CALGARY — He’s been retired since 1999, but No. 99 is still piling up the assists.

Mired in a 15-game scoreless drought, Olli Jokinen turned to a piece of advice bestowed upon him by Wayne Gretzky during his tenure as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Jokinen was mired in a slump during the 2008-09 season when the Great One told him to get a little greasy.

“In Phoenix, I think I went 10, 11 games without a goal and he pulled me into a meeting and said ‘Hey, you take everything pretty seriously and you work out and your preparation is pretty good so maybe you should let it go a little bit and go have a burger and relax and maybe you’ll get out of the slump’,” Jokinen said.

“If the Great One tells you to go have a burger, you’d better go and do it, you know.”

It worked then for Jokinen. It worked now, too.

Jokinen’s first-period goal in Calgary’s 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks was his first of 2012, snapping the lengthy scoring drought and putting the Flames back in the win column after they had dropped three in a row at Scotiabank Saddledome.

He didn’t hesitate to credit a Big Mac from McDonalds as his source of scoring inspiration. Apparently all Jokinen needs to regain his scoring touch is two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.

“(Thursday) I was thinking, maybe it’s time,” said Jokinen, who has 13 goals and 40 points in 52 games this season. “It’s been a while since I scored. It was the first goal for me in 2012. Sometimes it works.”

Flames captain Jarome Iginla endorsed Jokinen’s eating habits, just as long as it produces similar results.

“What do people say? If the fire’s burning hot enough, you can put anything in there right? The furnace burns hot enough,” Iginla said.

“Whatever works as fuel. All our bodies are different. I hope he eats another one.”

Iginla shouldn’t hold his breath.

Burgers aren’t about to wind up in the pre-game regimen of the Finnish forward, who admitted that Thursday’s trip to the Golden Arches was his first in more than two years.

“You can’t eat a Big Mac meal before every game,” Jokinen said. “It wasn’t that good, a little upset stomach, but it’s all good. Whatever it takes. You’ve got to suck it up and eat it. I did it for the team. It’s all about the team.”

But he didn’t completely rule it out. With the Flames embarking on an important three-game road trip through Anaheim, San Jose and Phoenix, wins are at a premium in the Western Conference. Hoping to put Calgary in a playoff position, it could mean Jokinen is forced to choke down another burger before Monday’s game.

“Maybe I’ll have to find a McDonalds in Anaheim,” he said.

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NHL news see: Jokinen has big (Mac) game.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – West Virginia has decided to cancel its Sept. 8 football game at Florida State.

School officials informed Florida State late Friday they would pay a $ 350,000 escape fee to shelve the trip.

Florida State Athletic Director Randy Spetman said Saturday he’s disappointed that West Virginia would not honor the first half of a home-and-home agreement that calls for Florida State to visit Morgantown, W.Va., next year. The Seminoles have Murray State, South Florida and Florida on their 2012 nonconference schedule in addition to eight Atlantic Coast Conference games.

Spetman now has a short timeline to find an opponent to replace the Mountaineers on Florida State’s schedule.

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more college football news see: West Va. cancels game at Florida State .

KELOWNA, B.C. - If the 2012 CHL/NHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game at Prospera Place proved anything, it’s that defense will likely rule supreme in the early rounds of the NHL Draft on June 22-23 in Pittsburgh.

In a game that saw only three goals but two tremendous fights, Branden Troock of the Seattle Thunderbirds proved to be difference Wednesday night when he skated through the crease and scored a power-play goal with just 24.5 seconds remaining in the third period to give Team Orr to a 2-1 victory over Team Cherry. It was the lowest-scoring result in the 17-year history of the game.

Troock, the game’s first star, assisted on Team Orr’s first goal before scoring the winner.

Troock, who has nine goals and 16 points in 37 games with Seattle this season, scored the winner on Team Orr’s 30th shot of the game. Team Cherry finished with 28 shots.

Team Cherry pulled into a 1-1 tie 8:23 into the third when defenseman Dillon Fournier (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) tucked home a rebound at the right post. The play was set up by a rush down left wing by Mike Winther, who neatly sidestepped Dalton Thrower in the circle before releasing a quick shot on net.

The highlight of the game came with 3:22 remaining in the second when Saskatoon’s Thrower scrapped with Plymouth’s Tom Wilson at center ice. Thrower actually came to the aid of Saskatoon teammate and good friend Lukas Sutter, the son of former Philadelphia Flyers forward Rich Sutter. After being rocked head over skates along the half boards in his own zone, Sutter slowly skated to his bench before Thrower and Wilson removed their helmets and mitts and mixed it up in an energetic punch-fest.

On Tuesday, Sutter told NHL.com that Thrower was his best friend in Saskatoon. He wasn’t kidding.

“He’s come a long way in the past three years and I’ve had the pleasure of getting to grow with him and when you can share experiences like this with one of your best friend’s, it’s exciting,” Sutter told NHL.com. “Even though he was a late addition [to the Top Prospects Game], it’s exciting for him. Just to see him be successful is the biggest thing because he comes from such a good family. He’s one of those guys who truly deserves to be here and have success.”

With 6:13 remaining in the third and the game even at 1-1, Team Cherry defenseman Mathew Dumba plowed over Radek Faksa just inside his own blue line. Raphael Bussieres of Baie-Comeau Drakkar then came to the aid of Kitchener’s Faksa as he dropped the gloves to go toe-to-toe with Red Deer’s Dumba inside the left circle.

Team Orr opened a 1-0 lead 2:46 into the second when defenseman Griffin Reinhart took a harmless-looking wrist shot from the far edge of left circle that beat goalie Brandon Whitney high on the short side. Team Orr captain Colton Sissons of Kelowna and Troock earned assists on the goal — which came on the 20th shot of the contest.

Team Cherry had a golden opportunity five minutes into the third when Martin Frk (Halifax Mooseheads) and Gemel Smith (Owen Sound Attack) broke in on a 2-on-1 but failed to convert.

A scoreless first period was highlighted by solid play between the pipes. For Team Orr, Chris Driedger of the Calgary Hitmen turned aside 10 shots while Team Cherry’s Brandon Whitney of the Victoriaville Tigres stopped nine.

Whitney finished with 11 saves on 12 shots before being replaced by Matthew Murray of Sault Ste. Marie 9:55 into the second. Driedger, who replaced injured prospect Malcolm Subban (groin injury) at the Top Prospects Game, turned away all 14 shots he faced before being replaced by Francois Tremblay of the Val d’Or Foreurs.

Murray came up big six minutes into the third off a flurry of activity in front of his net during a Team Orr power play.

Team Orr center Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts had a few good opportunities throughout the game and Sutter maintained an effective pace with a grinding passion to impress.

As advertised, two of the top defensemen eligible for the 2012 draft were paired along the blue line for Team Cherry at the outset in Ryan Murray of the Everett Silvertips and Dumba.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NHL news see: Late goal gives Team Orr win at Top Prospects Game.

KANATA, Ont. — In the Team Chara locker room at Scotiabank Place during the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game, three longtime friends cracked jokes in their native language that no one else in the room could understand. This was the Slovak section of Team Chara, a row of stalls occupied by three of the game’s best players.

With Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara serving as captain and namesake for the winning team in the 12-9 contest, Slovakia was set to figure prominently in the game. But a three-goal MVP performance from countryman Marian Gaborik and three-point night from fellow Slovak Marian Hossa made it a momentous event in the country’s sports history. That these three players all hail from Trencin, a western Slovakian town of roughly 56,000 inhabitants, is impressive enough.

But from the same street?

“We lived on the same street, 20 seconds from each other,” said Hossa, who set up two of Gaborik’s goals before scoring in the third period. “We are all really close. We played together since we are young, so we’ve known each other a long time.”

Pod Brezinou, the Trencin street located mere minutes from the banks of the Vah River, has turned Slovakia into a hockey hotbed. The Stanley Cup first visited in the summer of 2010 when Hossa brought the trophy to town after the Blackhawks’ victory over Philadelphia in the Final. The following summer, Lord Stanley made a return trip to Trencin after Chara’s Boston Bruins won the Cup.

Each of the three Slovak All-Stars got their start in the sport as teenagers with the hometown Dukla Trencin junior team. By the time Gaborik began his career with the local squad, Chara and Hossa were starting their NHL careers. The two played three years together with the Ottawa Senators, winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the 2002-03 season alongside team captain Daniel Alfredsson, who captained the opposing All-Star team Sunday. When Alfredsson scored two quick goals, his former Slovak teammates quietly rooted for him from the opposing bench.

“Alfie is such a classy guy and obviously a big icon in Ottawa and Sweden,” Chara said. “So of course we were pulling for him [as a] longtime teammate.”

Despite his best efforts, Alfredsson wasn’t able to get that elusive third goal. Instead, it was Chara who notched the game-winner thanks to a nifty pass from Gaborik, who capped off a four-point night with the helper.

“That was my first shot, I think, of the game. It’s nice to score at All-Star, no doubt,” Chara said. “I was surprised I was open and I just put it in the net. I was more focused on staying back, not being something I’m not.”

Chara may have scored the eventual winner, but it was Gaborik who was the star of stars. Unlike previous years, a vehicle wasn’t awarded to this year’s All-Star Game MVP. But that didn’t stop the two Marians from discussing who might get the car.

“We were actually joking,” Hossa said. “Asking if [Gaborik was] going to ship it to Slovakia or keep it here.”

While the rest of the room couldn’t understand the Slovakian banter coming from the corner of the Team Chara locker room, it was a remarkable experience for three longtime friends.

“Guys from the same country, same town, and same street playing at the All-Star Game,” Hossa said. “What else could you ask for?”

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NHL news see: All-Star Game latest chapter in Slovaks’ long friendship.

KANATA, Ont. — While the world’s greatest hockey players congregated in their locker rooms at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Sunday, the biggest star in attendance may have been without skates.

Surrounded by his security detail, platinum-selling artist Drake visited the players, eliciting an exciting response from countless players, many of whom asked the hip-hop star to pose with them for photographs during the first intermission of the 2012 Tim Horton’s NHL All-Star Game.

“That’s a good shot,” Drake said after posing for a photo with the Sedin twins. “I need that one for the house.”

In a night full of stars, the Toronto-born Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, did his share of shining. After meeting the rapper in the first intermission, many of the All-Star players poured onto the ice and snapped photos with their phones as the star performed his hit single “Headlines” during the second-intermission.

“I think I was the first one to go on the ice on our side. I’m a huge Drake fan, I love his music. I’m a big hip-hop guy. It was great to be that close and watching him,” said Keith Yandle of the Phoenix Coyotes. “I actually asked him to sign a stick. He said it was the first hockey stick he has signed. It was pretty cool.”

For the players in attendance, Drake’s performance was a welcome change of pace compared to the regular season. For players used to discussing strategy with their coaching staff between periods, it was nice to spend the intermission enjoying a performance from a platinum-selling artist.

“We don’t have time during the season to enjoy shows,” Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “To have the chance to see it live on the ice was pretty cool.”

But Drake seemed just as taken with the NHL stars as they were with him. He asked Penguins center Evgeni Malkin for a stick and spent extra time with the three Toronto players represented at the game, calling it “an honor” as Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf approached him.

For all the Canadian players participating in the game, the rapper’s visit even provided ample bragging rights.

“It’s great … something else that Canada can brag about,” said Yandle. “All the guys in the locker room can brag about how they have the best rapper now. They’re taking over the world.”

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NHL news see: Players thrilled to greet Drake at All-Star Game.

Tom Brady: It’s just a game for us

Posted by Josh Alper on January 26, 2012, 4:21 PM EST

With the increased media attention, a longer week away from headquarters and a million other distractions, the Super Bowl can be overwhelming for some teams.

Tom Brady is adamant that it won’t be the case for the Patriots. During a press conference on Thursday, Brady addressed the hoopla that surrounds the game and said that it won’t affect him or his teammates.

“It’s a football game for us,” Brady said, via the Boston Herald. “It’s the Super Bowl for everyone else. We’re going in there to try and win football games. Put all the distractions aside, and don’t let anything get in the way of our preparation, that’s ultimately what’s most important. This game that everyone will remember for the rest of our lives. Hopefully it’s a good one.”

The chances of it being a good one are helped by the fact that both teams have recent experience in the game. It seems unlikely that the stage will prove to be too daunting for either the Patriots or Giants thanks to the players that have been there before. Too much has been made of this game being a rematch when only 23 of the 106 players on the rosters in 2008 remain, but those 23, plus both head coaches, should ensure that everyone stays focused on the task at hand.

Permalink 5 Comments Latest Stories in: New England Patriots, New York Giants, Rumor Mill, Top Stories

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1. jasku880 says: Jan 26, 2012 4:49 PM

   then you wont be that upset or lose sleep if you lost
2. omegaichiban says: Jan 26, 2012 4:51 PM

   It’s not “just another game” if that were true, every game would give you 4 Super bowl wins. Brady is shook, and I hope he can get his mind right before the game, if not, it’s going to be ugly.
3. dublindemonszfl says: Jan 26, 2012 4:53 PM

   Oh good for you Tom. It’s work for the rest of us.
4. tombradyallday says: Jan 26, 2012 4:54 PM

   a lot of history will be decided after this game the ratings for tv are going to be off the charts
5. dublindemonszfl says: Jan 26, 2012 4:55 PM

   Good thing he doesn’t play for the packers, next to drinking beer its the only thing cheezeheads do. Right Carl?

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL football news see: Tom Brady: It’s just a game for us.

Expect hundreds of NHL scouts and general managers to convene in Western Canada next week when the 17th annual Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game is held at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C.

“The top prospects game is an event that all NHL scouts look forward to attending,” NHL Central Scouting Director Dan Marr said. “The 40 players competing in this game were chosen by the 30 NHL clubs, with the game being a unique opportunity to evaluate 40 of the top draft-eligible prospects on a single stage in what has annually become an intense competition.”

The rosters include many of the top players recognized on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for North American players, including seven of the top 10 players on NHL Central Scouting’s midterm ranking of North American skaters, and four of Central Scouting’s top six goaltenders.

CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Rosters

Team Orr (Coach Pat Quinn)

Goalies — Malcolm Subban, Belleville Bulls, OHL; Francois Tremblay, Val d’Or Foreurs, QMJHL.

Defensemen — Gianluca Curcuruto, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL; Matthew Finn, Guelph Storm, OHL; Olli Maatta, London Knights, OHL; Adam Pelech, Erie Otters, OHL; Derrick Pouliot, Portland Winterhawks, WHL; Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL.

Forwards — Andreas Athanasiou, London Knights, OHL; Francis Beauvillier, Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL; Raphael Bussieres, Baie-Comeau Drakkar, QMJHL; Radek Faksa, Kitchener Rangers, OHL; Mikhail Grigorenko, Quebec Remparts, QMJHL; Tomas Hyka, Gatineau Olympiques, QMJHL; Scott Kosmachuk, Guelph Storm, OHL; *Matia Marcantuoni, Kitchener Rangers, OHL; **Branden Troock, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL; Tanner Pearson, Barrie Colts, OHL; Colton Sissons, Kelowna Rockets, WHL; Chandler Stephenson, Regina Pats, WHL; Lukas Sutter, Saskatoon Blades, WHL.

Team Cherry (Coach Mark Recchi)

Goalies — Matthew Murray, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL; Brandon Whitney, Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL.

Defensemen — Cody Ceci, Ottawa 67-s, OHL; Mathew Dumba, Red Deer Rebels, WHL; Nick Ebert, Windsor Spitfires, OHL; *Slater Koekkoek, Peterborough Petes, OHL; **Brett Kulak, Vancouver Giants, WHL; Ryan Murray, Everett Silvertips, WHL; Damon Severson, Kelowna Rockets, WHL.

Forwards — **Tim Bozon, Kamloops Blazers, WHL; Martin Frk, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL; Brendan Gaunce, Belleville Bulls, OHL; Coda Gordon, Swift Current Broncos, WHL; Charles Hudon, Chicoutimi Sagueneens, QMJHL; Scott Laughton, Oshawa Generals, OHL; *Jarrod Maidens, Owen Sound Attack, OHL; Andrew Ryan, Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL; Gemel Smith, Owen Sound Attack, OHL; Dominik Volek, Regina Pats, WHL; Thomas Wilson, Plymouth Whalers, OHL; **Mike Winther, Prince Albert Raiders, WHL; *Nail Yakupov, Sarnia Sting, OHL; Daniil Zharkov, Belleville Bulls, OHL.

* – Injured and won’t compete
** – Injury replacement

Among the players that will be taking the ice Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 are center Mikhail Grigorenko of the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Central Scouting’s No. 2-rated skater, the Everett Silvertips’ Ryan Murray, No. 3 on Central Scouting’s list and the top-ranked defenseman; Kitchener Rangers center Radek Faksa, Central Scouting’s fourth-ranked skater; and Belleville Bulls goalie Malcolm Subban, Central Scouting’s No. 1 goalie.

The No. 1 ranked skater, right wing Nail Yakupov of the OHL’s Sarnia Sting, will not participate since he is just recovering from a knee injury suffered while playing for Russia at the 2012 World Junior Championship.

Also missing from the game will be a few other highly regarded prospects due to injuries — Sarnia center Alex Galchenyuk, who has missed all season with a knee injury but was ranked No. 2 among OHL skaters in Central Scouting’s preliminary rankings; Moose Jaw Warriors defenseman Morgan Rielly, who is No. 5 on Central Scouting’s midterm rankings but out for the season with a knee injury; and Peterborough Petes defenseman Slater Koekkoek, No. 17 on the midterm rankings but who is out for the season with a shoulder injury.

Also injured and unable to participate are Owen Sound forward Jarrod Maidens (concussion-like symptoms) and Kitchener Rangers forward Matia Marcantuoni (upper body).

Replacing them are Prince Albert Raiders center Mike Winther, Kamloops Blazers left wing Tim Bozon, Seattle Thunderbirds right wing Branden Troock and Vancouver Giants defenseman Brett Kulak.

Murray joins Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts at Top Prospects after helping Canada win the bronze medal at the WJC.

“It is a huge honor to be named to this event and to play alongside some of the best players in the 2012 NHL Draft class,” said Murray. “I’ve had some great friends compete in this game, including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins last season, and I am really looking forward to this opportunity.”

Thirty of the 59 CHL clubs will be represented in the contest, including three players from the OHL’s Belleville Bulls (goalie Malcolm Subban and forwards Daniil Zharkov and Brendan Gaunce). The host Kelowna Rockets will be represented by forward Colton Sissons and defenseman Damon Severson.

The two-night affair features a skills contest and 3-on-3 challenge on Jan. 31 and the Top Prospects Game on Feb. 1. Former NHL coach Pat Quinn and three-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Recchi will coach the teams. Quinn will serve behind the bench for Team Orr, with Vancouver Giants coach Don Hay assisting him, while Recchi will lead Team Cherry, with Kelowna Rockets coach Ryan Huska assisting him.

“I am looking forward to playing against and meeting the other top draft-eligible players from the CHL,” said Grigorenko, who is ranked No. 2 among North American skaters. “I am honored to play among the best NHL prospects and it will be a great challenge for me.”

Last year, Nugent-Hopkins became the tenth player to compete in this event since 1996 to be selected with the first pick in an NHL draft, and 19 players who skated in last year’s Top Prospects Game were chosen in the first round of the 2011 draft.

Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NHL news see: Grigorenko, Murray, Subban set for Prospects Game.

In the first-ever imprint of the USHL / NHL Top Prospects Game, the United States’ top junior league served up an instant classic.

Indiana Ice standout Robbie Baillargeon scored two goals, USHL’s top-ranked goalie Jon Gillies saved 15 shots in relief and the East came away with a hard-fought 5-3 victory Tuesday from L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegan, Mich.

The game was a back-and-forth affair through 40 minutes, and the teams went into the second intermission knotted at 3-3. East coach Derek Lalonde said he was proud of the way his team responded.

“They really found a way to win,” said Lalonde, whose Green Bay Gamblers are top of the USHL with a 27-6-1 record. “They made a couple plays in the third. I was impressed with the pace of the game. We asked our boys to take this very seriously and from the drop of the puck they certainly did that. They really embraced the team concept of it.”

Jeff Kubiak scored the game-winner at 7:24 of the third. Nicholas Schilkey – who also added a goal – picked up the puck at the blue line, dropped it to a teammate then got it back in the low slot. Schilkey whipped a backhand across the net, and it slipped through West goalie Jay Williams to Kubiak, who won’t score many easier goals.

After a rocky start that saw the East concede two early goals to the dangerous West line of Austin Farley, A.J. Michaelson and Luke Johnson, Baillargeon – ranked 43rd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting – steadied the East with back-to-back goals. He scored the first when he intercepted an ill-timed blue line pass, deked around West starter Stephon Williams’ poke-check and finished with his backhand.

Baillargeon notched his second when he combined with Jordan Masters, one of four skaters representing the hometown Muskegon Lumberjacks, at 4:07 of the second. After the pair were denied once on the 2-on-1, Masters got the puck back and slipped it to his linemate for the goal.

“It was a great time. I’ve never been on the ice with that much talent before,” Baillargeon said of the game. “It was a blast. Everyone has just so much skill.”

If the game provided an opportunity for lesser-seen players to showcase their talent, Williams seized it with both hands. The Sioux Falls netminder – ranked 23rd among North American goalies – made 25 saves on 27 shots in 30 minutes on the ice. Constantly under attack, Williams stopped everyone who came his way except for Baillargeon. To put an exclamation mark on his performance, he robbed highly-touted attacker Matthew DeBlouw with a glove save on a point-blank shot just before being subbed.

Said Baillargeon of Williams: “It’s always tough to score on talented goalies. He had a great game. You’ve got to make your move based off what he’s doing. You’ve just got to find a way to put the puck in the net.”

The Farley-Michaelson-Johnson lined keyed the West to an early 2-0 lead. On the first, a nice passing play starting with Johnson unfolded as the puck moved up the ice to Farley. Farley flicked it on the Michaelson, who finished it past East starter Austin Lyon at 6:26 of the first.

After USHL leading scorer Austin Roy asked some questions of Lyon’s goalmouth, the trio struck again. Johnson held the puck up in the defensive zone before pushing up to Farley, who was hovering near the blue line. Farley flicked it up toward the right circle, and Michaelson raced into the zone, picked it up and laid a cross near the top of the crease. Farley beat his defender on the give-and-go and poked it through Lyons and the left post.

“It was a great pass by Luke Johnson, and both defensemen kind of converged on me so I dumped it forward,” Farley said of his strike. “Luckily, A.J. sprinted up and got it and I was able to finish it off.”

At the 30-minute mark, the West goal introduced a new Williams (Jay) for an old (Stephon), and the new goalie conceded immediately. Off the face-off that followed the goalie change, DeBlouw won the puck and pushed it to Robert Polesello, who left it for Nicholas Schilkey for a one-time blast at 10:10 to give the East a 3-2 lead.

Since the puck flew through the mesh, the goal was initially written off. Minutes later, however, the game was stopped and the goal awarded to Schilkey.

The West was not done just yet. At 14:37, Justin Selman picked up a feed from Sioux Falls teammate Austyn Young, flew through the middle and drew a defenseman out wide. He attempted to dump it back in to the mixer, but a deflection carried it past Gillies to retie the game at 3-3.

“Our coach from Sioux Falls (Kevin Hartzell) has been telling us to put everything on net,” said Selman, who is committed to the University of Michigan. “It was great to know that even though you’re in the locker room with guys you compete against night in and night out, but having a few guys from your team helps you settle in.”

Alex Kile – ranked No. 82 by NHL Central Scouting and another future Wolverine – provided some insurance for the East with 1:21 to play. On just the game’s second power play, Kile caught up to a fantastic Chris Bradley lead pass and slotted home for the game’s final tally.

Baillargeon, a 2013 Boston University commit, said he found the game worthwhile as a USHL player.

“Everyone brings so much different talent to the table that you get to learn a lot out here,” Baillargeon said. “And you get to take what they know and bring it back to your team, and show them what you’ve learned.”

MySportNews іѕ a sports news digest publication that compiles real time, on demand sports news, articles, аnd resources. This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NHL news see: East tops West 5-3 in first USHL Top Prospects Game.