Prospects Of The Week
Brunicke Ties Game, Records Three Points in Three Games in Return to WHL
After a solid training camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Harrison Brunicke returned to the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL and recorded three points in the three games, including a late power play goal in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Tri-City Americans on Saturday night. Brunicke added a primary assist–also on the power play–to kickoff a three goal comeback for the Blazers late in the second period and recorded a secondary assist in a 3-1 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds on Friday night. The 2024 second round pick hopes to build off 21 points in 49 games last season.
Vaisanen Scores First NCAA Goal, Helps Western Michigan Start 2-0
Joona Vaisanen scored for the first time in the NCAA with Western Michigan on Friday night, showing some impressive skating and puck protection ability, and giving the Broncos a 2-0 lead in a 4-1 win. Vaisanen went without a point in 5-1 win the next night. The 2024 sixth round pick led blueliners on the Dubuque Fighting Saints last season with 40 points in 53 games last season and slotted in on the top pairing on the right side to start the season with Western Michigan.
Samuel Poulin Starts 2024-25 AHL Season with Three Points in Two Games
After clearing waivers and being assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Samuel Poulin kicked off the 2024-25 AHL season with a three points in two games over the weekend. The 2019 first round pick notched two primary assists in a 7-6 loss to the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night and scored the eventual game winner to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 2-0 lead in a 4-1 win over the Springfield Falcons the next night. Poulin recorded 31 points in 41 AHL games last season, finishing second on the team with a 0.76 points per game average, but never got a look at the NHL level. Poulin hopes to keep producing with consistency and take advantage of another opportunity in Pittsburgh in the 2024-25 season.
Down On The Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Splits Opening Weekend, Scores 10 Goals in Two Games
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins dropped the 2024-25 AHL season opener 7-6 to the Charlotte Checkers. Tristan Broz, a 2021 second round pick, scored for the first time a the professional level as six different Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scored. Emil Bemstrom scored and finished with two points, and Jimmy Huntington, Avery Hayes, Filip Kral, and Marc Johnston added goals. Nate Clurman, Ville Koivunen, Samuel Poulin, and Sebastian Aho all recorded two assists. Filip Larsson surrendered seven goals on 38 shots, playing in the AHL for the first time since the 2019-20 season.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rebounded on Sunday afternoon, beating the Springfield Thunderbirds 4-1. Clurman, Poulin, Hayes, and Boris Katchouk scored. Huntington recorded two assists, and Bemstrom, Joona Koppanen, Scooter Brickey, and Kral added helpers. Sergei Murashov made 27 wins to earn a win for the first time in the AHL after dominating in the MHL–the top junior junior league in Russia–for the past two seasons.