I will be posting these informational prospect updates every month. This one is a little shorter than you can expect, as the NCAA season is barely underway and the Maple Leafs have an array of collegiate prospects in their system that I will be tracking throughout the '08/'09 season.
Mikhail Stefanovich's Quebec Remparts have started the year off ablaze, standing 10-1 through 11 games played. Quebec is currently on a nine game winning streak, during which they've outscored their opponents 28-12. Stefanovich did not appear in the first four games of the QMJHL season as he was still attending Leafs training camp, but since returning to junior he's recorded 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 7 games and the Remparts have yet to lose with him in the line-up. The centerman notched an assist in his '08/'09 debut in a 4-3 shootout win over Drummondville on September 26, before scoring his first '08/'09 goal at home to Cicoutimi in a 4-2 win on October 4th. Stefanovich then recorded consecutive two point nights against Rouyn Noranda and Val-d'Or. After posting 66 points in 62 games last season, the 4th round pick in 2008 is currently on pace for a 56 point season based on early projections. Patrick Roy's Remparts are hoping to set a QMJHL record for consecutive wins away from home and must win their next three away games to surpass the former record of eight consecutive away wins held by the 1977-'78 Cornwall Royals.
'07/'08 Stats: 32 goals, 34 assists for 66 points in 62 GP
Current Stats: 2 goals, 4 assists for 6 points in 7 GP
'08/'09 Scoring Pace: 18 goals, 38 assists for 56 points in 66 GP (obviously, it's very early)
Dale Mitchell's Windsor Spitfires have gotten off to an equally impressive start, standing 9-1 through their first 10 games. Mitchell, after bright showings at both the Leaf rookie tournament and training camp, has continued his fine form into the start of his junior campaign. Following a pre-season appearance with the Maple Leafs, Mitchell returned to the Spitfires and scored in his debut against the Sarnia Sting in a 5-0 win on September 25th. After suffering a statistical setback in '07/'08, the short but burly winger appears to have regained his '06/'07 form, posting 6 goals and 5 assists in 8 appearances thus far. Mitchell recently recorded a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory over the Brampton Battalion. The right winger's currently on a 50 goal, 90 point pace, a pace that is unlikely to hold true but is promising nonetheless.
'07/'08 Stats: 24 goals, 36 assits for 60 points in 63 GP
Current Stats: 6 goals, 5 assists for 11 points in 8 GP
'08/'09 Scoring Pace: 50 goals, 40 assists for 90 points in 66 GP
Centerman Chris DiDomenico was perhaps the Leafs' best performer during the September rookie tournament in Kitchener. He earned himself a NHL trial run with the Maple Leafs during pre-season and showed promising signs of a future at the NHL level with his industry, pace, on-ice awareness and skill set. Upon returning to the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, the Woodbridge native has picked up where he left off last season when he posted 95 points in 70 games. DiDomenico's first goal of the season came against Shawnigan on September 27th in a 2-1 defeat. Two games later, he posted a goal and two assists at home to the Halifax Mooseheads and a pair of goals the following game in Moncton. A four assist performance against the visiting P.E.I Rocket equated to 8 points in a 3 game span. His point total stands at 12 points in 8 games, putting him on pace to cap his impressive '07/'08 scoring sum in 5 less games.
'07/'08 Stats: 39 goals, 56 assists for 95 points in 70 GP
Current Stats: 4 goals, 8 assists for 12 points in 8 GP
'08/'09 Scoring Pace: 33 goals, 65 assists for 98 points in 65 GP
The Chicoutimi Sangueneens' 4-7 start has left them near the bottom of the league table, but centerman Joel Champagne has reason to be optimistic about his individual performance thus far. The assistant captain recorded a goal and an assist in his debut performance at Baie-Comeau. After recording an assist against the Remparts in a 5-4 loss on October 10th, Champagne accounted for both Chicoutimi goals in a 4-2 loss at home to P.E.I. the following night. He sits on 5 points in 7 games thus far and premature projections leave him at 47 points on the season, a seven point improvement over last season's tally in four less games.
'07/'08 Stats: 18 goals, 22 assists for 40 points in 70 GP
Current Stats: 2 goals, 3 assists for 5 points in 7 GP
'08/'09 Scoring Pace: 19 goals, 28 assists for 47 points in 66 GP
Notes: The NCAA season has just gotten underway. The Maple Leafs have Tyler Ruegsegger, Jimmy Hayes, Chad Rau, Alex Berry, Viktor Stalberg, Matt Frattin, Grant Rollheiser and Ben Winnett playing in the collegiate ranks this season. Chad Rau has gotten off to a flying start for Colorado College, recording 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 2 games played. University of Massachusetts's Alex Berry has also started strong, recording 3 points in his first 2 games. Ruegsegger notched a goal in his '08/'09 debut for the University of Denver, while Jimmy Hayes posted an assist in his first appearance for Boston College. Ben Winnett of the University of Michigan has scored in one of his first two games. Grant Rollheiser, a goaltender drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 draft, has made one appearance for Boston University thus far, stopping 12 of 13 shots en route to a 2-1 win over Michigan State. Victor Stalberg (University of Vermont) and Matt Frattin (University of North Dakota) are yet to get on the scoresheet.
Defenseman Carl Gunnarson, a seventh rounder in 2007, has recorded 4 points in his first 11 appearances for SEL side Linkoping HC. Summer signing Greg Scott has one point in three games for the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds.
*Be sure to check out
Maple Leafs Hot Stove if you haven't already. Gus Katsaros, Alex Tran and myself will be fielding Leaf-related questions from readers in the coming days. You can forward your question(s)
here.
[email protected] 
Join the Discussion:
»