Linkorama

●Daily Free Press recap of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Notre Dame

Looking ahead

2014 recruit Jack Eichel (photo) scored twice and added an assist in the NTDP U18s 5-4 loss to the Indiana Ice on Sunday. With the U18s trailing 5-2 entering the third period, the 6-2 center converted on a power play midway through the period and then again in the final minute to cut the margin to one.

In two weekend games against the Ice, Eichel had a combined six points (3G, 3A), which earned him USHL Forward of the Week honors.  The two-game outburst extended his scoring streak to 10 games (7G, 12A) and his season total to 60 points in 36 games.  Playing in the World Junior Championships as an under-ager, Eichel scored a power play goal, added four assists in five games and was regularly on the ice in key situations.

2014 recruit Ori Abramson suffered a broken thumb in last Wednesday’s Jersey Hitmen’s 3-2 win against Philadelphia. The 6-4, 215 defenseman from Toronto has a 4-19-23 scoring line for Jersey, which will finish second in the USPHL Premier league regular season standings. He’s expected back in the Hitmen lineup next weekend for the playoff series against Bay State.  Assessing the right-shot defenseman who skated in this year’s USPHL Premier all-star game, Jersey Head Coach & GM Toby Harris said:

"Ori Abramson is an imposing figure on the blue line. Standing 6'5 and 220 lbs., Abramson moves and skates extremely well for his size.  Ori possesses a heavy shot from the point, a strong stick defensively and is well versed in joining the rush in transition from defense to offense."

For the second weekend in a row, 2015 recruit Maxim Letunov (photo) set up an overtime winning goal for Youngstown. On Sunday, he had the primary assist on both Youngstown goals with the game-winner coming 27 seconds into overtime, as the Phantoms edged Chicago, 2-1. A week earlier, his slick goal-mouth pass led to the GWG in a 4-3 win over Des Moines (video). The center from Moscow now has a 14-19-33 scoring line in 46 games, third best on the Phantoms.

Olympics

Jim Craig and Jack O'Callahan in New York watching the gold-medal game

34 years after Team USA completed the “Miracle on Ice” with a 4-2 win against Finland, a Boston Globe sports blog caught up with goalie Jim Craig who talked about Lake Placid (1980) and Sochi and the occasional pleasure of anonymity. The article includes video of the final minutes of the gold-medal game. 

Canada.com looks at 2010 and 2014 Olympic “hero” Marie-Philip Poulin through the eyes of Terrier teammate Louise Warren. Poulin has scored a combined four goals in two gold-medal games, including the game-winner in each game.

Looking back

Former ACHA National Rookie of the Year Kieran Millan stopped all 23 shots he faced to author a 7-0 shutout over Elmira in his second start since joining the Wheeling Nailers. Sahir Gill recorded an assist for the Nailers, who are coached by former Terrier and U.S. Olympian Clark Donatelli. Gill is second in scoring for Wheeling with 39 points and is fifth among all ECHL rookiers. In his first start with Wheeling, Millan, who was loaned to the Nailers by AHL Lake Erie, made 21 saves in a 4-1 win over Toledo

●Video recap and highlights

Brandon Yip scored a goal and an assist for Portland but the Pirates were edge by St. John’s 6-5.