This week's Future Flyers Report summarizes a game apiece played by the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Reading Royals, while also breaking down performances in the CHL playoffs — where two prospects have advanced to second-round play so far. After the ever-glorious jump, check out how Flyers prospects have fared this week.
Juniors:
Samuel Morin's Rimouski Océanic quickly dispatched Victoriaville in President Cup action, with an 8-1 whitewashing on Tuesday and a 4-2 win on Wednesday. Morin finished the series with a goal and four points, along with a plus-4 rating. His Océanic were the only team to sweep in the first round, and as the number-1 seed, will face the next-lowest seed that advances to the quarter-final.
Danick Martel and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada are split 2-2 with Gatineau, as the Olympiques won 4-2 on Tuesday and the Armada won the next night by a 4-1 tally. Martel scored in the win and added two assists, bringing his totals to three goals and three assists in the series. The series will continue tonight in Blainville, and Sunday in Gatineau.
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel and the Val-d'Or Foreurs are also split 2-2 in their series with Rouyn-Noranda, with the Foreurs winning 6-2 on Tuesday and the Huskies winning 2-1 on Wednesday. Aubé-Kubel assisted twice in Tuesday's win, and was held off the scoresheet on Wednesday, bringing his playoff numbers to one goal and three assists. The series will continue in Val-d'Or on Friday, and Rouyn-Noranda on Sunday.
Thanks to 15 goals in their last two games, the Calgary Hitmen lead Kootenay 3-1 in their series. Travis Sanheim got on the scoresheet for the first time all series in Tuesday's chaotic 8-7 win with a goal and four assists (one of which came on his brother Taylor's goal), while Radel Fazleev was (somehow) held off the board. Fazleev was also held scoreless in Wednesday's 7-2 thrashing, while Sanheim recorded a goal and an assist. Sanheim has two goals and five assists so far in the series — which the Hitmen can close out Friday on home ice — while Fazleev stands at no goals and four assists.
Tyrell Goulbourne's Kelowna Rockets dispatched Tri-City in a four-game sweep, winning 5-3 on Tuesday and 5-4 on Wednesday. Goulbourne did not play in either game, as he was nursing an upper-body injury sustained in Game 2. As a result, his playoff totals stand at just one assist. His Rockets will face the winner of the Victoria-Prince George series, which Victoria leads 3-1.
American League:
The Phantoms played just one game this week, and beat Norfolk 3-2. Andrew Gordon, Jason Akeson and Scott Laughton each scored, while Laughton also assisted on Akeson's 21st goal of the season. In the cage, Rob Zepp made 30 stops on 32 shots.
The Phantoms (31-29-6-1) continue their road trip with two games this weekend against East Division opponents, taking on Binghamton on Friday and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday. Their playoff hopes continue to hang by a thread, as they trail eighth-place Portland by 11 points.
ECHL:
The Royals began a three-game trip to Florida on Wednesday, beating the Florida Everblades by 5-2. Olivier Labelle scored two goals (and added two assists), while Brett Flemming, Ryan Cruthers and Pat Mullane scored as well. Coach Larry Courville turned to Martin Ouelette between the pipes, who turned in a 25-save-on-27 shot effort.
The Royals face the first-place Everblades again on Friday, and head to Orlando for a Saturday matchup with the Solar Bears. A win against the Everblades would bring them within five points of first place in the East Division, and if the playoffs were to start today, they'd take on South Carolina — who sits just one point ahead of them for second in the division — in the first round.
Follow Rob Riches on Twitter @Riches61
