The Saginaw Spirit were in the early stages of their 2009-10 season when a newcomer to the line up would show first hand that he would be force to be reckoned with in the goal scoring department around the OHL. The date was September 18 at the Sleeman Center in Guelph when Spirit forward Josh Shalla would record a first period goal that would pave the path towards history. Move forward a few seasons, specifically to March 14, 2012 in a game played in Sarnia, and the Whitby, Ontario native put his name in the Saginaw Spirit history books, for the second time, as his second period goal, the last of a natural hat trick, would be Shalla's 118th in a Saginaw uniform. The milestone goal now has the Nashville Predators prospect tied for the franchise lead in goals scored in the regular season with former Spirit forward Ryan McDonough, and if you factor in playoff goals, Shalla stands alone in the ten year history of the program.
Shalla, who also holds the team's single season goal record, will get the opportunity to carve his name in the record books as the single most prolific goal scorer for the Spirit, as Saginaw will take the ice Friday night at The Dow Event Center against the Windsor Spitfires.
Shalla set the record tonight with a first period PP goal. It was his 40th of the season and 119th in the past three seasons. If nothing else, Josh Shalla is a finisher!
FWIW, Shalla impressed a scout throughout the game on Wednesday night who kept tweeting out praise regarding his game and said that he didn't see any issues with Shalla's skating which was a knock on him prior to being drafted...
Very nice read. I never even penciled him into my prospect watch. Keep hearing Beck, Watson, Budish but never Shalla. Sounds like someone to keep an eye on.
Shalla set the record tonight with a first period PP goal. It was his 40th of the season and 119th in the past three seasons. If nothing else, Josh Shalla is a finisher!
FWIW, Shalla impressed a scout throughout the game on Wednesday night who kept tweeting out praise regarding his game and said that he didn't see any issues with Shalla's skating which was a knock on him prior to being drafted...
When I saw his numbers when we drafted him I always wondered why he didnt go higher. Awesome to hear is only progressing. Even if he is an overachiever.
How was his camp? IIRC he scored in a rookie game?
Shalla set the record tonight with a first period PP goal. It was his 40th of the season and 119th in the past three seasons. If nothing else, Josh Shalla is a finisher!
FWIW, Shalla impressed a scout throughout the game on Wednesday night who kept tweeting out praise regarding his game and said that he didn't see any issues with Shalla's skating which was a knock on him prior to being drafted...
His skating looks much improved this year. He's clearly worked very hard on it. He's way more involved in play with and without the puck this year. In previous years, he was kind of the garbage man. He has great hands and a great shot, so he'd just go hard to the net looking for opportunities near the crease or in the slot. But this year he's really improved his ability to carry the puck and he's creating chances for himself, more than anything. Becoming a much more well rounded offensive player is never a bad thing!
His skating looks much improved this year. He's clearly worked very hard on it. He's way more involved in play with and without the puck this year. In previous years, he was kind of the garbage man. He has great hands and a great shot, so he'd just go hard to the net looking for opportunities near the crease or in the slot. But this year he's really improved his ability to carry the puck and he's creating chances for himself, more than anything. Becoming a much more well rounded offensive player is never a bad thing!
This is great! Like others have said, I really haven't looked to much into this prospect, but I will take notice now. Thanks for the update!
When I saw his numbers when we drafted him I always wondered why he didnt go higher. Awesome to hear is only progressing. Even if he is an overachiever.
??? You prefer non-tremendously progressing underachievers?
Good to see Watson putting up some strong numbers in the O as well.
Watson played well in Milwaukee in last year's playoffs. I wouldn't mind his showing up here again. If he can use his size, he would be a major asset on offense. The Ads don't have enough big bodies to screen the goalies. Mostly, it is Stortini.
Preds have signed 2010 7th rounder Joonas Rask to an ELC. Another Jani Lajunen, more or less. 4th line defensive specialist. Tuukka's younger brother.
I don't think those two are much similar at all. Rask is much more offensive, and I don't think he'll ever be a "4th line defensive specialist". He's a good skater with a good offensive skill set, but his shot is something he needs to work on. According to rumours, he'll be playing with Jokerit Helsinki next year and then move to North America.
Northeast (Worcester)
No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 4 Air Force
No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth vs. No. 3 Maine West (St. Paul)
No. 1 North Dakota vs. No. 4 Western Michigan (Chase Balisy)
No. 2 Minnesota vs. No. 3 Boston U. (Zach Budish & Garrett Noonan) East (Bridgeport)
No. 1 Union vs. No. 4 Michigan State
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 UMass-Lowell Midwest (Green Bay)
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Cornell
No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 3 Denver
Who is this McClellan guy on the roster? I assume its a guy whose college or junior season is over and we signed him, but are we paying him NHL money? Is he going to burn a year of an ELC by hanging out with the big club?
Who is this McClellan guy on the roster? I assume its a guy whose college or junior season is over and we signed him, but are we paying him NHL money? Is he going to burn a year of an ELC by hanging out with the big club?
yes and yes and no matter what he'd burn his ELC year as a collegiate grad FA.
