AHL and CHL Prospect Report and The Week Ahead 2/11-2/17

Texas Stars This week was the least successful week the Texas Stars have had in the last month. They went 1-1-1 (still respectable) to get three out of a possible six points. Cristopher Nilstorp and Jack Campbell split starts during the week. Nilstorp’s starts went a bit rougher than Campbell’s as he allowed six goals on 48 shots while Campbell allowed only one goal on 30 shots. Nilstorp won the only game for Texas last week though. The standout skater for the team last week was Alex Chiasson. Chiasson had a goal and three assists to lead the team in points for the week. Jordie Benn returned to the team last week after an extended stay with the Dallas Stars and had two assists to go along with 10 shots on goal. Benn will spend the rest of his time down in Austin unless the injury bug hits the Dallas defense. Despite the average week, the Texas Stars still lead the conference and have the most points in the AHL. They return home this week for a three game homestand against division opponents. Feb. 12 – Houston Aeros @ Texas Stars Feb. 15 – OKC Barons @ Texas Stars Feb. 16 – OKC Barons @ Texas Stars (again)   CHL Prospects   Radek Faksa - Kitchener Rangers Faksa is still out due to an MCL injury and isn’t expected back on ice for another month. Kitchener won two of three games last week and currently sits in third place in the division. Season totals: 32 games, 7 goals, 19 assists, 22 PIM, +0 rating Feb. 15 – Plymouth Whalers @ Kitchener Rangers Feb. 16 – Kitchener Rangers @ Erie Otters   Brett Ritchie - Niagara IceDogs Ritchie had a quiet week with only one assist in two games and the IceDogs suffered as a result with two losses. Ritchie has been hot and cold since his return from the WJC and Stars training camp and might be suffering from some fatigue. Ritchie and the IceDogs have a semi-difficult week coming up. They play the terrible Erie Otters to kick things off before facing two tough defensive teams in the London Knights and Owen Sound Attack. Ritchie had four points the last time he played the Otters so expect more good things during that game.  Season totals: 41 games, 31 goals, 28 assists, 36 PIM, +30 rating Feb. 13 – Niagara IceDogs @ Erie Otters Feb. 16 – Niagara IceDogs @ Owen Sound Attack Feb. 17 – London Knights @ Niagara IceDogs   Gemel Smith - Owen Sound Attack Gemel Smith missed both of the Attack’s two games last week due to a lower body injury. He’s missed three straight games but should be back soon. He’s been in a bit of a slump though with only two points in his last nine games. The Attack split their two games last week and currently sits fourth in the Western Conference. Season totals: 50 games, 19 goals, 24 assists, 48 PIM, +13 rating Feb. 13 – Guelph Storm @ Owen Sound Attack Feb. 15 – Owen Sound Attack @ Guelph Storm Feb. 16 – Niagara IceDogs @ Owen Sound Attack   Matej Stransky - Saskatoon Blades Stransky was the clear winner among the Stars prospects this week. He had three goals and five assists in four games as the Blades blew away their competition en route to four wins. Stransky has been on a tear this month after a subpar January effort. He had only two goals and five assists all of last month and already has five goals and six assists just two weeks into February. He’s on a eight game point streak and has a multi-point effort in three of the last five games. He’s the hottest Stars prospect going right now. The Blades have won eight games in a row and nine of their last 10. They sit fourth in the Eastern Conference and just two points away from the division lead. They play three teams below them this week. Season totals: 55 games, 29 goals, 35 assists, 65 PIM, +21 rating Feb. 12 – Swift Current Broncos @ Saskatoon Blades Feb. 15 – Saskatoon Blades @ Moose Jaw Warriors Feb. 16 – Saskatoon Blades @ Medicine Hat Tigers   Mike Winther - Prince Albert Raiders It was a tough week for both Winther and the Raiders. Winther managed only one goal and one assist in four games last week while the Raiders lost three of four (including a 7-1 demolition courtesy of Stransky’s Blades). Winther has been in a big time slump for the past three weeks. His two points last week are his only two points in the last nine games and only his eighth and ninth points since Jan. 1 (a span of 18 games). Season totals: 52 games, 18 goals, 24 assists, 49 PIM, +18 rating Feb. 12 – Prince Albert Raiders @ Moose Jaw Warriors Feb. 13 – Swift Current Broncos @ Prince Albert Raiders Feb. 16 – Moose Jaw Warriors @ Prince Albert Raiders   Branden Troock - Seattle Thunderbirds Troock is still dealing with another injury and hasn’t played since Jan. 20. He’s missed the past 10 games for the Thunderbirds. It’s been a tough, injury-riddled year for Troock. He’s played in only 19 of the Thunderbirds’ 57 games. He’s been injury prone in his career (only nine games played two years ago) and that bug hit him again this season. Meanwhile, Seattle has lost six straight games and nine of the last 10. Season totals: 19 games, 5 goals, 6 assists, 19 PIM, -5 rating Feb. 15 – Vancouver Giants @ Seattle Thunderbirds Feb. 16 – Seattle Thunderbirds @ Everett Silvertips Feb. 17 – Vancouver Giants @ Seattle Thunderbirds   Troy Vance - Prince Edward Island Rocket Vance had a good, though quiet, week with the Rocket. He had no points in two games last week but played some solid defense and came away with a plus-2 rating after those two games. PEI was supposed to play another game on Sunday, but that was cancelled due to the winter storm hitting the northeast. Vance has two points (both assists) in 12 games since joining the Rocket and finally seems to have settled in to his new situation. Vance and the Rocket have a busy week on tap with four games to play, including two against the league leading Halifax Mooseheads. Season totals: 39 games, 3 goals, 15 assists, 41 PIM, -6 rating (With Victoriaville)                        12 games, 0 goals, 2 assists, 4 PIM, +7 rating (With PEI) Feb. 12 – PEI Rocket @ Halifax Mooseheads Feb. 15 – PEI Rocket @ Acadie-Bathurst Titan Feb. 16 – Saint John Sea Dogs @ PEI Rocket Feb. 17 – Halifax Mooseheads @ PEI Rocket   Maxime Lagace - Prince Edward Island Rocket Lagace started one of the Rocket’s two games last week and came away with a win. He stopped 31 of 34 shots and has done well in his past two starts (stopped 24 of 25 in a win last game). It’s only Lagace’s second start in the Rocket’s last six games. He’ll be called upon more this week though as the Rocket play four games, including three straight during the weekend.   Season totals: 26 games, 11-10-1-0, 90 goals allowed, 3.98 GAA, .873 SV%, 1 shutout