Stars forward prospects Riley Tufte (1st round/2016) and Rhett Gardner (4th round/2016) met this weekend in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference championship game, and both are now headed to the West Regional of the 2017 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament.
Tufte and Minnesota Duluth edged Gardner and North Dakota, 4-3 in the NCHC championship game Saturday night. Tufte scored a goal in the game, tallying from the right circle off the rush to give Minnesota Duluth a 2-1 lead early in the second period. Tufte, a freshman, has 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 33 games. Minnesota Duluth, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation, will take on Ohio State Friday in the West Regional.
Tufte Stats: Minnesota Duluth (NCAA) | 33 GP | 8 G | 5 A | 13 PTS | +13 | 26 PIM
Photo credit: University of Minnesota Duluth
Gardner, a sophomore, did not factor in the scoring for North Dakota in Saturday's game. Gardner, a sophomore, has 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 37 games. North Dakota, which is ranked No. 10 in the nation will take on No. 7 Boston University in the West Regional.
Gardner Stats: North Dakota (NCAA) | 37 GP | 7 G | 13 A | 20 PTS | +2 | 69 PIM
Prospect Report
Forward prospects Riley Tufte, Rhett Gardner head to NCAA Tournament
© University of Minnesota Duluth
Stars defense prospect Joseph Cecconi (5th round/2015) had his season come to an end when Michigan lost 4-1 to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament. Cecconi finished the season with eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 33 games.
Cecconi Stats: Michigan (NCAA) | 33 GP | 1 G | 7 A | 8 PTS | -5 | 18 PIM
Here's a look at how other Dallas prospects playing in Europe and juniors fared over the past week.
Europe
\LW Roope Hintz (2nd round/2015) picked up two assists in two games as HIFK swept its best-of-three series with Karpat in the first round of the playoffs in Finland's top league. HIFK will take on TPS in the quarterfinals, which is a best-of-seven series.
Hintz stats: HIFK (Liiga) | 44 GP |19 G | 11 A | 30 PTS | +10 | 18 PIMPlayoffs (HIFK): |2 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS | +3 | 0
\D Aleksi Makela (7th round/2013) had no points in three games as Assat lost its first round playoff series against Ilves in Finland's top league, two games to one.
Makela Stats: Assat (Liiga) | 48 GP | 0 G | 2 A | 2 PTS | -13 | 26 PIMPlayoffs (Assat) | 3 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS | +1 | 0 PIM
\G Markus Ruusu (6th round/2015) did not play over the past week.
Ruusu Stats: JYP (Liiga) | 5-2-0 | 1.67 GAA | .938 SV%JYP-Akatemia (Finland-2) | 9-12-2 | 3.43 GAA | .887 SV%
\D John Nyberg(6th round/2014) did not register any points in two playoff games for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League playoffs. Frolunda and Skelleftea are tied 1-1 in their best-of-seven quarterfinal series.
Nyberg Stats: Frolunda (SHL) | 49 GP | 7 G | 8 A | 15 PTS | +8 | 32 PIMPlayoffs (Frolunda): | 2 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS| E | 2 PIM
\D Niklas Hansson(3rd round/2013) did not play in HV 71's playoff opener against Farjestad. HV 71 won the game, 3-1, and has a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven quarterfinal series.
Hansson Stats: HV 71 (SHL) | 46 GP | 1 G | 10 A | 11 PTS | -4 | 12 PIMPlayoffs (HV 71): | 0 GP | 0 G | 0 A | 0 PTS| 0 | 0 PIM
\C Fredrik Karlstrom(3rd round/2016) picked up no points in two playoff games for AIK in Sweden's second league but missed the last game. He has one goal in five games.
Karlstrom Stats: AIK (SWE-2) | 45 GP | 9 G | 15 A | 24 PTS | -2 | 4 PIMPlayoffs: (AIK SWE-2) | 4 GP | 1 G | 0 A | 1 PT | E | 0 PIM
Ontario Hockey League
\RW Nick Caamano(5th round/2016) picked one goal and one assist in Flint's 6-4 loss to Owen Sound on Tuesday. Caamano ended the regular season with 64 points (35 goals, 29 assists) in 67 games and tied for 14th in the OHL in goal scoring. Flint will play Sault Ste. Marie in the first round of the OHL playoffs.
Caamano Stats: Flint (OHL) | 67 GP | 35 G |29 A | 64 PTS | -6 | 63 PIM
\D Chris Martenet (4th round/2015) recorded one assist in three games for Ottawa over the past week, giving him 16 points (five goals, eleven assists) in 55 games with both Ottawa and London this season. Ottawa will play Oshawa in the first round of the OHL playoffs.
Martenet Stats: London/Ottawa (OHL) | 55 GP | 5 G |11 A | 16 PTS | +12 | 60 PIM
Western Hockey League
\D Ondrej Vala (free agent/2016) had no points in two games for Kamloops over the past week. Vala ended the regular season with 25 points (ten goals, 15 assists) in 60 games. Kamloops will play Kelowna in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
Vala Stats: Kamloops (WHL) | 60 GP | 10 G | 15 A | 25 PTS | +11 | 89 PIM
Season Ended
\D Jakob Stenqvist (6th round/2016) played in both Sweden's second highest league and juniors this season. He saw 41 games in the second league, registering six points (two goals, four assists). He recorded 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 17 games in juniors.
Stenqvist Stats: MODO (SWE-2) | 41 GP | 2 G |4 A | 6 PTS | -4 | 22 PIMMODO (SWE-JR) | 17 GP | 3 G | 14 A | 17 PTS | +4 | 10 PIM
\G Colton Point (5th round/2016) finished his freshman season at Colgate with a 2-5-2 record, 2.45 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. Point missed extended time with mono this season, but the Stars liked what he did once he got healthy.
"He came back and played well," said Dallas GM Jim Nill. "He had good stats. They had a senior goalie this year, but Point.*
