The Western Hockey League
The Columbus Blue Jackets have several players spending the 2003-04 season in the Western Hockey League. Brandon Wheat King teammates Tim Konsorada and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen were selected in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft, as well as Steven Goertzen of the Seattle Thunderbirds, also selected in 2002.Steven Goertzen - Right Wing – Seattle Thunderbirds - Selected in the 7th Round (225th Overall) in 2002
Seattle Thunderbirds forward Steven Goertzen is simply going about his business this season in the Western Hockey League. Goertzen, who sits ninth in team scoring with three points, has been unable to contribute offensively to his club. His defensive play, however, has been improving, despite playing on the team who boasts the worst record in the Western Hockey League, two points behind the expansion Everett Silvertips, for last spot in the U.S. Division. The season is still young for Goertzen, who will be watched closely by the Columbus organization.
| Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
| Seattle Thunderbirds |
WHL |
7 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| Since
Last Update |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
- |
Tim Konsorada - Right Wing – Brandon Wheat Kings – Selected in the 6th Round (168th Overall) in 2002
Wheat Kings captain Tim Konsorada can but watch his Brandon squad go 6-5-0-1 to kick off the start of the 2003-04 Western Hockey League campaign. With Konsorada out, the bulk of the Wheat Kings scoring will have to come from 2003 first rounder and Washington Capitals prospect Eric Fehr. The Wheat Kings, without their top three scorers from the 2002-03 season (Konsorada, Jordin Tootoo and Ryan Craig) need a speedy recovery from their captain, who is out indefinitely.
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen – Defense – Brandon Wheat Kings – Selected in the 3rd Round (65th Overall) in 2002
Offensively, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen has contributed with much more consistency after starting off his 2003-04 Western Hockey League campaign with a slow start. Tollefsen, who started the season hitting everything that moved, hasn’t swayed too far from his theory, although it has put him out of position on several occasions. As Tollefsen continues to mature throughout the season, Brandon fans should expect the rugged defenseman to bring his game to an entirely different level, and has already stepped up his game considerably from last season.
| Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
| Brandon Wheat Kings |
WHL |
12 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
17 |
-2 |
| Since
Last Update |
7 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
6 |
-4 |
Dan Fritsche - Center – Sarnia Sting – Selected in the 2nd Round (46th Overall) in 2003
Danny Fritsche is getting comfortable with the Columbus Blue Jackets. This is excellent news for the Blue Jackets organization. However, the Sarnia Sting may be less than thrilled about the ever growing possibility that they’ve seen the last of Danny Fritsche in a Sting uniform. In light of the recent injuries to Columbus forwards Andrew Cassels, Espen Knutsen, Trevor Letowski and Tyler Wright, Fritsche will see a dramatic increase in playing time, and is even slated to play on the top line against the Nashville Predators on October 18th, centering top scorer Geoff Sanderson and the underrated David Vyborny.
Trevor Hendrikx - Defense – Peterborough Petes – Selected in the 9th Round (283th Overall) in 2003
Trevor Hendrikx is doing what is asked of him in Peterborough. Keep the front of the net clear, and keep opponents honest in the defensive zone. The Petes sit last in the East Division, however they have played nearly half the games of the second place Oshawa Generals. Sitting at one game under .500, the club will have to be stingy on defense, due to their lack of scoring ability.
| Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/ |
| Peterborough Petes |
OHL |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
37 |
-5 |
| Since
Last Update |
4 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
13 |
-5 |
Marc Methot - Defense – London Knights – Selected in the 6th Round (168th Overall) in 2003
Marc Methot, much like Trevor Hendrikx, is relied heavily upon to instill, and keep, order in the defensive zone. The London Knights as a whole have been very successful of this, allowing just 2.3 goals per game. Methot, who plays a very calm and steady stay-at-home game, isn’t expected to offer up any more than a consistent game from the blueline.
| Team |
Leauge |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
| London Knights |
OHL |
10 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
11 |
| Since
Last Update |
8 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Columbus Blue Jackets have two players currently playing in the Quebec Major Junior League. Mathieu Gravel, selected in the eighth round of the 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft, as well as Philippe Dupuis of the Gatineau Olympiques, selected four rounds earlier in the same draft.Mathieu Gravel – Left Wing – Shawinigan Cataractes – Selected in the 8th Round (233rd Overall) in 2003
Shawinigan Cataractes winger Mathieu Gravel will not be counted on to show flashes of brilliance over the course of the 2003-04 season, but he will be asked to continue on as a key contributor night in and night out for Shawinigan. The 6’3″ Gravel, who finished fourth in club scoring a season ago, has increased the importance of his role with the club, by contributing regularly at both ends of the ice.
| Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
| Shawinigan Cataractes |
QMJHL |
9 |
1 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
-1 |
| Since
Last Update |
7 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
-4 |
Philippe Dupuis - Center – Gatineau Olympiques – Selected in the 4th Round (104th Overall) in 2003
There is no disguising the role that Philippe Dupuis plays as a center for the Gatineau Olympiques. Dupuis will not be confused for a natural goal scorer while on the ice, simply because he will be setting up his sniper teammates. Through 14 games, Dupuis has registered just two goals, but has added an impressive 11 assists, good enough for 11th in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Finding teammates to feed the puck to shouldn’t be a problem for Dupuis, with four of his teammates already in double digits for goals (Jean-Michel Daoust (12), Renaud Des Alliers (12), Petr Pohl (10) and Olivier Labelle (10)). The only problem with so many scorers on one team for Dupuis, is that it could quite possibly lead to a lack of icetime in Gatineau.
| Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
| Gatineau Olympiques |
QMJHL |
14 |
2 |
11 |
13 |
20 |
9 |
| Since
Last Update |
10 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
18 |
5 |
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