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Stanislav Lascek wasn't happy with not registering a point in Chicoutimi's last game - a 2-1 loss in Lewiston.

Scouts can tell a lot from a prospect by how they respond to “adversity.” Lascek responded to the tune of five points.

Tuesday night, Chicoutimi faced off against Rimouski for the third time since November 29 and the result was no different - the Sagueneens beat L'Oceanic, this time 7-3. Chicoutimi also won 4-2 on December 9 and 7-5 on November 29. Lascek and Rimouski's Mark Tobin both hit the scoresheet and all three games.

This time, however, Lascek almost single-handedly beat Rimouski.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will boast at least five prospects at this year's U-20 World Junior Championships as Slovakia has announced the inclusion of three Lightning prospects on their tournament roster: Stanislav Lascek, Marek Bartanus and Vladamir Mihalik.

Lascek is a returning member of the Slovakian U-20 team after posting 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points and a +1 rating for Slovakia in last year's tournament. A member of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens of the QMJHL, Lascek currently leads that league in scoring with 22 goals and 73 points in 34 games this season. The left winger barely makes the age cut off for the tournament as he will turn 20 early next month.

Making his first appearance at the U-20 tournament will be right wing Marek Bartanus. The 2005 4th round pick has struggled offensively this season with the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL posting a meager 1 goal and 4 points in 28 games with an attrotious -16 rating for the season. Last year with Slovakia's U-18 team Bartanus had 1 goal, 2 points and a -2 rating in 6 games.

Also making his first U-20 appearance is mammoth defenseman Vladamir Mihalik. A member of the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, Mihalik has 2 goals and 8 points with a -9 rating in 32 games this season. Last year for Slovakia at the U-18 tournament, the 2005 1st round pick was scoreless with a +2 rating in 6 games.

Slovakia's first game is scheduled for December 27th against Latvia in Kelowna.

It's anticlimactic perhaps, but it is now official that left wing Radek Smolenak has made the Czech Republic's team for the U-20 World Junior Championships to be held in Western Canada after Christmas. Smolenak, who plays for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, is currently tied for 19th in that league in scoring with 19 goals and 43 points in 30 games this season. Smolenak played for the Czech Republic in last year's U-18 tournament posting 1 assist in 5 games and a +2 rating. This will be Smolenak's first U-20 tournament.

The Czech Republic will open their tournament on December 26th against Latvia in Kamloops.

The following are the official statistics for Lightning prospects playing within the Canadian Hockey League as of December 12, 2005. Leading the way are Stan Lascek, who’s first in the QMJHL in scoring, Radek Smolenak, who's in the OHL's top-20, and Justin Keller and Blair Jones, both of whom are among WHL scoring leaders.

Stanislav Lascek, RW, Chicoutimi (QMJHL): 34GP, 22-51-73, 54PIM (+24)
Radek Smolenak, LW, Kingston (OHL): 30GP, 19-24-43, 52PIM (Even)
Justin Keller, RW, Kelowna (WHL): 30GP, 21-17-38, 24PIM (+7)
Blair Jones, C, Moose Jaw (WHL): 33GP, 16-19-27, 35PIM (Even)
Mark Tobin, LW, Rimouski (QMJHL): 32GP, 12-11-23, 55PIM (-33)

Someone needs to throw Brian Eklund a lifeline.

SPR-2
PRO-6

Brian Eklund continues to struggle allowing 5 goals on 32 shots faced. The Falcons launched a futile comeback bid with Darren Reid and Norm Milley getting shorthanded talley's in the third period, the latter's coming on a penalty shot.

Post mortem from TheAHL.com.