A Weekly Look at the 2018-19 Sudbury Miners: Volume 17

CANADIAN PRESS (Sudbury, ON):

Miners Weekly Record:  1 wins, 1 losses, 0 OT loss.

Miners League Standing:  32 wins, 24 losses, 7 OT Loss = 71 points total.  Currently sit in 4th place in the Canosa Conference, 9th overall in the CCHL.

Miners Special Teams:  Power Play – 20.8% (13th); Penalty Kill – 80.2% (9th)

Miners Scoring Leader:  Center Vincent Trocheck (22G – 50A = 72 pts; 13th Overall in the CCHL)

It was a “status-quo” type of week for the Miners, as the CCHL schedule saw them only play two games this past week.   The Miners would split the two games, but still remain in a playoff position, sitting in 4th place in the Canosa Conference.

With the trade deadline this week, and with little activity expected from the Miners at this point, the players in the room know they are the ones that management is counting on to lead them to the franchise’s first post season birth.

“We like our group in here.  We are tight knit and everyone knows their role,” stated Miners winger Zach Hyman.  “We know is sound cliché, but the goal is just to get to the dance. You never know what can happen once you get in.”

MINERS PLAYER PROFILE OF THE WEEK:  Anthony Mantha

Mantha is a tall and lanky winger who features a potent wrist shot and an array of shooting capabilities.  Not the smoothest of skaters, Mantha can change gears driving 1-on-1, and uses that to blow past defenders.  His startup quickness isn’t as efficient and that is the area in which he lacks. He has quick, soft hands with good control as a puck handler and is always looking to shoot first.  His one flaws, is that he tends to play a one-way game. He likes free wheeling in open ice but he needs to be more determined in traffic and will lose steam once a play fizzles out. This can lead him to being a bit soft and uninvolved defensively.

MINERS PROSPECT NEED TO KNOW:  Filip Hronek

Hronek came to the Miners via trade from Fort Erie earlier this season.  He struggled to make an impact as an 18-year-old in the Czech men’s league, so Hronek came to the OHL and had zero adjustment period to the North American game.  One year later, his transition from the OHL to the AHL went just as smoothly. He is a very good puck rushing blueliner but he could stand to recognize danger a little better. He has also been sheltered, so his ability to play tough minutes is still a question but aside from that, he plays a very mature game with the puck and is not very far at all from the CCHL.  Expected CCHL arrival: 2019-20.