2012 CHL Prospects Game Write Up

Published: 2^nd Feb 12 1:26 pm

by Chris Ransom
New England Patriots and Dallas Stars Featured Columnist

RANT It!

Ryan Murray displayed excellent defensive awareness early in the game. Murray was the captain for Team Cherry. Murray was team captain for the Everett Silvertips since age 16. Murray looks like a top 5 pick for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Adam Pelech fired a wrist shot early in the game. The wrist shot did not display the best power or accuracy. The Shot did hit the goalies mask resulting in a great save by the goaltender.

Tom Wilson inflicted a hit on Gianluca Curcurto early in the first period. Wilson showed some gritty play with the aggressive hit.

Dereck Pouliot is playing great defense early in the first period by eliminating areas of the blue line for skaters to shoot at.

Brendan Gaunce showed good deking ability on one play in the first period. Gaunce has the size and playmaking skills to be an effective NHL center one day.

Griffin Reinhart looked like he will execute a slap shot. Andrew Ryan did a great job blocking Reinhart’s slap shot. Reinhart takes another slap shot. That shot gets blocked too. Reinhart takes too much time to set up his shots.

Mike Winther is known for his playmaking skills. Winther was showing excellent playmaking ability early in the first period. Winther was able to create some time of possession in favor of Team Cherry with his ability to dish the puck.

Ryan Murray displayed some offensive defender ability by passing the puck. Murray is a two way defender who should be a top 5 pick. Its no surprise that Murray is playing this well early.

Team Orr’s defense had a scoring chance 7 minutes into the game. Mikhail Grigorenko dished a pass while lining up on right wing to Pouliot. Then Pouliot dished it to Reinhart. Reinhart passed it back to Pouliot. Pouliot would execute a slap shot.

Pouliot shows great slap shot power when shooting the puck. Pouliot’s accuracy on executing his slap shots may need some tuning.

Matthew Dumba looked impressive midway through the first period. Dumba unleashed a critical check. Nick Ebert made some good defensive stops by checking offensive players.

Ryan Murray displayed great slap shot power. The accuracy on the slap shot was really erratic. The shot looked more like a pass.

Brandon Whitney of the Victoriaville Tigres was tested frequently in the first period with constant shots on goal heading his way. Whitney managed to make some difficult saves in the first period.

Mikhail Grigorenko had 3 players trying to defend him in the first period. How would Grigorenko respond? Grigorenko manages to skate around a defender in a circle before passing the puck to a defender to get out of the jam. Great decision making by Grigorenko on that play.

Derrick Pouliot continues to struggle with slap shot accuracy. Pouliot does display the slap shot power.

Brandon Whitney with another great save. Whitney continues to make the big saves as the 2012 CHL Prospects game enters the homestretch of the first period.

Griffin Reinhart was about to execute another slap shot. Reinhart showed great ability to fake the slap shot.

Another goalie in the CHL prospects game playing well is Chris Driedger. Driedger is on Team Orr. Brandon Whitney is on Team Cherry. Both goaltenders have been outstanding in the first period.

Tanner Pearson shoots a wrist shot for Team Orr. Great save by Whitney. Less than 40 seconds left in the first period and Whitney uses his pad to make a save.

Colton Scissons will get a penalty. Team Cherry will go on the power play. Team Cherry is better on the power play. Team Orr is better at penalty killing. It will be fun to see who wins this special teams match up.

After one period the game is scoreless. Team Cherry will get their chance on the power play when the 2nd period starts.

Team Orr kills the penalty. Great job by team Orr. Penalty killing to start the second period right off the get go really helped Team Orr.

Griffin Reinhart would score for Team Orr. Reinhart scored 2 goals when I watched him against the Moose Jaw Warriors back in October.

Brandon Whitney with another save. Matthew Murray of Saulte. Ste. Marie is coming in. Fantastic game by Brandon Whitney.

Matthew Dumba got checked into the wall. Its still 1 to 0 with 8 minutes left in the 2nd period. Great athleticism by Ryan Murray on that play.

Francois Treblay is coming in at goaltender for Team Orr. Team Orr commits another penalty. Team Cherry is 0 for 1 on the power play so far.

Mike Winther was able to win the face off when the power play started. Winther utilizing his playmaking skill set to dish the puck to other teammates.

Matthew Dumba tries to execute a wrist shot on the power play. Dumba’s wrist shot is blocked. Great job by Team Orr killing another penalty.

Tom Wilson and Dalton Thrower are going at it in the 2nd period. Besides Reinhart’s goal not much happened in the 2nd period.

Matt Murray with an awesome save in the 3rd period. Great pad save and a glove stop by Murray.

Andrew Ryan with a breakaway chance for Team Cherry to get a shorthanded goal. Ryan fails to capitalize. Team Cherry kills a penalty.

Team Cherry is 0 for 2 on the power play and Team Orr is 0 for 1 on the power play with less than 13 minutes left in the game.

Mike Winther is on a breakaway. Dillon Fournier is trailing him. Fournier waits for a rebound and jams the puck into the net like a power forward on the attack. Great offensive aggression by Dillon Fournier.

Griffin Reinhart looks like his shot would get blocked. Reinhart skates away from a defender coming his way. Great skating by Reinhart showing some agility and elusiveness while moving down the ice.

Ryan Murray is clearly the most mentally disciplined 2012 NHL Prospect. I’m fully sold that Reinhart is the 3rd best WHL prospect after Murray and Dumba. Morgan Rielly has been injured. I felt Reinhart was better than Morgan Rielly for a while. Rielly has been injured and Reinhart defeated Rielly before Morgan Rielly’s season ending injury in 2011-2012.

Derrick Pouliot has played well too. You may be able to make a case for Pouliot over Rielly when it comes to WHL rankings.

Damon Severson is a 2nd round prospect who could work his way into the late first round discussion. severson has really stepped up in the 2012 CHL Prospects game. 8 minutes.

Grigorenko gets defended well. Team Orr cannot make anything happen. There are less than 4 minutes left and the game is still tied. You have to love the effort that both teams put into this game.

Murray with another big save. Murray is really getting the best of Pearson. Team Cherry would commit a penalty. Team Orr goes on the power play with 1:43 left in the 2012 CHL Prospects game. Ryan Murray and Matthew Dumba both in the penalty box. Dumba in the penalty box for fighting.

Matt Finn and Dalton Thrower showing good offensive ability on the power play late in the game. Grigorenko. Thrower keeps passing it to Finn. Great puck control by Team Orr on the power play. Branden Troock had a neck injury in 2010-2011. Troock the right winger for the Seattle Thunderbirds dekes on the power play and beats Matt Murray on the power play with 24 seconds left in the game.

Branden Troock wins the game for the CHL prospects. I feel like that power play without Ryan Murray on the ice really worked in Team Orr’s favor. Team Orr wins 2 to 1 to take the 2012 CHL Prospects game.

Connect with Rant Sports