Photo Credit: Larry Brunt / Spokane Chiefs

The Canadian major junior hockey leagues got into full swing in October. The Washington Capitals prospects were generally loaned to their junior teams near the end of September, so most of them played in only a handful of games during September. While the prospect write-up will touch on their September performances, it will focus mainly on their performance during October.

The Capitals currently have six prospects playing in Canada’s major junior leagues: the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJML). The prospects in those leagues are: defenseman Cam Allen, left wing Andrew Cristall, left wing Brett Hyland, left wing Jake Karabela, goaltender Antoine Keller, and center Patrick Thomas.

CHL (WHL/OHL/QMJHL)

CAM ALLEN (D) – 18 – DRAFTED 2023 (Fifth Round, #136 Overall)

Team: Guelph Storm    League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

On August 30, Allen underwent shoulder surgery and will be out until after the New Year. He had played through nagging shoulder issues last season and then tweaked it at the Capitals Development Camp.

Score: Incomplete

ANDREW CRISTALL (LW) – 18 – DRAFTED 2023 (Second Round, 40th Overall)

Team: Kelowna Rockets    League: Western Hockey League (WHL)

Cristall was very productive on the goal-producing and assist-generating front during October. In the 12 games played during the month, he either scored a goal or recorded an assist in ten of them. He had two goals and three assists in a 9-7 loss against the Victoria Giants on October 9 and had two goals on October 27 in an 8-5 loss against the Spokane Chiefs.

Cristall had two separate streaks where he scored goals in three consecutive games, one running from October 9 through October 13 and the other running from October 21 through October 27. He had six games where he had multiple assists. He had a nine-game streak where he recorded at least one point that ran from October 7 through October 27. He was named WHL Player of the Week for the week ending October 22 and was considered the CHL Third Star of the Day on October 27.

His production for October totaled nine goals and 16 assists. Until going pointless in the team’s last game of the month, he had recorded points in nine straight games. Overall, he has 10 goals and 18 assists in 13 games. He ranks second in the WHL in assists, just one behind the leader, Graham Sward, who has 19, and fourth in the WHL in points with 28, just two points behind the leader, Zach Funk.

Monthly Score: 4.5

BRETT HYLAND (LW/C) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Seventh Round, 200th Overall)

Team: Brandon Wheat Kings   League: Western Hockey League (WHL)

Photo: Perry Bergson/Brandon Sun

Hyland played in three games during September, scoring one goal and recording three assists.

October was a productive month for Hyland on the goal-scoring front, especially towards the end of the month. He had two consecutive games where he scored two goals, one on October 21 in a 4-3 shootout loss against the Wenachee Wild and the other in a 4-3 win against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Both of his goals against the Wild tied the score at the time while his second goal against Moose Jaw turned out to be the game-winner. Hyland was considered the CHL Third Star of the Day on October 26.

During October, Hyland scored seven goals and recorded three assists for 10 points overall. For the season, Hyland has played in 14 games, scoring seven goals and recording three assists for 10 points overall.

Monthly Score: 4.0

JAKE KARABELA (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2022 (Fifth Round, #149 Overall)

Team: Guelph Storm    League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

Karabella played in two games in September and had one assist.

He scored a goal during an 8-0 blowout of the Erie Otters on October 6. His goal was the team’s third goal which came at 15:40 into the second period. On October 21, he scored a goal during a 6-2 win against the Kingston Frontenacs. He also scored in the game of October 26, a 4-1 victory against the North Bay Battalion. His goal was the team’s third goal and came at 13:46 into the third period.

His totals for October were 3 goals and 3 assists. For the season thus far, he has three goals and four assists.

 Jake Karabela Official OHL Profile and Stats (chl.ca)

Monthly Score: 3.0

ANTOINE KELLER (G) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Seventh Round, #206 Overall)

Team: Acadie-Bathurst    League: Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

Before October, Keller played one game in September and was the winning goaltender. He played in eight games in October, winning four games and losing two games. His overall record is 5-1.

Keller made 220 saves and had a save percentage of .900 in October and his overall save percentage is .903, with him making 248 saves. His goals-against average in October was 3.08 and his overall goals-against average is 2.94. His best game came against Cape Breton on October 21 when he made 38 saves and posted a save percentage of .947.

Monthly Score: 3.0

PATRICK THOMAS (C) – 19 – DRAFTED 2023 (Fourth Round, #104 Overall)

Team: Brantford Bulldogs    League: Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

During September, he recorded one assist in two games.

Thomas scored a goal in a 5-1 win against the Oshawa Generals on October 20. His goal came at 16:55 during the first period and, at that time, tied the game at 1-1. On October 21, he had the secondary assist on the goal that proved to be the game-winner in a 5-2 win against the Owen Sound Attack. This occurred at 8:18 in the first period.  On October 27, he had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 Overtime win against the North Bay Battalion. He assisted on the team’s third goal at 12:54 during the second period which put Brantford ahead 3-2. He scored the team’s fourth goal at 0:47 on the power play.

He recorded either a goal or an assist in his last five games played in October. The point streak has extended through November. For the season, he has two goals and six assists in 11 games.

Monthly Score: 3.5

By Diane Doyle