DESPITE no longer being connected with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves, former bench boss Pete Belliveau is still drawing from the local talent pool as he has recruited a player from the city.
Currently head coach of the men’s hockey program at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S., Belliveau has added to his roster local product Zach Harden who will debut with the Tigers at the start of the second semester.
The 21-year old Harnden had started out the season with the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League where he had a goal in six games.
The forward is also a five-year veteran of the Ontario Hockey League having played over 300 games with both Peterborough and Kingston amassing 76 goals along with 90 assists.
Harnden will suit up for a Dalhousie squad that is currently tied for fifth, but only six points out of top spot, in the ever-competitive eight-team Atlantic University Sport men’s hockey standings.
He is expected to be in the line-up when the Tigers begin their second half Jan. 7 against the UNB Varsity Reds, the host school for the 2011 Cavendish Cup CIS national championship.
SUPER SAVER: It was a hat-trick of sorts last week for Ryan Faragher as the Fort Frances native was named North American Hockey League goaltender of the week for the third time already this season.
Standing tall between the pipes for the defending NAHL champion Bismarck Bobcats Faragher turned aside every shot he faced, but one, helping his side to a two-game sweep over the Austin Bruins.
He began with award-winning week with a 23-save shutout in a 5-0 victory on Dec. 10 and followed that up the next night stopping 21 of 22 shots in a 3-1 triumph.
The former Superior International Junior Hockey League top netminder award recipient and Dartmouth College recruit made another strong case to capture NAHL weekly accolades once again as he won both his starts over the weekend.
Faragher leads all NAHL netminders in wins with 18 and sits tied for second in both goals-against average and save percentage at 2.02 and .925 respectively.
FIRST GOAL: A recall over the weekend resulted in Thunder Bay’s Jared Staal scoring his first AHL goal.
Brought back up by the Carolina Hurricanes top affiliate club on Friday the 20-year old forward tallied for the Charlotte Checkers Saturday helping his side to a 4-2 win over Binghamton.
The marker was his first point in 11 overall AHL contests this season.
Staal had three tallies and as many assists in 13 ECHL games with the Florida Everblades during his stint there before being brought back up.
NICE MONTH: The Northern Lakes Hockey League recognized Thunder Bay major midget Kings blueliner Mason Prout with their defenceman of the month award for November.
The 2010 Guelph Storm OHL draft choice had nine points in 10 games helping his side going 8-1-1 and move into top spot in the six-team loop.