A Weekly Look at the 2018-19 Sudbury Miners: Volume 2

A Weekly Look at the 2018-19 Sudbury Miners:  Volume 2

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

Miners Weekly Record: 1 wins, 0 losses.
Miners League Standing:  5 wins, 5 losses, 1 OT Loss = 11 points total.  Currently sit in 8th place in the Canosa Conference, 14th overall in the CCHL.
Miners Special Teams:  Power Play – 29.8% (6th); Penalty Kill – 76.3% (13th)
Miners Scoring Leader:  Winger Sam Reinhart (8G – 6A = 14pts; 18th Overall in the CCHL)

The Miners had a relatively light week in the CCHL last week, with only one game – a 2-1 shootout victory over the Hamilton Tigers.  With the win, the Miners were able to climb back to .500 and remain in the thick of the playoff race in the Canosa Conference. 
 “Getting back to .500 is a good step, and with the schedule last week, we were able to work on some things defensively in practice”, stated defenceman Brandon Montour.   “We seem to generate a lot of shots and chances at both ends of the ice, and while that makes for entertaining hockey, it doesn’t always translate to wins”.
The Miners make up for the light schedule from last week with three important conference games this week versus Springfield, Minnesota and Siberia.  Needless to say, it is a big week and good results are needed if the Miners want to remain in the playoff conversation.

MINERS PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK:  Zack Hyman
Hyman is best described as a determined, competitive and mobile winger, with improving hands and a healthy example of intelligent physicality.  His skating stride is compact and quick, powering his way as an engaging forechecker.  He is not going to “wow” anyone with his puck skills, but they have improved year over year.  He is no longer just the first contact forward, the bloodhound flushing out puck for skilled teammates and is starting to contribute with more individual skilled maneuvers, such as getting above the puck for better shooting, heading to the net with quicker releases without sacrificing his trademark physicality.  With the ability to play an penalty killing role as well, he is a versatile player which every team in the CCHL needs to be successful.


MINERS PROSPECT NEED TO KNOW:  Jake Oettinger
Oettinger was the first goaltender taken in the 2017 CCHL draft and has backstopping a loaded, prestigious Boston University program over the past two seasons.  Oettinger has been one of college hockey’s best in the crease, going 21-13-4 with a .915 save percentage and 2.45 goals against average last season, earning Boston University an NCAA tournament appearance. The goaltender of the future for the Miners, has a massive physical frame (6-4”, 212 lbs), excellent play-reading abilities, and his technique allows him to make all the easy saves and rarely get beaten on inside scoring chances. His lateral movement is very refined and intelligent.  His biggest issue right now is transitioning from a standing position to a low butterfly, but he is athletic enough to make that adjustment over time.  He projects to be an upper-to-mid-tier starter in the CCHL.  Expected CCHL arrival:  2022-23.