All 11 North American New York Rangers prospects were in action on Friday night with mostly disappointing outcomes.Raoul Boilard was the exception. He earned second star of the game honors with a 2-1-3 evening as his Shawinigan Cataractes defeated the Sherbrooke Phoenix, 7-4, in QMJHL action.
It is the second straight three-point game for the Rangers 2024 fourth round pick and the third one already this season. In the second period with his team already up 1-0, Boilard got his night going with his third goal of the season as he fired a shot at the Phoenix goalie that just barely trickled in through his five-hole and into the goal.
The Phoenix would score themselves at 2:20 to cut the lead to 2-1 before Boilard would add his second goal of the night at 6:43 of the same period. Really like this goal as Boilard carried the puck towards the net from the point and fired a nice low shot that the Phoenix goalie never saw thanks to a screen in front.
That was his fourth goal of the season and Boilard would finish his night with a primary assist on the Cataractes seventh goal of the game. Boilard going 2-1-3 on four shots with a +3 while going 12-7 on faceoffs and being credited with one hit.
After going scoreless in his first five games, Boilard after being moved back to center has gone 4-5-9 in his last five games. He needs a big season if he hopes that the Rangers will sign him to an entry-level contract after last season’s disappointing numbers.
Ty Henricks had his first NCAA three assist game as his second-ranked Western Michigan Broncos knocked off Malcom Spence and his third-ranked Michigan Wolverines in non-conference play. With the game tied 1-1 in the second period, Henricks earned his first point of the night when he was credited with the primary assist on Zach Sharp’s goal at 15:03.
In the third period assist number two was also a primary assist as he helped Grant Slukynsky score the Bronco’s third goal of the game just 32 seconds into the third period. This would prove to be the game-winning goal putting the Broncos up 3-1.
Henricks would earn his third point of the game on Bobby Cowan’s goal at 14:30 which made it a 4-1 Broncos lead. For Henricks not only was this a career best in assists but also his first three point game of his NCAA career.
For Henricks going 0-3-3 came on three shots with a +3 as he also was called for a slashing and interference minor. Henricks improved to 2-4-6 which is second best on the Broncos.
Malcom Spence was scoreless for Michigan as the two teams split their weekend series. Both teams won their respective home game.
Sean Barnhill was scoreless as his top-ranked Michigan State Spartans had little trouble with winless Northern Michigan earning a 4-0 non-conference win. Barnhill was the third pair right side defense for the Spartans as he was credited with one shot and a +1
Artem Gonchar was scoreless as his Sudbury Wolves earned a 5-3 win over Evan Passmore’s Barrie Colts in OHL action. Passmore did not score for his team as he was a -1 on one shot with an interference minor.
Gonchar did not record a shot. Meanwhile, he was also a -1.
Drew Fortescue had a secondary assist on his ninth-ranked Boston College first goal but the Eagles dropped a 7-3 non-conference game to seventh-ranked Denver. For Fortescue it was his second assist of the year as he improves to 2-2-4.
Brody Lamb was scoreless as his 12th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers were shut out by in-state rival 19th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth 3-0 in non-conference play. Minnesota falls to 2-4-1 as they were outplayed on their home ice.
Rasmus Larsson was scoreless as his Robert Morris Colonials lost to Notre Dame 6-3 in non-conference play. Robert Morris is still looking for their first win of the seas
E.J. Emery was scoreless as his eighth-ranked North Dakota Fighting Hawks were upset by Clarkson 5-2 in non-conference play. Other than a “hitting after the whistle” minor, Emery was very quiet.
Nathan Aspinall signed his Rangers Entry-Level Contract on Wednesday. Tonight he was scoreless as his Flint Firebirds were defeated by the Kitchener Rangers 4-1 in OHL play.
