Kichton leads Chiefs to dramatic win
Defenseman Brenden Kichton helped the Spokane Chiefs (Western Hockey League) overcome a four-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Seattle Thunderbirds on Dec. 14. With the Chiefs trailing 6-2, the Edmonton, AB native registered primary assists on three of the team’s four goals in the last 12 minutes of regulation, forcing overtime. After a scoreless extra period, the game went into the shootout, where Kichton netted the game-deciding goal in the third round. The Islanders fifth round (127th overall) selection in the 2011 NHL Draft posted assists in Spokane’s other two games last week, and ranks sixth in the WHL with 31 helpers this season.

Theoret finding the back of the net
Forward Mitchell Theoret scored in each of the Niagara IceDogs (Ontario Hockey League) three games last week, despite the absence of line mate and fellow Islanders prospect Ryan Strome, who was attending Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp. In a 3-2 win on Dec. 15 against the Sudbury Wolves, Theoret registered an assist in regulation before scoring the game-winning goal 2:30 into overtime. Theoret ranks fourth on the team and tied for ninth in the league with a plus-19 rating through 31 games.

Three prospects selected for WJC
Islanders prospects Ryan Strome and Griffin Reinhart have been selected to represent Team Canada at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia, while Ville Pokka has made the final cut for Team Finland.

The tournament, which runs from Dec. 26 – Jan. 5, will be the first for Reinhart, who has represented Canada twice in international competition, including the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. This will be Strome’s second appearance at the World Juniors. The center scored three goals and six assists in six games in last year’s tournament.

Pokka has represented Finland four other times internationally including the 2012 World Junior Tournament, where he registered one goal and three assists in seven games. He also played in the U-18 World Junior Championship in 2011 and 2012, and the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2011.

READ MORE…


Statistics as of Dec. 17, 2012

CANADIAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
PLAYER	POS.	HT.	WT.	BORN (BIRTHPLACE)	2012-13 TEAM		GP	G	A	P	PIM
Graham, Jesse	D	5'11	170	5/13/94 (Oshawa, ON)	Niagara (OHL)		35	1	10	11	18
Kichton, Brenden	D	5'10	185	6/18/92 (Edmonton, AB)	Spokane (WHL)		33	9	31	40	14
Leduc, Loic	D	6'6	199	6/14/94 (Mercier, QC)	Cape Breton (QMJHL)		36	0	2	2	48
Pedan, Andrey	D	6'4	204	7/3/93 (Kaunas, LTU)	Guelph (OHL)		30	9	15	24	70
Pelech, Adam	D	6'2	194	8/16/94 (Toronto, ON)	Erie (OHL)		35	5	22	27	65
Reinhart, Griffin	D	6'4	206	1/24/94 (N. Vancouver, BC)	Edmonton (WHL)		31	4	10	14	12
Strome, Ryan	C	6'0	183	7/11/93 (Mississauga, ON)	Niagara (OHL)		32	22	40	62	37
Theoret, Mitchell	C	6'1	210	6/8/93 (Montreal, QC)	Niagara (OHL)		31	17	22	39	7
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
PLAYER	POS.	HT.	WT.	BORN (BIRTHPLACE)	2012-13 TEAM		GP	G	A	P	PIM
Lee, Anders	C	6'3	227	7/3/90 (Edina, MN)	Notre Dame (CCHA)		18	11	6	17	25
Mayfield, Scott	D	6'4	203	10/14/92 (St. Louis, MO)	Denver (WCHA)		18	2	5	7	30
Russo, Robbie	D	6'0	189	2/15/93 (Westmount, IL)	Notre Dame (CCHA)		18	4	11	15	22
EUROPE
PLAYER	POS.	HT.	WT.	BORN (BIRTHPLACE)	2012-13 TEAM		GP	G	A	P	PIM
Pokka, Ville	D	6'0	206	6/3/94 (Tornio, FIN)	Karpat (SM-liiga)		24	4	4	8	4
Petrov, Kirill	RW	6'3	198	4/13/90 (Kazan, RUS)	Ak-Bars Kazan (KHL)		30	7	4	11	20

GOALTENDERS
GOALTENDER	HT.	WT.	BORN (BIRTHPLACE)	2012-13 TEAM	GP	W	L	OT	SO	GAA	SV%
Koskinen, Mikko	6'6	205	7/18/88 (Vantaa, FIN)	KalPa (SM-liiga)	29	12	7	10	4	1.99	.918