström
Allsvenskan Team: Karlskrona HK
Team Record: 8-25-0
| Season Stats | 8GP | 1G | 2A | +1 | 2 PIM |
| Weekly Stats | 2GP | 1G | 1A | +1 | 0 PIM |
| Complete Stats | 10GP | 2G | 3A | +2 | 2 PIM |