CHL

• Jett Woo and the Hitmen returned to action this week playing 2 games. Woo scored this power-play goal, his second of the season as the main d-man on the unit with Egor Zamula playing for Russia in the WJC.

• Carson Focht had a primary assist from a nice dish on the rush.

• Ethan Keppen played 1 game and notched 2 primary assists, one of them shorthanded.
• Arturs Silovs was yanked from the crease after allowing 3 goals on 15 shots. He has been struggling in the month of December as he has an 8.04 goals-against average this month.

NCAA

• Jack Rathbone is the lone College prospect to suit up after the winter break. He was a +1 with 2 shots.

Russia

• Vasili Podkolzin had a great game to open the WJC tournament against the Czech Republic. He is playing on lots of minutes on Russia’s second line as well as the first unit power-play and one of the main penalty killers. His power-play goal can be found in these highlights, early in the first video.

Sweden

• Nils Hoglander’s skill and creativity have been on full display over his first 2 games at the WJC. Ridiculously, he scored another Michigan goal in nearly full stride and has looked dangerous and crafty whenever he touches the puck. He has 2 goals and 2 assists through 2 games on Sweden’s top line.

• Arvid Costmar has been loaned to Mora IK of the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second-tier professional league and where Elias Pettersson was drafted out of. He is scoreless through his first 3 games.

Czech

• Karel Plasek did not play in the Czech’s opening day upset over Russia but played in the host team’s second game, filling in for the injured Jakub Lauko. He had a minor penalty.

Finland

• Petrus Palmu played in 2 games this week. He had a goal and a primary assist.
• Toni Utunen returns to the WJC for Finland on the third pairing. He has a single primary assist in 3 games.

AHL

• Kole Lind had a goal and an assist this week. His shooting percentage is a little high at 16.9% but 27 points in 33 games are nothing to scoff at. Lind has been fantastic for Utica and really seems to be carving out his identity at the AHL level.

• Olli Juolevi matched his point total of 18 from last year in 7 more games played. Since the Christmas break, he’s had back-to-back 2-assist games. If he can put together a stretch of healthy game action and round into top shape, I would be quite happy about how his season has gone all things considered. I wouldn’t say he has to get NHL minutes anytime soon but would ideally love to see him join the main team towards the end of the season if injuries arise.

• Brogan Rafferty was held off the scoresheet this week for what feels like the first time in forever.
• Lukas Jasek had 2 goals and 1 assist this week.

• Jonah Gadjovich played in 1 game registering an assist. He was out on the 28th with an undisclosed illness.
• Michael DiPietro sits 5th in save percentage for rookie AHL goalies.