Flames CHL Prospects: 2022-23 season

[Sandman]

Feb.5th:

Beck with 2a,+1 in a 4-3 win over Sarnia. 25gp/6g/22a/28pts,+17, 12 PIM.

Whynot had 1a,+2 in a 6-1 win over Rimouski. 43gp/3g/21a/24pts,+11, 16 PIM. Halifax (35-7-4-2) are second in the East, and second overall to Quebec, after going 9-0-0-1 in their last 10. Whynot is tied for 25th in D scoring.

Huckins was 3rd star in a 5-1 victory over Rouyn-Noranda, with 1g,1a,+1. He sits at 48gp/21g/23a/44pts,+21, 59 PIM. Sherbrooke (33-12-3-2) is first in the West, 3rd overall.

No Bell for Tri-City.

Ciona had 1a,+1 in a 3-1 win over Spokane. 42gp/21g/36a/57pts,+35, 57 PIM. Tied for 18th in scoring, 4th in plus/minus.

[Sandman]

Feb.8th:

No points,-1 for Whynot, as Halifax falls, 3-2 to Gatineau in a SO. 44gp/3g/21a/24pts,+10, 16 PIM. Tied for 25th in D scoring.

[Sandman]

Feb.9th:

No points,-1 for Beck as the 67's fall 5-2 to Gatineau of the QMJHL, in an annual event between the 2 clubs, known as the Alexandra Cup. 26gp/6g/22a/28pts,+16, 12 PIM. Ottawa is still the class of the OHL, but North Bay, Windsor, and London are nipping at their heels.

[Sandman]

Feb.10th:

Beck had 2a,+3 in a 6-1 win over Niagara. 27gp/6g/24a/30pts,+19, 12 PIM. Beck is tied for 28th in the OHL in plus/minus, despite missing a big chunk of the season.

Whynot had no points,-1 in a 6-4 loss to Drummondville. 45gp/3g/21a/24pts,+9, 16 PIM, tied for 27th in D scoring.

Huckins with 1g in a 6-1 victory against Blainville-Boisbriand. 49gp/22g/23a/45pts,+21, 59 PIM.

Still no Bell for Tri-City.

Ciona had 1a,+2 in a 6-1 win over Red Deer. 43gp/21g/37a/58pts,+37, 61 PIM. Tied for 20th in scoring, 5th in plus/minus.

[Sandman]

Feb.11th:

Beck gets the assist on Ottawa's only goal, but was a -2 in a 4-1 loss to Gatineau in the second game of the Alexandra Cup. 28gp/6g/25a/31pts,+17, 12 PIM.

No Whynot tonight for the Mooseheads, who win 5-2 over Shawinigan.

Huckins with 1g, and a +1 in a 4-0 victory over Victoriaville. 50gp/23g/23a/46pts,+22, 61 PIM. Tied for 40th in scoring.

No Bell again for Tri-City, who lose 2-1 in a SO to Red Deer.

Ciona had 1a in a 3-0 win over Portland. 44gp/21g/38a/59pts,+37, 61 PIM. Tied for 20th in scoring, 6th in plus/minus.

[Sandman]

Feb.14th:

Seattle beats Tri-City, 4-2. Bell did not play. Ciona had 2g (both the game-winner, and insurance goals), and was +1. 45gp/23g/38a/61pts,+38, 61 PIM, tied for 18th in scoring, 5th in plus/minus.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

I think Ciona could be a player. How’s his skating? His compete and his offensive instincts seem to be valuable when glommed tacks them onto his frame.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

I think Ciona could be a player. How’s his skating? His compete and his offensive instincts seem to be valuable when glommed tacks them onto his frame.

I read a scouting report once (I think it was FC Hockey), where they said his skating was so bad, that he would never have a chance at the NHL level. They said he showed signs of good hockey sense though. I remembered after reading the article thinking, "watch the Flames draft this plug", and sho 'nuff....

Watching him at the prospect camp this year, he looked like he had improved his skating many times over, he had no problem keeping up with the play-it was really nice to see. His hard work over the past few years won him the coaches' award for best player in camp (Ronni won fittest player), and indeed earned him an ELC. I think he still has plenty of room for improvement in the speed department, but I no longer believe it will hold him back. I like this kid now, he works his ass off. I don't think he'll be a top-6 player at the next level by any means, but he could be a bottom-6 energy guy with toughness and physicality, who kills penalties- much like Hathaway, although not as fast.

[Sandman]

Feb.16th:

Beck had 2a,+2 in a 3-2 win over Peterborough. 29gp/6g/27a/33pts,+19, 12 PIM. Ottawa (.750 win%) is still first in the league, but Windsor (.731) and London (.735) are right behind.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I read a scouting report once (I think it was FC Hockey), where they said his skating was so bad, that he would never have a chance at the NHL level. They said he showed signs of good hockey sense though. I remembered after reading the article thinking, "watch the Flames draft this plug", and sho 'nuff....

Watching him at the prospect camp this year, he looked like he had improved his skating many times over, he had no problem keeping up with the play-it was really nice to see. His hard work over the past few years won him the coaches' award for best player in camp (Ronni won fittest player), and indeed earned him an ELC. I think he still has plenty of room for improvement in the speed department, but I no longer believe it will hold him back. I like this kid now, he works his ass off. I don't think he'll be a top-6 player at the next level by any means, but he could be a bottom-6 energy guy with toughness and physicality, who kills penalties- much like Hathaway, although not as fast.

Thx for the reply. I recall his pre draft feelings about his skating.

Good to hear it’s improved. If he has the work ethic it seems like people say he has then he could be a valuable top 9 pwf.

I think he has some snarl to his game as well no?

Why are pwf so hard to find and develop? Man iggy sure was a unicorn.

[Sandman]

Feb.17th:

Beck with 1a,+2 in a 5-2 win over Oshawa. 30gp/6g/28a/34pts,+21, 12 PIM. He sits 22nd in the OHL for plus/minus.

Huckins had no points,-1 in a 8-2 victory over Saint John. He had 9 points in his previous 6 games, and 17 in his previous 15. 51gp/23g/23a/46pts,+21, 61 PIM. 44th in scoring, 35th in plus/minus.

No Bell for Tri-City.

Ciona had no points in a 4-3 OT win over Tri-City. 46gp/23g/38a/61pts,+38, 63 PIM. 22nd in scoring, 5th in plus/minus. Brad Lambert has 16 points (8 goals) in 10 games since joining Seattle, and Dylan Guenther has 7 points in 4 games.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

Thx for the reply. I recall his pre draft feelings about his skating.

Good to hear it’s improved. If he has the work ethic it seems like people say he has then he could be a valuable top 9 pwf.

I think he has some snarl to his game as well no?

Why are pwf so hard to find and develop? Man iggy sure was a unicorn.

It brings to mind another player in the system- Cole Huckins. Most will look at his stats in this, his D+2 year (46 pts in 51 games), and be unimpressed; however, I think he's doing just fine in that department for a developing power forward. Since his draft year (where he put up 32 pts in 33 games), he's been playing down the lineup, behind more talented offensive players. I would be shocked if he didn't earn some kind of contract after this season. He has a lot of the same properties as Ciona- he's big and tough, has some skating improvements to make, and will most likely be a bottom-6 player.

A few players come to mind as comparables to Huckins: Nathan Bastian, Max Jones, Austin Watson, and even pwf like Simmonds, Wilson, Goodrow, Foegele, M. Foligno, Josh Anderson, and Mason Marchment- who all had some middling stats as juniors.

[Sandman]

Feb.18th:

Huckins had 1g, and was +1 in a 6-2 win over Moncton. 52gp/24g/23a/47pts,+22, 61 PIM, tied for 43rd in scoring, 35th in plus/minus. Sherbrooke (.731 win%) are first in the west, and third overall behind Quebec (.840) and Halifax (.775).

Bell is back for Tri-City, but he put up zeros in a 3-0 win over Spokane. 41gp/21g/30a/51pts,+10, 49 PIM.

Ciona with 1g, and a +1, in a 8-1 win over Victoria. 47gp/24g/38a/62pts,+39, 63 PIM, tied for 21st in scoring, 5th in plus/minus.

[Sandman]

Feb.19th:

Huckins had 1a, and +1 in a 5-3 victory over Acadie-Bathurst. 53gp/24g/24a/48pts,+23, 61 PIM. Tied for 42nd in scoring, 33rd in plus/minus.

Halifax beats Moncton, 11-3. Whynot didn't play. OHL leading scorer Jordan Dumais had 4g,3a, to give him 105 pts in just 48 games. He was drafted by CBJ in the 3rd round of the 2022 Draft.

[Sandman]

Feb.20th:

Beck had no points,+2 in a 3-2 OT win over North Bay. 31gp/6g/28a/34pts,+23, 12 PIM. Tied for 15th in plus/minus, despite missing a big chunk of the season.

No Whynot, as Halifax beats Moncton, 4-2.

Bell had no points in a 3-1 loss to Kelowna. 42gp/21g/30a/51pts,+10, 51 PIM.

Ciona had 2a, and was +3 in a 7-0 victory over Victoria. 48gp/24g/40a/64pts,+42, 63 PIM, tied for 16th in scoring, 5th in plus/minus. Looks like Ciona has been given the "C" for the Thunderbirds, after going with 3 Assistants most of the year.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Feb.20th:

Beck had no points,+2 in a 3-2 OT win over North Bay. 31gp/6g/28a/34pts,+23, 12 PIM. Tied for 15th in plus/minus, despite missing a big chunk of the season.

No Whynot, as Halifax beats Moncton, 4-2.

Bell had no points in a 3-1 loss to Kelowna. 42gp/21g/30a/51pts,+10, 51 PIM.

Ciona had 2a, and was +3 in a 7-0 victory over Victoria. 48gp/24g/40a/64pts,+42, 63 PIM, tied for 16th in scoring, 5th in plus/minus. Looks like Ciona has been given the "C" for the Thunderbirds, after going with 3 Assistants most of the year.

Originally Posted by Cheese

Ciona named team captain!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1620527475548733441

Looks like he was named Captian end of January.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Looks like he was named Captian end of January.

Thanks for reminding me, I forgot about Cheese's previous post......

[Sandman]

Feb.21st:

Seattle beats Victoria, 8-0. Ciona gets 2a,+2, 5 for fighting, and 2 minutes for Unsportsmanlike Conduct. 49gp/24g/42a/66pts,+44, 70 PIM, tied for 15th in scoring, and 5th in plus/minus.

[Sandman]

Just in case you didn't hear it in the Flames intermission, Bedard had 1g, and 5a tonight. He has 52 goals and 111 points in just 43 games. 2.58 pts/gp.

[Sandman]

Feb.22nd:

Bell had 2a, even, in a 6-2 victory over Everett. 43gp/21g/32a/53pts,+10, 53 PIM, tied for 52nd in scoring- with Arizona first-rounder Conor Geekie (who has played 51 games), and ahead of Fraser Minten (TOR, 2nd, #38, 2022), Conner Roulette (DAL, 4th, #111,2021), and Zack Ostapchuk (OTT, 2nd,#39,2021).