Prospects of the Week
Yoder Scores in Back-to-Back Wins Over Vermont
Chase Yoder scored in a pair of wins for Providence College over the University of Vermont over the weekend, putting the Friars up 2-0 in the second period with a powerplay goal in a 4-0 win on Friday night and giving the team a 3-2 lead going into the third period of a 4-3 overtime win the next night. Yoder recorded 11 points in 38 games as a sophomore last season and already boasts nine in 13 games in 2022-23, good for fourth on the team with five goals and sixth with the nine points as Providence ranked ninth overall in the nation going into the weekend.
Caufield Hoping to Find Consistency With Goal Against Miami (Ohio), Goals in Three Consecutive Weekends
Hoping for a breakout senior season after scoring 11 goals and recording 20 points in 39 games last year, Judd Caufield got off to a slow start in 2022-23, but scored for the third consecutive weekend as the University of North Dakota split a series with the Miami (Ohio) University. Caufield put the Fighting Hawks up 6-1 in the second period of a 7-1 win on Friday night. The 2019 fifth round pick scored against Denver University last weekend and finally found the scoresheet eight games into the season with a goal against the University of Nebraska-Omaha the first weekend of November.
Hallander Keeps Rolling in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
After a short stint in Pittsburgh, Filip Hallander rejoined the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins without missing a beat. The 2018 second round pick scored in a 4-0 win over the Hershey Bears on Friday night and managed a secondary assist on a Samuel Poulin goal to put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton up 2-1 at the time in a 4-2 loss to the Bridgeport Islanders on Saturday. Hallander continues to lead Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with five goals and 11 points in 12 games and a plus-nine plus/minus rating.
Down on the Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shuts Out Hershey on Friday Night, Fall to Bridgeport on Saturday
Dustin Tokarski and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins shut out the Hershey Bears with 26 saves in a 4-0 win on Friday night AND managed a secondary assist on the second goal of the game. Drake Caggiula, Jonathan Gruden, Sam Houde and Filip Hallander scored, while Xavier Ouellet (2), Mitch Reinke, Tyler Sikura and Mark Friedman–along with Tokarski–recorded assists. The next night, the offense started strong, but fell flat in the second half of the game in a 4-2 loss to the Bridgeport Islanders. Ty Smith and Samuel Poulin goals sandwiched a Bridgeport tally, but the Islanders tied the game on a powerplay late in the second, took the lead early in the third, and capped the game with a goal in the empty Wilkes-Barre/Scranton net. Caggiula, Alex Nylander, Valtteri Puustinen and Hallander recorded assists, and Filip Lindberg surrendered three goals on 29 shots.
Wheeling Manages Win Over Toledo on Friday, Falter on Sunday Against Indy
The Wheeling Nailers managed a 2-1 win over the Toledo Walleye on Friday night thanks in part to 31 saves by Ryan Bednard. The Walleye opened the scoring in the second period with a powerplay goal, but the Nailers answered with a shorthanded goal by Chris Ortiz off of a set up by Adam Smith late in the second. Sean Josling scored the winner one second after the halfway point of the third with Josh McKechney getting the assist, and the Nailers held on for the win. On Sunday, the Indy Fuel jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, took a commanding 4-0 lead in the second and, despite a Jack Van Boeckel goal off assists from Cedric Pare and Louie Roehl early in the third period, ultimately beat the Nailers 6-1. Bednard surrendered five goals on 23 shots before leaving the game, and Tommy Nappier made seven saves on eight shots in relief.