The Wichita Thunder are off to the playoffs and in pursuit of the Kelly Cup and that begins tonight.
GAME DAY! Game 1 of the #KellyCupPlayoffs is here. Join us at 4:05 p.m. as we host the @coloradoeagleshockey. Tickets are still available. Buy Tickets Here: https://t.co/XWevU0Nszd https://t.co/Zh2nvdDO0T pic.twitter.com/gEUR3ZNzl4
— X – Wichita Thunder (@Wichita_Thunder) April 15, 2018
While the ECHL team lives on, the Condors have finished up. With all the call-ups, signings and moves, there have been a lot of alternating parts. Marody and Vesel showed some early chemistry (see Vesel highlight below) along with Tyler Benson looking good in his short stint. Exciting times for next year there.
Stuart Skinner and his Swfit Current Broncos are heading into the game 7 of round 2 in the WHL playoffs.
Filip Berglund and his club, Skelleftea are in the finals of the SHL.
PLAYOFF PERFORMANCE
- L Tyler Benson 7gp, 3-8-11 for Vancouver (WHL) (assigned to the AHL)
- LC Skyler Brind’Amour 7gp, 0-3-3 for Chilliwack (BCHL)
- C Cameron Hebig 7gp, 6-2-8 for Regina (WHL)
- R Kirill Maksimov 10gp, 4-6-10 for Niagara (OHL) (3gp, 2-1-3 this week; eliminated from the playoffs)
- RHD Filip Berglund 12gp, 0-3-3 for Skellefteå AIK (SHL) (3gp, 0-1-1 this week)
- LD Dmitri Samorukov 6gp, 0-2-2 for Guelph (OHL) (assigned to the AHL)
- R Kailer Yamamoto 7gp, 1-3-4 for Spokane (WHL)
- LHD Markus Niemelainen 5gp, 0-0-0 for HPK (Sm-Liiga)
- LC Bogdan Yakimov 5gp, 0-0-0 for Neftekhimik (KHL)
- G Stuart Skinner 13gp, 2.22 .931 for Swift Current (WHL) (four games this week, a shutout and a couple of double OT stellar performances)
BAKERSFIELD CONDORS (AHL)
- C Cooper Marody 3gp, 1-2-3 (Joined the team this week)
So @OhioState_MHKY & @umichhockey combining on a goal? Only in #Condorstown! Congrats on the first of many Cooper! pic.twitter.com/dUibXDMLJd
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) April 13, 2018
- R Ostap Safin 9gp, 1-0-1 (2gp, 0-0-0 this week)
- L Tyler Benson 5gp, 0-3-3 (4gp, 0-3-3 this week)
- RD Dmitri Samorukov 5gp, 0-1-1 (4gp, 0-1-1 this week)
GOAL! @KylePlatzer drew first blood tonight at the Shark Tank. It's 1-1 after one. #Condors20 pic.twitter.com/PyREsKwa4l
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) April 13, 2018
- RC Tyler Vesel 11gp, 3-3-6 (4gp, 3-1-4 this week)
The lone goal tonight, courtesy of @TyGuy102. The New Guy Marody with the apple for his first pro point. #Condors20 pic.twitter.com/OW6bRuLOcy
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) April 12, 2018
- C Colin Larkin 16gp 0-2-2 (4gp, 0-0-0 this week)
- RD Logan Day 6gp, 2-0-2 (did not play this week)
- LD Caleb Jones 58gp, 2-15-17 (4gp, 0-1-1 this week)
- LD Dillon Simpson 61p, 4-14-18 (did not play this week)
- RD Ryan Mantha 41gp, 3-7-10 (did not play this week; Blood clot in the eye)
- RD Ethan Bear 37gp, 6-12-18 (3gp, 0-2-2 this week)
Ethan Bear | 2 Assists -vs- Ontario | Apr. 14th, 2018 https://t.co/z8HGQPLkle via @YouTube
— EDM Prospect Watch (@EDProspectWatch) April 15, 2018
- LD Ryan Stanton 46gp, 2-6-8 (1gp, 0-0-0 this week)
- LD Ben Betker 42gp, 1-4-5 (1gp, 0-0-0 this week)
- RD Eric Gryba 24gp, 0-0-0 (did not play this week)
- LD Keegan Lowe 49gp, 2-12-14 (3gp, 0-0-0 this week)
- R Ty Rattie 53gp, 21-22-43 (in the NHL)
- L Ryan Hamilton 41gp, 6-15-21 (Did not play this week; Broke leg, done for the year)
- L Joey Laleggia 68gp, 15-28-43 (4gp, 2-2-4 this week)
- RC Josh Currie 68gp, 20-26-46 (4gp, 0-2-2 this week)
- R Patrick Russell 68gp, 14-13-27 (4gp, 2-0-2 this week)
Then Mr. Shorthanded decided to win it. #Condors20 pic.twitter.com/FgTzCsqUHW
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) April 8, 2018
- LC Grayson Downing 48gp, 4-19-23 (did not play this week)
- LC Brad Malone 55gp, 13-20-33 (1gp 0-2-2 this week)
- R Dave Gust 49gp, 13-11-24 (4gp, 2-2-4 this week)
- LC Joe Gambardella 50gp, 13-6-19 (4gp, 1-1-2 this week)
GOAL! @DJGamz5 puts the biscuit in the basket. #Condors20 pic.twitter.com/9wUXj6EayQ
— Bakersfield Condors (@Condors) April 15, 2018
- L Braden Christoffer 63gp, 6-9-15 (4gp 0-1-1 this week)
- R Jesse Puljujarvi 10gp, 1-4-5 (in the NHL)
- RC Kyle Platzer 44gp, 8-7-15 (2gp, 1-0-1 this week)
- R Zack O’Brien 43gp, 6-17-23 (4gp, 1-2-3 this week)
- F Mitch Callahan 45gp, 2-7-9 (did not play this week; suspension ended)
- RC Chad Butcher 7gp, 1-1-2 (in the ECHL)
- R Brian Ferlin 7gp, 1-0-1 (did not play this week)
- L Evan Polei 30gp, 4-5-9 (4gp, 0-0-0 this week)
- R Anton Slepyshev 1gp, 0-0-0 (in the NHL)
- R Iiro Pakarinen 18gp, 9-4-13 (in the NHL)
- LR Pontus Aberg 4gp, 4-2-6 with Milwaukee (in the NHL)
- G Nick Ellis 22gp, 3.21 .898 (one game this week)
- G Laurent Brossoit 29gp, 2.68 .912 (three games this week)
- G Shane Starrett 3gp, 3.71 .895 (did not play this week)
- G Ed Pasquale 16gp, 2.60 .910 (Traded to Tampa Bay)
- R Greg Chase 1gp, 0-0-0 (Traded to Springfield)
- LD Ziyat Paigin 7gp, 0-0-0 (no longer in organization)
- RD Mark Fayne 6gp, 0-1-1 (Assigned to Springfield)
WICHITA THUNDER (ECHL)
- G Shane Starrett 38gp, 3.01 .912 (did not play this week)
- G Dylan Wells 1gp, 16.39 .571 (did not play this week)
- G Nick Ellis 2gp, 2.75 .925 (called up to the AHL)
- RC Kyle Platzer 20gp, 8-14-22 (in the AHL)
- F Lane Bauer 63gp, 9-28-37 (did not play this week)
- R Zack O’Brien 12gp, 5-7-12 (in the AHL)
- LC Travis Ewanyk 60gp, 13-16-29 (did not play this week)
- RC Chad Butcher 53gp, 9-24-33 (did not play this week)
- L Evan Polei 32gp, 8-9-17 (in the AHL)
- R Greg Chase 17gp, 7-10-17 (Traded to Florida)
EUROPE
- LC Bogdan Yakimov 56gp, 8-3-11 for Neftekhimik (KHL) (eliminated from playoffs in QFs by Traktor Chelyabinsk)
- RHD Filip Berglund 44gp, 3-10-13 for Skellefteå AIK (SHL)
- LHD Markus Niemelainen 43gp, 1-2-3 for HPK (Sm-Liiga) (eliminated from playoff contention; 12th place finish)
- LHD William Lagesson 49gp, 1-12-13 for Djurgardens (SHL)
CHL
- R Ostap Safin 61gp, 26-32-58 for Saint-John (QMJHL) (eliminated from playoff contention; 18th place finish; Signed his ELC)
- C Cameron Hebig 66gp, 41-49-90 for Regina from Saskatoon (WHL) (Playoffs)
- R Kirill Maksimov 62gp, 34-46-80 for Niagara (OHL) (Playoffs)
- L Tyler Benson 58gp, 27-42-69 for Vancouver (WHL) (Playoffs) – alumni of our Sponsor alert!
- LD Dmitri Samorukov 62gp, 11-23-34 for Guelph (OHL) (Playoffs)
- R Kailer Yamamoto 40gp, 21-43-64 for Spokane (WHL) (Playoffs)
- G Stuart Skinner 56gp, 2.68 .914 for Swift Current (WHL) (Playoffs)
- G Dylan Wells 56gp, 3.57 .898 for Peterborough (OHL) (Playoffs)
COLLEGE AND BEYOND
- C Cooper Marody 38gp 16-34-50 (signed ELC this week)
- C Colin Larkin 27gp 24-22-46 for UMass-Boston DIII (in the AHL)
- RD Logan Day 26gp, 15-23-38 for Endicott College DIII (in the AHL)
- RC JD Dudek 36gp 7-12-19 for Boston College (eliminated from playoff contention)
- RC Tyler Vesel 36gp, 11-21-32 for Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) (in the AHL)
- L Graham McPhee 36gp, 12-12-24 for Boston College (NCAA) (eliminated from playoff contention)
- L Aidan Muir 27gp, 4-8-12 for Western Michigan (NCAA) (eliminated from playoff contention)
- RC Aapeli Rasanen 32gp, 4-12-16 for Boston College (NCAA) (eliminated from playoff contention)
- RHD Vincent Desharnais 36gp, 0-11-11 for Providence (NCAA) (Playoffs; eliminated from playoff in game against Notre Dame)
- RD Philip Kemp 26gp, 3-5-8 for Yale (NCAA) (eliminated from playoff contention)
- RD John Marino 33gp, 2-14-16 for Harvard (NCAA) (eliminated from playoff contention in semi-finals)
- LD Matt Cairns 10gp, 1-0-1 for Cornell (NCAA) (eliminated from playoff contention in the semi-finals)
- LC Skyler Brind’Amour 52gp, 10-14-24 for Chilliwack (BCHL) (eliminated from playoffs in QF by Prince George)
Source: Elite Prospects / HockeyDB
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Source: EliteProspects, Verified Twitter Account, 4/01/2018 – 12:00 am MST
can someone tell my what is the deal with the brindamour pick, draft +1 and not even a PPG in the BCHL. what a waste
yup.
The deal is he is a 6th round pick(177). He was drafted as a long term prospect knowing he was going to the NCAA starting next year. He represented USA hockey in the U17 and U18. And son of former NHLer Rod Brind’Amour.
Not a bad bet at draft time considering 6th round picks almost never make it. Took a chance on pedigree and a player that has time to develop since he is going to college.
still a horrible bet. There is obviously no skill there. I bet there are players with much higher NHLE that went after him, that were bypassed because they were small, they will have a bigger impact in the NHL. Considering oilers and there picking of former players sons this is a horrible bet on its own.
Safin is soft
I haven’t followed close enough to know, but… Is Keegan Lowe an AHL player? Tweener? Where does he fall on the depth chart for lefties? Has he reached his ceiling? Is he worth taking the development time or spot of another ?player? Is he signed for next year?
Chiarelli or Keith Gretzky is doing a great job of drafting I’d say.
they are but still the haters are gonna hate no matter what. i think the last 3 drafts that have involved Chia have been pretty damn good !
Hoping Yamo and Benson are in the AHL next season, could be a really valuable year for both with big minutes and responsibilities,
Benson – Marody – Yamo
would be a nice top line, or Vesel at C.
It should be noted that both Lagesson (now eliminated) and Berglund are having great playoffs – In particular Berglund who is leading his team in ice for a d-man (almost 20 minutes) and lead the entire SHL in plus/minus during the playoffs while contributing on the scoresheet.
Huge arrows up for Berglund and decent arrows up for Lagesson (who will be on the Condors next season)
A breath of fresh air.
I was getting a little tired of all the negative articles. Too much whining and crying by some of our fan base, and not enough positive energy that our franchise needs moving forward.
well if we can keep Yam, Safin, Samorukov, Vesel, Marody, Hebig, Bear and Jones in the AHL next year and actually play THEM over the vets, we might actually see some good development ! but even though they are Euros, Safin and Samo could still go back for another year of junior with both being under 20 and all….
Samorukov will be back in Guelph – he’s not eligible for the AHL.
Safin, while still below the 20 year old cut off for next year, is actually eligible for the AHL on a technicality (its because he was drafted by the Oilers prior to being draft in the CHL import draft). He can play in the AHL next year and his contract would slide. Not sure where the organization has him pencilled in – St. John in the Q or Bakersfield in the AHL.
Yep I am finally happy enough (for next season) to see an Oilers farm team starting to have more than enough substantial prospects entering pro and/or looking very good for a second season. A bunch of Kids like Benson, Yamo, Safin, Maksimov, Bear, Jones, Mantha, then Hebig, Vesel, Marody, etc., fill out a futures line up roster that can be very good for the Oilers pipeline. Now two more things need to happen. #1 …. The Condors should get an excellent training Head Coach (say not keep Fleming….loved Todd Nelson for this) who not only will play and play the kids much more than AHL Vets who wont go anywhere up, and #2 …. The Oilers got to keep filling the system up with very good draft picks. Super lousy choices like that are not BPA’s and trading the picks away and/or giving them away will never ever help this Oilers Team.
Agreed.. would love someone who knows the AHL team a little better to suggest a depth chart for next year. I’m curious where everyone fits with many seemingly good prospects on D .
Lowetide articles usually cover this nicely.
The one thing Chia has done right,is improve the scouting,and drafting ability of the team. There is the possibility that this is the product of Keith Gretzky’s work, in which case Chia has done nothing productive.
Late games at the end of the season are meaningless. Unless you’re a playoff team
Watching Bear walk the blueline to get a clear lane was a thing of beauty. Exactly what the Oilers need on the PP.