Welcome to the December 2019 edition of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) prospects report, where we will take a look at players in the Blackhawks system and track their progress throughout the 2019-20 junior hockey season.
Alec Regula (D)
Team: London Knights (OHL)
Stats: 27 GP, 11 G, 15 A, 14 power play points (PPP), 80 shots
Highlights:
#Blackhawks defenseman prospect Alec Regula scored his seventh power play goal this season for the London Knights tonight. He has 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 24 #OHL games. pic.twitter.com/zlSXvi8G78
— Brandon (@brandonmcain) December 7, 2019
Analysis: Regula was one of the final cuts for Team USA as they prepare to start the 2020 World Junior Championship later this week.
It was a bit surprising to see him cut after posting an excellent first half of the season as a leading member of the Knights. Through 27 games, Regula is averaging 0.96 points per game, well up from the 0.59 mark set last season. He’s logging heavy minutes for one of the OHL’s top teams, and has been a offensive weapon on the power play with eight power play goals.
What they’re saying about Regula: “USA Hockey is carrying 26 players to Europe and expects to finalize its roster Tuesday. They have two of nine defencemen left to cut. If they have seven rearguards better than what Knights co-captain Alec Regula has been this season, then give them the gold medal right now.” Ryan Pyette, National Post
Alexis Gravel (G)
Team: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Stats: 20 GP, 8-12-0, 0.897 Sv%
Highlights:
Desperation dive pays off for @NHLBlackhawks prospect Alexis Gravel of @HFXMooseheads to represent @QMJHL in this week’s #CHLShowdown.
VOTE 🗳: https://t.co/fI3X1c1mse pic.twitter.com/1VXTMNeyDL
— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) December 15, 2019
Analysis: The Halifax Mooseheads are experiencing a down season, currently ranked 13th among the QMJHL’s 18 teams.
Gravel’s numbers have been down all season – in 4 December games, he’s posted a record of 2-2 with a save percentage of 0.899, marginally up over his overall success rate this season.
Gravel was not selected to Team Canada’s selection camp, and will therefore spend the holidays with family instead of trying to win gold at the WJC.
His performance to date is more of a reflection on the state of the Mooseheads than Gravel himself, and there’s a real chance he might be flipped before the trade deadline as Halifax looks to load up on draft picks for the future.
Still, it would have been nice if he had been able to play for Canada.
What they’re saying about Gravel: On November 30, Gravel finished with 32 saves for his first shutout of the season. “He stepped up big tonight,” Halifax winger Maxim Trepanier said. “He’s playing really good lately so we’re lucky to have him. It’s good for his confidence to get that shutout.”
Michal Teply (LW)
Team: Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
Stats: 29 GP, 13 G, 17 A, 12 PPP, 121 shots
Highlights:
Let’s count down the top FIVE plays of the season so far!
At #5 its @NHLBlackhawks 4th round pick and Winnipeg ICE forward Michal Teply with a laser one-timer from the slot off a feed from Isaac Johnson. #FeelTheFreeze pic.twitter.com/OKBLAaPiDR
— Winnipeg ICE (@WHLWpgICE) December 20, 2019
Analysis: Teply will join several other Czech-born NHL prospects on the host team for the WJC, parlaying a strong rookie season in Winnipeg into a potential starring role on the national team.
The tournament will be played in Ostrava and Třinec, Czech Republic, with both cities well within driving distance from him hometown of Havlickuv Brod.
He finished the 2019 portion of his first WHL season strong, recording back-to-back 2 points games (1 G, 1A) before joining the Czech club.
It’s still early, but Chicago definitely seems to have scored by selecting Teply in the 4th round of the 2019 draft, and it would not be surprising to see the 18-year-old become more of a household name with a breakout performance for his country.
What they’re saying about Teply: “Chicago Blackhawk prospect Michal Teply has been everything, and maybe even more than what Ice management was expecting when they made the 4th overall pick in the CHL Import draft. The 6-3, 192 pound 18-year-old right winger is among the WHL leaders in game-winning goals with five in the 30 games he played prior to leaving for the World Junior Tournament in his home nation of the Czech Republic.” (Kelly Moore, Global News)
Cole Moberg (D)
Team: Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Stats: 28 GP, 4 G, 14 A, 9 PPP, 72 shots
Analysis: Moberg ranks 2nd on the Cougars in scoring for a Prince George team that sits 21st out of 22 in the WHL.
His 0.64 point per game average is down slightly from the 0.66 recorded last season, but he’s stepping up for a team that needs every ounce of offense and leadership it can muster.
Can’t ask for much more from a 7th round draft pick.
What they’re saying about Moberg: “Defenseman Cole Moberg opened my eyes in Traverse City with his physical, defensive play at the rookie tournament. Now back in the WHL with Prince George, Moberg is on pace for his best offensive year yet with 14 points in 21 games. His career high is 40 points, established last season.” (Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News).