Nashville Predators Prospect Report

Nashville Tn – On Monday, Zach Stepan – Nashville’s fifth choice, 112th overall (fourth round), in June’s draft – was named co-recipient of the United States Hockey League’s CCM Forward of the Week award after amassing seven points (4g-3a) and a +8 rating in three Waterloo Black Hawk victories. Two of those four goals were game winners, moving him into sole possession of first in the league in game winning goals (4). The Faribault, Minn., native has 15 points (7g-8a) in 10 regular-season games, moving him into a tie for third in both league goals and points, and into sixth in USHL assists. He’s reached the score sheet in all but one of those 10 games, helping Waterloo to a USHL-best 9-1-0 record.

Then Tuesday, Jimmy Vesey – Nashville’s third choice, 66th overall (third round), in the 2012 Entry Draft – was tabbed Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association’s Rookie of the Week after three points in his NCAA debut last Saturday. The North Reading, Mass., native assisted on the Crimson’s first goal of the season, then scored in both the second and third periods in a 5-0 victory over Bentley. Harvard jumps into conference action this weekend by hosting Brown on Friday and Yale on Saturday.

In western Canada, another pair of Nashville prospects are helping their teams to their highest points in 2012-13. Though Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Sissons (50th overall in 2012) was held scoreless for just the second time since Sept. 29, he did have three goals in three games last week, keeping among the Western Hockey League’s Top 15 in both goals (9) and points (19). His +3 this week also kept him tied for sixth in league plus/minus rating (+14), and he continues to pace all WHL skaters in shorthanded points (2g-1a). Kelowna has won four of its last six games to move above .500 for the first time this season.

Brendan Leipsic (89th overall in 2012) missed nearly three weeks due to injury, but returned in full force on Sunday, recording a pair of goals and adding an assist in a 6-0 Portland Winterhawks victory over Tri-City. The Winnipeg, Man., native then helped Portland extend its winning streak to six games on Halloween night with a goal in a 5-2 defeat of Everett.

Overseas, 2012 sixth-round pick Simon Fernholm checked a couple of career milestones off his list. On Sunday, the 6-4, 187-pound defenseman not only made his Swedish Elite League debut for the Frolunda Indians, but also assisted on the game-winning goal in 6-3 win again AIK for his first Elite League point.

You can find stats for Nashville’s primary developmental affiliate, the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals here.  Twenty-one of the 22 players to have suited up for the Admirals this season are under contract with the Preds, while three prospects, Taylor Aronson, Charles-Olivier Roussel and Josh Shalla are playing with Nashville’s secondary affiliate, the ECHL’s Cincinnati Cyclones. For statistics on the Cyclones click here.

 

Hank is a forty year broadcast veteran, talk show host, writer, producer, and stand-up comedian. Hank is the President of Bonehead Promotions and Clarksville Sports Network.com, and is a contributing author/journalist for Clarksville Online. Hank is an advertising consultant, and social media adviser/manager for exclusive customers.

Web Site: http://clarksvillesportsnetwork.com/
Email: hbonecutter@yahoo.com

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.