Prospect News
Andonovski Traded To St. Louis For Laferriere
The Pittsburgh Penguins swapped a pair of struggling AHL forwards on Wednesday, acquiring Mathias Laferriere, a 2018 sixth round pick, from St. Louis in exchange for Corey Andonovski, undrafted and signed out of the NCAA in 2022 after four years with Princeton University. Andonovski recorded 54 points in 157 AHL games, all with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, showing some promise last season with 30 points in 63 games, but managed only five points in 27 games in the 2024-25 season. Laferriere joined the Springfield Falcons after averaging nearly a point per game over five QMJHL seasons, and boasts 70 points in 207 AHL games–including 10 in 33 in 2024-25.
Prospects Of The Week
Vaisanen Scores Twice, Including OT Winner, In Western Michigan Win
Joona Vaisanen scored twice, including the overtime winner, and recorded three points for the Western Michigan Broncos in a 5-4 overtime win over Nebraska-Omaha on Friday night. The 2024 sixth round pick gave the Broncos a 2-1 lead in the second period and, after Nebraska-Omaha tied the game late, scored the winner 1:04 into overtime. The freshman ranks second among blueliners on the team with 17 points in 28 games on the third-ranked Broncos.
Brunicke Scores For First Time Since Return To Lineup
After missing nearly three months recovering from a broken wrist, Harrison Brunicke almost immediately returned to form for the Kamloops Blazers, recording nine points in 11 games and scoring for the first time since November 8 in a 4-3 in over the Kelowna Rockets on Saturday. Despite the extended absence from the lineup, the 2024 second round pick still leads blueliners on the team with 21 pitons in 26 games.
Yoder Finding Some Consistency Down The Stretch
Despite a relatively underwhelming fifth season with the Providence Friars, Chase Yoder scored a big goal after creating a turnover in a 6-3 win over the Boston University Terriers on Friday night. The 2020 sixth round pick carries only seven points in 30 games in the 2024-25 season after posting 20 points in 35 games last season.
Down On The Farm
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Gets One Win, Points In Three Of Four Last Week
The Wilkes-Barre/Penguins fell 5-4 to the Hershey Bears after a chaotic first period featuring five goals, 89 penalty minutes, and three game misconducts between the two teams sparked by a dangerous hit from Vasily Ponomarev. Emil Bemstrom scored and added two assists, Mac Hollowell scored and added a goal, and Valtteri Puustinen and Avery Hayes scored the other Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals. Owen Pickering recorded two assists, and Jack St. Ivany, Marc Johnstone, and Boris Katchouk added helpers. Joel Blomqvist surrendered four goals on 30 shots in the loss.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lost again on Friday night, but managed a point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Samuel Poulin and Tristan Broz scored, and Dan Renouf, St. Ivany, Hayes, and Ponomarev recorded assists. Blomqvist stopped 26 shots in regulation and overtime and two of three shooters in the shootout, but none of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shooters scored.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton let a lead slip in the third period and dropped a 4-3 overtime decision to Hershey on Saturday. Hayes scored twice, and Puustinen added a goal. Rutger McGroarty recorded two assists, and Ponomarev added a helper. Filip Larsson surrendered four goals on 32 shots in the loss. Hayes, Poulin, and Filip Kral scored and added assists, and Broz scored the other Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goal. McGroarty recorded two assists, and Pickering finished with a helper. Blomqvist made 31 saves in the win.
Wheeling Loses Pair In South Carolina Road Trip
The Wheeling Nailers visited Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday and dropped a 3-1 decision to the South Carolina Stingrays. David Jankowski scored the lone Nailers goal off a Louie Roehl assist, and Sergei Murashov stopped 35 of 37 shots in the loss.
On Sunday in Greenville, the Nailers lost 5-2 to the Swamp Rabbits. Gabe Klassen and Kyle Jackson scored, and Roehl and Mathieu De St. Phalle recorded assists. Jaxon Castor surrendered five goals on 36 shots in the loss.