On the current edition of the Prospect Pipeline podcast, co-hosts Brian Smith and Bill Meltzer run down the club's last four games and recent standout players.
At the ECHL level, the Reading Royals are 4-4-1 through the first nine games of season. They, too, are on a three-game winning streak. After splitting a back-to-back set last weekend with the Wheeling Nailers (2-1 loss and 4-3 win), the Royals hosted and defeated the Maine Mariners this past Friday and Saturday by 5-3 and 4-1 scores.
On a system-wide basis spanning the Phantoms, Royals, prospects in the NCAA, CHL and the professional leagues of Europe, here are contributing writer Bill Meltzer's picks for three stars of the week.
FIRST STAR: Cam York (D, Phantoms)
YOrk dodged a bullet two weeks ago when he had to be helped off the ice, putting no weight on his left leg, in a game against the Hershey Bears. Thankfully, the injury turned out to be only a day-to-day issue and he was back in the lineup when the Phantoms returned to action for a two-game road trip to play the Belleville Senators and Laval Rocket.
In the latter game, York brought victory to the Phantoms in overtime as he ripped a shot from the right circle into the net at 2:44 for a 4-on-3 power play goal. York celebrated by sprinting off the ice and up the tunnel to the locker room. This past weekend in Allentown, York once again scored the winning goal against Laval as he quickly restored a lead after the Rocket rallied for back-to-back goals to tie the score at 2-2.
York, who has a three-game point streak (2g, 1a), leads the Phantoms in scoring with nine points (3g,6a) through 11 games played. He and veteran Louie Belpedio have found good chemistry on the top defensive pairing, and York has been showing both a quick defensive stick and good first pass ability. He's had a few miscues, as all defensemen do, but he has not let them compound.
SECOND STAR: Cutter Gauthier (C/LW, Boston College)
The Flyers' first round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft is off to a strong start to his freshman collegiate season at Boston College. Gauthier, whom the Flyers envision as a center at the NHL down the line, has skated both at center and left wing this season but is primarily a center nowadays, has racked up five goals and eight points through his first seven games this season.
This past weekend, BC split back-to-back games over Northeastern. Last Friday's game was a 4-4 tie but Northeastern won (1-0) in a shootout. Gauthier compiled a pair of goals and an assist. On Saturday, a 3-2 Eagles win, Gauthier chipped in an assist to extend his current point streak to three straight games (2g, 2a).
