Game On: Beniers, Janicke

Both Kraken prospects who play NCAA hockey, 2021 first-round pick (2nd overall) Matty Beniers and seventh-rounder Justin Janicke, play for teams still alive in their conference's postseason tournament. In fact, Beniers (Michigan's leading scorer) and Janicke (a fourth-line freshman forward at Notre Dame playing increased minutes) will be facing each other in a Big 10 conference semifinal Saturday in Ann Arbor, MI.
Michigan is the higher seed but hasn't beaten Notre Dame in four games this hockey year, losing a final regular-season series that allowed Minnesota to earn the top seed. Beniers and his Wolverines teammates are widely considered a favorite to reach the college hockey's Frozen Four and potentially win it all. A primary reason: Beniers is one of seven NHL first-round draft choices, plus six more NHL draftees on the squad.

It was announced Wednesday Beniers is nominated for Big 10 Hockey Player of the Year honors. In a best-of-three sweep of intrastate rival Michigan State last weekend, Beniers scored the equalizer on a one-timer after MSU took an early 1-0 lead. Michigan never looked back, winning 4-1 in the Game 1 and in an 8-0 rout in Game 2.

The Fighting Irish made it hard on themselves by dropping Game 1 last Friday before winning two straight. Janicke plays left wing on Notre Dame's fourth line, earning the trust of the ND coaching staff.
While winning the Big 10 tournament is the goal, both squads are ranked top 10 in the nation and appear locked to receive an at-large bid (10 total) if they don't get the automatic bid (one for each of six conferences) for winning Saturday and then again March 19 when the semifinal victors face the Penn State-Minnesota winner.

Draft Choices and Developing Pros Roundup

Seattle 2021 fifth-round selection Jacob Melanson continues his solid season for Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (aka the "Q"). His fourth-place squad split four games last week, with Melanson netting two goals and two assists.
Melanson's second goal of the week featured a rink-long rush down his right-wing side and a rocket shot to an upper corner to beat the goaltender. The 5-11, 190-pound right wing has 21 goals and 12 assists for Titan, including nine power play goals.
The Kraken's newest prospect, Tye Kartye(pronounced "kar-chee-eh"), plays for elite juniors club Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (part of Canadian Hockey League that includes the QMJHL and the Western Hockey League which includes the Seattle Thunderbirds and Everett Silvertips). Kraken GM Ron Francis played a season-plus for "the Soo" in his hometown.
Kartye attended the Kraken's inaugural training camp on an amateur tryout, impressing the team's hockey operations group. He recently signed a three-year entry level contract as an undrafted free agent. He has scored 33 goals and added 25 assists for 58 points in 47 games going into the team's matchup with Sudbury Wednesday night. He has notched nine game-winning goals and 17 power play scores.
At American Hockey League affiliate Charlotte, goaltender Joey Daccord helped the Checkers extend their winning streak to four with a Tuesday road win over the Texas Stars. Daccord made 27 saves in a tight 3-1 that was finalized clinch with a late-empty net goal for Charlotte. Daccord has won his last two starts. His AHL record this season is 11-9-2 with a .917 save percentage.
A number of Kraken developing pros have contributed to the Checkers winning ways. Alexander True has six assists in the last five games. Kole Lind now leads Charlotte in scoring with 17 goals and 18 assists in 45 games.
Dennis Cholowski, the Kraken's expansion draft pick from Detroit, was waived and picked up by the Washington Capitals in early October. Seattle reclaimed Cholowski Feb. 9 when the Caps put him on waivers. Since then, the offensively-gifted defenseman has notched three goals and six assists in 15 games.

MINOR LEAGUE

2021-22 Kraken AHL Report - SKATERS

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| HENMAN, Luke | C | 6-0 / 168 | 04/29/00 | Charlotte Checkers | 35 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | | LIND, Kole | RW | 6-1 / 179 | 10/16/98 | Charlotte Checkers | 44 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 98 | | MCCORMICK, Max | LW | 5-11 / 187 | 05/01/92 | Charlotte Checkers | 32 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 32 | | SHEAHAN, Riley | C | 6-2 / 215 | 12/07/91 | Charlotte Checkers | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | | TRUE, Alexander | C | 6-5 / 201 | 07/17/97 | Charlotte Checkers | 41 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 32 | | TWARYNSKI,

Carsen | LW | 6-2 / 198 | 11/24/97 | Charlotte Checkers | 53 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 14 | | CARRICK,

Connor | RD | 5-11 / 194 | 04/13/94 | Charlotte Checkers | 47 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 65 | | FLEURY,

Cale | RD | 6-1 / 212 | 11/19/98 | Charlotte Checkers | 49 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 33 | | OLOFSSON,

Gustav | LD | 6-3 / 201 | 12/01/94 | Charlotte Checkers | 29 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 22 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | G | A | Pts. | PIM | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

2021-22 Kraken AHL Report - GOALIES

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| BIBEAU, Antoine | G | 6-3 / 214 | 05/01/94 | Charlotte Checkers | 7 | 3-1-1 | .893 | 2.56 | | DACCORD, Joey | G | 6-2 / 196 | 08/19/96 | Charlotte Checkers | 22 | 10-9-2 | .914 | 2.59 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | W-L | SV% | GAA | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

2021-22 Kraken ECHL Report - SKATERS

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| HENMAN, Luke | C | 6-0 / 168 | 04/29/00 | Allen Americans | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | G | A | Pts. | PIM | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

2021-22 Kraken ECHL Report - GOALIES

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| BIBEAU, Antoine | G | 6-3 / 214 | 05/01/94 | Allen Americans | 14 | 7-4-0 | .923 | 2.79 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | W-L | SV% | GAA | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

AMATEUR

2021-22 Kraken Prospect Report - MAJOR JUNIOR

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| EVANS, Ryker | LD | 5-11 / 181 | 12/13/01 | Regina (WHL) | 51 | 13 | 39 | 52 | 81 | | KARTYE, Tye | LD | 6-1 / 199 | 4/30/01 | Soo Greyhounds (OHL) | 47 | 33 | 25 | 58 | 47 | | MELANSON, Jacob | W | 5-11 / 201 | 04/22/03 | Acadia-Bathurst (QMJHL) | 34 | 20 | 12 | 32 | 51 | | WINTERTON, Ryan | C | 6-2 / 190 | 09/04/03 | Hamilton (OHL) | 19 | 13 | 15 | 28 | 15 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | G | A | Pts. | PIM | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

2021-22 Kraken Prospect Report - COLLEGE

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| BENIERS, Matty | C | 6-1 / 175 | 11/05/02 | Michigan (Big 10) | 32 | 18 | 20 | 38 | 14 | | JANICKE, Justin | W | 6-0 / 181 | 06/30/03 | Notre Dame (Big 10) | 25 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 31 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | G | A | Pts. | PIM | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

2021-22 Kraken Prospect Report - EUROPE

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| OTTAVAINEN, Ville | RD | 6-4 / 201 | 08/12/02 | JYP (Liiga) | 39 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 57 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | G | A | Pts. | PIM | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

2021-22 Kraken Prospect Report - GOALIES

Through Mar. 7, 2022
| VYAZOVOI, Semyon | G | 6-2 / 170 | 02/26/03 | Tolpar Ufa (MHL) | 41 | 25-10-3 | .927 | 2.03 | | Player | Pos. | Ht/Wt | DOB | 2021-22 Team | GP | W-L | SV% | GAA | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |