Friday’s 3 Stars: Grigorenko shines at both ends; Weal hits 100

No. 1 star: Mikhail Grigorenko, Québec Remparts

The Quebec league gives us a lot of extra data to work with while selecting the three stars. The first star on the night is obviously top prospect Mikhail Grigorenko, who had three-goal game in a 5-3 win for his Remparts over the Gatineau Olympiques. Not only did Grigorenko pick up the hat-trick, but he also recorded 8 shots on goal, leading the team in creating chances as the Remparts walked over the visiting Olympiques.

But perhaps we can also marvel at his defensive achievements in this one—Grigorenko took a team-high 28 face-offs and won 19 of them for a very marvellous 68% clip. Protecting a one-goal lead into the third period, when a team playing from behind tends to put on the pressure, Québec didn't allow a single shot on goal in the frame. No doubt did Grigorenko log a lot of minutes in this one, having a fantastic night at both ends of the ice.

No. 2 star: Jordan Weal, Regina Pats (WHL)

While a lot of press is given to Emerson Etem and Mark Stone based on their pedigree, Los Angeles Kings prospect Jordan Weal is also having a fantastic season in Regina. Weal became the fourth scorer in the league to hit the 100-point mark this season with a two-goal, two-assist night in Regina's big win over the powerful Moose Jaw Warriors.

Weal potted goals 36 and 37 in the 2nd and 3rd periods, respectively, with his second on the night at 5:32 of the third putting his team up 6-1 and pretty well sealing this one (the final was 8-2). His other two points came off assists to his two homonymous teammates, Chandler Stephenson and Dyson Stevenson.

No. 3 star: Stefan Noesen, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

Stefan Noesen scored a power play goal at 2:35 into the overtime period, his third on the night, to a sigh of relief heard in Mississauga, Belleville and Peterborough as his Plymouth Whalers held the pressing Oshawa Generals to a single point on Friday. After Andy Andreoff and Christian Thomas scored with :32 and :09 seconds left on the clock, respectively, to tie the game at three for the Gens, J.P Labardeau took a tripping penalty 2:28 into the fourth period, setting the stage for the Whalers to finish the job in front of a modest 3000-fan home crowd.

Noesen capitalized 7 seconds into the power play with a bullet of a shot from the right wing, his second tally with the man advantage on the night as Plymouth made the Generals pay twice for their six infractions.

[Click for Plymouth - Oshawa highlights]

Honourable mention: Ryan Olsen & Andrey Makarov - Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Ryan Olsen of the Saskatoon Blades on the national Sportsnet broadcast tonight had a very pretty individual effort, chipping the puck past Kootenay defenseman John Neibrandt, hustling by him, then making a sweet toe drag around Jeff Hubic and putting it past Nathan Lieuwen. The score was already 3-0 at that point midway through the third (the Blades eventually won 5-0) but it was a pretty goal by an NHL prospect who ought to be drafted this season to the NHL.

It was actually a very good night for Blades draft prospects on TV tonight: Saskatoon's goalie Andrey Makarov took on a heavy 38-shot load, including 15 in the final period, which may have boosted his draft ranking.

Honourable mention: Malcolm Subban - Belleville Bulls (OHL)

It had been a rough two weeks for the other top goaltending prospect. Malcolm Subban had gone five games without a game where he stopped more than 30 pucks or allowed fewer than three goals, but he had a very solid outing on the road against a tough Brampton team, stopping 32 of 33 pucks and securing a 2-1 win for his Belleville Bulls who remain in the thick of the OHL Eastern Conference's playoff race.

Honourable mention: Kristians Pelss - Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

In front of a crowd of over 10,000 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary tonight, the Hitmen played host to their provincial rival and Eastern Conference-leading Edmonton Oil Kings in what was described as a real playoff atmosphere. But after Brady Brassert put the Hitmen up 1-0 under two minutes into the game, the vaunted Oil Kings went to work, with Oilers prospect and Latvian winger Pelss scoring to tie the game before the frame was out and assisted on a Tristan Sieben goal early in the second, which held up to be the winner.

Honourable mention: Vladislav Namestnikov - London Knights (OHL)

London ran roughshod in Kingston tonight, which shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, but they got a two-goal, three-assist performance from the young Russian playmaker in their 10-3 win. Also in the game, Max Domi had a two-goal night including a pretty one to the right of Kingston goalie Igor Bobkov's crease, stick handling in a phone booth to finish off the play against the aggressive Bobkov, who was in the net for all 10 goals against. No word on whether or not he threw up his hands and told Doug Gilmour it was his last game in a Frontenacs jersey.

Honourable mention: Brendan Shinnamin - Tri-City Americans (WHL)

The American who were reeling as of two weeks ago, have now strung together a four-game winning streak to put themselves back into contention in the competitive WHL American Division. Brendan Shinnamin had a hat-trick (although the third was an empty-netter) and added an assist in the Americans' 4-2 win against Everett.

Potent notables: Ryan Murphy had a 2-assist night for the Kitchener Rangers… the two Winnipeg Jets prospects for Barrie, Mark Scheifele and Ivan Telegin, combined for four points, including a third period set-up where Sheifele set up Telegin for a Colts goal… Brandon Maxwell stopped 43 of 45 for Mississauga in their tight 3-2 win over Niagara… Saginaw captain and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Brandon Saad had a two-goal, one-assist night in a losing cause… Sarnia had a 5-0 win over Windsor, but top prospect Nail Yakupov was held off the scoreboard… Nick Cousins had three points and was a +2 in a win for the Soo against Erie… In the Q, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Alexandre Roy each had three-point nights… over to the W, Cole Holowenko stopped all 43 shots in a rare win for Prince Albert, who got three-point nights from Mark McNeill and Shane Danyluk… Mark Stone had another goal for Brandon (his 39th), although his shootout winner doesn't count in the official WHL standings… Kelowna captain Brody Sutter also had a three-point night in a Rockets win... Tim Bozon taunted the Vancouver bench after his goal for Kamloops tonight during a big road win for the Blazers against the Giants... Portland continues to roll, with an 8-3 victory tonight over the Spokane Chiefs. Sven Bartschi had 3 points.