Monthly Report For Capitals Prospects Playing In The CHL: Cam Allen Returns, Brett Hyland Named Captain, Andrew Cristall, Patrick Thomas Continue Impressive Scoring Pace

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Diane Doyle
Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

The Washington Capitals currently have seven 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 include defenseman Cam Allen, left wing Andrew Cristall, left wing Brett Hyland, left wing Jake Karabela, goaltender Antoine Keller, center Patrick Thomas, and Alexander Suzdalev.

CHL (WHL/OHL/QMJHL)

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

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

After missing the early months of the season due to shoulder surgery, Cam Allen finally returned to action in late January. He played in all 11 of his team’s games during February. He finally scored his first goal of the season during a 4-1 loss to the Sudbury Wolves. He scored his goal at 17:17 into the third period with his team trailing 3-0.

For the season, Allen has played in 13 games and is -10 for the season. Guelph has had a rough time since his return as they won just one game in February, going 1-7-3. Allen has  25 shots on goal for February and has 29 shots on goal for the season. He has served as one of the team’s Alternate Captains since his return to action.

Monthly Score: 2.0

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

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

Andrew Cristall did not have goals in his first three games during February. However, he had one assist in each of his team’s games against the Spokane Chiefs on February 4 (an 8-5 loss) and against the Victoria Royals on February 7 (a 2-0 win). He assisted on a power play goal scored by Tig Iginla.

Cristall scored his first goal for the month on February 9th in a 6-3 victory over the Kamloops Blazers and got an assist on a shorthanded goal.

On February 10, Cristall scored the first goal for Kelowna and assisted on the team’s second goal in a 7-3 loss to Kamloops. His goal was at 9:43 in the first period and tied the score at 1-1. He assisted on a power play goal at 13:31 during the first period which put the team up 2-1, a lead they could not hold. He was voted the third star of the game.

On February 13, Cristall scored the first goal of the game in a 4-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs. He was voted the third star of the game. This goal was the 100th in his junior hockey career.

Andrew Cristall: The Milestone Maker | RocketFAN

Cristall assisted on the team’s second goal in each of their consecutive 3-2 losses to the Victoria Royals on February 16 and 17.

On February 23, he scored a natural hat trick against the Vancouver Giants in a 4-1 win. He was voted the first star of the game. All three of his goals occurred during the second period.

iSight Optometry Recap: Cristall’s natural hat-trick pushes Rockets past Giants – Kelowna Rockets (chl.ca)

For February, Cristall played in 11 games, scored six goals and recorded 13 assists for 19 points overall. His overall statistics for the season include 34 goals and 56 assists for 90 points in 52 games.

Cristall ranks first place in assists and points for the team and is second in goals only to Tig Iginla. He is fifth in assists for the Western Hockey League. He has been one of the alternate captains on Kelowna.

Monthly Score: 4.0

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

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

Photo: Brandon Wheat Kings

In a 4-1 win over the Red Deer Rebels on February 2, Hyland scored the team’s first two goals and contributed an assist. His second goal was the game-winner. He was elected the first star of the game.

Hyland scored another goal on February 3 in a 5-4 overtime win over the Swift Current Broncos. His goal, which was scored off the rush, put the team ahead 4-3 at 1:07 into the third period.

Hyland had an assist in a 2-0 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings on February 7 and three assists in a 4-1 win over Lethbridge on February 9. In the latter, he was elected the first star of the game.

Late in the first period, Hyland put his setup skills to work again, sending a picture-perfect pass across the zone to a streaking Roersma. The Lethbridge native cut to the backhand and lifted home his 18th of the campaign to put the Wheat Kings ahead by a pair going into the first intermission.

Wheat Kings Roar Out Of Starting Gate To Beat Hurricanes – Brandon Wheat Kings (chl.ca)

Hyland scored a power-play goal on February 10 at 6:35 of the first period which put Brandon up 2-1 against the Prince Albert Raiders. However, the Wheat Kings could not hold onto the lead and lost 7-3.

On February 16, Hyland scored a goal and had two assists in a 5-3 win over the Calgary Hitmen and was voted first star of the game.

Wheat Kings Gut Out Win In Odd Outing Against Calgary – Brandon Wheat Kings (chl.ca)

On February 20, just two days after his 21st birthday, Hyland was named the Wheat Kings’ 41st Captain. Their previous Captain was Nate Danielson who had been traded away a month earlier.

“I felt pretty honoured,” Hyland said. “I was hoping to get this sometime in my career, especially in a place like Brandon where they play hard and the culture here fits my leadership style. I feel like I can uphold it. I felt honoured.” In a team release, while Hyland leads the team in goals, “his value on the ice comes from so much more than that, with his willingness to battle in all three zones, finish checks, and make opponents miserable in any way he can”.

Hyland Named 41st Captain In Wheat Kings History – Brandon Wheat Kings (chl.ca)

On February 23, Hyland recorded an assist on an empty net goal at 18:23 during a 4-1 win against the Saskatoon Blades.

For February, Hyland played in 12 games, scored five goals, and recorded eight assists for 13 points overall. For the season, Hyland has played in 56 games, scoring 30 goals, and recording 23 assists for 53 points overall. He ranks first on his team in goals, second in overall points. and is first in power-play goals with eight.

Brett Hyland Official WHL Profile and Stats (chl.ca)

 Monthly Score: 4.5

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

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

Karabella missed the first three games in February (February 1, 2, and 4) due to a lower body injury but returned to the lineup on February 9 against the Brantford Bulldogs (and fellow Washington Capitals’ prospect Patrick Thomas). The team lost all three of the games where Karabela was absent, extending their losing streak to four games.

Despite the return of Karabela, they lost their fifth in a row, falling to the Brantford Bulldogs (and fellow Capitals prospect, Patrick Thomas) 6-4. Karabela assisted on his team’s second goal, which came at 4:02 of the third period and lessened their deficit to 5-2.

In a 4-1 win over the Peterborough Petes on February 15, Karabela had an assist on the team’s first goal which was scored on the power play at 3:54 into the first period.

On February 23, Karabela scored one goal and recorded two assists in an 8-7 overtime loss to the Windsor Spitfires. On a frustrating note, Guelph had a 5-1 lead early in the second period and led 5-2 at the end of two periods.

Karabela assisted on his team’s first goal on a power play at 6:32 in the first period. The goal tied the game 1-1. Karabela’s goal in that game came on the power play at 11:02 and put his team up 2-1.

For February, Karabela scored one goal and recorded four assists in eight games. For the season thus far, he has 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in 53 games. He has served as one of the team’s alternate captains throughout the season.

Karabela ranks third on the team in points with 45, ranks fourth place on the team in goals, and ranks fourth on the team in assists. He is tied for first on the team in power play goals with 12.

 Monthly Score: 2.5

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

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

Keller played in five games in February. He lost each of his first three games. His first appearance in February was a rough outing against Rouyn-Noranda Huskies on February 9 where he gave up three early goals and was pulled after just 4:36. Acadie Bathurst went on to lose 11-0. His next appearance was on February 16 against Blainville-Boisbriand Armada which was a 4-1 loss. In this game, he made 25 saves out of 29 shots. He then was the losing goaltender on February 22 in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Moncton Wildcats. He made 23 saves in 25 shots.

He finally got a win on February 25 in a 5-2 victory over the Cape Breton Eagles where he made 25 saves on 27 shots. He closed out the month with a win on February 29 as he was in net for a 2-0 shutout against the Halifax Mooseheads. He was first star of the game as he made 25 saves in his shutout effort.

He closed February with a 2-3 record in five games. During the month, he made 113 saves, had a save percentage of .903, and a goals against average of 2.67. His overall record is 14-14. His overall save percentage is .902 with him making 836 saves and a goals against average of 2.92

Monthly Score: 2.5

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

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

After missing the entire month of January, 11 games in all, due to illness, Thomas returned to the lineup on February 2 for a 5-3 victory over the Sudbury Wolves. Thomas scored the team’s third goal.

Thomas had an assist on February 3 in a 6-4 loss to the North Bay Battalion.

Thomas scored the team’s first goal on February 4 against the Oshawa Generals at 2:22 into the third period in an 8-3 loss. He broke the shutout when the team was already down 7-0

On February 9, Thomas scored two second-period goals and contributed an assist as the team opened up a 5-0 lead before the end of the second period. They ultimately won 6-4. Thomas was elected the first star of the game.

Thomas recorded two assists in an 11-1 win over Peterborough on February 11. He scored one goal and recorded an assist in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Windsor Spitfires on February 14 and was elected the first star of the game.

On February 18, Thomas scored the team’s third goal in a 5-1 win against the Niagara Ice Dogs.

“As the Bulldogs have done so frequently of late, they fed off a brilliant Drobac stop pushing the lead to 3-0 at 19:08 with Ben Bujold and Adrian Rebelo breaking up ice and into the offensive zone cycling the puck onto Patrick Thomas to fire his 15th of the season closing the opening frame.”

On February 19, Thomas scored two goals, including the game-winner, in a win over the Erie Otters. His first goal came on a late first period power play at 18:30 which tied the game at 1-1. His game-winner came at 1:30 into the third period. He was elected the second star of the game. The win allowed the Bulldogs to clinch a spot in the WHL playoffs.

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OHL Highlights – Feb 19, 2024 – ER (2) – BFD (3) – Brantford Bulldogs (chl.ca)

For February, Thomas played in 12 games and scored eight goals and recorded eight assists for 16 points overall. For the season, he has 17 goals and 36 assists in 34 games.

Monthly Score: 4.0

ALEXANDER SUZDALEV (LW) – 19 – DRAFTED 2022 (Third Round, #70 Overall)

Team: Saskatoon Blades    League: Western Hockey League (WHL)

Suzdalev joined the Saskatoon Blades in early January.

He earned an assist on the game-winning goal on February 9 in a 6-1 win against the Prince Albert Raiders and was voted third star of the game. That assist was also his 100th career point in junior hockey.

On February 17, he scored a go-ahead goal against the Medicine Hat Tigers at 4:57 of the third period, which put his team up 3-2 in a game they ultimately won 4-3.

Suzdalev earned an assist on February 19 on the team’s third goal which broke a 2-2 tie. He followed that up by scoring two third-period goals. The final score was 5-2. He was awarded the third star of the game.

Other than those highlights, he’s been kept off the scoresheet for February.

Suzdalev played in nine games in February, scoring three goals and recording two assists for 5 points overall. His totals for the season are seven goals, 11 assists for 18 points overall in 20 games.

Monthly Score: 2.5

By Diane Doyle

About Diane Doyle

Been a Caps fan since November 1975 when attending a game with my then boyfriend and now husband.
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9 Responses to Monthly Report For Capitals Prospects Playing In The CHL: Cam Allen Returns, Brett Hyland Named Captain, Andrew Cristall, Patrick Thomas Continue Impressive Scoring Pace

  1. rotating-earth says:
    March 5, 2024 at 6:10 am

    you left off the score for Cristall

    Reply
  2. Prevent Defense says:
    March 5, 2024 at 9:36 am

    Like I said, NJD might be stupid enough to fire Lindy Ruff. They just did, and proved themselves even stupider by replacing him with Travis Green

    Attention Caps Fans: If you think you’re having a bad hockey day, NJD fans will start their day with six double-martinis and a head-butt to a Garden State Parkway traffic barrier

    NJD is beset with major major injuries to key players. 6-8 D Dougie Hamilton is merely one of the wounded. V-8 engine works poorly with only five cylinders firing. Now we have NJD GM Fitzgerald. Repeat after me, “Fitzgerald knows everything.” At least he evaluates himself that way. NJD drafts over the past 6-8 years have rendered NJD a dangerous offense team with core Hughes players. Good Management. Canning a Top 5% head coach … just effing brilliant

    NJD has wonky goaltending this season from goalies not named Vanacek. Reason? Incompetent Head Coaching! Vitek was having a decent year til early FEB when he got hurt. Whose decision was it to backup Vitek with Daws and Schmid? That’s right: Mr. Brilliant, Tom Fitzgerald

    Reply
    • Prevent Defense says:
      March 5, 2024 at 9:49 am

      Comment from Sportsnet.ca:
      “Signing Green makes it look like management is serious about improving [its] place in the draft”
      Nice way of saying, “Tank Tank Tank!”

      Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    March 5, 2024 at 10:39 am

    For the season, Patrick Thomas’ line is 56 points in 48 games. This kid could be a sneaky good pick in the 4th round. Another overager that Ross Mahoney identified, which is certainly a trend of his.

    Suzdalev is surprising even a hater like me, with how bad he’s been. A 20 year old, on the WHL’s best team, shouldn’t be this poor. Not a good sign for his future.

    Reply
  4. Lance says:
    March 5, 2024 at 11:50 am

    The Caps signed Zac Funk out of the WHL recently. The leading goal-scorer out there. Anyone know anything about his game?

    Reply
  5. Prevent Defense says:
    March 5, 2024 at 1:00 pm

    NHL Pundit Site holds NJD GM to task:
    “Perhaps we should go a little easier on Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald. He did fire head coach Lindy Ruff late Monday afternoon …. [ .. ] Then again, why haven’t trades happened that maybe could’ve helped prevent the team from firing Ruff in the first place?” Why indeed!

    Reply

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