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Prospect Watch: Beck Ties Franchise Record, Mesar’s Great Start

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Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck

It was yet another fun week for many Montreal Canadiens prospects, particularly when it comes to first-round pick Filip Mesar, as well as second-round pick Owen Beck. There were goals, assists, and well, very encouraging moments from key prospects.

Without further ado, let’s get right into highlights.

Beck is Back

With three points in his first five games of the season, you could argue Owen Beck took a little time to get going upon his return from Montreal Canadiens training camp, but his relatively slow start was quickly forgotten on Friday night, as the Port Hope native tied a Mississauga Steelheads franchise record with six points in a single game.

Beck set up five goals, owing to his fantastic anticipation and great situational awareness in the offensive zone. He’s quickly becoming one of the Canadiens’ most exciting prospects, not just because he’s found his scoring touch, but also because his cerebral approach allows him to excel in almost every situation.

Beck followed up his six-point night with a three-point effort against the Barrie Colts, pushing his season totals to 6 goals and 6 assists in 7 games. Consequently, Beck is currently producing well over 1.5 points per game, which is more than double his 2021-22 output.

Hot Start

Slovak prospect Filip Mesar started his season on the right foot with the Kitchener Rangers, scoring a goal and four assists in his first Ontario Hockey League game.

When Kent Hughes discussed Mesar’s future, he explained he’d rather see the skilled forward score 80 points in the OHL than 40 points in the AHL. Truth be told, he probably underestimated Mesar’s OHL potential.

Mesar, who spent the last two seasons playing professional hockey in Slovakia, finished his second OHL game in style, by scoring the game-winning-goal for the Kitchener Rangers in overtime, part of a two-goal effort by the first-round pick.

Regardless of how many times he finds the scoresheet, there’s no doubt Mesar will be able to perfect his offensive skills with the Rangers, though it would be unreasonable to expect him to maintain a three points per game average throughout the entirety of the season.

Two points per game will do just fine.

The Puck Stops Here

Goaltending prospect Jakub Dobes (136th overall, 2020) continues to put up ridiculous numbers for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the NCAA.

In two starts against Bentley University, the sophomore made 58 saves on 60 shots, finishing the week with a 0.966 save percentage.

His great outings puts his season totals at six wins, one loss, and one tie, not to mention a 1.8 goals against average and a 0.931 save percentage.

Statistically speaking, Dobes has been flat out dominant since arriving in the NCAA, and has quickly risen up the goaltending prospect ranks to become one of the most interesting young players in the organization.

QMJHL Update

It was a quiet week for prospects Joshua Roy (150th overall, 2021) and Riley Kidney (63rd overall, 2021), or at the very least, it was a relatively quiet week compared to their offensive production in previous games. Kidney was held off the scoresheet twice, but did end up scoring once and adding two assists in Acadie Bathurst’s 6-4 win against Val-d’Or.

Roy was held off the scoresheet for the first time of the season when the Baie-Comeau Drakkar shutout the Sherbrooke Phoenix 4-0 on Wednesday night.

His scoreless streak lasted a mere game, as Roy tallied an assist on Friday night. He’s currently tied for fourth overall in QMJHL scoring, although it’s worth noting he played fewer games than all three players that have scored more often.

Other Prospect News and Notes:

  • Lane Hutson (62nd overall, 2022) scored the first goal of his Boston University career.

  • Logan Mailloux (31st overall, 2021) scored his first goal of the season for the London Knights.
  • Petteri Nurmi (194th overall, 2021) also found the back of the net for the first time this year.
  • Rhett Pitlick (151st overall, 2019) joined Mailloux and Nurmi by scoring his first of the season.
  • Vinzenz Rohrer (75th overall, 2022) scored a fantastic goal against the Guelph Storm, bringing his season totals to three goals and six assists in eight games.