• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
A busy weekend continued on Saturday, and there were plenty of candidates for a full list of 10 top performances by 2018 NHL draft prospects.
For all the news generated by this weekend, however, most draft watchers have their sights on the Five Nations tournament that begins on Tuesday in Plymouth, Mich. As part of a look ahead to that event, consider just the goalies who will be there. All of them have been featured in this space at times this season.
The Czechs are sending Lukas Dostal, who has showed up on this list more than any other goaltender with 15 appearances. Sweden is sending Olof Lindbom, the country's top junior goalie not named Samuel Ersson. The Finns are bringing Justus Annunen -- the hottest goalie in Finnish junior hockey with seven appearances on this list. Russia's Amir Miftakhov (eight appearances) will also be there, as well Team USA's Drew DeRidder, who has been featured here five times.
So much to look forward to, and while you wait, have a look at Saturday's top performances:
MATTHEW CAMERON -- Cameron, an RPI recruit, erupted for an NAHL career-high four goals and a plus-6 rating on Saturday in New Jersey's 7-3 win at Attleboro. He got started early, scoring his first goal at 16:06 of the opening period. He made it two goals for a 2-0 lead at 5:40 of the second, and scored twice more in the third -- the game-winner at 15:02 for a 4-3 lead and another goal at 19:22 to close the scoring. This was the first NAHL hat trick for Cameron, who has goals in three of his last four games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
TRISTAN COTE-CAZENAVE -- Victoriaville's goaltender rolled to his second shutout of the season on Saturday, stopping 37 shots to send the Tigres past host Drummondville 2-0. The game's No. 1 star stopped 10 shots in the first period, 15 in the second, and 12 in the third. He has now won each of his last four QMJHL starts. (Note: Fourth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
JACK DRURY -- Ted Drury's son and Chris Drury's nephew will follow dad's footsteps to Harvard once he's done with his USHL career. On Saturday, Drury scored twice and earned No. 1 star honors in Waterloo's 4-1 win over Cedar Rapids. He connected for the eventual game-winner on a power ply at 7:31 of the second period -- putting the Black Hawks up 2-1. He later sent home an empty-netter to close the scoring at 18:54 of the third. With 15 goals and 40 points in 36 games, Drury is riding an eight-game point streak. Saturday marked his third multi-goal game of the season. (Note: Third appearance on this list in 2017-18)
KEEGAN KARKI -- Cut loose from the U.S. NTDP program last year, big goaltender Karki has landed on his feet with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks. He led the way for Muskegon on Saturday with 33 saves in a 2-1 win over Madison. He stopped four shots in the first period, 11 in the second, and 18 in the third -- carrying a shutout to the 48:00 mark. Karki has now won two of his last three starts. (Note: Sixth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
LUKE LOHEIT -- The Minnetonka star continued his strong high school season with a goal and two assists in the third period of the Skippers' 5-4 win over Edina on Saturday. He assisted on a goal at 3:08 of the third period to make it 3-1, scored the game-winner to make it 4-1 at 5:17, and set up the empty-netter that finished it off at 16:58. Through 29 Minnesota high school games, the Minnesota-Duluth recruit has 12 goals and 29 points, including five points in his last two outings.
MATHEW MacDOUGALL -- MacDougall, a 5-foot-9 left wing, recorded his first OHL hat trick for Windsor in the Spitfires' 3-2 OT win at Saginaw on Saturday. A no-brainer selection as No. 1 star, MacDougall scored twice in the second period before delivering the game-winner. His first goal, at 2:57 cut the Spirit lead to 2-1. His second pulled Windsor into a 2-2 tie at 8:12. The rookie saved his best for last, scoring at 3:16 of overtime. The natural hat trick -- Windsor had trailed 2-0 when it started -- snapped a nine-game scoring drought and lifted him to 12 goals and 25 points in 50 games. (Note: Second appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ONDREJ PAVEL -- Pavel had one of his best games of the season with two goals and a No. 1 star selection in Minot's 4-2 NAHL win over Brookings on Saturday. His first goal, at 9:02 of the second period, stretched the early Minotauros lead to 2-0. His second goal, at 5:33 of the third, made it 3-0 and stood up as the game-winner. The two goals doubled his season-long output and snapped a 13-game goal drought that stretched back to Dec. 2.
JACK PERBIX -- If you are a Notre Dame hockey fan, you are salivating over this recruit right now. Perbix continued to tear up the Minnesota high school ranks on Saturday, scoring three goals and three assists in Elk River's 8-0 win at Irondale. His hat trick was of the natural variety -- with all three goals coming in a row. The six-point night began with the primary assist on the opening goal just 10 seconds into the game. At 5:52 of the first, he scored to make it 3-0. He scored his second goal on a power play at 5:31 of the second period and completed the natural hat trick with a goal just 42 seconds into the third. The night ended with assists at 5:44 and 10:30 of the final period, lifting Perbix to 36 assists and 54 points in 23 games. He is tied for fourth in the state in assists and 11th in points. In four of the past five games, he has combined for five goals and 13 points. (Note: Seventh appearance on this list in 2017-18)
TY SMITH -- Some scouts might have been concerned about Smith after his poor showing in the CHL Top Prospects Game, but those concerns have been laid to rest by his outstanding play back in the WHL. On Saturday, Smith scored a goal and had two assists in Spokane's 6-3 win at Tri-City. His goal, on a power play at 7:29 of the second period, tied the game 2-2. Less than 30 seconds later, with the Chiefs still on a power play, he assisted on the 3-2 goal at 7:43. He closed his three-point night with the lone assist on an empty-netter with 45 seconds left to play. Smith, the fifth-highest scoring defenseman in the WHL, has nine goals and 55 points in 52 games and 10 points in his last five. (Note: Eighth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
MATTHEW STRUTHERS -- Struthers should thank Owen Sound for trading him to an OHL team like North Bay, where he can showcase his talent. On Saturday, he earned No. 3 star honors in the Battalion's 4-3 OT shootout loss at Peterborough, picking up two more goals. His first opened the scoring just 85 seconds into the game. His second forced OT by tying the score 3-3 with five minutes left in the final period. With goals in three of his last four games, Struthers is now up to 17 goals and 32 points in 47 games. He has 14 of those points in only 15 games with North Bay. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)