Dallas Stars Prospect Update: Points Galore For Brett Ritchie, Gemel Smith

It’s been an excellent week for both Brett Ritchie and Gemel Smith as Ritchie had a six point night on Saturday (4G, 2A) and a 5 goal night on Sunday for the Niagara IceDogs. Gemel Smith scored 7 points combined in Owen Sound’s games on Friday and Saturday.

Smith got his seven points versus the Erie Otters and was deeply impressive earning second star honours for their first game when he had four points and first star honours in their second game when he had three points. If Smith continues at this pace he will live up to his potential to be one of the higher scoring forwards in the OHL this season. He went pointless however in his game on Sunday.

Brett Ritchie has had 13 points in three games finishing the week with 10G and 3A. After his five point game on Saturday he was named first star. There will be an article looking into his success in detail later today.

Radek Faksa, however, has had nearly the opposite week having two assists for the Kitchener Rangers in three games this week. Hopefully we will see a step forward offensively soon for the talented first rounder.

In contrast to the fortunes of Ritchie and Smith there have been few points in the WHL. Branden Troock is still out with an upper body injury and Stransky has only one assist this week while Mike Winther has been held pointless

In the QMJHL Troy Vance finished the week with a single assist over two games.

In Europe things are beginning to look up for Ludwig Bystrom as he spent the last two games playing on Modo’s second defensive pairing and has been getting between 16-18 minutes per game. Though he hasn’t got any points he is beginning to shoot more and for an offensively gifted defenseman it will hopefully lead to more goals and more assists for the young Swede.

Emil Molin got one game with the Elitserien team where he registered 0 points and logged in about 7 minutes of ice time. He played several games in the SuperElit for the Byrnas J20 team where he got two assists.

Jyrki Jokipakka finished the week with two goals in two games. He has continued to play significant minutes for IIves. He is also putting up high shot totals per game. Its possible, though not likely, with the lockout signing of Anders Lindback from the Tampa Bay Lightning IIves could get themselves out of the basement of the SM-Liiga.

In the NCAA Alex Guptill continues to impress registering two points in two games this week for the University of Michigan. Scott Winkler and Curtis McKenzie registered a single point each, a goal and an assist respectively. Devin Shore also registered an assist for the University of Maine this week bringing his point total to three points through 9 games. Dmitry Sinitsyn’s Umass Lowell team did not play a game this week.