Note: Prospect Watch and Wilkes-Barre Watch are switching days this week because of a timing issue in scheduling a Wilkes-Barre interview.
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This week Jordy Bellerive surpassed Dylan Cozens, a projected top-5 pick in the 2019 draft, for the Lethbridge Hurricanes team lead in scoring.
Bellerive propelled himself to the team lead with a productive week, registering four assists and one goal in two games.
Bellerive's week brings his season totals to 24 goals and 38 assists in 50 games. It's encouraging production from a guy who was originally expected to be away from the ice for a year after suffering severe burns in a June accident.
At 0.48 goals per game, his goal-scoring has slightly dropped off from last season's production of 46 goals in 71 games, or 0.64 goals per game. On the other hand, he's recording 0.76 assists per game, an increase from last season's mark of 0.64.
A big part of the reason Bellerive's goal-scoring has taken a dip is that his shot production has fallen off. Last season, Bellerive was averaging 4.54 shots per game. This season, he's averaging 3.84 shots per game.
Bellerive's work in the faceoff circle has improved this season. Last season, he won 45.86 percent of faceoffs. This season, he's up to 48.1 percent. It's still below 50, so not ideal, but it's progress. Bellerive also hasn't been at center for the full season. He's been putting in some significant time on the left wing of Lethbridge's top line, with Golden Knights 2017 second-round pick Jake Leschyshyn at center.
Bellerive has been utilized on both the power play and penalty kill for Lethbridge. Six of his goals and 11 of his assists have come on the power play, and he has one shorthanded goal. He's also been the go-to in shootouts, as one of two players to take part in each of Lethbridge's five shootouts this season. He's converted on two attempts, tied for the team lead with Cozens.
Bellerive recorded his 11th career fight and first fight of the season this week, sparring with Red Deer's Brandon Hagel. Hagel is two inches taller and 21 pounds lighter than Bellerive:
It's safe to say Bellerive has rebounded well from his injuries.
The other two players injured in the fire, Matt Alfaro and Ryan Vandervlis, are both doing well and still playing hockey. Alfaro, a center, is back at the University of Calgary, and is fourth on his team with six goals and 13 assists in 23 games. Valdervlis, the player most severely burned, was in a medically-induced coma at one point and in the hospital for 11 weeks. He joined the Red Deer Vipers of the Heritage Junior B Hockey League in December, and has eight goals and 10 assists in eight games.
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FORWARDS
Justin Almeida
Position: Center/Wing
Size: 5-11/160
Drafted: 2018, fifth round
Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Season totals: 44 games, 20 goals, 50 assists
Almeida had two goals and two assists in two games this week. He's now producing at a rate of 1.59 points per game.
Jordy Bellerive
Position: Center
Size: 5-10/195
Drafted: Undrafted
Team: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Season totals: 50 games, 24 goals, 38 assists
Bellerive scored one goal and four assists in two games this week.
Kasper Bjorkqvist
Position: Wing
Size: 6-1/198
Drafted: 2016, second round
Team: Providence College (NCAA)
Season totals: 28 games, 11 goals, 11 assists
Bjorkqvist was scoreless in two games this week.
Jan Drozg
Position: Wing
Size: 6-0/174
Drafted: 2017, fifth round
Team: Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
Season totals: 42 games, 14 goals, 28 assists
Drozg recorded one goal and three assists in two games this week.
Liam Gorman
Position: Center
Size: 6-2/188
Drafted: 2018, sixth round
Team: St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep)
Season totals: ?
Gorman scored twice this week, including this shorthanded goal:
Filip Hallander
Position: Center/Wing
Size: 6-1/190
Drafted: 2018, second round
Team: Timrå IK (SHL)
Season totals: 30 games, 7 goals, 9 assists
Hallander recorded one assist in one game this week.
Nikita Pavlychev
Position: Center
Size: 6-8/225
Drafted: 2015, seventh round
Team: Penn State (NCAA)
Season totals: 26 games, 11 goals, 11 assists
Pavlychev and Penn State did not play this week.
DEFENSEMEN
Calen Addison
Size: 5-10/180
Drafted: 2018, second round
Team: Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Season totals: 49 games, 8 goals, 39 assists
Addison appeared in two games this week, recording one assist and this highlight-reel goal:
Niclas Almari
Size: 6-1/167
Drafted: 2016, fifth round
Team: HPK (Liiga), HPK U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga)
Season totals: 32 games, 1 goal, 4 assists with HPK; 2 games, 1 assist with HPK U20
Almari appeared in two scoreless games this week.
Ryan Jones
Size: 6-2/186
Drafted: 2016, fourth round
Team: Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)
Season totals: 26 games, 9 assists
Jones played in two games this week and registered two assists.
Zachary Lauzon
Size: 6-1/187
Drafted: 2017, second round
Team: Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
Season totals: None
Lauzon, who has been rehabbing from the neck injury he sustained last season, will not play this season. He was not able to resume skating with the team. Lauzon will remain around the team for the remainder of the season and will travel with his teammates.
If the Penguins wish to retain Lauzon’s rights, they would have to sign him this summer. That won’t happen. Lauzon’s time as a Penguins prospect is most likely over, if not his entire career.
Antti Palojarvi
Size: 6-1/176
Drafted: 2017, sixth round
Team: Lukko (Liiga), Lukko U20 (Jr. A SM-liiga), SaPKo (Mestis)
Season totals: 16 games, 2 assists with Lukko; 29 games, 4 goals, 9 assists with Lukko U20; 1 game, 1 goal with SaPKo
Last week, Palojarvi was loaned to SaPKo of the Mestis league, the second-highest level of men’s hockey in Finland. He is expected to remain there for the remainder of the season.
Palojarvi made his SaPKo debut this week, and scored a goal in his first game:
Clayton Phillips
Size: 5-11/182
Drafted: 2017, third round
Team: Minnesota (NCAA)
Season totals: 26 games, 1 goal, 7 assists
Phillips was scoreless in two games.
William Reilly
Size: 6-2/197
Drafted: 2017, seventh round
Team: Rensselaer Polytech (NCAA)
Season totals: 24 games, 4 goals, 10 assists
Reilly recorded one assist in three games this week.
GOALTENDERS
Alex D’Orio
Size: 6-2/209
Drafted: Undrafted
Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Season totals: 35 games (13-21), 3.84 goals against average, .888 save percentage
D’Orio played in two games this week, a loss and a win. Friday's loss ended a 7-game winning streak and was his first loss since being traded to Baie-Comeau. Saturday, he posted a 20-save shutout.
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