Dallas Stars Prospect Update: Brett Ritchie Assisting IceDogs; Texas Stars Take The Ice

Not only were the CHL and European players in action this week but the Texas Stars are in the midst of their training camp and will be ready to start their preseason relatively shortly. Once the AHL gets going Stars Fans can watch and keep track of how the most advanced Dallas Stars prospects are doing.

Most of the Stars prospects in the OHL had a good week although after a hot start to the season Gemel Smith has slowed down being held without a point in Owen Sound's last three games. On the other hand both Radek Faksa and Brett Ritchie had pretty good weeks with Brett Ritchie having a week to remember for Niagara.

Radek Faksa scored two points in two games for the Kitchener Rangers. He assisted on Kitchener's second goal in their 4-2 loss to the Windsor Spitfires and scored the game winning goal in their 2-1 victory over the London Knights. Despite finishing minus-3 against the Spitfires, Faksa was one of the best players on the ice in the game.

Brett Ritchie was on fire this week notching 5 points (1 Goal, 4 Assists) in two games. He was key in the IceDogs victory over the Ottawa 67's putting in the game winning goal and assisting on two other goals by Ryan Strome. He had two assists in their 5-4 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs. He finished the week with a +4 rating.

Its clear in the WHL that the Saskatoon Blades are having some major defensive issues as Matej Stransky slips to a -5. Their first game of the week against the Brandon Wheat Kings was a high scoring affair which results in the Blades losing 9-6. Stransky got a goal during this game but finished with a -3 rating. In their 2-1 victory over Swift Current Broncos he scored the tying goal on the powerplay but still finished the evening with as a -1.

Mike Winther and the Prince Albert Raiders had a quiet week playing only one game against the Moose Jaw Warriors, during the game Winther assisted on two of the Raiders 5 goals on their way to a 5-2 victory.

In the QMJHL Troy Vance had a good week scoring 3 assists in Victoriaville's three games this week. In the single game that Maxime Legace played this week he saved 21 of the 23 shots he faced.

In Europe both Ludwig Bystrom and Emil Molin have been suffering from lack of ice time in the Elitserien. Emil Molin has suited up for the past three games for Brynas but has played just over 5 minutes in those three games, two of which he didn't touch the ice. He is losing out on ice time to 2013 draft prospect Elias Lindholm. Ludwig Bystrom has played one game for both MODO J20 and MODO where he was held pointless. In his single game in the Elitserien he was on the ice for just over 7 minutes. Later on in the week there will be an article on the effect that the lack of ice time is having on both Emil Molin and Ludwig Bystrom.

Jyrki Jokkipakka has continued to put up big minutes for IIves of the SM-Liiga averaging over 25 minutes per game on the ice. He added an assist this week during IIves two losses. Esa Lindell has now been averaging over 18 minutes per game for a relatively young Jokerit team. He has yet to put up any points this season.

Within the next couple of weeks we will start having updates on both AHL/ECHL prospects and also those playing in the NCAA.