Blackhawks prospect watch: Team USA eliminated from World Juniors, IceHogs streaking

Here is the weekly look at how some of the Chicago Blackhawks' prospects are performing around the globe, starting with the minor league affiliates.

Rockford

The IceHogs (21-11-3-1) have won three of their last four after back-to-back wins on the road against the Grand Rapids Griffiths (Red Wings) on Wednesday, 3-2 in a shootout, and 3-0 over the Chicago Wolves (Blues) on Saturday.

Ryan Hartman scored a goal and an assist while T.J. Brennan had a pair of assists in the win over Grand Rapids. Hartman also had an assist against Chicago for a three-point week. Matt Carey also scored and Peter Regin potted the game-winner in the shootout.

Mark McNeill had a goal and an assist while Klas Dahlbeck and Garrett Ross also scored against Chicago. Regin and Phillip Danault added helpers, and Adam Clendening picked up his second of the week.

Michael Leighton made 31 saves in each game.

Indy

The Fuel (6-19-3-3) fell 6-3 to the Fort Wayne Komets on Wednesday before getting rocked 8-1 by the Toledo Walleye on Friday and 3-1 by the Reading Royals on Saturday.

Garrett Bembridge scored a goal against Toledo and Reading while Roberet Czarnik registered a goal and an assist against Fort Wayne. Czarnik leads the Fuel in scoring with 17 goals and 29 points in 30 games this season.

Dan Ford and Nick Bruneteau also found the back of the net. Mac Carruth took all three loss in net for the Fuel.

NCAA, USHL, and others

Five Blackhawks' prospects played in the annual IIHF U20 World Championship tournament in Canada. Anthony Louis, Nick Schmaltz, Tyler Motte and John Hayden skated for Team USA while Robin Norell is still playing on Team Sweden.

Team USA was defeated by Russia in the quarterfinal round for the second straight year on Friday, 3-2. The loss eliminated Hayden, Motte, Louis and Schmaltz. Hayden was named the "Best Player" of the game for the U.S. He finished the tournament with one goal in five games. Schmaltz and Motte each had an assist during the tournament, while Louis was held without a point.

Team Sweden defeated Finland 6-3 to avenge their gold-medal loss last year and move to the medal round for the ninth consecutive year. Norell added his first point of the tournament on an assist in the game. The Swedes fell 4-1 to Russia in the semifinals and play Slovakia in the bronze-medal game at 3 p.m. CT in Toronto on Monday.

Michael Paliotta (D), Vermont (NCAA) - Paliotta had four shots on goal and was a -2 in a 3-1 loss to Yale on Saturday. He has 18 points this season (5G, 13A).

Vince Hinostroza (F), Notre Dame (NCAA) - The Fighting Irish did not play this past week. Their home-and-home against Western Michigan will be shown on CBS Sports Network on Friday (6:30 p.m. CT) and NBC Sports Network on Saturday (5:05 p.m. CT). Hinostroza has 12 assists and 16 points this season.

Fredrik Olofsson (F), Chicago Steel (USHL) - Olofsson has a career-high 23 points this season.

Matheson Iacopelli (F), Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) - Iacopelli went scoreless and did not register a shot over two games against Chicago. He has 18 points (13G, 5A) in 23 games this season.

Ivan Nalimov (G), Admiral Vladivostok (KHL) - Nalimov did not play this week. He previously allowed two goals in a 3-2 win over Metallurg. He has a 2.96 GAA and .895 SA over 20 games this season.

Carl Dahlstrom (D), Linkoping (SHL) - Dahlstrom had an assist this week. He has a goal and two assists with a -7 rating in 34 games this season.

Robin Press (D), Södertälje (Allsvenskan) - Press also went scoreless in a game this week. He has 10 goals and 16 assists in 37 games this season.

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