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Chris Bourque’s 17 year-old kid brother Ryan will be one to watch in the 2009 NHL draft, and may even earn himself a spot on the team that will represent the United States at the 2009 World Junior Championship, to be held in Ottawa from December 26, 2008 to January 5, 2009. Ryan’s ascension is featured on NHL.com today, on the heels of Chris’s NHL season debut last Saturday for the Caps.
A diminutive forward like Chris, listed at 5′8″ and 165, Ryan is projected by Central Scouting, in its preseason rankings, to go in the first two rounds of the ‘09 draft.
Claus Andersen/Getty Images
Said Ron Rolston of the other Bourque, who coaches the United States National Team Developmental Program (NTDP) and will coach Team USA at the World Junior Championship:
“He’s probably scored more than maybe we thought; so that might have been a little bit of a surprise. He’s finished a lot of plays off and gotten to those areas and made nice plays around the net against older players. That might be a surprise, but in terms of effectiveness of a player, no. He’s got the ability.”
Ryan has 3 G and 5 A in 11 games (through October 20) with the NTDP. He has already committed to play for UNH in 2009-10.
Your post-game analysis that barely scrapes the surface:
Is this is the curse of the Devils? Ever since the start of the NJD game last Saturday, the Washington Capitals power play is 2 for 17, and the team has two goals in two games. And just like that Devils game, you knew that a one goal lead (not to mention one goal, period!) was not going to be enough last night in the desert. It seemed like the time change and travel got to the Caps in the third period (which didn’t begin until around midnight back home). Aside from the final couple of shifts, the energy was not there, and “Hanzal and Gretel” and the desert dogs pounced.
Théodore, however, has been excellent in these last two games, stopping 58 of 62 (.935 SV%), including that breakaway by Shane Doan last night, and some dynamite saves on Ed Jovanovski on deflections. And no goofy rebounds.
So this small sample of a road trip is really the exact opposite of what we all expected going into this season, which was: potent offense overpowering the opposition and backstopped by “adequate” goaltending.
