Golden Knights Prospect Watch Week 2 – 10/5 – 10/10
Our second installment of Prospect Watch is here with everything you need to know about the Golden Knights junior league prospects from this past weekend. This edition covers the action from October 5 to October 10. Matyas Sapovaliv is our prospect of the week as he put on quite a show for the Saginaw Spirit in the Ontario Hockey League.
Forward Prospects
Jakub Brabanec – Charlottetown Islanders (A)
In his first game of the season in a 7-4 loss against Saint John, Brabanec collected a goal and an assist. The assist came just 26 seconds into the second period while the goal came on a power play just 31 seconds into the 3rd period. He also went 22 of 34 on the faceoff against the Sea Dogs. On the next night against Halifax, the Islander alternate came up scoreless on two shots but went 13 of 19 on the faceoff circle. Against Acadie-Bathurst on Monday night, Brabanec got an assist that would be the eventual game winner at 19:38 in the first period. On the faceoff, he was 11 of 21 on the night.
2022-23 Stats | 3 GP | 1 G, 2 A – 3 pts | 0 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/13 – at Cape Breton
10/15 – at Moncton
10/16 – vs Drummondville
Zach Dean – Gatineau Olympiques (A)
In the road game against Val-d’Or, Dean was held scoreless on two shots but went 14 of 24 on the faceoff. Two nights later at home against the same Val-d’Or team, Dean got one assist on a game tying goal at 4:05 in the third. On the faceoff, he was 11 of 19 in a Gatineau 5-2 win. The next night against Rouyn-Noranda, he picked up another assist in a 3-2 win. The assist came off a goal that would be the game winner at 1:36 in the third. In the game, he had three hits while going eight of 19 on the faceoff. Monday night against Shawinigan, Dean scored the first goal of the game on a power play at 13:06 into the first period. Outside of the scoreboard, he would go just eight of 21 on the faceoff with three shots and two shots.
2022-23 Stats | 7 GP | 2 G, 5 A – 7 pts | 0 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/14 – at Baie-Comeau
10/15 – at Baie-Comeau
Jordan Gustafson – Seattle Thunderbirds (A)
In a 5-4 win against Kelowna, Gustafson had a goal and an assist on eight shots. The goal came at 16:51 in the first, with the assist came just 24 seconds into the second period. On the faceoff against Kelowna, he went just six of 21 on the faceoff circle. The next night in a 3-2 win over Vancouver, the Thunderbirds alternate went scoreless on two shots while going five of 15 on the circle.
2022-23 Stats | 3 GP | 1 G, 2 A – 3 pt | 0 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/11 – vs Medicine Hat
10/14 – vs Edmonton
10/15 – at Everett
Ben Hemmerling – Everett Silvertips
In a 6-3 loss against Medicine Hat on October 7, Hemmerling recorded two assists with the first coming on a powerplay goal at 12:30 in the second period. The second assist also came on a power play with 9:03 into the third period. The next night against Prince George, he would collect one goal, with it coming at 4:03 into the second period of play. In the third, Hemmerling would serve a two-minute minor for slashing at 2:09 into the third. He would also win his only faceoff battle of the game.
2022-23 Stats | 4 GP | 2 G, 4 A – 6 pts | 2 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/12 – vs Edmonton
10/14 – at Kelowna
10/15 – vs Seattle
10/16 – vs Spokane
Matyas Sapovaliv – Saginaw Spirit
In a 7-4 win against Sarnia on October 7, Sapovaliv was red hot with a pair of goals and an assist on four shots. His first goal would be the eventual game winner at 4:05 in the second period. The second goal was scored at 18:55 in the second. His lone assist came on a goal that was sandwiched between his two goals at 11:22 in the period. On the faceoff circle, Sapovaliv would win just nine of his 22 chances. His performance would earn him the first star of the game. The next night in a 5-4 loss against Windsor, he would remain on a hot streak tacking on two more goals and an assist to his season totals. The first goal came on a powerplay at 12:51 into the first period. His second goal would come at 14:53 in the second. His lone assist came on the last goal of the game at 9:35 in the third. He earn another first star honor and would go 13 of 24 on the faceoff circle against the Spitfires. Playing a third game in three nights, the Spirit would earn a 5-2 win with Sapovaliv earning a single assist in the game. The assist would come at 10:10 in the second period. On the faceoff, he would win an impressive 11 of 14 chances.
2022-23 Stats | 5 GP | 5 G, 3 A – 8 pts | 4 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/14- at Guelph
10/15 – at Erie
Defensemen Prospects
Artur Cholach – Barrie Colts
In a 5-2 win over Niagara on October 6, Cholach was held scoreless with two shots on goals and earned a +1 rating on the night. Two nights later against Peterborough, he had three shots on in a 5-0 loss.
2022-23 Stats | 4 GP | 0 G, 1 A – 1 pt | 0 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/14 – at Sudbury
10/15 – at Soo
Joe Fleming – Sherbrooke Phoenix
On October 6 in a 5-4 overtime loss to Rouyn-Noranda, Fleming had served a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for fighting. He also had two shots and two hits during the game. Two nights later against Moncton, he would serve two minutes for roughing at 4:12 in the first. The next night against Baie-Comeau, Fleming would get an assist on a goal at 7:09 in the first period. He would also get off three shots during the game with two hits.
2022-23 Stats | 5 GP | 0 G, 1 A – 1 pt | 7 PIM
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/14 – vs Saint John
10/15 – vs Shawinigan
Goaltender Prospect
Jesper Vikman – Vancouver Giants
Vikman would have just one game this week against Prince George on October 7 with the result ending up as a 4-3 shootout loss. In the game, he would stop 31 of 34 shots.
2022-23 Stats | 3 GP | Record: 1-1-0-1 | 73 SV, 82 SH | 2.94 GAA | .890 SV PCT | 0 SHO
Upcoming Games This Week (10/11- 10/16):
10/14 – vs Brandon
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