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Shane Endicott is having a breakout season. The fourth-year center is leading the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League in goals and points, and is poised to set career best marks in all the major offensive categories. His hot form has helped the Penguins recover from a slow start which saw them win only one of their first seven games, to now leading the East Division after their fifth straight win, including back-to-back wins against Norfolk on the weekend.

Endicott, at 6’3 and 214 pounds, and drafted 52nd overall by the Penguins in 2000, has oddly scored 39 points in all three previous seasons as a pro. He is currently in the milestone fourth season, where many prospects realize their potential. Already this season he has eight goals and 13 points, making him seventh overall in league scoring.

The 23-year-old has found his way onto the scoresheet most nights for the Penguins, and is regularly among the best players on the ice – win or lose. Endicott’s scoring tear began on opening night, as Endicott lit the lamp in a 6-3 loss to the Manitoba Moose. He then went on to score in each of the next three games. Endicott continued during the five-game winning streak, culminating in the game-winning goal on Sunday night against Norfolk at Wachovia Arena.

Along with Endicott, many other quality prospects are performing strongly in Wilkes-Barre. Goalie tandem Marc Andre Fleury and Andy Chiodo have returned to form in a big way, combining to allow only one goal in the first three games of the streak, including a shutout each. Selected in the 2003 draft, first and 199^th overall respectively, the two project to be a strong tandem for many years to come. Fleury started the streak by stopping 36 of 37 shots in a 4-1 victory against Albany. Chiodo followed that performance the next night, shutting out Bridgeport with 26 saves, allowing a tight 1-0 victory on the back of a goal from Michel Ouellet. Fleury, not to be outdone, posted the Penguins’ third win in as many nights by blanking the Senators 2-0, making another 28 saves.

Young sniper Michel Ouellet has continued his goal-scoring form from his rookie season in 2003-04, which saw him named in the all AHL Rookie Team after scoring 30 goals and 49 points. Ouellet scored twice against Norfolk on Sunday, taking his tally to seven from 12 games this season. His supreme one-on-one skills have been on display in the two Penguins games that have gone to a shootout, tallying three times from four attempts. Ouellet came up huge against the Admirals on the 6^th of November, potting a nailbiting do-or-die goal on the Penguins’ sixth shot of the winner takes all tiebreaker. Kris Beech would seal the win with his second score of the shootout in the eighth round.

One of the better players for the Penguins so far this season has been 2001 first round draftee Colby Armstrong. His determination and strong defensive play has meant his efforts have gone largely unrewarded on the scoresheet. Armstrong made up for much of that on Sunday night. The right winger exploded for two goals and two assists against Norfolk in a strong 6-2 victory, easily making him the game’s first star. The 21-year-old native of Saskatoon now has eight points, following totals of 27 and 18 in his last two seasons with Wilkes-Barre, after a successful junior career with Red Deer of the WHL.

Fans in Wilkes-Barre are also blessed by several impressive rookies taking the ice at Wachovia Arena. At 6’4 and 205 lbs., perhaps the most impressive of those is young defenseman Ryan Whitney. The 21-year-old was taken with the fifth overall pick in the 2002 draft, and originally came to the Penguins during the Calder Cup playoffs last season, showing skills beyond his years in posting a goal and nine assists in 20 playoff games. This meant that expectations for Whitney heightened, and coach Therrien responded by using him during important moments on the power play and penalty kill. Whitney got off to a slow start, posting a regrettable -8 in the first few games. He has shown since then that he can handle the extra responsibilities, scoring four assists, and improving his plus/minus to -5.

Another first year pro for the Penguins is former WHL star Erik Christensen. While playing for Kamloops in the 2002-03 season, he showed the Penguins that they had made a good choice by taking him in the third round, 69^th overall in 2002, by posting 54 goals and 54 assists to take the WHL scoring title. His numbers dropped the following season, but he did enough to earn himself a contract and a roster spot in Wilkes-Barre. His form has been consistent and solid, getting his first career goal on October 22. Christensen is showing he is capable on both sides of the puck, ranking eighth on the Penguins with an even plus/minus rating.

After ranking third in scoring in the QMJHL with 98 points (25 goals, 73 assists) in only 51 games for Gatineau in 2003-04, Maxine Talbot is looking to continue that success to a Penguins jersey this season. The talented playmaker scored over 200 points in his last two seasons of junior, as well as leading his Gatineau team to the QMJHL championship in consecutive seasons, winning the playoff MVP both times on the way. Talbot was the first player to lead playoff scoring twice in a row since the great Guy Lafleur. Talbot also represented Canada at the 2004 World Junior Championships, recording three assists on the way to a silver medal. So far this season, the 5’11, 176-pounder has been impressive in all facets of the game. His three assists place him 11^th in team scoring, but his impressive +3 rating is a team high.

Entering his third year in Penguins colors, Matt Murley has taken the responsibility of being an alternate captain for Wilkes-Barre in 2004-05. Murley impressed in his first two seasons, earning two call-ups to Pittsburgh in 2003-04, as well as being selected for the AHL All-Star game. His trips to the senior side were not too successful however, scoring only a goal and an assist in 18 games. Murley, now 24, has started quietly so far this season, scoring a single goal and adding three assists. Murley remains on the right side of the balance sheet in plus/minus, his +1 good enough for sixth on the team.

Other prospects currently in Wilkes-Barre include forwards Cam Paddock, Ben Eaves and defensemen Drew Fata and Ross Lupaschuk. Paddock, a center out of Vancouver, is playing in his first professional season after winning a Memorial Cup last season for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. Paddock led his team with four points from four matches to take the prestigious championship. Paddock has started in eight matches this season, most often on the fourth line, for no points and four penalty minutes.

Drew Fata, brother of Pittsburgh Penguins Rico, has started in just nine games this season, after splitting last year between Wilkes-Barre and the ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers. Fata is scoreless with 25 penalty minutes, but has shown signs that more time will produce better results for him.

Boston College graduate Ben Eaves and fourth-year defenseman Ross Lupaschuk have yet to dress due to injury.

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