Welcome back to the Blackfish Prospect report.
We’re down to just the American Hockey League affiliates, and three other skaters still participating in playoff hockey. Unfortunately, that number is in jeopardy of dropping to just one with the Barrie Colts’ season hanging on by a thread.
This week, we cover the Abbotsford Canucks‘ first one results, the red-hot play of Anthony Romani and the whereabouts of Tom Willander.

Abbotsford Canucks (AHL)

The Abbotsford Canucks didn’t make it easy on themsevles, but they’re moving on.
A hard-fought, three-game victory (best-of-three) over the Tucson Roadrunners in the first round of the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs has propelled them into the second round, where the Coachella Valley Firebirds await.
This series was a rollercoaster, heavily favouring the home team. Despite dropping Game 2, Abbotsford owned a commanding 101-76 shot edge and a 10-7 scoring advantage across the three games.
It was a true team effort, with veterans carrying the load, but a few Blackfish prospects shone, while others left us wanting more.
Standouts
This series brought vindication for those in the Max Sasson fan club. The speedy pivot was all over the ice, notching a goal, three points, and a team-high 13 shots in three games.
His speed was on display all week as a one-man zone entry machine.
Tristen Nielsen’s Game 3 opener, for example, Sasson grabbed the puck behind his own net, hit the afterburners to gain the zone, and sparked the sequence that led to the goal. Even in the Game 2 loss, his relentless energy was undeniable.
He stood out all week, and for our money, is a good bet for a fourth-line centre role in Vancouver next year.
Making the primary pass in that clip was Arshdeep Bains. The local kid led the way with four assists and joined Sasson, flying around the ice and setting up plays.
His forecheck was on display, his offensive presence was felt, and he stood out as a leader throughout the three-game series.
Don’t let the single assist fool you — this series was a massive endorsement for Victor Mancini’s game.
The 6-foot-3 blueliner led Abbotsford in ice time, logging nearly 70 minutes across three games for an average of around 23 minutes per game.
His skating was on display every shift, blending size, speed, and skill to smother Tucson’s attack as a significant two-way presence for this team. Far from a throw-in from the J.T. Miller trade, Mancini’s proving to be a well-worth prospect within this system.
Finally, there was Artūrs Šilovs, who started all three games, a choice that raised eyebrows when Manny Malhotra stuck with him for back-to-back nights.
A Game 2 loss fueled the doubters, but Šilovs came up big in Game 3, stopping all 21 shots for his first career AHL playoff shutout.
Over the series, he turned aside 70 of 76 shots, often going long stretches without action only to deliver a point-blank save or two in quick succession. It was a big week, following a rocky NHL stint earlier this year, without a doubt.
The “Arty Party” is back, punching tickets to California.
Disappointments
Unfortunately, not everyone rose to the occasion, and Abbotsford’s top snipers struggled to find their range.
First up, Danila Klimovich, the team’s leading goalscorer (25) and shot-taker (178) in the regular season, was extremely quiet: One shot across three games, no points. Granted, he saw the fewest minutes among players who suited up for all three after being buried in the bottom six as an influx of NHL-calibre talent pushed him down the lineup.
It felt like a dangerous cycle of poor play, which led to a lack of utilization. And after such a promising uptick in development, it’s a shame to see him disengaged and unthreatening.
As for the team’s golden kid, you could tell that Jonathan Lekkerimäki was fighting it a bit, missing Game 3 due to complications from oral surgery.
But in his two games, he managed five shots but finished minus-2 and never truly stood out in any particular way.
A brief flurry in Game 2 — hitting the post and ringing one off the goalie’s paddle — was his only flash of danger, but that’s a far cry from what you’d expect from a young sharpshooter who scores goals for a living.
Injury, inexperience, and his slight frame all contributed, but Abbotsford will need more from their prized prospect to tackle Coachella Valley, a two-time Western Conference champ.
Finally, there was Cole McWard, who didn’t play poorly, per se; he just didn’t play much. Logging the fewest minutes among defenders (two games), McWard was tricky to spot.
With Mancini playing the way he is, Jett Woo’s abrasive style and Kirill Kudryavtsev’s two-way ability, it’s hard to find a proper role, but as noted, “Steady Eddie,” it would be nice to see him see some more minutes.

Canadian Hockey League (CHL)

The CHL playoff picture is shrinking, with Sawyer Mynio’s season ending and only three Canucks prospects still alive.
Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – Eliminated by Lethbridge Hurricanes, 4-3
Despite loading up for a Memorial Cup run, the Calgary Hitmen fell to a relentless Lethbridge Hurricanes squad in seven games.
That closes the book on Sawyer Mynio’s season and probably his junior career — a stellar tenure that would end with 140 points (39 goals, 101 assists), 194 penalty minutes, and a plus-63 rating across 227 games, plus 10 points in 51 playoff contests.
The author had reported earlier in the week that Mynio would likely take a small break from hockey after a long season before eventually joining the Abbotsford Canucks for their playoff run.
The team officially announced it on Monday, and the Kamloops native could be seen practicing with the team before they head to Coachella Valley for the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Will he see games? Considering the circumstances and logjam on the backend, we don’t see a path toward him seeing any action unless the need calls for it.
Instead, he’ll likely join names like Vilmer Alriksson in the press box, soaking in the pro environment before likely gunning for a full-time spot next season.
Barrie Colts (OHL) – Trail Oshawa Generals 3-0
The Barrie Colts are in deep water, down 3-0 to the Oshawa Generals in the OHL Conference Finals, with a 16-8 score differential.
Riley Patterson finally scored a pair of goals in Game 3 after being held pointless in seven consecutive games.
Anthony Romani, however, remains piping hot. With two goals and three assists in the three games, he’s notched points in all 15 playoff contests — the longest streak in the OHL.
His 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) have been the Colts’ lifeblood, but even his heroics might not be enough against a strong Oshawa squad featuring Calum Ritchie and Beckett Sennecke.
Barrie’s chasing an OHL title and a Memorial Cup berth — they’ll need a miracle to climb back.
Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL) – Lead Shawinigan Cataractes 2-1
Basile Sansonnens and the Rimouski Océanic are pushing for a deep run in Quebec, enjoying a 2-1 series lead over the Shawinigan Cataractes.
Sansonnens, the shutdown rearguard, isn’t typically a point guy, but he delivered a gem this week: a spin-o-rama at the blue line, a cut to the slot, and a cheeky backhand pass for his second playoff assist.
Where did that come from?
Already guaranteed a Memorial Cup spot as hosts, Rimouski’s now gunning to earn it the hard way.

NCAA

The Tom Willander saga takes a twist.
With Abbotsford on the cusp of a second-round clash with Coachella Valley — a series he could join — the Swedish blueliner made his intentions clear: he wants to sign his pro deal, and if that doesn’t happen in Vancouver, he may end up taking his talents elsewhere.
No, we don’t mean for a new NHL club — rather, a move back to Sweden. Or, in a perfect world, Abbotsford or Vancouver.
In a recent interview with Cam Robinson of Eliteprospects, Willander said: “I don’t think I’m in any way too good for the league. But thinking about optimizing development, I don’t know if that’s what I need. It might not be the perfect spot for me anymore.”
Meanwhile, Patrik Allvin claims that his representatives have informed them he is returning to school.
It’s a cat-and-mouse situation that would typically feel crazy to most. But after a Canucks season filled with twists and turns, a scenario such as this simply feels like another day.
But as of today, no contract has been signed with Vancouver.
Instead, Willander’s in Europe, suiting up for Sweden’s pre-World Championship tune-up. He played two exhibition games against Finland, logging top-pairing minutes and secondary power play time but finishing pointless and minus-2.
Next up: the Betano Tournament, where Sweden faces Switzerland, Czechia, and Finland.
That will be used for this week’s instalment of the Blackfish report.
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