Thrower and Sutter up to their old tricks
Saskatoon Blades fans who tuned in to watch the 2012 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game on Wednesday night probably felt like they were sitting inside the Credit Union Centre.
And no, it isn’t because most rec rooms generally have the same ambiance as the north-end arena the local WHL team calls home.
Blades centre Lukas Sutter and defenceman Dalton Thrower played in the 17th annual showcase contest at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C., and did so in a way Saskatoon spectators have grown accustomed to seeing this season.
Sutter, who centred a line with Ontario Hockey Leaguers Andreas Athanasiou (Kitchener Rangers) and Tanner Pearson (Barrie Colts), didn’t stray far from the style that’s allowed him to net 22 goals and 46 points with a plus-20 rating and 127 penalty minutes with the Blades so far.
The Sutter trio was likely the most dangerous for Team Orr as the Lethbridge, Alta., native set up Pearson for a handful of quality chances in the third period.
While Pearson could not beat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds netminder Matt Murray, that didn’t stop Sutter from making an impact in the game.
In addition to taking a penalty of his own — a tripping call in the second period — the 86th-rated North American skater in the NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings drew an infraction in the final minute of the game that led to the winning goal.
As Blades fans are well aware, hardly a WHL game goes by where Sutter doesn’t spend time in the penalty box while also forcing an op- ponent to do the same.
Likewise, Thrower was up to his usual tricks.
Paired with Greyhounds defenceman Gianluca Curcuruto, the North Vancouver, B.C. native was a physical force during the game and squared off with Plymouth Whalers forward Tim Wilson in a second-period fight.
Thrower’s 84 penalty minutes trail only Sutter on the Blades.
The 30th-best North American skater — who is sixth in the WHL scoring among blue-liners with 40 points – also quarterbacked the Team Orr power play.
Although he wasn’t able to score with the man advantage like he’s done five times for Saskatoon, Thrower unleashed a few of the slappers from the point that have become commonplace of late — especially over the last 13 games where Thrower earned 20 points.
What makes the Top Prospects Game so unique compared to other best-on- best exhibition matches is because the game features some of the top draft-eligible players competing in front of a building full of NHL scouts and executives, everything is for keeps.
As was evident from the play of Sutter and Thrower, those on the ice try to display skills that are exhibited on a nightly basis for the club teams.
Granted, it may be an apples-to-oranges comparison with the NHL’S all-star game, but it’s a distinction that makes the game more enjoyable to watch when compared to other star-studded competitions.
BLADES BITS: The Everett Silvertips fired general manager Doug Soetaert Thursday evening, the Everett Herald reported. The Silvertips were sporting a league-worst 12-30-1-8 record and Soetaert was in the final year of his contract.