Bodnarchuk Skates With Moose, Notes From Camp

Andrew Bodnarchuk (white helmet)
Photo.- Herd twitter

Mooseheads alumni Andrew Bodnarchuk has been skating with the new crop of Halifax Mooseheads this week. The 27 year old is in Halifax for the a few weeks and decided to check out the players fighting for a spot on this year's team. He's participated in all three days of practices. Bodnarchuk, originally from Drumheller, Alberta, is getting ready for the Columbus Blue Jackets training camp in late September.

Some other news:

• 2015 draft pick Dallas Farrell, of Stratford, PEI, has volunteering left training camp, the team announced on Twitter this morning. No reason was given. This leaves 46 players in camp right now with Cody Donaghey arriving either today or tomorrow.
• A couple of other alumni visited Cole Harbour Place on Wednesday. Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan Falkenham checked out the first intrasquad game.
• I suspect that the first cuts will come after this evening's red/green game and will probably be announced tomorrow morning.
• Halifax starts their pre-season schedule tomorrow night at the Halifax Forum versus the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Tickets are still available at $8 a person.

Sunday Notes: Ehlers Going to Draft Combine

Photo: NHL.com

Nikolaj Ehlers is spending the next week in Toronto after spending the weekend in London. Ehlers, who was second in team scoring for your Halifax Mooseheads this past season, was invited to the 2014 NHL Draft Combine that is going to be held in Toronto, Ontario from May 26-31. He will be put through physical and medical tests and interviews by the teams. Interviews will be held Monday through Friday with a medical exam taking place on Friday and a series of physical testing done on Saturday. Nikolaj goes into the week as QMJHL and CHL Rookie of the Year and ranked 13th in the NHL.com list of North American draft prospects.

The Dashing Dane was two hours away in London this past weekend for the Canadian Hockey League awards that were held at the Memorial Cup tournament. He was nominated for two awards and took home the BMO Rookie of the Year award after leading all rookie scorers in the country with 49 goals and 105 points.

In other news

• Halifax Mooseheads prospect Maxime Fortier of the Lac St. Louis Lions was named the Quebec Midget AAA Most Valuable Player for this past season
• The Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League won the Memorial Cup championship this evening after beating the OHL champs, the Guelph Storm 6-3 led by Henrik Samuelsson's 5 points (2 goals & 3 assists)
• Val-d'Or Foreurs and former Charlottetown Islanders' goaltender was named the Memorial Cup Top Goalie and to the All-Star team
• It's the offseason! The QMJHL Draft is on Saturday and I will have a complete list of who the Moose pick during the day. I will have news through out the off season as well as training camp news
• According to the team twitter account, the 2014-15 season schedule will be released in the next 14 days. Check back here when it is released to see when your Mooseheads play next season

Memorial Cup Championship Game

After 10 more days of hockey, the junior hockey season will come to end tonight as the Halifax Mooseheads take on the Portland Winterhawks at 8:00pm Atlantic time. There are many stories for this game. The biggest one being the biggest battle so far of the MacKinnon/Drouin vs. Jones battle for top pick in the NHL draft this year. Seth Jones is ranked number 1, with Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin following behind at #2 and #3 respectively.

Another story is that of Stephen MacAulay trying to win his second Memorial Cup in three years. This time with a different team and a different dedication if they win. If the Mooseheads win, Stephen is dedicating the win to his mom.

Halifax will be coming off a four day layoff just like in between series of the QMJHL playoffs.

GAMEDAY

2013 Memorial Cup Game Nine
Championship

Portland Winterhawks at Halifax Mooseheads

May 26 - 8:00pm

Credit Union Centre

Portland: 1st U.S. Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st WHL 57-12-1-2=117 points

Ty Rattie (20G & 16A), Nicolas Petan (9G & 19A), Brendan Leipsic (10G & 14A)

Mac Carruth 16-4-1, 1.63 GAA, 0.937 SAV%

def. Everett Silvertips (4-2 quarters), Spokane Cheifs (4-0, semis), Kamloops Blazers (4-1, finals), Edmonton Oil Kings (4-2, WHL finals)

Coached by Travis Green

Halifax: 1st Maritimes Division, 1st QMJHL 58-6-3-1=120 points

Jonathan Drouin (12G & 23A), Marty Frk (13G & 20A), Nathan MacKinnon (11G & 22A)

Zach Fucale 16-1-0, 2.02 GAA, 0.918 SAV%

def. Saint John Sea Dogs (4-0, first), Gatineau Olympiques (4-0, quarters), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (4-0, semis), Baie-Comeau Drakkar (4-1, QMJHL finals)

Coached by Domique Ducharme

MEMORIAL CUP GAME #7: OHL vs. Hosts

GAMEDAY

2013 Memorial Cup Game Seven
Tiebreaker

Saskatoon Blades at London Knights

March 23 - 9:00pm

Credit Union Centre

Saskatoon: 1st East Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 6th WHL 44-22-2-4=94 points
Lukas Sutter (2G & 0A), Darren Dietz (1G & 1A), Colin Valcourt (0G & 2A)
Andrey Markov 0-4-0, 3.66 GAA, 0.897 SAV%

def. by Medicine Hat Tigers (4-0, quarters)

Coached by Lorne Molleken

London: 1st Midwest Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st OHL 50-13-2-3=105 points

Max Domi (11G & 21A), Alex Broadhurst (10G & 18A), Seth Griffith (9G & 16A)

Anthony Stolarz 13-4-1, 2.53 GAA, 0.923 SAV%

def. Saginaw Spirit (4-0, quarters), Kitchener Rangers (4-1, semis), Plymouth Whalers (4-1, finals), Barrie Colts (4-3, OHL finals)
Coached by Dale Hunter

Notes...

• Can Saskatoon repeat what Shawinigan did last year? We'll have to wait and see.
• The winner of this game will go on to play the Portland Winterhawks.
• London believes they are going to be the ones coming out on top of this game.

MEMORIAL CUP GAME #5: OHL vs. QMJHL

GAMEDAY

2013 Memorial Cup Game Five
Round Robin

Halifax Mooseheads at London Knights

March 21 - 9:00pm

Credit Union Centre

Halifax: 1st Maritimes Division, 1st QMJHL 58-6-3-1=120 points

Jonathan Drouin (12G & 23A), Marty Frk (13G & 20A), Nathan MacKinnon (11G & 22A)

Zach Fucale 16-1-0, 2.02 GAA, 0.918 SAV%

def. Saint John Sea Dogs (4-0, first), Gatineau Olympiques (4-0, quarters), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (4-0, semis), Baie-Comeau Drakkar (4-1, QMJHL finals)

Coached by Domique Ducharme

London: 1st Midwest Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st OHL 50-13-2-3=105 points

Max Domi (11G & 21A), Alex Broadhurst (10G & 18A), Seth Griffith (9G & 16A)

Anthony Stolarz 13-4-1, 2.53 GAA, 0.923 SAV%

def. Saginaw Spirit (4-0, quarters), Kitchener Rangers (4-1, semis), Plymouth Whalers (4-1, finals), Barrie Colts (4-3, OHL finals)
Coached by Dale Hunter

Notes...

• Halifax Events and Atlantic Film Fest are going to show this game on the big screen at Grand Parade Square.
• MacAulay and Fournier want to show they deserve to be in the big leagues.
• CHL.ca has a preview of tonight's game.

MEMORIAL CUP GAME #3: Hosts vs. QMJHL

GAMEDAY

2013 Memorial Cup Game Three
Round Robin

Saskatoon Blades at Halifax Mooseheads

March 19 - 8:00pm

Credit Union Centre

Saskatoon: 1st East Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 6th WHL 44-22-2-4=94 points
Lukas Sutter (2G & 0A), Darren Dietz (1G & 1A), Colin Valcourt (0G & 2A)
Andrey Markov 0-4-0, 3.66 GAA, 0.897 SAV%

def. by Medicine Hat Tigers (4-0, quarters)

Coached by Lorne Molleken

Halifax: 1st Maritimes Division, 1st QMJHL 58-6-3-1=120 points

Jonathan Drouin (12G & 23A), Marty Frk (13G & 20A), Nathan MacKinnon (11G & 22A)

Zach Fucale 16-1-0, 2.02 GAA, 0.918 SAV%

def. Saint John Sea Dogs (4-0, first), Gatineau Olympiques (4-0, quarters), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (4-0, semis), Baie-Comeau Drakkar (4-1, QMJHL finals)

Coached by Domique Ducharme

Notes...

• Saskatoon will look to bouonce back in front of their home crowd after losing to London on Friday.
• Nathan MacKinnon came out top dog in the battle of the top three prospects scoring a hat trick on Saturday.
• This is the first of two back-to-back games for a team in the tournament, London is the other team. Games which they will play on Monday and Tuesday.

MEMORIAL CUP GAME #2: WHL vs. QMJHL

GAMEDAY

2013 Memorial Cup Game Two
Round Robin

Portland Winterhawks at Halifax Mooseheads

March 18 - 8:00pm

Credit Union Centre

Portland: 1st U.S. Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st WHL 57-12-1-2=117 points

Ty Rattie (20G & 16A), Nicolas Petan (9G & 19A), Brendan Leipsic (10G & 14A)

Mac Carruth 16-4-1, 1.63 GAA, 0.937 SAV%

def. Everett Silvertips (4-2 quarters), Spokane Cheifs (4-0, semis), Kamloops Blazers (4-1, finals), Edmonton Oil Kings (4-2, WHL finals)

Coached by Travis Green

Halifax: 1st Maritimes Division, 1st QMJHL 58-6-3-1=120 points
Jonathan Drouin (12G & 23A), Marty Frk (13G & 20A), Nathan MacKinnon (11G & 22A)
Zach Fucale 16-1-0, 2.02 GAA, 0.918 SAV%
def. Saint John Sea Dogs (4-0, first), Gatineau Olympiques (4-0, quarters), Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (4-0, semis), Baie-Comeau Drakkar (4-1, QMJHL finals)
Coached by Domique Ducharme

Notes...

• It's a battle of the top two ranked teams in the CHL and the top three prospects with Seth Jones versus Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin.
• Halifax will get on the ice after an 8 day layoff after winning the President's Cup. Long rests have paid off so far this playoff season for the Moose.

MEMORIAL CUP GAME #1: OHL vs. Hosts

GAMEDAY

2013 Memorial Cup Game One
Round Robin

London Knights at Saskatoon Blades

March 17 - 9:00pm

Credit Union Centre

London: 1st Midwest Division, 1st Western Conference, 1st OHL 50-13-2-3=105 points

Max Domi (11G & 21A), Alex Broadhurst (10G & 18A), Seth Griffith (9G & 16A)

Anthony Stolarz 13-4-1, 2.53 GAA, 0.923 SAV%

def. Saginaw Spirit (4-0, quarters), Kitchener Rangers (4-1, semis), Plymouth Whalers (4-1, finals), Barrie Colts (4-3, OHL finals)
Coached by Dale Hunter

Saskatoon: 1st East Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 6th WHL 44-22-2-4=94 points
Lukas Sutter (2G & 0A), Darren Dietz (1G & 1A), Colin Valcourt (0G & 2A)
Andrey Markov 0-4-0, 3.66 GAA, 0.897 SAV%

def. by Medicine Hat Tigers (4-0, quarters)

Coached by Lorne Molleken

Notes...

• It was announced on Tuesday that London will host the 2014 Memorial Cup which means that the Knights will be playing in 3 straight Memorial Cup tournaments.
• Saskatoon will be coming into this game off a month and a half rest after being defeated by the Medicine Hat Tigers in a four game sweep.
• The Memorial Cup finally arrived in Saskatoon yesterday admidst a special arrival ceremony including the Snowbirds of Moose Jaw flying overhead.

Wednesday notes

CSS RANKINGS
The final CSS Rankings for the 2013 NHL Draft were released today. Defenseman Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks is #1 on the list followed by our two favourite players Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin who are #2 and #3 respectively of North American skaters. Darnell Nurse (SSM Greyhounds) and Sean Monahan (Ottawa Senators) round out the top 5. Zach Fucale is ranked as the #1 North American goalie. William Carrier of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles was also named on the list at #18.

Halifax Mooseheads players on list:
#2 - Nathan MacKinnon
#3 - Jonthan Drouin
#114 - Matt Murphy
#164 - MacKenzie Weegar

New Jersey is the host of the 2013 NHL Draft which will be held on June 30th.

UNDER 18
Twenty-three of the Canadian Hockey Leagues best players from teams not currently in the playoffs are over in Sochi for the IIHF U-18 World Championships. They are highlighted by Connor McDavid who is a 16 year old rookie forward with the Erie Otters. He's been impressing scouts all over the place, which led the OHL to give him Exceptional Player status to be drafted a year earlier. He won't be NHL draft eligible until 2015 but in his first year with Erie, he racked up 66 points in 63 games. He has continued that success in Russia during the tournament having recorded 11 points in Canada's first four games. His 3 power play goals and assist on Tuesday led to a 6-0 shutout win over Sweden to clinch first place in their group. They will now play Czech Republic in the quarter finals. Russia won the other group and will play Germany, while the other two will be Finland versus Switzerland and Sweden versus USA. The quarter final games will be played on Thursday.

MATTEAU
New Jersey Devils prospect Stefan Matteau reportedly travelled back on a fan bus to Blainville from Baie-Comeau after the Armada's 2-1 loss on Saturday. It was reported that he had quit the team after the game. He has since been released by the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada for his actions.

UNDEFEATED
The Halifax Mooseheads are the only undefeated team now in the CHL playoffs after winning in overtime last night. Baie-Comeau lost their game last night 3-0 so they are now 10-1. The Moose are now one win away from their third straight sweep and a berth in the QMJHL final. They can wrap it up tomorrow night in Rouyn-Noranda.