Colorado Avalanche prospect report: Four point weeks for Bowen Byram and Alex Beaucage

For the first time all season, 14 of 15 Colorado Avalanche prospects have finally begun their respective seasons. The lone holdout remains Cornell’s Matthew Stienburg, whose season doesn’t begin until November 1st, for some reason.

Nonetheless, I’m just excited to talk about NCAA players again. We had a fun time covering Cale Makar’s NCAA prowess with UMass last season, so who’s your bet to take his place this collegiate season? Alex Newhook? Sampo Ranta? Cam Morrison? Well, keep scrolling to find out how their NCAA seasons started, along with everyone else.

Canadian Hockey League

WHL

#44 - Bowen Byram (D)
Vancouver Giants (6-5-0)

The Giants played four times since the last report (I also thought that was a typo, LOL), adding two more wins and two more losses. However, Byram added four more assists in that span, bringing his season’s totals to 10 points in nine games played. It did look like he had actually scored, but his teammate got credit instead:

Vancouver currently sits first in their division and finally look like they’re settling into their season.

#34 - Sasha Mutala (RW)
Tri-City Americans (5-3-0)

First of all, the Americans announced their 2019-20 leadership group, and a certain Avalanche prospect was given a letter:

It was a two-point week for Mutala, whose goal and assist helped Tri-City stay third in the division. Mutala increased his point streak to five games and currently has 11 points in seven games on the season.

But more impressive, perhaps, is this diving defensive play he made:

#27 - Luka Burzan (C)
Brandon Wheat Kings (3-5-0)

The Wheat Kings continue to struggle. They only played once this week (which was a loss), and Burzan failed to get on the scoresheet. He’s currently riding a three-game point drought and has seven points in eight games.

QMJHL

#16 - Alex Beaucage (RW)
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (6-4-1)

Wow, what a week for Beaucage. In three games, he put up two goals and four points, but the Huskies were giving him Rocket Richard comparisons:

Rouyn currently sits second in the conference as they sit four points back of Sherbrooke for top spot in the West.

NCAA

HOCKEY EAST

#18 - Alex Newhook (C)
Boston College Eagles (2-0-0)

The Eagles began their season in a much-anticipated showdown between them and the Wisconsin Badgers. Both schools had arguably the best freshmen recruiting classes (between BC’s Matt Boldy, Spencer Knight, and Newhook, versus Wisconsin’s Alex Turcotte, Cole Caufield, and Dylan Holloway). The Eagles started off their season with two wins, and although Newhook is still searching for his first collegiate point, he looks incredibly dangerous with linemate Boldy. They’ve got some serious chemistry, and I don’t think Newhook will be held off the scoresheet for much longer.

Newhook also took a brutal hit from Wisconsin’s Ty Emberson in the neutral zone on Friday that resulted in Emberson’s ejection:

Here are some close scoring chances for Newhook over the weekend:

And a sweet postgame pic with his parents:

#4 - Drew Helleson (D)
Boston College Eagles (2-0-0)

Like Newhook, Helleson also went pointless over the weekend. I was able to watch the BC-Wisco game, and honestly, he didn’t really stand out to me at all. I thought he was outplayed by his defence partner Marshall Warren, who ended up scoring a very pretty goal, but it’s very early in the season, and I’m sure Helleson will be just fine once he adjusts.

BIG TEN

#26 - Cam Morrison (LW)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0-0)

So glad that ‘Clutch Cam’ is back for his senior year! He’s already off to a hot start, with two goals in two games, as Notre Dame swept Air Force in their season opening series.

#4 - Nick Leivermann (D)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0-0)

Leivermann went pointless in the first game of the weekend, but got the primary assist on Notre Dame’s empty netter in game two. Hopefully more consistent play will lead to more consistent stints in the lineup.

#2 - Nate Clurman (D)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-0-0)

Like Leivermann, Clurman also only had one (secondary) assist. Nevertheless, Notre Dame cruised to two easy wins this weekend, and they’ll take on Lake Superior State twice next weekend.

#58 - Sampo Ranta (RW)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (1-1-0)

The Gophers split their two-game series against Colorado College, but Ranta scored on the powerplay in their second game.

Fellow MHH writer Arielle, who goes to school at Colorado College, was at Saturday’s game. She had this to say about Ranta’s performance:

Sampo Ranta is a patient and persistent player, playing left wing for Minnesota’s 3rd line. He took two shots that were saved before finding a slot through traffic and getting the Gophers on the board. He’s a big player who has end-to-end speed and can be physical when necessary. Ranta also has the stick skills to out-maneuver almost anyone on the ice. The 19-year-old is smart and seems to be able to anticipate the next play. Also, he has an annoying habit of moving around the bench and talking to everyone, which is great, but [it’s] hard to anticipate when his next shift is.

Minnesota will head home for a two-game series against Niagara next weekend.

#25 - Denis Smirnov (RW)
Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0-0)

Smirnov’s Nittany Lions are predicted to finish atop the absolutely stacked Big Ten conference this season, and they kicked the year off with two solid wins against Sacred Heart. Smirnov contributed two assists in an 8-2 blowout, but was scratched in the second game. Both of his assists came on powerplay goals.

NCHC

#40 - Tyler Weiss (LW)
Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (2-0-0)

Like Smirnov, Weiss only played once this weekend (despite his team playing twice). Omaha looks a lot better than last season, starting this year off with two convincing wins over Alabama-Huntsville. Weiss didn’t record any points in his lone game, and played on the Mavericks’ fourth line. It’s up to him to prove that he’s worthy of a larger role and more ice time.

ECAC

#20 - Matthew Stienburg (RW)
Cornell Big Red (0-0-0)

Bah. Why do they start so late???

FIRST GAME: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1ST

Europe

KHL

#51 - Nikolai Kovalenko (RW)
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (7-10-0)

Kovalenko only played in three of Lokomotiv’s four games this past week, and didn’t land on the scoresheet. He still has two goals and three points in 13 games this season. He plays on the team’s second line when he’s playing, so I’m not sure why he’s continuing to bounce in and out of the lineup. Lokomotiv sits 10th in the Western Conference.

#2 - Danila Zhuravlyov (D)
Ak Bars Kazan (13-3-0)

Zhuravlyov played three games this week for the KHL’s best team in the Eastern Conference. Bars went 2-1-0 and Zhuravlyov failed to record any points. He still has four assists in 13 games on the season.

Statistics from the WHL, QMJHL, NCAA team websites, and Flashscore.ca.