Around the CHL
By Paul Krotz/CHL
Connor McDavid may not be leading the CHL rookie scoring race, but with just over three weeks to play in the 2012-13 regular season the recently turned 16-year-old star of the Erie Otters is not far behind.
With 55 points in 53 games, the CHL’s youngest player leads all first year OHL skaters in scoring and trails only the 17-year-old, 2013 NHL Draft eligible, Valentin Zykov of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who leads all CHL rookies with 67 points in 57 games so far this season.
McDavid, not eligible for the NHL until 2015, has already been under the national spotlight. After becoming the youngest player to ever compete in the SUBWAY Super Series at 15, McDavid suited up for Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in December and finished among the tournament scoring leaders with nine points in five games including six goals.
It didn’t take long for the spotlight to extend to the United States where McDavid was recently featured on the front page of the New York Times sports section and in USA TODAY where he was pegged the “LeBron James of Hockey” just weeks after meeting his hockey hero, former Rimouski Oceanic now Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby.
“He reminds me of me,” the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby told USA TODAY Sports to the delight of the Newmarket, ON, native.
“When you have the best player in the world saying that,” McDavid says, “that’s just unbelievable.”
O’Brien ends penalty-free streak
One of the most impressive streaks in the CHL came to an end on Tuesday night when Acadie-Bathurst Titan overage forward Zach O’Brien received a second period interference penalty.
The two minute infraction was the first penalty ever recorded by the St. John’s, NL, native in his 182nd QMJHL regular season game since he made his debut with Rouyn-Noranda in 2009-10.
In three full seasons with the Titan, O’Brien has posted an impressive 246 points in 177 games played.
Feser streaking to WHL record books
A new WHL ironman could be crowned next week as Justin Feser of the Tri-City Americans approaches the record for consecutive games played.
The previous mark of 311 consecutive games was set by Dwayne Newman with the Brandon Wheat Kings and the Victoria Cougars back in 1988-92.
Feser, a 20-year-old from Red Deer, AB, is in his fifth season with the Americans. He missed a string of games in December of his rookie year before playing in 33 straight games to finish 2009, then suited up for all 72 games in each of the next three seasons.
With 59 games played this season, if all goes well Feser can tie Newman’s record of 311 straight games against the Portland Winterhawks on February 26 then break it at home against the Seattle Thunderbirds on March 1.
2013 SUBWAY Super Series
The QMJHL has selected its hosts for the opening leg of the 2013 SUBWAY Super Series.
The dates are still to be confirmed but Team QMJHL will face Team Russia in games hosted by the Sherbrooke Phoenix and the Gatineau Olympiques next November.
OHL and WHL host cities will be announced at a later date.