NHL draft prospects
Three of the five Alberta Junior Hockey League players identified by the NHL Central Scouting’s Watch List are St. Albert minor hockey products.
The top-ranked Canadian Junior Hockey League player is left winger Carter Savoie of the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Savoie is listed with a B rating as a potential second or third round candidate.
Among the four AJHL players with C ratings as possible fourth, fifth or sixth round choices are defencemen Michael Benning of the Crusaders and Ethan Edwards of the Spruce Grove Saints,
Overall, 13 CJHL players earned a place on the Watch List.
The 2020 NHL Entry Draft is June 26-27 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Savoie, 17, the 2019 CJHL and AJHL rookie of the year as the top scorer on the Crusaders with 73 points, including 31 goals in 58 games, is committed to the University of Denver Pioneers for the 2021/22 season.
The AJHL All-League team selection has compiled 45 goals, 51 assists and 96 points in 68 games with the Crusaders.
Benning, 17, the AJHL’s co-leader among defencemen in points with 61, plus 51 assists in 60 games, and North Division All-Rookie team selection last season has also committed to the University of Denver in 2021/22.
Benning was also named the top defenceman at the Junior Club World Cup in August at Sochi, Russia.
Savoie and former midget AAA St. Albert Nektar Raiders' defenceman Robert Kincaid of the Camrose Kodiaks were also on the AJHL Selects as the CJHL and Hockey Canada reps finished second in the tournament after losing 3-0 to Yaroslavl Loko in the final.
Benning’s totals with the Crusaders are 13 goals, 63 assists and 76 points in 70 games.
Edwards, 17, an AJHL rookie with three goals and two assists after nine games, is committed to the University of Michigan Wolverines in 2021/22.
U16 Team Alberta
St. Albert defenceman Cale Ashcroft was selected to the U16 Team Alberta roster for the WHL Cup.
Ashcroft, 15, plays for the Northern Alberta Xtreme Elite 15s and is one of 10 players on the provincial squad from academy teams in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League.
The WHL Cup features the highest-ranked players in the U16 category from the four western provinces and runs Oct. 23 to 27 in Calgary.
Previous tournament teams for the St. Albert minor hockey product were the U13 and U15 Western Canada Selects.
In the 2019 Western Hockey bantam draft, Ashcroft was taken by the Saskatoon Blades in the fourth round with the 76th overall pick.
Slash undefeated
Jenna Goodwin’s third goal of the season was the difference in Wednesday’s win by the St. Albert Slash in the Alberta Female Hockey League.
Jaden Bogden and Dayle Ross assisted on Goodwin’s power-play marker at 12:34 of the middle period against the Edmonton Pandas (2-1) at Bill Hunter Arena.
The Slash (3-0) finished the 1-0 decision with three penalty kills, including a pair in the last period.
Shots were 24-22 for the Slash as Holly Borrett (2-0, 0.50 GAA) posted the shutout.
The Esso Cup midget AAA national champions the last three years are in Dewinton today to play the Rocky Mountain Raiders (0-0-2) at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday’s game against the Calgary Fire (2-0) starts at 12 noon at Father David Bauer Arena.
Merchants win
The first victory after three losses for the St. Albert Merchants was against the winless Spruce Grove Regals.
Bryce Strum and Kiegan Miller tallied twice in Wednesday's 8-3 decision at Grant Fuhr Arena.
Jack Langenhahn, Stuart Dovey, Adam Wilkins and Marco Runco (shorthanded) notched singles as the Merchants potted four in a row in the middle frame to make it 6-2.
The game sheet listed the shot count as 20-17 in the first, 28-12 in the second, 24-6 in the third and 72-34 overall for the Merchants as Mitchell Reidy (4.00 GAA) recorded his first win in his second consecutive start.
The Regals (0-6) are averaging eight goals against per game.
Sunday the Merchants (3-4) are in Wetaskiwin to play the Icemen (3-3) at 6 p.m.
Sabres rattled
The first loss after four wins by the St. Albert Gregg Distributors Sabres was Thursday’s 7-4 setback against the Canadian Athletic Club.
The Sabres trailed 3-1 after 20 minutes and 6-2 entering the third period at Callingwood Twin Arenas.
The CAC ended the opening period with goals on the power play, penalty kill and even strength in under a five-minute span.
The Sabres (4-2) were led by Carmelo Crandell’s two goals on the power play and one assist.
Tyden Redlick and Hayden Selin also scored as the Sabres were credited with 27 shots.
Adam Chin (five GA on 12 shots) and Luke Roberts (two GA on seven shots) split time in net.
The CAC (1-1-4) is coached by Lee Zalasky, the former bench boss of the Sabres.
The next Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League game is 5 p.m. Sunday against the Leduc Oil Kings (4-2) at Jarome Iginla Arena.
