Blackhawks College Prospect Updates
As we begin 2015, let’s catch up with how some of the Blackhawks prospects are playing at college level.
Four Blackhawks forward prospects currently working in the NCAA were selected to represent the United States at the World Junior Championships. Unfortunately, the USA team lost to Russia on Friday.
We’ve included the stats of John Hayden, Tyler Motte, Nick Schmaltz and Anthony Louis from the tournament in our breakdown below.
John Hayden, F – Yale
10 games, 3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points, 1 GWG, +4
WJC – 5 games, 1 goal, 12 shots, 2 PIM, E
Tyler Motte, F – University of Michigan
15 games, 5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points, 17 blocked shots, 1 GWG, +4
WJC – 5 games, 1 assist, 13 shots, 2 PIM, +1
Nick Schmaltz, F – North Dakota
15 games, 3 goals, 12 assists, 15 points, 8 blocked shots, 1 GWG
WJC – 5 games, 1 assist, 10 shots, +2
Anthony Louis, F – Miami (OH)
16 games, 3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points, 6 blocked shots
WJC – 5 games, 0 points, 2 PIM, 5 shots, E
Michael Paliotta, D – Vermont (photo)
19 games, 5 goals, 13 assists, 18 points, 24 PIM, +13
Vince Hinostroza, F – Notre Dame
20 games, 2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points, 20 PIM, 1 GWG
Chris Calnan, F – Boston College
17 games, 7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points
Luke Johnson, F – North Dakota
19 games, 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points, 5 blocked shots
Nick Mattson, D – North Dakota
10 games, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, 11 blocked shots
Sam Jardine, D – Ohio State
13 games, 0 goals, 6 assists, 6 points, 19 blocked shots, 19 PIM
Luc Snuggerud, D – Nebraska-Omaha
20 games, 2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points, 20 blocked shots, 14 PIM
Dylan Sikura, F – Northeastern
13 games,, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, 2 blocked shots
Matt Tomkins, G – Ohio State
10 games, 3-5-1, .894 save percentage
When did Hayden score a goal? Did he tip that DeAngelo shot in the game against Russia?
I watched four of the USA games and here are my thoughts on the Hawks players:
Schmaltz: very good puck handling and high skill level. Needs to get bigger/stronger to play in the NHL. Best of the four Hawks players.
Hayden: uses his size well and plays with snarl. Looks to have the knack to screen the goalie providing net front presence. Skating and speed need to improve.
Motte: one of those guys that always seems to be in the middle of the play. May make it as a grinder with some scoring ability.
Louis: nice skills but very small. Kind of a poor mans Johnny Gaudreau without the elite finishing ability.
Didn’t see any of Sweden’s games so have no idea how Norell is playing.
ER- I agree with Schmaltz-seemed to disappear when the big bodies worked on him, but he has skill-
Hayden has an edge which might work well-relished the contact.
Good assessment ER. I thought schmaltz looked good. He had nice speed and puck handling and just strength and size conditioning. Hayden has the size but will struggle with lack of speed. Team USA doesn’t have the depth of Team Canada and too much was expected of Eichel. There is no way Canada should lose this tournament.
ER, he scored late in the game against Slovakia.