Prospects Perspective: Melanson, Beniers on Streaks

There's a lot of good news to report about the Kraken's inaugural group of seven draft choices. Let's start with 2021 fifth-round selection Jacob Melanson, who has scored 27 goals and added 14 assists for his Acadie-Bathurst Titan club that competes in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL or the "Q").

Melanson has come on strong in the second half of his season and so has his team under the leadership of a new coach. They've won six straight and risen to third place in the conference. Melanson scored in all four of the squad's most recent wins, plus notched two assists for a six-point week.
His goals are coming close-in around the net, which coaches at all levels love to see. The Titan forward opened the scoring in last Sunday's win. On Saturday night, he scored the game-winner in a tight 4-2 victory.

Draft Choices and Developing Pros Roundup

More good news: Matty Beniers and the University of Michigan won the Big 10 men's hockey tournament, beating top seed Minnesota on the road before a crowd that turned a bit nasty in the third period.
Minnesota scored in the first 32 seconds of the title game to put Michigan on its heels. But Beniers, the Wolverines' leading scorer and playmaker, set up linemate and fellow NHL first-rounder Brendan Brisson for the tying score. It was the first of four straight goals for Michigan, which held on for a 4-3 win despite two Golden Gophers scores in the final minute of regulation. Beniers, as per usual, was just as impressive on the defensive end protecting a lead as he was sparking the Michigan offense.
The victory resulted in Michigan earning the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament that will be staged over the next two weekends. Michigan's first opponent will be No. 18 nationally ranked American International College at the Allentown, PA, regional site. Michigan is 15-3 since Jan. 1. If they can get past AIC, Atlantic Hockey Association champions, the Wolverines will play the winner of No. 8 nationally ranked Quinnipiac vs. No. 11 St. Cloud State.
Seattle's other NCAA prospect, Justin Janicke, a freshman at No. 9 nationally ranked Notre Dame, and his Fighting Irish squad were awarded an at-large bid to the 16-team tournament and will play No. 7 nationally ranked North Dakota (where Kraken coach Dave Hakstol built a national power program) in the first round at the Albany, NY, regional.
The Kraken's third-round draft choice last summer, center Ryan Winterton, has played a pivotal role in Hamilton rising to the top of the standings in the Ontario Hockey League's Eastern Conference. The Bulldogs recently played in the "Outdoor Showcase" game vs. Oshawa. Winterton didn't score in a 3-0 win but he was mic'd up, which is worth a watch HERE.
Watch: Youtube Video
Following the outdoor fun, Hamilton embarked on a four-game road trip, losing 4-1 to Peterborough in the first game. Winterton scored the Bulldogs' only goal. The next night, Winterton scored again in a big win against conference rival Kingston.
Hamilton finished the road trip with two more wins. Winterton assisted on a goal in the second of three straight wins. Winterton has 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 26 games since returning from a shoulder injury.
Kraken forward Kole Lind, who earned an assist for setting up linemate Morgan Geekie's insurance goal in Seattle's 4-2 road win at Arizona, was called up to the NHL roster to help fill out a lineup depleted by trade deadline transactions. Lind was co-leading scorer at American Hockey League affiliate Charlotte but will now remain with the Kraken and was not made eligible for the AHL playoffs.
"That's what it's all about," said Geordie Kinnear, Charlotte's head coach. "Lindy has an opportunity. He brought a lot of grit to our lineup over time. Seattle saw something in him so it's great for him."
The Checkers swept three games from the Providence Bruins this past week. Charlotte won the first and third game by 2-1 scores with the winning goal coming in a shootout. Joey Daccord stopped all three Bruins shooters to cinch the win.
In the middle-game win, Daccord came up big again with a pivotal save in the seventh round of a shootout. In the Charlotte half, Alexander True scored to finish off a 3-2 victory. Daccord had 38 saves in the rousing home win.
Daccord got a breather, not playing in the third win, another shooter. Fellow Kraken signee and goalie Antoine Bibeau stepped up to make 37 saves during regulation and overtime, then stopped two of three Providence shootout attempts to post the 2-1 win. It was Bibeau's first AHL start in two months.
He's had a couple of tough [situations] because he had to come in for an injury and a couple of other times on the road he came in [relief]," Kinnear told Checkers reporter Nicholas Niedzielski. "He never complains, he comes to work every day and he's been a great teammate and a great guy to have in the room. He deserved that victory. I'm glad the guys played hard for him."