Of playoff-related prospect note:
In the OHL, Givani Smith finished at -1 with 3 shots as his Kitchener Rangers won 3-2 in overtime over the Sarnia Sting.
Kitchener now leads the teams’ second-round series 3 games to 2;
Jordan Sambrook finished even with 1 shot as his Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds won 4-1 over the Owen Sound Attack.
Sault Ste. Marie tied the teams’ second-round series at 2 games apiece;
And in the WHL, the Portland Winterhawks loaded up with Dennis Cholowski and other players in order to challenge for WHL title and a Memorial Cup, and instead, they’re out in the second round.
Cholowski finished at -1 with 3 shots as the Winterhawks lost 4-1 to Everett, bowing out of the second-round series in 5 games.
Cholowski had an OK WHL playoffs, finishing with 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points in 12 games, but he also finished at -9.
His regular season was excellent, producing 14 goals and 52 assists for 66 points in 69 games played with the Prince George Cougars and the Winterhawks, and Cholowski is likely to head to Grand Rapids to join the “Black Aces” during Grand Rapids’ playoff run.
Everett advances to the WHL’s Western Conference Final, where they’ll play Michael Rasmussen’s Tri-City Americans:
Dates for Western Conference Finals announced! Join the Ams and pack the house to cheer on this talented team! #AmsNation#WHLPlayoffs Details | https://t.co/HUXbnnPYkepic.twitter.com/ulWP7B2GVN
— Tri-City Americans (@TCAmericans) April 14, 2018
In non-playoff action, in the USHL, the Filip Larsson-less Tri-City Storm lost 3-2 to Sioux City.
Tri-City will wrap up their playoff-less season on Saturday night. Losing Larsson (who is headed to the University of Denver next season) to a groin injury really hampered their playoff hopes.
I’m worried about Rasmussen’s game translating to the nhl like most people, but his point production can’t be ignored forever. Some guys just know how to score.
He’s an NHL player. 3rd line center, 2nd line center? Who knows. I’ve only watched 1 full TCA game and a couple preseason games, then a few highlights. IMO I think he will be a good player, Elite? I don’t have high expectations but what do I know.
Whatever his potential is, it’s capped out in the WHL. On this team, he belongs on the roster next season. He seems to be mature and has a good head on his shoulder, I like that but that’s only part of the equation.
Rasmussen seems to have the tenacity and total commitment to playing 100% every shift, in a sense, much like Hicketts.
Maybe these two could be role models for Mantha and, especially AA.