• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
With a day off at the World Junior Championship, there weren't as many draft prospects on display Wednesday. Several major-junior games produced only a handful of top performances, so Wednesday's list is limited to three players.
Thursday should be more interesting, thanks to the World Junior semifinals. The first game pits Brady Tkachuk and Team USA against Rasmus Dahlin and Sweden. You have to go with the home team in what is sure to be a close game. In the second semifinal, Canada takes on this year's team of destiny, the Czech Republic. It would be a huge upset if the Czechs win, but beating Carter Hart is too much to expect on this stage. Prediction: Canada vs. USA in Friday's final.
On an unrelated note, it's only fair to mention that Minnesota high school prospect Demetrios Koumontzis, an Arizona State recruit, had four goals and an assist for Edina in a 5-1 win on Tuesday. Koumontzis would have been on this list for Tuesday, but his box score did not become available in time. He will, however, be credited in the overall top-performances standings.
While waiting for the big World Junior showdowns, take a moment to check out Wednesday's top-performances trio below:
OLIVIER BOURRET -- Bourret had a QMJHL career-high three assists in Cape Breton's 8-2 win over Moncton on Wednesday to earn No. 3 star honors. All three were primary helpers. He began with the lone assist on the opening goal at 6:06 of the first period. He assisted on a goal at 15:05 of the first to make it 2-0, and set up the game's final goal at 15:51 of the third. Bourret has 16 points in 36 games, and six have come on a pair of three-point nights. On Wednesday, he snapped a four-game scoring drought and surpassed his rookie season total of 13 points. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
RYAN McLEOD -- With his big brother playing for Canada in the World Juniors, Ryan reminded scouts that there's another McLeod to watch. On Wednesday, he had a goal and two assists in Mississauga's 5-3 win at Erie. The game's No. 3 star started his point parade with the primary assist on a power-play goal for a 1-0 lead at 6:28 of the first period. He later assisted on a goal to make it 2-1 at 7:30 of the second before scoring his own power-play goal seven minutes later at 14:15 for a 3-1 lead. McLeod, one of Central Scouting's Grade A prospects for 2018, now has 11 goals and 41 points in 38 OHL games. He has a three-game scoring streak as well as nine points in his last five games. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)
DAVID TENDECK -- Tendeck has been outstanding for the WHL's Vancouver Giants with a 14-7-1 record in net. His performance Wednesday was typical, as he stopped 27 shots in a 4-3 OT shootout win at Edmonton. He made 12 saves in the second period, 14 in the third and three in overtime. He also allowed just one goal in a seven-round shootout. The red-hot goalie has won eight of his last 10 WHL starts since establishing himself as the Giants' No. 1 goalie. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)