Week of Feb. 9, 2024
Games of Feb. 1-7, 2024
Forward: Bogdan Guntypov, Islanders Hockey Club
Guntypov (‘06/Astana, Kazakhstan) had a strong performance over three games, which included two wins against the Connecticut Jr. Rangers last week. He scored two goals and added four assists for six points. That helped him pass the 50-point mark with 51 through 36 games this season.
Defense: Justin Pniewski, Islanders Hockey Club
Pniewski (‘04/North Haven, Conn.) is in his second season with IHC and continues to be one of the foundations of any success the Islanders enjoy. He put up two goals and two assists for four points during the three-game weekend that including the wins against Connecticut and a close loss to the Junior Bruins. He currently has 49 points in 76 career games.
Goaltender: Shane McKone, Springfield Pics
The Pics swept a series against the Elmira Impact last weekend, and McKone was key to their 1-0 victory on Feb. 4. He stopped all 30 shots he faced for his second shutout of the season. The shutout was his seventh win and he was 7-7-1-1 after that victory. He currently holds a .938 save percentage.
Atlantic Division
Forward: John Crowdell, Rockets Hockey Club
A single-game offensive explosion of four goals and four assists (in a 9-6 win over the Jersey Hitmen on Feb. 4) put Crowdell one point back of the league career scoring record, which he would go on to break on Feb. 9. The eight-point game put him at 175 points and also gave him 49 goals and 43 assists for 92 points right then.
Defense: Sulajman Taipovic, Rockets Hockey Club
An ‘04 from Staten Island, N.Y. (also Crowdell’s home borough), Taipovic in his fourth season with the Rockets organization. He has moved up from the 16U level to the Elite over the years and now has seven points in 32 games after a 1-2-3 line against the Jersey Hitmen. Taipovic originally started with the Elite last year, playing 11 games while also playing in the Rockets’ 18U program. He has become a firm full-timer for Coach Todd Wagenbach this year.
Goaltender: Erik Werkhoven, Elmira Impact
Werkhoven (‘05/Santa Fe, N.M.) played lights out and came away with an amazing 53 saves, really did everything he could to help his team, but they just got edged out in a 3-2 shootout against the Springfield Pics on Feb. 3. Werkhoven had an impressive .924 save percentage over three starts between Jan. 14 and Feb. 3.
