Colorado Avalanche prospect report: Playing catch up

Sorry about the lack of posts about those precocious little prospects, but I got a new job and had to get into a good rhythm to fit in the writing.

We won’t go game by game because that’s too much work, so I’ll sum up where each of the kids are right now with their play.

Ontario Hockey League

#21 - Conor Timmins (D)
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Timmins and the Greyhounds ended the OHL season in first place and swept the Saginaw Spirit in round one, which was highlighted by an 8-0 thrashing in game three, which lead to Sportsnet’s Don Cherry to complain about them doing things like this:

(It should be noted that when Cherry coached in the OHL his team one 11 games in three seasons)

Round two begins on Thursday night and the ‘Hounds will face the 4th seed Owen Sound Attack, who should put up more of a fight.

#19 - Travis Barron (F)
Ottawa 67’s

The 67’s limped into the playoffs the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference, and were beaten in five games by the first place Hamilton Bulldogs. They got one win, in game two, but were soundly outplayed in the series. Barron signed his entry level contract and will head to San Antonio to finish out the season with the Rampage.

Western Hockey League

#21 - Nick Henry (F)
Regina Pats

The Memorial Cup hosts took the Swift Current Broncos to seven games but were unable to finish off the series, losing last night # to #. Henry will now have quite a few weeks to rest up for the national tournament in May. Last year’s champions, the Windsor Spitfires, were in the same position so good luck to the Pats!

#3 - Josh Anderson (D)
Swift Current Broncos

The Broncos were taken to the brink but pulled out a win in game seven against the much lower finishing Regina Pats. The Pats will have their chance for revenge at the Memorial Cup if the Broncos win it all. A tough road lies ahead for Swift Current, as the Broncos will face either first overall Moose Jaw Warriors in round two.

#14 - Ty Lewis (F)
Brandon Wheat Kings

The Wheat Kings pulled off what looks like an upset on paper, but the wild card Wheat Kings finished with more points than the division winning Medicine Hat Tigers. Next up are the Lethbridge Hurricanes who easily beat the Red Deer Rebels in four games.

Junior A

#4 - Nick Leivermann (D)
Penticton Vees, BCHL

The Vees finished first overall in the BCHL, but were eliminated from the playoffs in round two by the Trail Smoke Eaters. Leivermann will finish up his school year and prepare to join the Notre Dame Fighting Irish next fall.

USHL

#27 - Nathan Clurman (D)
Des Moines Buccaneers

The Buccaneers still have games left to play, but the season is over and they finished dead last in the Western Conference. Sorry Nathan.

NCAA

#16 - Cale Makar (D)
UMass-Amherst Minutemen

Massachusetts lost to Northeastern in the Hockey East quarter-finals, ending Makar’s season, but not his college career. He’s announced he’ll be back in college this fall, so stop dreaming of a Makar Avs jersey right now.

#25 - Denis Smirnov (F)
Penn State Lions

The Lions made it all the way to the Big10 semi-finals, but would lose to Notre Dame in a close 3-2 game. They were then seeded into the NCAA bracket, but lost their first game against Denver.

#26 - Cameron Morrison (F)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish

The Irish defeated Ohio State to win the Big10 championship and won a couple close games over Michigan Tech and Providence to get into the Frozen Four. Their first game is this Thursday night against Michigan.

#15 - Shane Bowers
Boston University Terriers

The Terriers shutout Providence to win the Hockey East championship before heading into the NCAA tournament. There they would beat Cornell in round one, but lost to Michigan 6-3 to get knocked out of a national title.