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Islanders NCAA prospects update
Written by: Luke Donahue on 01/31/2005 
O'Neill is currently tied for the Fighting Irish team lead in goals (6) and points (14), and is the lone leader in power play goals (5), and shooting percentage (.109). On the down side, however, he is putting up these team-leading numbers for the struggling Notre Dame offense, which is last in the nation in scoring, currently averaging a mere 1.5 goals per game. It is sometimes difficult to accurately assess the development of a player on such an offensively sluggish team. However, when taken along with his size (6'4, 207 lbs) and strength, O'Neill's production can only be seen as a plus, especially considering that he is still in his sophomore season with the Fighting Irish.
O'Neill figured prominently in Notre Dame's early season upset of Boston College--to date, the team's most important win. He scored the first goal of the game, and also added the assist on the winner, a break-out pass that led to the short handed goal that sealed the game with a mere 15 seconds on the clock.
Hailing from Essex, Ontario, O'Neill made his way to Notre Dame through the USHL, playing for the Green Bay Gamblers. In 2003-04, his freshman season at Notre Dame, O'Neill had 2 goals and 10 assists for 14 points in 39 games. He was named as an honorable mention to the CCHA All-Rookie team.
Briefly
Recent NCAA products in the system include standout University of Denver goalie Wade Dubielewicz, who led the AHL in 2003-04 with a 1.38 GAA and was named as the rookie of the year. Thus far in the 2004-05 season, Dubielewicz has posted a 2.67 GAA and .909 saves percentage for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. At defense for Bridgeport, Ryan Caldwell, a college teammate of Dubielewicz and member of the 2003-04 National Champion DU Pioneers team, has 1 goal and 5 assists in 36 games. Former University of Minnesota forward Matt Koalska also suits up for the Bridgeport squad. Koalska, who was released by the Nashville Predators last Summer and signed by the Islanders, has tallied a goal and 4 assists in 28 games. Defenseman Cody Blanshan, who played a single season for Nebraska-Omaha in 2002-03, has moved to the WHL for the past two seasons. So far, in 2004-05, he has amassed 22 points and 78 penalty minutes in 49 games for Medicine Hat.Copyright 2005 Hockey’s Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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