Photo: University of Michigan defenseman and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Zach Werenski and his Wolverines teammates will take on Notre Dame in the Midwest Regional of the 2016 NCAA Hockey Tournament (courtesy of Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
The Michigan Wolverines won the Big Ten championship this weekend, and Zach Werenski led the way with an unbelievable performance. Also in this weeks Prospect Impressions, an AHL veteran joins a small group of players to pull off a special goal. Thatcher Demko is in the news again thanks to his desperate save in a clutch situation, and Stuart Skinner is another goaltender in the news but for something you wouldn’t expect. Plenty more highlights are featured, including a 50-goal scorer and a great scrap from the OHL.
With every accolade Zach Werenski adds to his ever-growing collection this season, Columbus Blue Jackets fans are watering at the mouth at the thought of adding him to their blueline. Over the course of this year, Werenski was named the Best Defenseman at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, posted 10 goals and 24 assists in 34 NCAA games, and was recently named to the Big Ten All-Star Team after garnering the Defensive Player of the Year honors. As if all that wasn’t enough, Werenski guided Michigan to a Big Ten championship by playing a role in all four goals, including scoring this game-winner (click link in first tweet).
The @BlueJacketsNHL #1 pick Zach Werenski will be a solid NHL for a long time. Great at getting pucks to net #mints https://t.co/hNteYQ8L3q
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 20, 2016
Zach Werenski had the GWG(10) and 3 assists(22,23,24) in a 4-3 Michigan win in the Big 10 title game #CBJ
— CBJ Prospects (@CBJProspects) March 20, 2016
Some refer to it simply as the “Michigan Goal,” others might call it a lacrosse move, but whatever you want to call it, you will never get tired of seeing it attempted. Famously innovated by Michigan’s Mike Legg, other names such as Niktia Gusev, Mikael Granlund, and Rob Schremp have pulled it off in a game. Is this the goal of the year from Kael Mouillierat?
Kael Mouillierat’s lacrosse goal vs Hershey Bears in the AHL last night… pic.twitter.com/hhFtQz54Yl
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) March 21, 2016
O’Neill on Mouillierat’s goal: “Def the goal of the year in the AHL, if not the NHL. 95 percent of it is ‘go for it’ and he went for it.”
— Tom Venesky (@TLTomVenesky) March 21, 2016
Two former teammates collided this weekend as Erie Otters center Jake Marchment (LAK) took on Chad Heffernan and the London Knights in a battle for the Western Division crown. The Otters have leaned on Marchment for his abilities on special teams, veteran presence in the locker room, and his penchant for dropping the gloves when it matters most. Once teammates with the now defunct Belleville Bulls, take a look as these two brahma-bulls lock horns in a good old-fashioned hockey fight.
Chad Heffernan and Jake Marchment drop the gloves in an epic tilt last night https://t.co/KwmI4YbRnx
— Hockey Central (@HockeyCentraI) March 19, 2016
Heffernan and Marchment get into a very spirited tilt, nothing but haymakers, and a LOT of them connected
— Chris Croucher (@CroucherSports) March 19, 2016
It is safe to say it has been a pretty good week for North Bay Battalion forward Mike Amadio. The Battalion captain burst onto the scene this year, and with just two games remaining in the season, Amadio eyed up a chance to score his 49th and 50th goals of the season. Heading into this past weekend, Amadio had a fresh NHL contract in hand from the Los Angeles Kings and played with confidence this weekend to notch goals number 49 and 50, both while shorthanded.
#LAKings’ prospect Mike Amadio is so dangerous. Has scored many goals like this (force turnover & breaks out easily) https://t.co/984OVY2PFw
— Kathryn Jean (@msconduct) March 18, 2016
#LAKings prospect Mike Amadio scored his 50th goal of the season on a shorthanded breakaway in @OHLBattalion’s win https://t.co/rVi9sBFvsY
— Kathryn Jean (@msconduct) March 19, 2016
Congratulations to Mike Amadio on scoring his 50th goal. A true 200 foot player who scores his 50th shorthanded. #winner
— Stan Butler (@CoachStanButler) March 19, 2016
Boston College goaltender Thatcher Demko once again improved upon his career bests this year in wins, goals-against average, and save percentage and could possibly guide the Eagles to glory. Demko has racked up some serious nominations lately, including the Hockey East Co-Player of the Year, and a spot among the finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. Simply put, he is one of the best young goaltenders on the planet and Demko added yet another highlight-reel quality save to his resume in the Hockey East semi-finals.
Unbelievable blocker save by Thatcher Demko in the Hockey East Semi Finals pic.twitter.com/O0T18wl1XU
— Goalie Ways (@GoalieWays) March 19, 2016
.@BCHockeyNews Thatcher Demko named @WarriorHockey Co-Player of the Year #HockeyEast pic.twitter.com/GZHlSo2DqC
— Hockey East (@hockey_east) March 18, 2016
Seventeen-year-old goaltender Stuart Skinner was highly touted coming out of the SSAC Lions Bantam program, and for good reason. Selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft by the Lethbridge Hurricanes, he already has over 90 games played in the last two seasons, but it was something he did this weekend that has the junior hockey community talking. Known for his puckhandling skills and interest in helping out his defensemen, Skinner took matters into his own hands and launched one towards the open net.
Lethbridge Hurricanes’ goalie Stuart Skinner scored a goal in the WHL last night (That announcer though?) pic.twitter.com/edhI5pUcDc
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) March 19, 2016
Spoke with @WHLHurricanes goalie Stuart Skinner who became the 7th ever @TheWHL goalie to score a goal. Says its a moment he’ll never forget
— Adam Scully (@adam_scully) March 21, 2016
Playoff success is nothing new to Skelleftea captain Jimmie Ericsson. With two SHL championships, one KHL Gagarin Cup, and numerous international medals, Ericsson knows what it takes to win when the game is on the line. Facing an offensive zone faceoff, Ericsson did something few have accomplished since Mario Lemieux made it famous in the early 90’s, scoring directly off of the faceoff.
Jimmie Ericsson scores ridiculous overtime winner on face-off vs HV71 (SHL Playoffs) pic.twitter.com/Wn0TPfc4Vc
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) March 20, 2016
In OT of game 3 between Skellefteå & HV71, Jimmie Ericsson just Mario Lemieux’d in the GWG. Shot it right off the faceoff, five hole to win.
— Michael Farkas (@MichaelFarkasHF) March 20, 2016
Last week’s Prospect Impressions feature
Follow Dave Hahn on Twitter via @DHahnHockey
