Prospects Of The Week
Bemstrom Off To Good Start With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Emil Bemstrom continued a strong start to the 2024-25 season with two points in two games over the weekend. Bemstrom set up a Tristan Broz powerplay goal on Friday night to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 win, and scored the eventual game winner in the first period the next night to open the scoring in a 3-0 win. Bemstrom, acquired last season from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Alex Nylander, ranks second on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with five points through four games. Bemstrom played the majority of last season at the NHL level, recording 16 points in 56 games between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Harding Piling Up Assists Early In OHL Season
Finn Harding recorded a pair of assists for the Brampton Steelheads over the weekend, leading blueliners on the team with nine helpers through nine games. The 2024 sixth round pick recorded a secondary assist on the second Brampton goal in a 3-2 shootout win over the Ottawa 67s on Friday night, and added another secondary assist in a 3-2 overtime loss to the the Saginaw Spirit the next night. Harding leads the team with a +13 rating after leading the Steelheads with a +39 plus/minus rating last season while recording 34 points in 68 games.
Kalle Kangas Gets First Two Assists Of Season, Liiga Career
Kalle Kangas recorded a pair of assists in three games for Hameenlinna Pallokerho last week, including the primary assist on a goal to kick off a comeback effort in a 4-3 shootout loss to HIFK. The 2023 seventh round pick added another helper in a 3-2 loss to KalPa Kuopio earlier in the week. Kangas never appeared a Liiga game last season and managed nine points in 40 games with Jokerit in the Mestis–the second tier of professional hockey in Finland.
Down On The Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Gets Two Wins In Home-And-Home Against Lehigh Valley
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period and held on for a 4-3 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night. Boris Katchouk scored twice, and Tristan Broz and Bokondji Imama scored. Ville Koivunen, Filip Kral, Samuel Poulin, Jimmy Huntington, Emil Bemstrom, and Mac Hollowell recorded assists. Alex Nedjelkovic, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a conditioning stint, made 33 saves in the win.
Filip Larsson turned away 41 shots and recorded a secondary assist on the eventual game winner goal in a 3-0 win over the Phantoms the next night. Bemstrom, Joona Koppanen, and Katchouk scored. Poulin recorded two assists, and Sebastian Aho and Imama added helpers.
Wheeling Nailers Split Series With Maine Mariners To Open 2024-25 Season
The Wheeling Nailers opened the 2024-25 ECHL season with a 4-1 win over the Maine Mariners on Friday night. Kyle Jackson and Jordan Martel scored and added assists, Gabe Klassen and Philip Waugh scored for the first time at the professional level, and Atley Calvert, Chris Ortiz, Sam Houde, Mathieu De St. Phalle, and Jack Beck recorded assists. Jaxon Castor made 25 saves in the win.
The Mariners flipped the script the next night, handing the Nailers a 4-1 loss. Sam Houde scored the lone Wheeling goal off a Jared Westcott assist, and Castor surrendered three goals on 32 shots.