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 (10-2-0-1) swept a three-game stretch to stay undefeated in November. Peter Regin scored the game-winner in overtime for a victory over the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche) Tuesday. Mark McNeill scored back-to-back game-winners against the Iowa Wild, 5-3 on Thursday, and Grand Rapids Griffiths (Detroit Red Wings), 3-1 on Saturday. Their current eight game win streak is a new AHL franchise record for consecutive wins. The previous streak was six, set in 2008-09.
McNeill has scored in each of his last four games and tallied a point in five-straight games in eight of his last nine, which earned him AHL player of the week honors. He isn’t the only Hog riding a point streak, defenseman T.J. Brennan has a five-point streak with a goal and four assists.
Goaltender Scott Darling has improved since his NHL stint and post a 1.52 goals-against average and .948 save percentage to rank in the top five of the league. The Hogs are undefeated with Darling manning the crease this season.
Joakim Nordstrom scored two goals and Kyle Cumiskey had two assists against Iowa while McNeill scored a hat-trick against Grand Rapids.The IceHogs are currently in first place of the Midwest Division, three points in front of the Chicago Wolves (Blues, 8-2-2-0).
Indy
The Fuel (2-5-2-1) went 0-2-0-0 in a pair of games against the Cincinnati Cyclones, 3-1 on Friday, and the Wheeling Nailers, 4-3 on Sunday. The Fuel are in seventh place with seven points in the North Division.
Forward Robert Czarnik is tied for fifth in goals (5) and still holds the ECHL lead for power-play goals (3). The Fuel have struggled to generate scoring, but boast the fourth lowest penalty minutes in the league. Goaltender Cody Reichard has posted a 2.98 GAA and .892 SA this season.
Fellow net minder Mac Carruth was assigned to Rockford for the second time this season. Defenseman Ildar Telyakov has also been placed on the 21-day injured reserve list with an upper-body injury. The Fuel also acquired veteran forward Garett Bembridge from the Missouri Mavericks in exchange for future considerations. The 6-foot-0, 180 pound right handed shooter has posted two goals and six points in seven games for the Mavs this season.
NCAA, USHL, and others
Anthony Louis (F), Miami Ohio (NCAA) – Louis had two shots and an assist in two wins against Colorado College. He has six assists and seven points in 10 games this season for the RedHawks.
Michael Paliotta (D), Vermont (NCAA) – Paliotta had two assists in a 4-3 win over Maine. He has seven helpers and nine points on the season for the Catamounts.
Nick Schmaltz (F), North Dakota (NCAA) – Schmaltz had an assist in each game over Wisconsin and went 9-7 in the face-off circle.
Luke Johnson (F), North Dakota (NCAA) – Johnson scored a goal and assist and went 16-16 in the face-off circle against Wisconsin. The sophomore has three goals on the season.
Tyler Motte (F), Michigan (NCAA) – The Wolverines did not play this past week. Motte had one assist in two games as Michigan was swept by unranked Michigan Tech last week. He has two goals and has blocked 11 shots this season.
Vince Hinostroza (F), Notre Dame (NCAA) – Hinostroza went 4-2 on face-offs and had four shots as the Fighting Irish were swept by Minnesota. He has six assists and seven points with one game-winning goal this season for the Irish. He’s also 72-58 in the face-off circle.
Fredrik Olofsson (F), Chicago Steel (USHL) – Olofsson had an assist against Waterloo and Youngstown. He has seven goals and seven assists for the Steel.
Matheson Iacopelli (F), Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – Iacopelli scored his 50th goal of his USHL career against the Tri-City Storm on Friday. It was his 71st game in the league, making him the second-fastest player in USHL history to reach the milestone.
Ivan Nalimov (G), Admiral Vladivostok (KHL) – Nalimov has a 2.73 GAA and .902 SA over 14 games this season.
Carl Dahlstrom (D), Linkoping (SHL) – Dahlstrom did not play this week. He has one goal with eight penalty minutes over 18 games this season.
Robin Press (D), Södertälje (Allsvenskan) – Press was held scoreless in two games this week. He has five goals and 13 helpers in 21 games this season.
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