Six New York Ranger prospects took to the ice as we entered the third day of the CHL playoffs and NCAA Tournament. It was a day of mixed results as just two prospects saw their team win and the remaining four lost.
There are just seven prospects left playing and at this rate, the Ranger prospect season could be over in a couple of weeks. Not a good thing.
CHL Playoffs
Bryce McConnell-Barker is trying his very best to make sure his Soo Greyhounds keep playing as he earned second star honors as the Greyhounds defeated the Guelph Storm 4-1 in game two of their OHL’s Western Conference playoff series to take a 2-0 series lead. McConnell followed his first star performance in game one with a second star award in game two.
McConnell-Barker set up what proved to be the game-winning goal and then set up the insurance helper as well. In the second period with the Greyhounds already up 1-0 and on a two-man advantage power play, from the top of the slot McConnell-Barker would spot Marco Mignosa at the right post and fired a pass that Mignosa was able to just tap in for the Greyhounds second goal of the game at 5:39.
With his team still on a two-man advantage power-play 45 seconds later at 6:24, McConnell-Barker would this time set up Jacob Frasca by repeating the same play from the top of the slot firing a pass that Frasca would also tap in to make it 3-0 for the Greyhounds. McConnell-Barker is playing so far with an intensity that has not been seen previously.
Old Ranger fans will understand what it means when I use the term “McConnell-Barker is playing like a captain should”. McConnell-Barker knows that his days of playing with the Soo Greyhounds are coming to an end and he is making the most of them.
Two games, a combined 1-3-4 with two stars of the game. There is even a nasty side of him coming out as McConnell-Barker took a cross-checking and a slashing penalties in this game. He is even a combined 16-10 on his faceoffs after two games.
With the Greyhounds up in the series 2-0. the series shifts to Guelph for game’s three and four starting on Monday.
Maxim Barbashev and his Rimouski Oceanic can’t seem to figure out how to stop the Cape Breton Eagles offense. In game two, the Oceanic gave up three goals in the first period and then four more in the third period as they lost 7-3 to fall behind 2-0 in the series.
Barbashev to his credit played hard as he was one of the few positives that the Oceanic had. Barbashev recorded two assists on three shots with one hit. Barbashev earned a secondary assist on his team’s first goal, a power play goal at 7:34 of the first period which gave the Oceanic their only lead of the game at 1-0.
Barbashev’s other assist was the only assist on his team’s third goal which cut the score to 7-3. The Oceanic as a team just have not looked good in either of the first two games and if they can’t find ways to limit the Cape Breton offense then this series will end very quickly.
The way this series schedule has been set up, the next three games are in Rimouski starting on Tuesday so if Rimouski has any hopes of winning this series then they need to sweep their home games.
NCAA Tournament
Brody Lamb and his Minnesota Golden Gophers gave Boston University a fight but at the end of the day, it was Boston University coming away with a 6-3 win in the Sioux Falls Regional Final and the trip to the Frozen Four. Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead but a late goal would send the game into the first intermission with just a 2-1 lead.
The second period proved to be Minnesota’s undoing as they scored three times to take the lead. Brody Lamb would earn the primary assist on Minnesota’s third goal of the game which at the time tied the game up at 3-3.
But Boston University took the lead for good late in the second period and Minnesota just could not find a way to tie the game in the third period. Boston University would add two empty-net goals for the final score.
For Lamb, the end of his sophomore season was a mixed blessing as he put up decent numbers (12-15-27) which was more than three times what he had as a freshman. The problem was Lamb at times was invisible on the ice and several times a few of you who took the time to watch Minnesota games would ask if Lamb was playing.
He was lights out good early in the season and for a short while it appeared as if Lamb would have a monster season. But after November the numbers became inconsistent and while he was 5-9-14 in the second half, he can’t have that if he wants a Rangers contract.
Next season Lamb has to improve his consistency, go on the attack more and average at least three shots a game. Lamb needs to turn those 12 goals into double and become a top six player. Anything less and he will fall too far behind as a prospect.
Hank Kempf and his Cornell Big Red just didn’t have enough offense to be able to defeat Denver University as they fell 2-1 to lose in the Springfield Mass Regional Final. Cornell’s defense was rock solid as they limited a very good Denver team to just 18 shots for the entire game.
But Cornell just could not solve Denver’s goalie Matt Davis for more than just a first period goal. Cornell never got more than nine shots on goal in any of the periods which is a huge reason why they lost.
It is heartbreaking as Cornell had worked so hard to get this far but being just a defensive team no longer works in hockey as without offense then sorry you won’t win a championship. As for Hank Kempf, the Rangers seventh round draft pick in the 2021 NHL Entry draft, he simply has not progressed in his development to view as a legit prospect.
His only hope is to attend as many of the Ranger’s rookie development camps, take the lessons from them and hopefully have a breakout senior season. 98 NCAA games with just two goals is not going to get you an NHL Entry Level Contract, maybe an AHL contract as a defensive specialist but that is it.
Kempf needs to improve his entire skating package from his stride to his first step to his speed. If Kempf can figure out how to improve his hockey IQ then he has a shot. Cornell used him as a first pair defender which is his biggest plus as he can play defense really well, but he needs the other areas to take the next step.
No contract for him right now but he attends Cornell so you know he has a smart head on his shoulders. The Rangers need all the defensemen they can get their hands on.
USHL
Ty Henricks was scoreless as his Muskegon Lumberjacks just spanked the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders 7-1. The Lumberjacks spotted the RoughRiders a 1-0 first period lead and then blew them out with seven unanswered over the second and third periods.
Henricks did not record a shot which is disappointing as he has been showing signs of improvement. The win was the Lumberjack’s fifth straight and while it tied Green Bay in points, Green Bay has one more game in hand.
Rasmus Larsson had an assist as his Green Bay Gamblers lost in overtime to the Chicago Steel 5-4. Larsson earned the primary assist on the Gamblers fourth goal of the game, his 12th assist of the season and his 16th overall point (4-12-16).
The point earned allowed Green Bay to keep their spot in second place in the USHL’s Eastern Conference as they have five regular season games remaining to Muskegon’s four.
Green Bay has a three games in three nights set with Youngstown next weekend followed by a “home and home” set to end the season against Madison. Muskegon has a “home and home” series next weekend with USNTDP and then end their season with two games in Chicago against the Steel