CHL Prospect update

Columbus Blue Jackets Canadian Hockey League Update – Third Edition

The Canadian Hockey League is roughly a third into the 2003-04 season, and Columbus Blue Jacket prospects playing in the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League should be hitting their stride. While some have impressed, others have played below expectations, and will look to picking up their play as we hit the middle of November.

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/Defense – Seattle Thunderbirds - Selected in the 7th Round (225th Overall) in 2002
Thunderbirds utility man Steve Goertzen has done everything asked of him so far in the 2003-04 Western Hockey League campaign by Seattle. He has been putting his #26 on the scoresheet with much more regularity, whether it be by scoring goals, adding assists, or chalking up minutes in the sin bin. Goertzen, who’s even gone so far as to play some games from the blueline, has been a regular contributor at both ends of the ice, including both special teams, Seattle’s mediocre penalty killing and anemic powerplay.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Seattle Thunderbirds	WHL	20	4	6	10	36	+3
Since Last Update		13	3	5	8	32	+2

Tim Konsorada - Right Wing – Brandon Wheat Kings – Selected in the 6th Round (168th Overall) in 2002
Wearing the ‘C’ in Brandon could be a curse. Captain Tim Konsorada, named the club’s captain in the offseason, remains sidelined indefinitely following shoulder surgery to start his 2003-04 season. Furthermore, interim captain Ryan Stone has suffered a broken orbital bone in a game against Calgary last week. Could there be any hesitation from the next player to be handed his jersey with a letter on it?
 
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen – Defense – Brandon Wheat Kings – Selected in the 3rd Round (65th Overall) in 2002
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen continues to go about his business patrolling the blueline for the Brandon Wheat Kings. Tollefsen has managed to play in all 21 Wheat King games this season, a vast improvement over last season which saw Tollefsen suffer half a dozen injuries over the course of the season. A healthy year will help Tollefsen round out his offensive and defensive game, and allow him to develop a much more consistent game, something Tollefsen struggled with while battling nagging injuries last season.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Brandon Wheat Kings	WHL	21	1	8	9	34	+1
Since Last Update		9	1	4	5	17	+3

The Ontario Hockey League
The Columbus Blue Jackets have a pair of prospects currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League. Defensemen Marc Methot of the London Knights and Trevor Hendrikx of the Peterborough Petes are 2003 National Hockey League Entry Draft Selections, while Columbus’ second round selection Dan Fritsche, who may be returned to the Sarnia Sting, continues to skate with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dan Fritsche - Center – Sarnia Sting – Selected in the 2nd Round (46th Overall) in 2003
It appears less and less likely that the Sarnia Sting, the second best team in terms of points in the Ontario Hockey League, will have the services of Danny Fritsche for the entire 2003-04 season. Fritsche, who after 11 NHL games has a guaranteed base salary of $700,000, will likely not be returned to the Sting this season.

Trevor Hendrikx - Defense – Peterborough Petes – Selected in the 9th Round (283th Overall) in 2003
Peterborough Petes defenseman Trevor Hendrikx continues to play his role well. Hendrikx, who has made great strides in improving his game thus far this season, and has even provided some interesting offensive numbers for the Petes. Hendrikx, who has averaged over four minutes in penalties so far this season, has definitely played the role of enforcer for the Petes. Hendrikx sits first on the Petes in penalty minutes and fifth overall in the league and has been a strong, stay-at-home player for the offensively inept Petes.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/
Peterborough Petes	OHL	17	1	5	6	71	-5
Since Last Update		10	0	4	4	34	0

Marc Methot - Defense – London Knights – Selected in the 6th Round (168th Overall) in 2003
Do not read too much into the plus/minus of London Knights defenseman Marc Methot. The London Knights are an offensive juggernaut in the Ontario Hockey League, and Methot has received the perks of that. The Knights are the highest scoring team in the OHL. Despite this, Methot has only managed to record two points on 96 goals scored by London. Methot, who has been steady to say the least in the defensive zone, is tied for second among his teammates and fourth in the league in plus/minus, sitting at a lovely +14.

Team	Leauge	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
London Knights	OHL	18	0	2	2	10	+14
Since Last Update		8	0	0	0	0	+3

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 8th 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
Mathieu Gravel has struggled to contribute offensively for the Shawinigan Cataractes, and is playing nowhere near the level that Shawinigan or the Blue Jackets scouting department would like to see him. Gravel has been less than noticeable on the ice, and is seeing less and less of the ice as a result. Gravel, who is a rather large player at 6’3″, needs to be able to use his body effectively without sacrificing his offensive play, which has yet to happen.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Shawinigan Cataractes	QMJHL	21	3	10	13	21	-2
Since Last Update		12	2	5	7	17	-1

Philippe Dupuis - Center – Gatineau Olympiques – Selected in the 4th Round (104th Overall) in 2003
Philippe Dupuis continues to anchor the second line for the Gatineau Olympiques, and continues to do a solid job of it. Tailing off after a strong start, Dupuis continues to create chances in the offensive zone with his strong forechecking to create turnovers, as well as his strong vision while in possession of the puck. While Dupuis is well ahead of the pace to repeat his 22-goal campaign from a season ago, he is on record to shatter his career high in assists set in 2002-03, with 34.

Team	League	GP	G	A	P	PIM	+/-
Gatineau Olympiques	QMJHL	20	3	13	16	29	+9
Since Last Update		6	1	2	3	9	0