Viktor Lodin (Timra/SHL)Season totals: 26GP / 6G / 12A / 35PIM / 0 +/-
Lodin played just once this week but his goal was a critical one as he had the game-winner on Feb. 24 against Linkopings with a power play marker.
He also tallied four hits that night, a new season high. Lodin's 18 points are the fourth most on Timra, who currently sit 13th in the SHL standings and occupy one of the two SHL Playout positions.
Luke Loheit (Minnesota-Duluth/NCAA)Season totals: 18GP / 2G / 2A / 18PIM / -1
Loheit notched an assist Friday as Minnesota-Duluth beat Western Michigan 5-4. His fourth point of the season comes a week after he had a goal and an assist Jan. 21 for the first multi-point game of his NCAA career.
The Bulldogs split their weekend series with the Broncos after a 3-2 loss Saturday and sit fourth in the NCHC standings.
Leevi Merilainen (Kingston/OHL)Season totals: 30GP / 18-9-3 / 3.43 GAA / .885 save percentage
In three games this week, Merilainen secured two wins for the Fronts. He made 25 saves Thursday in a 6-3 win in Peterborough and a day later stopped 22 shots in a 4-3 home win over Oshawa.
He started Sunday against Hamilton in a 5-2 loss where he made 17 saves. Despite the loss, Merilainen is 4-1-0 in his last five starts.
His 18 wins are the second most in the OHL while his 786 saves rank third. The Frontenacs sit second in the Eastern Conference and lead the East Division.
Zack Ostapchuk (Vancouver/WHL)Season totals: 33GP / 9G / 11A / 41PIM / -1
The Giants had a 3-in-3 Friday through Sunday where they dropped all three games, however, Ostapchuk recorded an assist Sunday in a 5-2 loss to Kamloops.
Ostapchuk's nine goals, 11 assists and 20 points are all new career highs as he sits fourth in scoring for the Giants. Vancouver sits seventh in the WHL's Western Conference.
Jake Sanderson (North Dakota/NCAA)Season totals: 21GP / 7G / 17A / 6PIM / +4
Sanderson's weekend was highlighted by an outstanding goal Saturday during North Dakota's 3-3 tie with St. Cloud State. It came a day after he recorded an assist in a 7-1 win over the same opponents.
His 24 points are the third most by an NCAA d-man this season while his seven goals is tied for the lead among blue-liners.
The 2020 fifth overall pick will now head to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics where he will represent the USA.
Lassi Thomson (Ottawa/NHL)Season totals: 15GP / 0G / 5A / 2PIM / -8
Thomson was recalled by Ottawa from Belleville Jan. 25 and played three games with Ottawa this week as the team went 1-1-1.
He had an assist against Buffalo Tuesday and Anaheim Saturday while he tallied a career best +4 rating during the Senators' win over the Sabres.
Despite playing in just 15 of Belleville's 32 games this year, Thomson continues to lead all Sens defencemen in goals with five.
Jonny Tychonick (Nebraska-Omaha/NCAA)Season totals: 13GP / 0G / 2A / 9PIM / -2
After he recorded his first point of the season Jan. 22, Tychonick extended his point streak to two games Friday in a 4-1 loss at Colorado College with an assist as he also matched his season high with four shots.
The Mavericks would win 3-2 the following night against the Tigers and sit sixth in the NCHC standings.
* photo credit: Robert John Boucher
