Predator prospects roundup

October 25, 9:24 PMNashville Predators ExaminerJim Diamond

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Here are this week’s updates on how the Nashville Predators prospects are fairing in their respective collegiate and junior hockey league seasons thus far.

Ontario Hockey League

Ryan Ellis (Drafted 1st round – 11th overall in 2009) – Windsor Spitfires

Ellis is still sidelined by a wrist injury, and is not expected to play for at least another week. He was in Nashville on Monday of this week to be evaluated by Predators team doctors. While in Nashville, Ellis signed his name to a three-year entry level contract with the Predators. In seven games played this season, Ellis has yet to score a goal, but has ten assists. His plus/minus is +8, and he has been assessed four penalty minutes.

Taylor Beck (3rd round – 70th overall in 2009) – Guelph Storm

Beck had his second consecutive strong week. In three games, he had three goals and four assists. For the season, he has nine goals and eleven assists in 13 games played. Beck has a plus/minus of +10, and he has been whistled for eight penalty minutes. 

Michael Latta (3rd round – 72nd overall in 2009) – Guelph Storm

Like his Storm teammate Beck, Latta also had a strong week. In three games, Latta had two goals and two assists. For the season, he has seven goals and seven assists in 13 games played. He has a plus/minus of +10, and has 33 penalty minutes.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (La Ligue de Hockey Junior Majeur Du Quebec)

Charles-Olivier Roussel (2nd round – 42nd overall in 2009) – Shawinigan Cataractes

The week’s strong numbers for Predators prospects was not limited to the Ontario Hockey League. In three games played this week, Roussel had two goals and four assists. Both of his goals were power-play goals. On the season, in 14 games played, Roussel has two goals and eleven assists. He has a plus/minus of -7 and has been assessed 31 penalty minutes.

Gabriel Bourque (5th round – 132nd overall in 2009) – Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Through 13 games, Bourque has three goals and 14 assists. His plus/minus is +1 and has 39 penalty minutes.

The QMJHL (LHJMQ) announced this week that both Roussel and Bourque have been named to the Q’s 2009 Subway Super Series Roster. The team from the Q will compete in two games against Team Russia. The first game will be November 16th in Drummondville and the second game will be November 18th in Shawinigan.

United States Hockey League

Nick Oliver (4th round – 110th overall in 2009) – Fargo Force

In seven games played for the Force this season, Oliver has not yet scored a goal and has one assist. His plus/minus is -1 and has 17 penalty minutes.

British Columbia Hockey League (Junior ‘A’)

Cam Reid (7th round – 192nd overall in 2009) – Westside Warriors

In 16 games played, Reid has nine goals and seventeen assists. Reid has been assessed 32 penalty minutes.

NCAA

Jeff Foss (6th round – 166th overall in 2008) – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Over the weekend, Foss picked up his first point of the season with an assist. In six games played for R.P.I., Foss has the one assist, two penalty minutes and his plus/minus is even.

Taylor Stefishen (5th round – 136th overall in 2008) – Ohio State

In six games played for the Buckeyes so far this season, Stefishen has one goal and two assists. He has four penalty minutes and his plus/minus is +3.

Ben Ryan (4th round – 114th overall in 2007) – Notre Dame

In six games, Ryan leads the Fighting Irish with six points. He has two goals and four assists. He has two penalty minutes and has a plus/minus of +4.

Ryan Thang (3rd round – 81st overall in 2007) – Notre Dame

In six games this season, Thang has a goal and two assists. He has eight minutes in penalties and his plus/minus is even.

Blake Geoffrion (2nd round – 56th overall in 2006) – Wisconsin

The good news story of the week has to be Geoffrion. After getting knocked out of Wisconsin’s first game of the season last week against Colorado College with a concussion, the Brentwood resident was cleared to play this weekend’s series against Minnesota State. In the two-game series, Geoffrion had two goals and an assist. For the season, he has three goals and an assist, with a plus/minus of +1. All three of his goals on the young season are power-play goals.

Craig Smith (4th round – 98th overall in 2009) – Wisconsin

Through four games, Smith has two assists. The freshman’s plus/minus is even. He has been assessed 19 minutes in penalties. In Saturday night’s game against Minnesota State, Smith was given a checking from behind major and a game misconduct at the 7:00 mark of the third period.

Ryan Flynn (6th round – 176th overall 2006) – Minnesota

It was not a good week for the Predators draftees who play for the University of Minnesota. The Golden Gophers were swept in their two-game series with Denver University. The Pioneers won both games 3-0.

Through four games, Flynn has recorded one assist. He has ten penalty minutes and has a plus/minus of -1.

Zach Budish (2nd round – 41st overall in 2009) – Minnesota

In four games, Budish does not yet have a point. He has six penalty minutes, and his plus/minus is even.