North American Juniors

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 3 @ Shawinigan Cataractes 7

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 0-1-1, -1, 0 PIM, 4 SOG, 0 Hits
Season totals: 17 GP, 12-18-30, +4, 2 PIM
With R-N: 11 GP, 9-11-20, +5, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov extended his point streak to seven games with an assist in a bad loss to last place Shawinigan. His streak of multipoint games ended at four. That streak dated back before the World Junior Championships (12/7/12).

Val-d’Or Foreurs 6 @ Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 5 (SO)

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 0-0-0, -1, 4 PIM, 3 SOG, 1 Hit
Season totals: 37 GP, 6-23-29, +16, 36 PIM

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 2-1-3, -2, 0 PIM, 10 SOG, 0 Hits, *First Star*
Season totals: 46 GP, 20-45-65, +22, 77 PIM

Lightning prospect Cedric Paquette (pictured) was named first star for his two goals and three points in Wednesday night’s shootout loss to Artem Sergeev and Val-d’Or. Paquette had his shootout attempt saved. The Foreurs won the skills competition, 2-1. Paquette hit the 20-goal mark for the season thanks to his game-opening 2-goal effort. His goals were scored in the first five minutes of the game and staked the Armada to an early 2-0 lead. Paquette’s point streak is now at eight games. He has at least three points in three consecutive games and in four of his last five contests. He has nine three-point games in total this year.

Ontario Hockey League

Barrie Colts 1 @ Owen Sound Attack 4

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 48 GP, 4-12-16, -3, 51 PIM
With Barrie: 10 GP, 2-0-2, -4, 12 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Dotchin returned to his former stomping grounds for the second time since being traded earlier this month. Blues goaltender prospect Jordan Binnington stopped 37 of 38 shots for Owen Sound.

We continue our Prospect of the Week award, an honor (virtually) given to one Tampa Bay Lightning prospect for their recent contributions on and off the ice.

The Prospect of the Week for January 30 is … Nikita Kucherov, W, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL – Canada)

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov made his 2013 QMJHL debut last week after missing nearly the entire month of January because of his participation in the 2013 World Junior Championships in Russia and rehabbing an injury he sustained in the tournament.

Bolt Prospects has learned that Kucherov sustained an arm injury when he was knocked to the ice late in the tourney. He returned to Quebec immediately after the WJCs to heal.

When he was deemed healthy again, Kucherov wasted no time finding the scoresheet for the Huskies, notching a goal and an assist on Friday in a loss to fellow Lightning prospect Artem Sergeev and Val-d’Or. The next day he mirrored his Friday effort with a goal and a helper in a loss to Chicoutimi. Finally, he produced a goal and two assists on Sunday in a big win over the Sagueneens to give him three goals and seven points in three games last week.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2 @ Val-d’Or Foreurs 5

D Artem Sergeev, VDO: 1-0-1, +1, 6 PIM, 3 SOG, 0 Hits
Season totals: 36 GP, 6-23-29, +17, 32 PIM

Artem Sergeev (pictured) pulled within one goal of matching last year’s career high of seven, set in 46 games. Former Lightning prospect camper Brandon Hynes had a goal and a helper for the Foreurs.

Ontario Hockey League

Niagara IceDogs 1 @ Brampton Battalion 2

D Dylan Blujus, BRAM: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 48 GP, 2-19-21, -5, 36 PIM

Brampton allowed just 20 shots in their second straight 2-1 victory, this time over Niagara.

Kitchener Rangers 3 @ Guelph Storm 2

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 1-0-1, E, 2 PIM
Season totals: 37 GP, 7-44-51, +18, 82 PIM

Coming off two wins this week against division-rival Owen Sound, the Storm were in prime position to leapfrog the Rangers in the Midwest Division with a win on Sunday, but it was not to be. Carolina prospect defenseman Ryan Murphy scored late in the second period to give Kitchener a 3-2 lead, which the Rangers made hold up for the duration of the game. Tanner Richard scored his seventh goal of the season on a penalty shot. He now has four goals in his last five games after starting the year with three in his first 32.

Windsor Spitfires 4 @ Sudbury Wolves 8

D Slater Koekkoek, WIN: Did not play
Season totals: 40 GP, 6-23-29, -24, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 2 GP, 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM
With Peterborough: 38 GP, 6-22-28, -26, 28 PIM

Slater Koekkoek is out for the season with an injured shoulder.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Chicoutimi Sagueneens 2 @ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 6

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 1-2-3, +1, 0 PIM, 4 SOG, 1 Hit, *Second Star*
Season totals: 16 GP, 12-17-29, +5, 2 PIM
With R-N: 10 GP, 9-10-19, +6, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov had at least two points for the third consecutive game since returning from injury, helping the Huskies snap their four-game losing streak. Kucherov is approaching a two point-per-game average since moving to Rouyn-Noranda.

Shawinigan Cataractes 0 @ Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 9

C Cedric Paquette, BLB: 1-2-3, +2, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 1 Hit
Season totals: 45 GP, 18-44-62, +24, 77 PIM

Cedric Paquette (pictured) has points in seven consecutive games after producing a goal and two assists in a blowout win over the defending Memorial Cup champs on Saturday. The last place Cataractes managed only 16 shots. Paquette has at least three points in three of his last four games. He has 14 points in his seven-game point streak.

Ontario Hockey League

Peterborough Petes 1 @ Barrie Colts 4

D Jake Dotchin, BAR: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 47 GP, 4-12-16, -3, 51 PIM
With Barrie: 9 GP, 2-0-2, -4, 12 PIM
With Owen Sound: 38 GP, 2-12-14, +1, 39 PIM

Barrie had 53 shots on goal in their 4-1 win over visiting Peterborough.

Guelph Storm 5 @ Owen Sound Attack 0

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 0-3-3, +1, 0 PIM
Season totals: 36 GP, 6-44-50, +18, 80 PIM

Guelph completed a two-game, home-and-home sweep over their division rivals with a big 5-0 win on Saturday. Tanner Richard assisted on three of the five Storm goals. He hit 50 points for the year, which is a new career high. He had 48 last year in 43 games. Guelph is now within three points of second-place Owen Sound, and one point behind third place Kitchener, who they face on Sunday.

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Chicoutimi Sagueneens 4 @ Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 2

W Nikita Kucherov, R-N: 1-1-2, -1, 0 PIM, 1 SOG, 0 Hits
Season totals: 15 GP, 11-15-26, +4, 2 PIM
With R-N: 9 GP, 8-8-16, +5, 0 PIM
With Quebec: 6 GP, 3-7-10, -1, 2 PIM

Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist for the second straight game since returning from an upper body injury. His Huskies outshot the Sags, 27-19, but fell at home, 4-2. The Huskies have lost four in a row and seven of their past 10.

Ontario Hockey League

Owen Sound Attack 1 @ Guelph Storm 2

C/W Tanner Richard, GUE: 0-0-0, E, 0 PIM
Season totals: 35 GP, 6-41-47, +17, 80 PIM

Guelph scored a big home win over division-rival Owen Sound, 2-1. Tanner Richard was scoreless for the victors. Blues goalie prospect Jordan Binnington has been near unbeatable lately, but Guelph was able to sneak two by him for their sixth straight win.

Windsor Spitfires 3 @ Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 2 (SO)

D Slater Koekkoek, WIN: Did not play
Season totals: 40 GP, 6-23-29, -24, 28 PIM
With Windsor: 2 GP, 0-1-1, +2, 0 PIM
With Peterborough: 38 GP, 6-22-28, -26, 28 PIM

Slater Koekkoek (pictured, Windsor Star photo) is out for the season with an injured shoulder. He had the shoulder examined by Lightning doctors who recommended he have surgery on it for the second year in a row. He should be ready for Lightning camp next fall, though barring unforeseen circumstances, he will ultimately return to the OHL next season.