This has been one of the ugliest seasons covering the New York Rangers prospects in the 21 years of covering them. Very little offensive output and so far more losses as we get closer to the annual holiday break than ever seen.
Yet once again Raoul Boilard was the offensive star even as his Baie-Comeau Drakkar (16-11-1-1) lost as they did on Saturday evening 5-4 to the Quebec Remparts in QMJHL play. Boilard for the second straight game was 1-1-2 in a losing effort.
Boilard had a secondary assist on the Drakkar’s first goal at 35 seconds into the second period. That goal cut Quebec’s lead to 2-1 but Quebec would score three more goals to take a 5-1 lead in the third period.
The Drakkar would score three goals to cut the lead to 5-4 with 1:13 remaining in regulation with Boilard scoring the third goal after the Drakkar had pulled their goalie for the extra attacker. It was Boilard’s seventh goal of the season but the Drakkar would get no closer than that as they dropped their third straight game.
A frustrating loss for sure as Boilard did play well with his 1-1-2 night coming on five shots with a +2 and going 8-6 on his faceoffs. The two points improved Boilard’s prospect leading point totals to 7-18-25 for the season and a 53.7 faceoff win percentage.
Nathan Aspinall had two primary assists as his Flint Firebirds (11-14-1-1) lost to the Sudbury Wolves in overtime 5-4 in OHL action. Aspinall would get the primary assist on teammate Matthew Mania’s goal at 7:13 of the first period, a power play goal that gave the Firebirds their only lead of the game at 1-0.
In the third period with his team trailing 4-2, Aspinall would get the only assist on teammate Blake Smith’s even strength goal at 8:12. Aspinall was 0-2-2 on four shots to improve his season totals to 7-12-19 as he jumps into third place among the Rangers prospect scorers.
E. J. Emery was scoreless as his 17th-ranked North Dakota Fighting Hawks (9-7-1 NCHC 4-2) defeated Miami (Ohio) 4-2 in NCHC conference play. The freshman defenseman was credited with two shots, a +2 and one blocked shot (his 19th).
Brody Lamb was scoreless as his fourth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-2-1 Big10 7-0-1-0) shut out sixth-ranked Michigan 2-0 in Big 10 conference play. It was the first time in over 80 years that the Gophers had shut out Michigan on back-to-back nights (Jan 14th and 15th 1943).
Lamb was used as the third line center as he was 4-9 on his faceoffs, credited with three shots and was called for a slashing minor. Lamb has now played all three forward line spots this season and even through he did not score, that is still a win for his prospects to earn a Rangers contract.
Zakary Karpa was scoreless as his Harvard Crimson (3-5-2 ECAC 1-3-2-1) played to a 0-0 overtime tie with St. Lawrence in ECAC play. The Crimson earned the extra standings point by winning the shootout 1-0.
Karpa was credited with one shot while earning a boarding minor and going 12-3 on his faceoffs. Harvard is off on their holiday break until New Years day when they face Quinnipiac.
Noah Laba was scoreless as his eighth-ranked Colorado College Tigers dropped a 5-1 non-conference game to 10th-ranked Providence College. It was a lost weekend for the Tigers as they dropped both games of their weekend set with Providence.
Laba was scoreless on one shot with a -1 and a interference minor while going 9-9 on his faceoffs. After starting the season 8-0, Colorado College has gone 1-4-1-0.
Ty Henricks was scoreless as his seventh-ranked Western Michigan Broncos (10-3-1 NCHC 5-0-1-2) dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to second-ranked University of Denver in NCHC play. The loss mean Western Michigan split their weekend series with Denver.
Henricks did not record a stat while playing as the fourth line left wing. The Broncos are now off until December 29th when they will play in the Great Lakes Invitational.
Hank Kempf was scoreless as his 12th-ranked Cornell Big Red (5-3-3 ECAC 2-3-2-1) dropped a 6-3 decision to Colgate in ECAC play. Kempf was not credited with any shots but was a +2 for the game.
Cornell is off on their holiday break until January 3rd when they play UMass in a non-conference game.
Did Not Play
Rasmus Larsson was not in the Northern Michigan lineup as they took on Ferris State. No reason was given for the absence.
