New York Rangers

First Star Ryan Bourque

The one question we have getting this season has been where is Ryan Bourque’s offense? We say relax it will show up and when it does you will know about.

Ryan Bourque (2009 3rd) scored his 3rd goal of the season and added his 5th assist as he earned first star of the game honors in leading the Quebec Remparts to a 4-1 win over the Prince Edward Island Rocket.

Bourque got the Remparts going when he scored an early first period power play goal at 3:01 for a 1-0 Quebec lead. Bourque then set up Frederick Roy for Quebec’s 3rd goal of the game at 1:16 of the 3rd period.

But it was more than just his offense that earned Bourque his first star as Bourque’s defense is what gets his offense going. Bourque with 4 points in his last 2 games we hope is the sign that he is heating up.

Second Star Roman Horak

So much for a scoring slump as Roman Horak (2009 5th) rebounded with a 3 assist night to help his Chilliwack Bruins to a 6-3 win over the Brandon Wheat Kings.

Horak earned first star of the game honors for 2 primary assists as the Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead. Horak got his night first with a secondary assist on the Bruins first goal of the game and then set up fellow Czech Robin Soudek for the Bruin’s 2nd goal on the power play.

In the 3rd period, Horak made it 3 power play assists as he set up Brandon Manning’s 4th goal of the season and a 5-1 Bruin lead. With his 3 assists Horak regained the prospect scoring lead with a 6-10-16 mark.

Horak is turning out to be a very nice steal for the Rangers as a 5th round pick. Horak plays on Chilliwack’s special teams, on their first line and is one of the better defensive forwards among Ranger prospects.

Forgive us if we really do look forward to seeing a checking line of Horak/Carl Hagelin/Ryan Bourque. 3 players who can play any of the forward positions, can forecheck, kill penalties as well as chip in offense.

Third  Star Max Campbell

Max Campbell (2007 5th) has found new life under Western Michigan’s new head coach Jeff Blashill as Campbell is now 3-3-6 in 6 games as Western Michigan is off to a 4-1-1 start after a 3-3 tie with St. Lawrence.

Campbell set up Greg Squires for what proved to be the game tying goal at the 12 minute mark of the 3rd period. Add in that Campbell opened the scoring for Western Michigan at 16:28 of the first period.

If Campbell has rediscovered his game then the Rangers might have found another diamond out of the 5th round. We hope so because Campbell is a natural goal scorer that the Rangers sure could use more of.

The Rest of the Ranger Prospects

Brandon Manning (Traverse City) is watching his price tag rising with each passing game as the Chilliwack defensemen scored his 4th goal of the season to extend his point scoring streak to 8 games. Manning is not 4-9-13 in the 8 games he has played this season.

The Rangers might regret not offering Manning an NHL contract while they had a chance. Manning also had 16 PIMs with 12 of them coming at the end of the game.

Carl Hagelin (2007 6th) scored his first goal of the season as his 3rd ranked Michigan Wolverines earned a weekend split by handing the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks their first loss of the season 6-1.

Chris Krieder (2009 1st) is still looking for his first points of the season as his top ranked Boston College Eagles were upset by Notre Dame. Krieder has been held scoreless in the Eagle’s first 4 games and we have to admit it is mind boggling.

Dylan McIlrath (2010 1st) scored his first goal of the season but his Moose Jaw Warriors came 1 goal short losing on the road to the Swift Current Broncos 3-2. McIlrath’s 3rd point of the season (1-2-3) came at 12:37 as his Warriors tried to erase a 3-0 hole.

Jason Wilson’s (2010 5th) was scoreless and a -2 as his Niagara IceDogs lost to the Barrie Colts 5-2.

Scott Stajcer (2009 5th) after his worst game of the season had a seat on the bench as his Owen Sound Attack rebounded from their loss last night with a paid back the Sarina Sting with a 9-4 whipping.