Savoie growing on and off the ice with Winnipeg

This edition of the Prospects Pipeline checks in on Matt Savoie, as well as Noah Ostlund, Josh Bloom, Mats Lindgren, and Devon Levi.
Matt Savoie is off to a hot start, already tallying 11 points in eight WHL games with the Winnipeg ICE this season.
Savoie started his WHL campaign with a seven-game point streak, including four multi-point performances.

He hasn't slowed down since his impressive showing with the Buffalo Sabres during training camp. He scored three goals in the Prospects Challenge and dressed in three NHL preseason games, with the team going 5-0-0 in those games.
"The biggest adjustment was the pace of play," Savoie said last week. "Everyone is skating at all times out there, it's a physical game, so you have to have awareness of how much time and space you have. I thought that was the biggest adjustment I had to make."

Savoie has five goals and six assists in eight games with Winnipeg and the ICE are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points.
Savoie's maturity on the ice is no surprise to anyone in the organization. Rochester Americans head coach Seth Appert spoke about Savoie's demeanor back in September.
"Calm, just calm. He's not emotional. He doesn't come off a bad shift slamming his stick and he doesn't come off a great shift too high," Appert said. "He has a real calm presence about him which I think is extremely important in becoming an elite player."

Savoie, 18, relishes his newfound role as a leader on his junior team, with plenty of the younger players looking up to the 9th-overall selection.
"I think I can step into a leadership role just by being a role model," Savoie said. "Working hard on the ice, being an easy guy to talk to, and build relationships with my teammates. I definitely think I can continue to step up and continue to be a leader."

The ICE's year is still fresh, but Savoie will look to continue to improve on the solid foundation that he has already laid this season. While his point streak was snapped on Saturday, Savoie wants to keep sharpening his game as much as he can.
"My goal is to improve as much as I can this year, my all-around game, and my 200-foot game," he said.
Winnipeg is currently 11-1-0 on the season. The team's next game is Friday against Brandon.

Ostlund nets first goal of the season

Noah Ostlund, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft has had an impressive start to his season. Ostlund has six points (1+5) in 10 games with Djurgardens of HockeyAllsvenskan, netting his first of the regular season last Wednesday.
The Sabres selected Ostlund in large part because his playmaking ability and his ability to always have the puck on his stick.

The flashy Swede showcased these talents early on this season in an exhibition game against Tingsryd when he scored a "Michigan goal" from behind the net.

Ostlund is tied for the fourth on the team in points as the team looks to keep improving to their 8-1-1 record.

Newly minted captain Bloom doing it all for Saginaw

Josh Bloom, a third-round pick in 2021, has 11 points (4+7) in 10 games for the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL, and has contributed on all ends of the ice.

Recently named the Spirit's 15th captain in team history, the two-way-forward has been all over the ice.

Saginaw is currently third in the Western Conference. Their next game will take place on Wednesday, October 26 against the Flint Firebirds.

Lindgren continues to impress in new threads

Despite recently being acquired in a trade by the Red Deer Rebels, Mats Lindgren has not had any rust on his new squad. The left-shot defenseman currently has four assists in eight games.

Selected by Buffalo in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft, Lindgren made an impression with the Sabres at Rookie Minicamp and during the Blue vs. Gold scrimmage, where he recorded a jaw-dropping shootout goal.

The Rebels are currently undefeated this season, standing tall with a record of 10-0-0, just two points behind Savoie's ICE.

Levi starting strong once again

Devon Levi, who won the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goaltender in college hockey, last season, is off to another good start with Northeastern.
He's 3-1-1 (one tie) on the season with a .943 save percentage, a 1.77 goals-against average and one shutout.

Levi made 49 saves on October 15 in a 2-1 loss to Providence and followed that up with a 30-save performance in a 3-3 tie against Boston College three days later.
The Huskies play back-to-back games against Maine on Friday and Saturday.