This Week in Avalanche Prospects

The Lake Erie Monsters find themselves at the bottom of their division in the American Hockey League. The latest PairWise rankings in college hockey finds Boston University sitting pretty. A recent draftee finds the back of the net for the first time this season. More news and notes in this week's edition of TWIAP!

The Lake Erie Monsters have a record of 18-21-2-1. The team currently sits in last place of the North Division; winners of just three of their last 10 games. Goaltender Cedrick Desjardins continues to miss time with a lower body injury. While Trevor Cann has started the majority of the games in the absence of Desjardins, goaltender Gerald Coleman has made two starts for Lake Erie. Coleman was added to the roster from the Alaska Aces (ECHL), where he had fashioned a 17-4-2 record. He is currently 1-1 with the Monsters.

With recalls and injuries, defenseman Tyson Barrie currently leads the Monsters in scoring with five goals and 21 assists in 42 games. The rookie is also sporting a minus one rating. Not bad for a first year pro on a struggling hockey club. Mark Olver has played in six games since his return from concussion like symptoms, and has a goal and an assist. The Monsters will look to get back on track with games at home against Hamilton and Toronto this week.

In college hockey, the national tournament features a 16-team field. While we are still a couple of months away from the start of the tourney, it is never too early to get a feel of the teams who may end up participating. That is where the PairWise rankings come in to the picture. The PairWise ranking system is used to mimic the process used by the NCAA Selection Committee.

Currently, Boston University is first in the PairWise with a 15-6-1 record; 13 of those wins belong to Kieran Millan. BU has won four straight games and is coming off a weekend sweep of Providence. Rival Boston College (Paul Carey) is tied for 8th in the PairWise. BC was swept by Maine.

Michigan is tied for 5th in the PairWise, as the club split a weekend series with Notre Dame. Luke Moffatt has had little offensive impact for the Wolverines of late. He's been regulated to the fourth line. Yale (Gus Young) is unranked and has little tourney hopes at this point.

In Minnesota, the Gophers find themselves tied for 14th in the PairWise. The team is coming of a series split with Colorado College. Each game ended in a 2-1 score. Nate Condon had a goal in the 2-1 win over the Tigers on Saturday night. Kent Patterson has started all 27 games for the Gophers this season. His 17 wins lead the nation and his 2.08 goals against average is 11th best in the country.

Our last story takes us to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Shawinigan Cataractes. It took 46 games, but it finally happened. Avalanche 2011 seventh round draft pick, Dillon Donnelly, recorded his first goal of the season. The goal came in the second period of a 4-2 loss to Gatineau on Friday night. The defensive defenseman matched his goal total from last season.

Next time, a look in on the standings in the OHL and WHL. Another round up of the activities in college hockey. And of course a recap of the Lake Erie Monsters three game home stand.