Beyond Tomorrow: Draisaitl makes a solid first impression

by Brian Fogarty
on

Leon Draisaitl - Prince Albert Raiders

Photo: Prince Albert Raiders forward and 2014 draft prospect Leon Draisaitl is a finalist for the WHL's Rookie of the Year award (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

The Prince Albert Raiders have struggled to make the playoffs for the last several years, despite the best efforts of players like current team leader and first-round NHL draft pick, Mark McNeil (CHI). Enter Leon Draisaitl, a German-born WHL rookie and 2014 draft-eligible forward who scored at nearly a point-per-game pace in his rookie season. Draisaitl and McNeil combined for 125 points and led the Raiders to their first post-season appearance in almost a decade.

Read more»

Los Angeles Kings prospect awards feature a well-rounded group of players

by Jason Lewis
on
Tanner Pearson - Manchester Monarchs

Photo: Rookie winger Tanner Pearson has done a lot of the dirty work for the Manchester Monarchs’ top line in 2012-13 (courtesy of Fred Kfoury/Icon SMI)

 
While some teams thrive in the development of one position or another, the Los Angeles Kings have had players of all shapes, sizes, positions, and styles put up noteworthy seasons this year that deserve recognition. While the prospect pool has waned in recent times with promotions, trades, and general roster transactions and development, the team still has a wide range of talent in multiple positions. All the way from the two-way grinding forward, to the pure sniper, to the gritty and physical defenseman, the Kings have seen a number of talented draft picks put up superb seasons in 2012-13 in very different ways.

Read more»

2013 ISS Draft Rankings: Little change in Top 30, with Jones, Nichushkin still the top prospects

by ISS
on

Seth Jones - Portland Winterhawks

Photo: Portland Winterhawks defenseman and 2013 draft prospect Seth Jones holds a now familiar place at the top of ISS Hockey's ranking of this year's prospects for the NHL Draft (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

The U-18 World Junior Championship is set to begin in just a few short days, an event that could bring the last major shake-up in the rankings of the 2013 NHL Draft prospects. So it is no surprise that the pre-WJC release of ISS Hockey's ranking of the top 30 NHL Draft prospects sports few surprises, and instead reflects pretty much the status quo from the March rankings.

Read more»

2013 Frozen Four: Yale dominates HF’s All-Frozen Four squad

by Ian Altenbaugh
on

2013 Hockey's Future All-Frozen Four Team

Photo: Quinnipiac's Jordan Samuels-Thomas (C) had this first period opportunity in the national championship game, but Yale goaltender Jeff Malcolm (L) was equal to the task as defenseman Mitch Witek (R) looks on. All three players were named to HF's All-Frozen Four Team (courtesy of Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

The 2013 Frozen Four featured many spectacular individual performances, with several players achieving career milestones. Below is the Hockey’s Future All-Frozen Four Team. All six players were selected based not only on their individual play, but on how their play contributed to their team’s success.

Read more»

2013 Frozen Four: Yale throttles Quinnipiac to take NCAA Championship

by DJ Powers
on

Andrew Miller and Eric Hartzell - 2013 Frozen Four

Photo: Yale captain Andrew Miller pads the Bulldogs lead with this third period goal on Quinnipiac's Eric Hartzell to give his team a 3-0 lead. Yale would go on to win the game, 4-0, making them the 2013 NCAA National Champions (courtesy of Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

This time three weeks ago, it might as well have been called “The Impossible Dream”.

The Yale Bulldogs, who nearly missed getting into the NCAA Tournament, completed their improbable run to become the 2013 NCAA National Champions on Saturday night after defeating their in-state rival, the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 4-0 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Yale became the first-ever 15th-seeded team entering the NCAA Tournament to win a National Championship, which was the first in the program’s long, storied history.

Read more»