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Blackhawks prospects James Wisniewski and Corey Crawford were honored by their respective junior leagues for their excellent performance during the 2003-04 regular season. Wisniewski, 20, was nominated by the Plymouth Whalers for three trophies, the Max Kaminsky trophy, the Ron Tilson trophy, and the Bobby Smith Trophy. The Max Kaminsky trophy is awarded to the OHL defenseman of the year, the Ron Tilson trophy to the OHL player of the year, and the Bobby Smith Trophy for Scholastic Player of the year.  The trophies have not yet been awarded.

Wisniewski was also selected for the first OHL All-Star Team. Wisniewski was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round (188th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.  In 50 games this season, Wisniewski had 17 goals and 53 assists for 70 points with 63 PIMs.  His Plymouth Whalers will face the Guelph Storm in the semifinals of the OHL playoffs in a best-of-seven. Wisniewski was signed by the Blackhawks on March 22nd, and will probably play next season with the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL.

Goalie Corey Crawford won the Ford Cup, the award for the QMJHL defensive player of the year.  The 19-year-old was also selected for the second QMJHL All-Star Team. Crawford was the Blackhawks second pick (52nd overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft.  In 54 games this season, he was 35-15-3 with a 2.62 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Crawford and the Moncton Wildcats will face the Prince Edward Island Rockets in the QMJHL quarterfinals. Crawford is unsigned, and will probably return to juniors next year, as the Blackhawks already have at several goalies already playing pro. 

PROSPECT NOTES

Center Johan Andersson, a sixth round draft pick (181st overall) by the Blackhawks in 2003, will be switching teams next year. Although the 19-year-old played with Troja/Ljungby of the Swedish Second Division this year, Andersson has signed with Linköpins HC for next year. 

Colin Fraser helped the Red Deer Rebels to win Game 7 of their latest playoff series, with two assists in that game. Red Deer will face Moose Jaw in the next series, starting Friday, against Hawks goaltending prospect Mike Brodeur. Fraser, 19, was acquired with Jim Vandermeer in the trade that saw Alexei Zhamnov traded to the Philadelphia Flyers. He was originally drafted in the third round (69th overall) by the Flyers in 2003. Fraser is being coached by the brother of Chicago Blackhawks coach Brian Sutter, Brent Sutter.

Center Vladislav Luchkin, a seventh round pick (225th overall) in 2000, went scoreless as his team Molot-Prikame Perm defeated Dynamo-Energiya Ekaterinberg in game three of a five game quarterfinal. As a result, Molot will move on to the next round.  It seems unlikely that the 23-year-old will ever play in America.

Center Jari Viukhola, a sixth round selection (158th overall) in 1998, also saw playoff action, going scoreless with 2 PIMs as Karpat lost to HIFK 5-0. Viukhola was moved down from the first line to the second line for that game.  HIFK leads the best-of-five series 2-1.  The 25-year-old was one of the highest scoring players in the top Finnish League for the regular season, and will be one of the players most watched during next year’s Blackhawks training camp.

The AHL Norfolk Admirals have now been shutout for the two consecutive games. Goalie Craig Anderson, 23, stopped 23 shots as Norfolk lost 3-0.  Anderson, a third round selection (73rd overall) of the Hawks in 1999, saw off and on time with the Blackhawks this season before being sent back down to Norfolk.  On the Admirals’ radio broadcast, Norfolk coach Trent Yawney said it was no longer a sure thing that Anderson would be starting for Norfolk in the playoffs. He added that Anderson and Michael Leighton would compete for the starting job, as Yawney did not expect Leighton to be sent down from the Blackhawks earlier this week. Anderson and Leighton continue to fight to claim a position backing up goaltender Jocelyn Thibault. Norfolk is currently in fourth place with 75 points in the AHL Eastern Division standings, only one point ahead of the fifth place Binghamton Senators.  The top five teams from each division make the AHL playoffs. The Admirals have five games left in the regular season.