Canucks prospects of week 11: Costmar, Rafferty and Madden

Each week, I will be featuring the Vancouver Canucks top three prospects. Here’s a look at who stood out in week 11.

Many of the Vancouver Canucks prospects continue to shine, both in North America and in Europe. Each with a unique skillset capable of impacting the outcome of games in various ways. Here is a look at what some of them were able to accomplish this past week.

1. Arvid Costmar

Swedish centerman Arvid Costmar was prominent in each of the three games that his Linkopings U20 team played this past week. In last Sunday’s game, with his club trailing 4-3, Costmar would score the equalizer while on the power play, with just over five minutes remaining in the third period. He would follow with an assist on the game-winning goal in the final minute, as Linkopings would down division rival HV71 5-4.

In his next outing, Costmar would add a pair of assists. The first coming on the power play to open the scoring, and the latter coming into the empty net, as Linkopings were 4-1 winners versus Malmo.

In the return match the following day, Linkopings would find themselves trailing Malmo 2-1 after 40 minutes. However, Costmar would provide two third-period primary assists, and his team would prevail with a 3-2 victory.

More from The Canuck Way

• Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
• What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
• Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
• Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
• 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg

Despite missing ten games earlier in the season, Costmar sits 16th in J20 SuperElit Sodra scoring with 22 points in 15 games. His 1.47 points-per-game rank third and his faceoff prowess has him ranked first among players with at least 20 faceoffs taken at 65.07 percent.

2. Brogan Rafferty

The injury to Olli Juolevi presented Brogan Rafferty the opportunity to run the first power play unit, and he has made the most of it. His quick decision-making and pin-point passing have been very beneficial to the Utica Comets, both with the man-advantage and at even strength.

Those two attributes were evident on what proved to be the game-winning power play goal Wednesday versus the Syracuse Crunch, in a 4-1 victory.

Rafferty would once again be instrumental on Saturday in a 4-3 decision over the Toronto Marlies. While on the power play, he would keep the puck in at the point and walk the line before sliding it over to Sven Baertschi, who would find Justin Bailey down low to tie the game 2-2.

Rafferty would also provide the secondary assist on the game-winning goal. However, this time, it was at even strength. The Comets currently rank fifth in power play efficiency in the American Hockey Leauge at 22.5%, and Rafferty has played a large part.

3. Tyler Madden

Tyler Madden has become a fixture in the Canucks prospects of the week. His prominence in all aspects of the game is repeatedly evident. Not only is the Northeastern University sophomore tied for the NCAA lead in goals, but his overall keen hockey sense is advantageous in all situations.

This past weekend, Northeastern played in the Friendship Four tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where they came away as champions. Madden would provide a pair of assists on Friday in a 4-0 win versus the University of New Hampshire Wildcats to advance to the final.

In the tournament final, Madden would score his 12th goal of the season on the power play, and the Huskies would go on to edge Colgate 4-3 to win the tournament.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1200858615495544833

Honourable mentions

A pair of Comets that deserve mentioning for their roles in the Comets victories this past week are Kole Lind and Michael DiPietro. Lind added a goal and an assist in the 4-3 victory over the Marlies, while DiPietro backstopped both wins, stopping a combined 45 of 49 shots he faced in the two wins.

Nils Hoglander had a point in both games that Rogle played this past week, and Carson Focht scored a goal in both WHL games he played for the Calgary Hitmen.

Make sure to come back next week to see which feature players make it as the Canucks prospects of the week.