<p>Top Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh is going to be a force in the National Hockey League.</p>
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<p>This is the Jan. 25-31 edition of the Flames prospect roundup, where we look at how Flames prospects did this past week, specifically those at the junior and college levels. The American Hockey League prospects have their own article in the Wranglers recaps.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s take a look at the week that was!</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Editors note: All stats are updated as of Saturday afternoon. Any non-Russian games this Saturday will be included in next week’s prospect roundup.</span></i></p>
<h2>Zayne Parekh</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zayne Parekh and the Saginaw Spirit played two high-scoring games this week, defeating the Ottawa 67’s 7-2 before falling to the Kingston Frontenacs 9-5.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The right-shot defenceman was named the Ontario Hockey League’s defenceman of the month, and the game against the 67’s was a big reason for that as he scored three goals and an assist, his second hat trick in four games. Parekh followed that up with a one-goal, one-assist game against the Frontenacs. This season, Parekh has 22 goals and 61 points in 40 games, with a 10-goal, 21-point month.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nobody was keeping pace with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> prospect Zayne Parekh on the back end as the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpiritHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpiritHockey</a> rearguard put up 21 points in 10 games to be named <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OHL</a> Defenceman of the Month.</p>
<p>DETAILS 📰: <a href="https://t.co/x3ask627ti">https://t.co/x3ask627ti</a> <a href="https://t.co/oyvUjPD0rp">pic.twitter.com/oyvUjPD0rp</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1885776483433492912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After 45 games, the Spirit have a 23-20-2 record with 48 points, fifth in the OHL’s Western Conference. The top eight teams make the post-season, with fourth place being the highest the reigning Memorial Cup champions can realistically obtain.</span></p>
<h2>Matvei Gridin</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Shawiningan Cataractes and Matvei Gridin had a solid week, as the team picked up five of a possible six points. They fell 4-3 to the Sherbrooke Phœnix in overtime, before defeating the Québec Remparts 6-4 and the Drummondville Voltigeurs 5-3.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although they lost against the Phœnix, Gridin had a solid game as he scored a goal and picked up an assist. Gridin picked up two assists in the following game while being held pointless against the Voltigeurs. This season, Gridin has 25 goals and 55 points in 43 games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through 46 games, the Cataractes have a 26-17-3 record with 55 points, fourth in the eight-team Western Conference of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The top seven teams from the conference make the post-season.</span></p>
<h2>Andrew Basha</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrew Basha is still out and probably will be for the season, but his Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League had a great week, going 4-0. They defeated the Tri-City Americans 3-1, the Wenatchee Wild 5-2, the Everett Silvertips 7-3, and the Portland Winterhawks 7-2.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to that great week, the Tigers sit first in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 33-15-2 record with 68 points. Only the Silvertips have a better point total this season. More on them later. Eight teams in the two conferences make the post-season.</span></p>
<h2>Jacob Battaglia</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Kingston Frontenacs only played two games this week, falling 5-4 to the Ottawa 67’s and defeating the Saginaw Spirit 9-5.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Battaglia picked up an assist in the loss but made up for that in the second game of the week, scoring two goals and three assists in the high-scoring affair against Zayne Parekh’s team. This season, the 18-year-old winger had 29 goals and 67 points, surpassing his career-high he set in 2023-24.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out the feed👀 </p>
<p>Emil Pieniniemi finds Jacob Battaglia ALL alone on the back door🚪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolidGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SolidGold</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHLFlames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/penguins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@penguins</a> <a href="https://t.co/iJZbRoGKPc">https://t.co/iJZbRoGKPc</a> <a href="https://t.co/sKqtiSsv1l">pic.twitter.com/sKqtiSsv1l</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) <a href="https://twitter.com/KingstonFronts/status/1885124092207984938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Through 45 games this season, the Frontenacs have a 26-12-7 record with 59 points, putting them fourth in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. The top spot is realistic, as they trail by just four points with two fewer games played.</span></p>
<h2>Henry Mews</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like the Kingston Frontenacs, the Sudbury Wolves only played two games this week, losing 3-2 in the first game against the North Bay Battalion before destroying them 8-3 in the second game of the home-and-home.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Defenceman Henry Mews picked up one assist in each game, giving him one goal and 11 points in eight games since the trade. He and Zayne Parekh lead Ontario Hockey League defenceman in scoring as they each have 61 points with Mews scoring 12 goals and 49 assists this season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for the Wolves, they have a 23-17-5 record with 51 points, putting them sixth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference. The eighth-placed Ottawa 67’s (Mews’ former team) have 38 points, so it’s looking likely that the Wolves will make the post-season.</span></p>
<h2>Kirill Zarubin</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Switching gears to Russia, netminder Kirill Zaurbin and the Mikhailov Academy didn’t have a great week, losing the only game they played 8-1.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zaurbin started the game, allowing three goals on the first nine shots he faced for a .667 save percentage and a 16.54 goals against average in the 10 minutes and 53 seconds he played. Despite the rough game, the 19-year-old has a .928 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average this season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a 27-10-2 record, Mikhailov Academy sits fourth in the West Conference’s Gold Division standings. The top five teams make the post-season, while teams ranked six through eight play the top three teams from the Silver Division in a qualifier.</span></p>
<h2>Trevor Hoskin</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Niagara University and Trevor Hoskin played two games this past week, defeating RIT 6-3 but falling 3-2 to Sacred Heart.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first game saw Hoskin pick up three assists, one of his best performances this season but was held pointless in Niagara’s loss. This season, the fourth-rounder from Belleville, Ontario, has nine goals and 29 points in 27 games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In their division, Niagara has a 12-6-2 record with 38 points, second only to Sacred Heart. All 11 teams in the division make the post-season with the bottom six teams playing in the first round, meaning that Niagara will likely avoid that.</span></p>
<h2>Luke Misa</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a busy week for Luke Misa and the Brampton Steelheads. They fell 5-3 to the Flint Firebirds to start the week, before another loss at the hands of the Windsor Spitfires, this time 5-2. They got back in the win column with a 4-3 victory against the Peterborough Petes, but fell 5-4 to the Petes the following day.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Misa scored against the Firebirds, picked up an assist against the Spitfires, was held pointless in the first game against the Petes, but scored twice in the final game of the week. This season, Misa has 27 goals and 61 points in 46 games.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">REHKOPF➡️MARTONE➡️MISA🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHLFlames</a> prospect Luke Misa buries one on the back door after a nice tic-tac-toe play with Carson Rehkopf (<a href="https://twitter.com/SeattleKraken?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SeattleKraken</a>) and Porter Martone!🐟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OHL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CHLHockey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CHLHockey</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeaKraken?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeaKraken</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/OHLSteelheads?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OHLSteelheads</a> <a href="https://t.co/rTaLTo5iwY">pic.twitter.com/rTaLTo5iwY</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1885482375116972276?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Steelheads sit seventh in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference with a 20-18-8 record with 48 points. However, they are 10 points clear of the Ottawa 67’s and have an 11-point lead over the North Bay Battalion who sit on the outside looking in. The Steelheads look like they’ll have a tough first-round matchup, though.</span></p>
<h2>Hunter Laing</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hunter Laing and the Saskatoon Blades played two games this past week, falling 4-3 in overtime to the Prince Albert Raiders and defeating the Wenatchee Wild 4-2.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Flames’ sixth-rounder was held pointless in the first game but scored his third goal as a Blade in their victory over the Wild. Overall, he has three goals and six points since the trade, as well as 13 goals and 28 points in 42 games this season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With a 24-16-6 record, the Blades sit fifth in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference this season. However, they are just two points back of the Raiders, who sit second in the conference thanks to leading their division. The two division leaders sit first and second regardless of point total. For example, Axel Hurtig and the Calgary Hitmen have nine more points than the Raiders but sit third in the conference.</span></p>
<h2>Eric Jamieson</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was an okay week for Eric Jamieson and the Everett Silvertips, as they went 2-1-0 with a 6-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds, a 2-1 overtime victory over the Tri-City Americans, and a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Medicine Hat Tigers.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jamieson was held off the scoresheet in all three games, but that wasn’t for a lack of trying against the Thunderbirds, as he totaled five shots on net. This season, the 19-year-old left-shot defenceman has eight goals and 27 points in 48 games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Silvertips are the best team in the Western Hockey League thanks to a 35-7-7 record in 49 games. Their 77 points are also tied with the London Knights for the most in the Canadian Hockey League, although the Ontario Hockey League’s Knights have played three fewer games.</span></p>
<h2>Étienne Morin</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Moving to the players drafted in the 2023 draft, Étienne Morin’s Moncton Wildcats had an okay week, falling 5-3 to the Rimouski Océanic but doubling up the Cape Breton Eagles 6-3.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morin picked up an assist and a -2 in both games, a little bit concerning. With the two points, he now has 10 goals and 41 points in 43 games. His 41 points are fourth-most in the league while his 10 goals are tied for third-most, so he’s been pretty solid this year.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So too have the Wildcats, as they have a 35-8-2 record with 72 points. That isn’t just the top of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, but the top of all of the QMJHL. The top nine teams in the conference make the post-season.</span></p>
<h2>Aydar Suniev</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aydar Suniev hasn’t played since Jan. 18 due to injury. However, UMass defeated Alaska Fairbanks 7-3 and Merrimack 4-2, with the latter game being an in-conference game.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This season, they have an in-conference record of 5-7-2 with 18 points, eight in the 11-team conference. All 11 teams make the post-season, with the sixth, seventh, and eighth seeds hosting the ninth, tenth, and eleventh seeds.</span></p>
<h2>Jaden Lipinski</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaden Lipinski’s Vancouver Giants’ had a “meh” week, going 1-1-1. They defeated the Kelowna Rockets 6-4, fell 3-2 to the Swift Current Broncos in overtime,  and lost 5-2 to the Seattle Thunderbirds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lipinski picked up two assists in their victory, was held pointless in the Giants’ overtime loss, but scored a goal in their 5-2 loss to the Thunderbirds. This season, the Scottsdale, Arizona native has eight goals and 37 points in 38 games.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">RAHHH GIANTS POWER PLAY GOAL!!</p>
<p>Jaden Lipinski lights the lamp with assists from Cameron Schmidt &amp; Ty Halaburda, 2-1 us!<a href="https://twitter.com/TheWHL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheWHL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLFlames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHLFlames</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flames?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flames</a> <a href="https://t.co/6l1bR5LPrf">pic.twitter.com/6l1bR5LPrf</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHLGiants/status/1885544838097231886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for the Giants, they have a 23-17-6 record with 62 points, good enough for sixth-best in the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference. The top eight teams make the post-season in this conference.</span></p>
<h2>Yegor Yegorov</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yegor Yegorov’s Kryalya Sovetov only played one game this week, falling 5-1 to Khors-Kareliya.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The netminder played 25 minutes in that game, saving nine of the 10 shots he faced for a .900 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. For the season, the Flames’ 2023 sixth-round pick has a .911 save percentage and a 3.05 goals against average.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, Krylya Sovetov fell out of a post-season spot, for now, as they have a 19-16-4 record with 42 points. They are one behind Russkie Vityazi who are third in the Western Conference’s Silver Division. The top three teams play in the playoff qualifiers.</span></p>
<h2>Axel Hurtig</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Axel Hurtig’s Calgary Hitmen had a busy week, going 4-0 with a 3-2 win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 6-1 against the Red Deer Rebels, and a pair of wins against the Edmonton Oil Kings by a score of 5-2 and 6-0.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hurtig was held off the scoresheet in all four games but was named the third star in their win against the Hurricanes. Moreover, he fought in their 5-2 win against the Oil Kings. This season, the left-shot defenceman has three goals and 11 points in 39 games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like most players in the roundup, Hurtig’s team is playoff-bound. The Hitmen have a 30-12-5 record with 65 points, third in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference but with more points than the Prince Albert Raiders who lead the other division. The Hitmen are just three points back of the Medicine Hat Tigers for the conference lead with three fewer games played.</span></p>
<h2>Cade Littler</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The North Dakota Fighting Hawks played only one game this week, defeating St. Cloud 4-3 in a shootout.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once again, Cade Littler was held off the scoresheet, giving him just two goals and four points this season in 21 games.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Dakota has an in-conference record of 7-5-1 with 13 points. All eight teams in the conference make the post-season with the traditional layout, 1 against 8, 2 against 7, etc.</span></p>
<h2>Areseni Sergeev</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week, Penn State picked up two big wins, a 3-2 victory over Ohio State and a 5-4 victory over Michigan.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Netminder Areseni Sergeev was in the net for both games, saving 24 shots on 26 opportunities in the first game. In the second game, Sergeev allowed four goals on 39 shots as Penn State was heavily outplayed. This season, Sergeev has a .914 save percentage and a 2.54 goals against average in 18 games played.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Penn State has an in-conference record of 3-9-3 this season, giving them 14 points. Like all NCAA divisions, all seven teams play in the post-season.</span></p>
<p><b><i>Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.</i></b></p>
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Top Calgary Flames prospect Zayne Parekh is going to be a force in the National Hockey League.
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This is the Jan. 25-31 edition of the Flames prospect roundup, where we look at how Flames prospects did this past week, specifically those at the junior and college levels. The American Hockey League prospects have their own article in the Wranglers recaps.

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s take a look at the week that was!</span>

<i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Editors note: All stats are updated as of Saturday afternoon. Any non-Russian games this Saturday will be included in next week’s prospect roundup.</span></i>
<h2>Zayne Parekh</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Zayne Parekh and the Saginaw Spirit played two high-scoring games this week, defeating the Ottawa 67’s 7-2 before falling to the Kingston Frontenacs 9-5.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The right-shot defenceman was named the Ontario Hockey League’s defenceman of the month, and the game against the 67’s was a big reason for that as he scored three goals and an assist, his second hat trick in four games. Parekh followed that up with a one-goal, one-assist game against the Frontenacs. This season, Parekh has 22 goals and 61 points in 40 games, with a 10-goal, 21-point month.</span>

https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1885776483433492912

<span style="font-weight: 400;">After 45 games, the Spirit have a 23-20-2 record with 48 points, fifth in the OHL’s Western Conference. The top eight teams make the post-season, with fourth place being the highest the reigning Memorial Cup champions can realistically obtain.</span>
<h2>Matvei Gridin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Shawiningan Cataractes and Matvei Gridin had a solid week, as the team picked up five of a possible six points. They fell 4-3 to the Sherbrooke Phœnix in overtime, before defeating the Québec Remparts 6-4 and the Drummondville Voltigeurs 5-3.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Although they lost against the Phœnix, Gridin had a solid game as he scored a goal and picked up an assist. Gridin picked up two assists in the following game while being held pointless against the Voltigeurs. This season, Gridin has 25 goals and 55 points in 43 games.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Through 46 games, the Cataractes have a 26-17-3 record with 55 points, fourth in the eight-team Western Conference of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. The top seven teams from the conference make the post-season.</span>
<h2>Andrew Basha</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Andrew Basha is still out and probably will be for the season, but his Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League had a great week, going 4-0. They defeated the Tri-City Americans 3-1, the Wenatchee Wild 5-2, the Everett Silvertips 7-3, and the Portland Winterhawks 7-2.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to that great week, the Tigers sit first in the WHL’s Eastern Conference with a 33-15-2 record with 68 points. Only the Silvertips have a better point total this season. More on them later. Eight teams in the two conferences make the post-season.</span>
<h2>Jacob Battaglia</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Kingston Frontenacs only played two games this week, falling 5-4 to the Ottawa 67’s and defeating the Saginaw Spirit 9-5.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Battaglia picked up an assist in the loss but made up for that in the second game of the week, scoring two goals and three assists in the high-scoring affair against Zayne Parekh’s team. This season, the 18-year-old winger had 29 goals and 67 points, surpassing his career-high he set in 2023-24.</span>

https://twitter.com/KingstonFronts/status/1885124092207984938

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Through 45 games this season, the Frontenacs have a 26-12-7 record with 59 points, putting them fourth in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference. The top spot is realistic, as they trail by just four points with two fewer games played.</span>
<h2>Henry Mews</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Like the Kingston Frontenacs, the Sudbury Wolves only played two games this week, losing 3-2 in the first game against the North Bay Battalion before destroying them 8-3 in the second game of the home-and-home.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Defenceman Henry Mews picked up one assist in each game, giving him one goal and 11 points in eight games since the trade. He and Zayne Parekh lead Ontario Hockey League defenceman in scoring as they each have 61 points with Mews scoring 12 goals and 49 assists this season.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As for the Wolves, they have a 23-17-5 record with 51 points, putting them sixth in the OHL’s Eastern Conference. The eighth-placed Ottawa 67’s (Mews’ former team) have 38 points, so it’s looking likely that the Wolves will make the post-season.</span>
<h2>Kirill Zarubin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Switching gears to Russia, netminder Kirill Zaurbin and the Mikhailov Academy didn’t have a great week, losing the only game they played 8-1.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Zaurbin started the game, allowing three goals on the first nine shots he faced for a .667 save percentage and a 16.54 goals against average in the 10 minutes and 53 seconds he played. Despite the rough game, the 19-year-old has a .928 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average this season.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a 27-10-2 record, Mikhailov Academy sits fourth in the West Conference’s Gold Division standings. The top five teams make the post-season, while teams ranked six through eight play the top three teams from the Silver Division in a qualifier.</span>
<h2>Trevor Hoskin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Niagara University and Trevor Hoskin played two games this past week, defeating RIT 6-3 but falling 3-2 to Sacred Heart.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The first game saw Hoskin pick up three assists, one of his best performances this season but was held pointless in Niagara’s loss. This season, the fourth-rounder from Belleville, Ontario, has nine goals and 29 points in 27 games.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In their division, Niagara has a 12-6-2 record with 38 points, second only to Sacred Heart. All 11 teams in the division make the post-season with the bottom six teams playing in the first round, meaning that Niagara will likely avoid that.</span>
<h2>Luke Misa</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was a busy week for Luke Misa and the Brampton Steelheads. They fell 5-3 to the Flint Firebirds to start the week, before another loss at the hands of the Windsor Spitfires, this time 5-2. They got back in the win column with a 4-3 victory against the Peterborough Petes, but fell 5-4 to the Petes the following day.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Misa scored against the Firebirds, picked up an assist against the Spitfires, was held pointless in the first game against the Petes, but scored twice in the final game of the week. This season, Misa has 27 goals and 61 points in 46 games.</span>

https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1885482375116972276

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Steelheads sit seventh in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference with a 20-18-8 record with 48 points. However, they are 10 points clear of the Ottawa 67’s and have an 11-point lead over the North Bay Battalion who sit on the outside looking in. The Steelheads look like they’ll have a tough first-round matchup, though.</span>
<h2>Hunter Laing</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hunter Laing and the Saskatoon Blades played two games this past week, falling 4-3 in overtime to the Prince Albert Raiders and defeating the Wenatchee Wild 4-2.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Flames’ sixth-rounder was held pointless in the first game but scored his third goal as a Blade in their victory over the Wild. Overall, he has three goals and six points since the trade, as well as 13 goals and 28 points in 42 games this season.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">With a 24-16-6 record, the Blades sit fifth in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference this season. However, they are just two points back of the Raiders, who sit second in the conference thanks to leading their division. The two division leaders sit first and second regardless of point total. For example, Axel Hurtig and the Calgary Hitmen have nine more points than the Raiders but sit third in the conference.</span>
<h2>Eric Jamieson</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">It was an okay week for Eric Jamieson and the Everett Silvertips, as they went 2-1-0 with a 6-1 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds, a 2-1 overtime victory over the Tri-City Americans, and a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Medicine Hat Tigers.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jamieson was held off the scoresheet in all three games, but that wasn’t for a lack of trying against the Thunderbirds, as he totaled five shots on net. This season, the 19-year-old left-shot defenceman has eight goals and 27 points in 48 games.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Silvertips are the best team in the Western Hockey League thanks to a 35-7-7 record in 49 games. Their 77 points are also tied with the London Knights for the most in the Canadian Hockey League, although the Ontario Hockey League’s Knights have played three fewer games.</span>
<h2>Étienne Morin</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Moving to the players drafted in the 2023 draft, Étienne Morin’s Moncton Wildcats had an okay week, falling 5-3 to the Rimouski Océanic but doubling up the Cape Breton Eagles 6-3.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Morin picked up an assist and a -2 in both games, a little bit concerning. With the two points, he now has 10 goals and 41 points in 43 games. His 41 points are fourth-most in the league while his 10 goals are tied for third-most, so he’s been pretty solid this year.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">So too have the Wildcats, as they have a 35-8-2 record with 72 points. That isn’t just the top of the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Eastern Conference, but the top of all of the QMJHL. The top nine teams in the conference make the post-season.</span>
<h2>Aydar Suniev</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Aydar Suniev hasn’t played since Jan. 18 due to injury. However, UMass defeated Alaska Fairbanks 7-3 and Merrimack 4-2, with the latter game being an in-conference game.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This season, they have an in-conference record of 5-7-2 with 18 points, eight in the 11-team conference. All 11 teams make the post-season, with the sixth, seventh, and eighth seeds hosting the ninth, tenth, and eleventh seeds.</span>
<h2>Jaden Lipinski</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jaden Lipinski’s Vancouver Giants’ had a “meh” week, going 1-1-1. They defeated the Kelowna Rockets 6-4, fell 3-2 to the Swift Current Broncos in overtime,  and lost 5-2 to the Seattle Thunderbirds.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lipinski picked up two assists in their victory, was held pointless in the Giants’ overtime loss, but scored a goal in their 5-2 loss to the Thunderbirds. This season, the Scottsdale, Arizona native has eight goals and 37 points in 38 games.</span>

https://twitter.com/WHLGiants/status/1885544838097231886

<span style="font-weight: 400;">As for the Giants, they have a 23-17-6 record with 62 points, good enough for sixth-best in the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference. The top eight teams make the post-season in this conference.</span>
<h2>Yegor Yegorov</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Yegor Yegorov’s Kryalya Sovetov only played one game this week, falling 5-1 to Khors-Kareliya.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The netminder played 25 minutes in that game, saving nine of the 10 shots he faced for a .900 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. For the season, the Flames’ 2023 sixth-round pick has a .911 save percentage and a 3.05 goals against average.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Unfortunately, Krylya Sovetov fell out of a post-season spot, for now, as they have a 19-16-4 record with 42 points. They are one behind Russkie Vityazi who are third in the Western Conference’s Silver Division. The top three teams play in the playoff qualifiers.</span>
<h2>Axel Hurtig</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Axel Hurtig’s Calgary Hitmen had a busy week, going 4-0 with a 3-2 win against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 6-1 against the Red Deer Rebels, and a pair of wins against the Edmonton Oil Kings by a score of 5-2 and 6-0.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Hurtig was held off the scoresheet in all four games but was named the third star in their win against the Hurricanes. Moreover, he fought in their 5-2 win against the Oil Kings. This season, the left-shot defenceman has three goals and 11 points in 39 games.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Like most players in the roundup, Hurtig’s team is playoff-bound. The Hitmen have a 30-12-5 record with 65 points, third in the Western Hockey League’s Eastern Conference but with more points than the Prince Albert Raiders who lead the other division. The Hitmen are just three points back of the Medicine Hat Tigers for the conference lead with three fewer games played.</span>
<h2>Cade Littler</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The North Dakota Fighting Hawks played only one game this week, defeating St. Cloud 4-3 in a shootout.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Once again, Cade Littler was held off the scoresheet, giving him just two goals and four points this season in 21 games.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">North Dakota has an in-conference record of 7-5-1 with 13 points. All eight teams in the conference make the post-season with the traditional layout, 1 against 8, 2 against 7, etc.</span>
<h2>Areseni Sergeev</h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">This week, Penn State picked up two big wins, a 3-2 victory over Ohio State and a 5-4 victory over Michigan.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Netminder Areseni Sergeev was in the net for both games, saving 24 shots on 26 opportunities in the first game. In the second game, Sergeev allowed four goals on 39 shots as Penn State was heavily outplayed. This season, Sergeev has a .914 save percentage and a 2.54 goals against average in 18 games played.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Penn State has an in-conference record of 3-9-3 this season, giving them 14 points. Like all NCAA divisions, all seven teams play in the post-season.</span>

<b><i>Thanks for reading! You can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.</i></b>

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