Playoff March
Due to the season closing out in various leagues or playoffs commencing, Catching the Torch will be moving to a general bi-weekly format that will be published upon the conclusion of each round of the Canadian Hockey League playoffs.
Rocket Richard Award: In honour of the finest playoff scorer in Canadiens history, this award will go to the best player at the conclusion of each round of the CHL playoffs.
RW Brendan Gallagher
While Gallagher’s season is over, he left his mark with the Vancouver Giants in his final playoff appearance with the team. In a playoff series against the Spokane Chiefs that saw the Giants defeated after six games, Gallagher led his team in goals and points over six games with five goals and five assists. Gallagher’s 10-point performance also ranked him 5th in league playoff scoring through the 1st round of the WHL post-season. Gallagher was drafted in the 5th round, 137th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 Entry Draft. Gallagher is eligible to play in the American Hockey League in the 2012-13 season if he can not make the Montreal Canadiens out of training camp.
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, Ties (for NCAA teams only)
Season Stats: Season scoring prior to the past week.
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.
CHL Playoffs: The Post-season in each of the QMJHL, OHL and WHL have begun. Like the NHL, the series areBest of Seven Format and the League Champions of each league will earn a berth for the Memorial Cup as well as the host team. The host team of the 2012 Memorial Cup is the Shawinigan Cataractes.
QMJHL:
LW Olivier Archambault: 19 years old, 5’11”, 184 pounds. LH shot.
Junior Club: Drummondville Voltigeurs
28W, 31L, 2 OTL, 7 SOL – 12th of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
Playoff Record: 0-4, Eliminated in 1st round by the Quebec Ramparts.
| Playoff Stats | 4GP | 1G | 2A | -4 | 0 PIM |
| Season Stats | 45GP | 17G | 22A | -17 | 24 PIM |
D Nathan Beaulieu: 19 years old, 6’3”, 191 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Saint John Sea Dogs – Alternate Captain
50W, 15L, 0 OTL, 3 SOL- 1st of 17th overall in the QMJHL
Playoff Record: 4-0, Advanced to 2nd round by defeating the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
| Playoff Stats | 4GP | 2G | 3A | +9 | 8 PIM |
| Season Stats | 51GP | 11G | 41A | +41 | 100 PIM |
C Michaël Bournival: 19 years old, 6’, 187 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Team Captain
45W, 16L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL – 2nd of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
Playoff Record: 4-0, Advanced to 2nd round by defeating the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
| Playoff Stats | 4GP | 1G | 4A | +3 | 4 PIM |
| Season Stats | 38GP | 30G | 26A | +15 | 27 PIM |
D Morgan Ellis: 19 years old, 6’2″, 204 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Shawinigan Cataractes – Alternate Captain
45W, 16L, 3 OTL, 4 SOL – 2nd of 17th overall in the QMJHL.
Playoff Record: 4-0, Advanced to 2nd round by defeating the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
| Playoff Stats | 4GP | 2G | 5A | +7 | 2 PIM |
| Season Stats | 60GP | 15G | 37A | +18 | 56 PIM |
OHL:
D Jarred Tinordi: 19 years old, 6’6″, 215 pounds, LH shot.
Junior Club: London Knights – Team Captain
47W, 17L, 0 OTL, 1 SOL – 1st of 20th overall in the OHL
Playoff Record: 4-0, Advanced to 2nd round by defeating the Windsor Spitfires.
| Playoff Stats | 4GP | 0G | 1A | +1 | 9 PIM |
| Season Stats | 48GP | 2G | 14A | +39 | 63 PIM |
WHL:
D Darren Dietz: 18 years old, 6’1”, 195 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Saskatoon Blades – Alternate Captain
40W, 29L, 1 OTL, 2 SOL – 10th of 22nd overall in the WHL
Playoff Record: 0-4, Eliminated in 1st round by the Medicine Hat Tigers.
| Playoff Stats | 3GP | 0G | 1A | -1 | 5 PIM |
| Season Stats | 72GP | 15G | 29A | +7 | 118 PIM |
RW Brendan Gallagher: 19 years old, 5’8″, 175 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Vancouver Giants – Team Captain
40W, 26L, 2 OTL, 4 SOL – 8th of 22nd overall in the WHL
Playoff Record: 2-4, Eliminated in 1st round by the Spokane Chiefs.
| Playoff Stats | 6GP | 5G | 5A | 0 | 16 PIM |
| Season Stats | 54GP | 41G | 36A | +19 | 79 PIM |
RW Patrick Holland: 20 years old, 6’, 175 pounds, RH shot.
Junior Club: Tri-City Americans
50W, 18L, 2 OTL, 2 SOL – 2nd of 22nd overall in the WHL
Playoff Record: 4-0, Advanced to 2nd round by defeating the Everett Silvertips.
| Playoff Stats | 3GP | 1G | 3A | +4 | 7 PIM |
| Season Stats | 72GP | 25G | 84A | +42 | 48 PIM |
Elitserien Report: The Swedish Elite League is the top professional league of Sweden. The Allsvenskan league plays under it.
Elitserien Playoffs: The Swedish Elite League playoffs are played in a Best of Seven Format for the Le Mat Trophy.
D Magnus Nygren: 21 years old, 6’1”, 191 pounds, RH shot.
Elitserien Team: Farjestads BK
(27W, 18L, 10 OTL – 6th of 12 overall in the League)
Playoff Record: 5-5, Advanced to 2nd round by defeating HV 71. Currently 1-3 against Brynäs IF.
| Playoff Stats | 9GP | 0G | 2A | -2 | 0 PIM |
| Season Stats | 50GP | 7G | 11A | -10 | 6 PIM |
RW Alexander Avtsin: 20 years old, 6’2″, 199 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 60GP | 6G | 8A | -24 | 34 PIM |
C Philip DeSimone 24 years old, 6’1”, 188 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 58GP | 13G | 19A | -29 | 36 PIM |
C Gabriel Dumont: 21 years old, 5’10”, 189 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 42GP | 13G | 9A | -14 | 51 PIM |
C Andreas Engqvist: 23 years old, 6’4″, 191 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 45GP | 19G | 20A | +2 | 36 PIM |
C Olivier Fortier: 22 years old, 6’, 185 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 31GP | 7G | 7A | -2 | 26 PIM |
C Joonas Nattinen: 21 years old, 6’2”, 199 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 57GP | 10G | 9A | +1 | 30 PIM |
RW Ian Schultz: 22 years old, 6’2”, 201 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 31GP | 6G | 16A | -2 | 99 PIM |
Called up to Montreal:
RW Mike Blunden: 25 years old, 6’4”, 218 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 16GP | 3G | 4A | 0 | 8 PIM |
LW Blake Geoffrion: 24 years old, 6’2”, 190 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 25GP | 4G | 12A | -2 | 10 PIM |
C Louis Leblanc: 21 years old, 6’, 180 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 27GP | 9G | 10A | -8 | 26 PIM |
RW Aaron Palushaj: 22 years old, 6′, 188 pounds, RH shot.
| Season Stats | 31GP | 13G | 18A | +1 | 33 PIM |
D Frédéric St-Denis: 26 years old, 5’11”, 193 pounds, LH shot.
| Complete Stats | 51GP | 3G | 25A | -4 | 16 PIM |
Injured:
D Brendon Nash: 23 years old, 6’3″, 210 pounds, LH shot.
| Season Stats | 0GP | 0G | 0A | 0 | 0 PIM |
Concluded Seasons:
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: 20 years old, 6′, 180 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines
(24W, 13L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 41GP | 4G | 17A | +16 | 18 PIM |
RW Danny Kristo: 21 years old, 5’11”, 188 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
(26W, 13L, 3T)
Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament Champions
| Season Stats | 42GP | 19G | 26A | +17 | 33 PIM |
C Mark MacMillan: 19 years old, 6’, 170 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
(26W, 13L, 3T)
Western Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament Champions
| Season Stats | 42GP | 7G | 16A | +1 | 26 PIM |
D Greg Pateryn: 21 years old, 6’3”, 222 pounds, RH shot.
NCAA Team: University of Michigan Wolverines
(24W, 13L, 4T)
| Season Stats | 41GP | 2G | 13A | +16 | 65 PIM |
LW Steve Quailer: 22 years old, 6’4”, 200 pounds, LH shot.
NCAA Team: Northeastern University Huskies
(13W, 16L, 5T)
| Season Stats | 26GP | 8G | 17A | +7 | 34 PIM |
Czech Extraliga Report: The Extraliga is the top professional league in the Czech Republic. The First League is the league that plays under it.
C Daniel Pribyl: 18 years old, 6’3”, 190 pounds, RH shot.
Extraliga Team: HC Sparta Praha
35W, 7L, 10 OTL – 1st of 14th overall in the league
| Season Stats | 17GP | 2G | 0A | +1 | 4 PIM |
Czech First League Team: HC Berountsi Medovi
(20W, 29L, 3 OTL – 13th of 14th overall in the League)
| Season Stats | 21GP | 9G | 4A | -4 | 6 PIM |