It won’t be hard to keep tabs on the Calgary Flames’ prospects in this year’s world junior tourney, as they only have one.
But that’s not to say the Flames are short on top young players.
The Stockton Heat (18-2-3) are one of the best teams in the AHL, thanks to a generous helping of talented youngsters on their way up to the bigs.
For the next few weeks all eyes will be on Matthew Coronato, as the 2021 first rounder takes time out from Harvard to play a prominent role on the U.S. team’s junior squad.
However, a quick peek at the top five prospects in the organization shows there are plenty of reasons to be excited about life down on the farm:
Matthew Coronato, LW/RW, Harvard (NCAA)
GP: 11 │ G: 6 │ A: 6 │ PTS: 12
Since being selected 13th overall this summer, the just-turned 19-year-old has made a successful jump from USHL sniper to Ivy League force.
Coronato leads all rookies on his team in scoring and sits top-20 in ECAC scoring despite playing almost half the games other players have played.
“He’s a young player there, so to make that jump from the USHL is huge, playing with much older guys,” said Flames director of player development, Ray Edwards. “I’m anxious to see him against his own age group at the world juniors.”
As one of the best pure goal scorers in the 2021 draft, Coronato’s role for the American’s will likely involve being counted on to be a difference-maker.
It is at that tourney Flames fans will see the work ethic and compete-level that has Edwards comparing the five-foot-10, 183-pound winger to Andrew Mangiapane.
“When you draft a guy that high and he wants to get better, learn and be coachable and polite, it’s clear he’s just a great human being,” said Edwards, who has seen Coronato play live a handful of times this year.
“On the ice it all goes together. What sticks out is how hard he competes. He’s willing to go into tough areas to play, and he doesn’t mind paying the price.”
Dustin Wolf, G, Stockton Heat (AHL)
Record: 14-0-2 │ GAA: 1.84 │ SV%: .940
Leading the AHL in wins, and amongst the top three in every statistical category, Wolf continues to prove the hockey world was wrong to let him go undrafted until late in the seventh round in 2019.
The generously-listed six-foot, 168-pound goaltender has parlayed one of the greatest junior careers in decades into a flawless start as a pro.
“We had high expectations coming off a fantastic junior career and the handful of games he played in Stockton last year, but to go on the run that he has, you’d almost have to say he’s exceeded expectations,” said Stockton GM/Flames assistant GM Brad Pascall of the diminutive 20-year-old, who hasn’t lost a game in regulation in 18 outings dating back to last year.
“This is a guy that is a hockey player. We have a good team down there, but he is a big part of the success we’ve had in the start of the season. He’s a smart player. He reads the game so well and manages it so well as a goalie.”
Never mind the fact he’s tops amongst AHL rookies, the 20-year-old sits third in league scoring.
Not a bad way to introduce yourself at the pro ranks, proving his size won’t be a detriment moving forward.
Like Coronato and Mangiapane, Pelletier’s offensive skills are complimented by a compete-level that make him a natural leader.
Tied with teammates Glenn Gawdin and Matthew Phillips at plus-17 atop the league, Pelletier has put himself in position to be a natural call-up at some point this season.
“Some guys it takes months to figure out the pro game, but for him it literally took a handful of games,” said Pascall. “He can influence the game just by his competitiveness and work ethic and he keeps having more and more of an impact on the game.”
In the midst of his stellar junior career the Flames selected Pelletier 26th overall in 2019, with hopes he could continue to find the scoring touch alongside the world’s best.
“He comes in and has a smile on his face, he makes everybody laugh,” said Stockton coach Mitch Love. “He’s still a little undersized but he finds a way every night. It’s impressive to watch.”
Connor Zary, C, Stockton Heat (AHL)
GP: 15 │ G: 4 │ A: 4 │ PTS: 8
Things haven’t come as easy this year as they appeared to last year when his season-opening stint in the AHL saw him pick up three goals and seven points in nine outings before heading back to junior.
This year things got off to a poor start after Zary suffered an ankle injury from a blocked shot in prospect camp, and missed plenty of time recovering.
“He’s coming along — it took him some time to find his game conditioning and the jump in pace from junior to this level,” said Love, who has been playing Zary up the middle, as opposed to last year’s AHL stint on the wing. “No one has ever questioned his offensive instincts, but I think the best thing he’s done a good job with the last three weeks is his play away from the puck.”
The 20-year-old is another Flames first-rounder (24th in 2020) who does plenty of everything with a six-foot, 178-pound frame.
“Talented and so smart — he’s a top prospect, no question,” added Pascall. “As of late he’s been solid, at both ends and producing more.”
Martin Pospisil, C/LW/RW, Stockton Heat (AHL)
GP: 15 │ G: 4 │ A: 6 │ PTS: 10
He doesn’t have any of the gaudy stats most of the franchise’s top prospects have, but he has size.
And skill.
And when the 22-year-old winger isn’t injured he puts all of it on display with a game Darryl Sutter is sure to love.
“He really turned heads last year, then he got hurt,” said Pascall of the fourth-rounder who had his shoulder operated on and had a knee injury, one year after a concussion derailed his season.
“He’s had some bad luck. He’s big, he plays with grit and he’s got skill and ability. He’s an exciting guy that can excel at centre but also at the wing. He just needs more consistent reps.”
He’s missed a handful of games this year due to injury, but is learning to limit the recklessness that has led to past ailments.
“He plays an abrasive style, no doubt,” said Love of the six-foot-two, 190-pound forward. “When he’s moving his legs and feet he’s hard to play against. He’s a big, long kid who goes to the puck hard. The biggest thing for him is staying healthy, and he’s putting a lot of work into his body in the gym.”
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
