Welcome back Kings fans to another season of Mayors Manor prospect coverage. It’s time to begin our lap around the globe and check in on prospects playing in the CHL, the NCAA, the various different European leagues, and the ECHL. The following reports are from games played through end of day Sunday, October 2nd.
JUNIOR HOCKEY
CHL-OHL
Kaleb Lawrence, Owen Sound Attack, Right Wing (215th overall in 2022)
2022-2023 Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, plus-3, 0 PIM in 2 games played
Lawrence has had a hot start to the season after missing all but two games in 2021-2022. He notched his first goal of the season in a 5-3 win over London, picking a corner with a one-timer after opening up for a pass in the slot. He added two primary assists in the following 4-3 win over Francesco Pinelli’s Rangers.
https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1576009795420635136
Francesco Pinelli, Kitchener Rangers, Center (42nd overall in 2021)
2022-2023 Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, minus-1, 7 PIM in 2 games played
Pinelli had a strong showing in his first two games of the season despite both being losses. The Rangers captain netted a goal and a powerplay assist in a 6-3 loss to Sarnia and followed that up with a powerplay assist in a 4-3 loss to Owen Sound.
Pinelli goal (1) from a sharp angle shot on the goal line. 30Sep22 pic.twitter.com/qxBr1WpzDp
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
CHL-QMJHL
Angus Booth, Shawinigan Cataractes, LH Defensemen (116th overall in 2022)
2022-2023 Stats: 0 goals, 0 assists, minus-1, 2 PIM in 2 games played
After participating in Kings camp, Booth returned to the Cataractes for their third game of the season. The alternate captain registered one hit, one shot, and was a minus-1 across a 4-3 loss to Val-d’Or and a 4-2 win over Rouyn-Noranda.
USHL
Jack Sparkes, Lincoln Stars, RH Defenseman (180th overall in 2022)
2022-2023 Stats: 0 goals, 0 assists, even plus/minus, 14 PIM in 3 games played
Sparkes has been skating as the Stars seventh defenseman to start the season. The Stars have won twice and lost once to start the season. Sparkes is one of 19 players drafted by NHL teams to play in the USHL this season. The towering defenseman is committed to the Michigan St. Spartans and will play there next season.
Jack Sparkes @LincolnStars @LAKings @DanHickling #AllAboard #GoKingsGo #StarsRise pic.twitter.com/lszZSrkzsl
— USHL (@USHL) September 30, 2022
COLLEGE HOCKEY (NCAA)
Kenny Connors, UMass., Center (103rd overall in 2022)
Centering the fourth line in his debut, Connors scored his first with the Minutemen in a 3-2 exhibition loss to Sacred Heart. The Minutemen open up their regular season on October 8th against American International College.
https://twitter.com/UMassHockey/status/1576349942632701952
Jack Hughes, Northeastern Univ., Center (51st overall in 2022)
2022-2023 Stats: 0 goals, 0 assists, even plus/minus, 2 PIM in 1 games played
Starting the season as the Huskies second-line center, Hughes registered 4 shots on goal and won 63% of his faceoffs in a 3-2 overtime win over Long Island Univ.
https://twitter.com/GoNUmhockey/status/1576339082170359808
Alex Laferriere, Harvard Univ., Right Wing (83rd overall in 2020)
Harvard won’t play their first exhibition game until October 22nd and will start their regular season on the 28th against Dartmouth. The 2021-2022 ECAC rookie of the year had an outstanding season for Harvard, notching 31 points in 35 games and finishing the season as an ECAC Champion. A good playmaker and shooter, the New Jersey native is a tenacious hound in the offensive zone who has the potential to be one of the best skaters in the ECAC.
Jared Wright, Denver Univ., Forward (169th overall in 2022)
Wright and the Pioneers ravaged Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas in a 10-0 exhibition win. Wright put up a primary assist and a goal, scored by sliding it in five-hole after blazing past a defenseman. The Pioneers start their regular season on October 7th against Notre Dame in the Ice Breaker Tournament.
Yes. Jared Wright just did that.
Can't wait for more!
4-0 Pios at 4:21 of the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/QlMundIxdQ
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 2, 2022
How the Pioneer will line up in tonight's exhibition. #GoPios pic.twitter.com/NpZHx0l3BN
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 1, 2022
Braden Doyle, Northeastern Univ., LH Defenseman (157th overall in 2019)
2022-2023 Stats: 1 goals, 0 assists, plus-1, 0 PIM in 1 games played
Doyle netted the Huskies opening goal of the season in his debut, a snipe from the right circle into the far side of the net. He registered two total shots and started the game on the second-defensive pairing.
https://twitter.com/GoNUmhockey/status/1576358161224564736
Ben Meehan, UMass-Lowell, LH Defenseman (140th overall in 2020)
2022-2023 Stats: 0 goals, 1 assists, plus-1, 2 PIM in 1 games played
The River Hawks emerged victorious in their season opener, a 4-0 win over St. Lawrence Univ. Meehan added the primary assist on the opening goal of the season. Playing more of an offensive role on the play, Meehan tipped a puck that was dumped in on net, enabling teammate Brian Chambers to get another tip for the goal.
https://twitter.com/RiverHawkHockey/status/1576336972972294146
https://twitter.com/RiverHawkHockey/status/1576317278202871813
EUROPEAN LEAGUES
Aatu Jämsen, Liiga-Pelicans, Right Wing (190th overall in 2020)
2022-2023 Stats: 0 goals, 2 assists, plus-1, 2 PIM in 4 games played
The Finn has been a fixture on the Pelicans second-line since returning from Kings camp, registering two primary assists in the four games he has been back for. He has registered 9 SOG and has been averaging 18:12 in TOI.
Jamsen cross-crease primary assist (2) on the equalizing tally. 27Sep22 pic.twitter.com/JsE3SJJp6h
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
Kasper Simontaival, Liiga-KalPa, Center (66th overall in 2020)
2022-2023 Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, plus-6, 0 PIM in 8 games played
Simontaival’s promotion to the first-line resulted in a productive week, notching two assists and a goal after going scoreless in his first four games of the season. KalPa won all three games this week and now has five wins and three losses.
Simontaival assist (1) of a whiffed shot against Ilves. 28Sep22. pic.twitter.com/1nqHv5aydD
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
Simontaival assist (2) with a deceptive back-pass after finding himself alone with the goalie. 28Sep22 pic.twitter.com/elxRwMgmbX
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
Simontaival five-hole goal (1) after stealing puck from JYP defender. 1Oct22 pic.twitter.com/Mh2tsYmhJW
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
Kirill Kirsanov, KHL-SKA St. Petersburg, LH Defenseman (84th overall in 2021)
2022-2023 Stats:
VHL-SKA-Neva St. Petersburg: 1 goal, 5 assists, plus-3, 2 PIM in 7 games played
MHL-SKA-1946 St. Petersburg: 2 goals, 3 assists, plus-1, 0 PIM in 4 games played
Averaging 18:24 in TOI for SKA-Neva, Kirsanov has been an all-situations defender for SKA-Neva. Three of his six points have come on the powerplay and all of them came in the last three games.
Kirsanov no-look assist (1) on the powerplay against Gornyak. 23Sep22 pic.twitter.com/D4AVjQKOEb
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
Kirsanov powerplay goal (1) against Kurhan. 25sep22 pic.twitter.com/WO4U9YgRtg
— nick (@nick_lopez17) October 2, 2022
Otto Salin, Liiga-HIFK, RH Defenseman (148th overall in 2022)
2022-2023 Stats: 1 goals, 1 assist, plus-5, 0 PIM in 8 games played
IFK had one loss this week sandwiched between two wins. Skating on the third defensive pairing, Salin averaged 14:36 in TOI, registered 9 SOG, and scored a goal. Named Second Star of the Game in a 2-1 win over TPS, his strange goal would come after his shot ricocheted off the glass behind the net and bounced in off the goaltender’s back.
Juho Markkanen, DEL-Eisbären Berlin, Goalie (112th overall in 2020)
2022-2023 Stats:
Champions League: 3.03 GAA, .909 SV%, 0 wins in 1 game played
DEL: 2.51 GAA, .883 SV%, 1 win in 2 games played
Markkanen started this season with Eisbären Berlin of the DEL in a Champions League game, stopping 31 of 33 shots in a 3-2 loss to Frolunda(SHL), suffered due to an unfortunate own-goal in the last minute of play. Returning to DEL play on Sep. 25, he would make 30 saves on 34 shots in a 5-4 overtime win. This week he would stop 23 of 26 shots in a 4-2 loss.
ECHL
David Hrenak, St. Cloud State, Goalie (144th overall in 2018)
Hrenak finally made the leap to professional hockey after spending the last five seasons as the starting goaltender for one of the best teams in college hockey, posting an overall 2.40 GAA and .910 SV% for the St. Cloud State Huskies. Despite a disastrous playoffs with the Reign, he posted a 1.81 GAA and a .951 SV% in a three-game regular-season appearance. He is due to start the year in the ECHL and will likely see some time with the Reign.
Jacob Ingham, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Goalie (175th overall in 2018)
Another netminder that saw some time with the Reign last season, Ingham played the majority of his year with the Swamp Rabbits, winning nine of his 16 starts for a 2.71 GAA and a .909 SV%. Ingham will start the year in the ECHL and will likely see some time up with the Reign.
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Regarding Kenny Conners, next game is against American INTERNATIONAL College (AIC).