With playoff hockey quickly approaching across all leagues, Week 20 of the Prospect Tracker featured plenty of highlights. Vojtech Cihar was named WHL Player of the Week, Jan Chovan scored an overtime power-play winner, and Hampton Slukynsky delivered a shutout to cap off a dominant regular season. Meanwhile, Carter George continues to be the OHL’s best goalie since the trade deadline.
The following reports cover games played through the end of day Tuesday, February 24th.
Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Henry Brzustewicz, London Knights, RH Defenseman (31st overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 16 goals, 27 assists, minus-19, 49 PIM in 48 games played
Brzustewicz tallied two assists over London’s two games this week, recording a helper in Friday’s 5-1 loss to Barrie before adding another in Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Jan Chovan and the Sudbury Wolves. The first-round pick fired six shots on goal over the two contests and now ranks ninth in points among OHL defensemen and fourth in goals. After his explosive 11-game point streak earlier this month, Brzustewicz continues to produce at a high level and remains one of the league’s most dangerous offensive blueliners.
Jan Chovan, Sudbury Wolves, Center/Right Wing (184th overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 21 goals, 22 assists, minus-26, 8 PIM in 50 games played
Just a week after his first OHL hat trick, Chovan delivered an overtime power-play winner against Flint. The newly appointed first-line center added an assist in the 5-4 upset over the OHL’s fourth-best team — continuing Sudbury’s trend of rising to the occasion against elite opponents. Now with 13 of his 21 goals on the power play, the sixth-round pick remains Sudbury’s most dangerous weapon with the man advantage. He won just 38% of his faceoffs this week, but the Slovakian center is clearly thriving in his new role — and the scoring proves it.
Carter George, Soo Greyhounds, Goalie (57th overall in 2024)
2025-26 Stats: 2.68 GAA, .910 SV%, 4 SO, 1 goal, 2 assists, 18 wins in 35 games played
George delivered a strong two-game week for the Soo, posting a .935 save percentage and 2.00 goals-against average. The second-round pick made 27 saves in Friday’s 6-3 victory over Sarnia, before playing in his 150th regular-season game on Saturday and turning in a 31-save performance in a 1-0 loss to Guelph. George currently ranks 10th and 11th in the OHL in save percentage and goals-against average, respectively, but if you only count his time with the Soo, he ranks second and first. George has been elite since the trade from Owen Sound, and the stellar play has transformed both his season and the Soo’s playoff chances.
Jimmy Lombardi, Flint Firebirds, Center (125th overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 31 goals, 32 assists, plus-31, 61 PIM in 56 games played
Lombardi scored in both of Flint’s games this weekend, tallying a goal in Saturday’s 6-5 overtime loss to Sudbury before netting a short-handed game-winner in Sunday’s 2-1 bounce-back victory over Windsor. That game-winning goal was Lombardi’s eighth of the season — second in the OHL and the most in a single season in Firebirds history. The first-line center also won 55% of his faceoffs over the weekend and maintained his spot as the OHL’s 10th-leading goal scorer. Now with 63 points in 56 games, the fourth-round pick continues to produce at a point-per-game pace, as the Firebirds gear up for the playoffs. Lombardi has been everything Flint could have hoped for and more in his breakout season.
Jared Woolley, Kitchener Rangers, LH Defenseman (164th overall in 2024)
2025-26 Stats: 11 goals, 20 assists, plus-25, 60 PIM in 56 games played
Woolley snapped a five-game pointless drought with an assist in Friday’s 3-0 shutout of Windsor. The sixth-round pick restarted a breakout after the puck left the offensive zone, before delivering a fantastic cross-crease pass that set up a wide-open goal. Kitchener followed up the next day with a 3-1 victory over Erie on Saturday, continuing their surge up the standings. The Rangers have skyrocketed to third place in the OHL since adding Woolley, posting an 8-1-0-1 record in their last 10 games while overtaking Flint, Ottawa, and Windsor in the process. His two-way play and ability to eat tough minutes has turned Kitchener into a serious contender capable of making a deep playoff run.
Western Hockey League (WHL)
Vojtech Cihar, Kelowna Rockets, Forward (59th overall in 2025)
2025-26 WHL Stats: 6 goals, 12 assists, plus-6, 10 PIM in 20 games played
Cihar tallied three goals and two assists over his last three games, a strong enough showing to earn him the WHL’s Player of the Week honor. The World Junior Championship MVP now has 18 points in his first 20 games in the WHL and if you count the WJC stats, he has 29 points in 25 games. The second-round pick delivered a beautiful backhand assist this week, picking up his own rebound on the doorstep and backhanding it to his teammate across the crease. Safe to say the Kings found a gem in the second round, and Cihar should be getting more buzz as we approach Kelowna hosting the Memorial Cup.
Will Sharpe, Vancouver Giants, LH Defenseman (216th overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 4 goals, 23 assists, minus-12, 28 PIM in 48 games played
Sharpe broke a five-game pointless streak with an assist this week, helping facilitate a breakout rush after a board battle below Vancouver’s goal line. The seventh-round pick has been moved back to the second pairing, returning to his natural left side after spending time playing first-pairing minutes on his off side. Playing at just shy of a half-point-per-game pace, the 2025 seventh-rounder has been impressive this year, though the transition to Vancouver has been challenging. Since joining the Giants, Sharpe is minus-13 through 17 games compared to plus-1 in 31 games with Kelowna. With Vancouver sitting in last place in the Western Conference, the left-shot blueliner will need to show resilience, as he continues adjusting to his new team.
COLLEGE HOCKEY (NCAA)
Ryan Conmy, Boston College, Right Wing (182nd overall in 2023)
2025-26 Stats: 8 goals, 15 assists, even plus-minus, 8 PIM in 29 games played
Conmy kept the good times rolling with three assists, as Boston College swept a back-to-back series against Connecticut. The sixth-round pick was at his playmaking best in the series opener, threading a cross-slot pass through the defense before adding another helper on an empty-netter. He tacked on one more assist in the second game, and now sits third on the team in scoring with 23 points in 29 games. After his four-assist heroics in the Beanpot Championship two weeks ago, Conmy has clearly found his groove with eight assists in his past five games. BC has found its rhythm too, climbing to 10th in the national rankings.
Kristian Epperson, Univ. of Denver, Left Wing (88th overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 9 goals, 7 assists, plus-4, 14 PIM in 33 games played
Denver had their bye week, giving Epperson time to rest before the Pioneers play their final two regular-season games this weekend against Arizona State. The third-round pick has done well in his freshman season, playing at just shy of a half-point-per-game pace with 16 points in 33 games while averaging 14 minutes of ice time.
Caeden Herrington, Univ. of Vermont, RH Defenseman (120th overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 1 goal, 7 assists, minus-14, 14 PIM in 30 games played
Herrington went pointless in Vermont’s final two regular-season games, both losses to Providence, closing out his freshman campaign with eight points in 30 games while averaging 18 minutes of ice time. The Vermont native showed flashes of his offensive ability throughout the year and earned consistent trust from the coaching staff with his deployment, but there’s room to grow. Still, the fourth-round pick built a solid foundation in his first college season, logging heavy minutes and gaining valuable experience. Vermont will enter the Hockey East playoffs as the 11th seed, and Herrington will look to make an impact in the opening round, as he continues his development.
Brendan McMorrow, Univ. of Denver, Left Wing (196th overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 2 goals, 5 assists, plus-6, 4 PIM in 17 games played
It’s been nine weeks since McMorrow went down with a finger injury at the World Junior Championship, and we’re still waiting for good news on his return. The Pioneers could certainly use his energy and physicality back in the lineup, as they gear up for the NCHC playoffs starting the first week of March. Hopefully he is healthy by then.
James Reeder, Univ. of Denver, Right Wing (198th overall in 2024)
2025-26 Stats: 8 goals, 16 assists, plus-10, 4 PIM in 33 games played
Reeder didn’t see game action this week as Denver enjoyed their bye week, but the 2024 seventh-round pick is heading into the postseason on a hot streak. With five points in his last four games and averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time, Reeder holds the second-highest shooting percentage on the team among qualified players. DU has clinched home ice for the NCHC Quarterfinals starting March 6, and the Pioneers will look to carry their momentum into the playoffs after going on a seven-game unbeaten streak.
Hampton Slukynsky, Western Michigan Univ., Goalie (118th overall in 2023)
2025-26 Stats: 2.25 GAA, .916 SV%, 4 SO, 2 assists, 23 wins in 32 games played
Slukynsky closed out the regular season with an outstanding weekend against Colorado College, allowing just one goal and posting a shutout in the back-to-back series. LA’s top goalie prospect stopped 28 shots in each contest, posting a .966 save percentage in Friday’s 1-1 tie before delivering a perfect 28-save shutout in Saturday’s 2-0 victory. The dominant performance helped Western Michigan retain their spot at fourth in the national rankings as they head into the postseason. The Hobey Baker nominee leads the nation with 23 wins and has been the backbone of the defending national champions all year, giving them a chance every single night, as Western Michigan pushes for back-to-back National Championships.
Jack Sparkes, Clarkson Univ., RH Defenseman (180th overall in 2022)
2025-26 Stats: 0 goals, 2 assists, minus-1, 26 PIM in 29 games played
Clarkson pulled off two big wins this week, beating Yale 4-1 and Brown 4-3. Sparkes didn’t record any points over the weekend but did receive a game misconduct with 14 seconds remaining in the Yale game as things got out of hand. With only two games remaining in the regular season, the Golden Knights are fighting to maintain eighth place and secure home-ice advantage in the ECAC quarterfinals, where teams seeded fifth through eighth host teams ninth through twelfth. The 6-foot-8 defenseman will look to help Clarkson finish strong and lock down that crucial home ice.
EUROPEAN LEAGUES
Petteri Rimpinen, Liiga-Kiekko-Espoo, Goalie (152nd overall in 2025)
2025-26 Stats: 2.54 GAA, .902 SV%, 3 SO, 11 wins in 31 games played
Rimpinen started all three of Kiekko-Espoo’s games this week, posting a .928 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average. The fifth-round pick made 31 saves in a hard-fought 3-2 overtime loss before bouncing back with a 26-save shutout in a 4-0 victory. Tuesday he once again led his team in a closely-contested 2-2 game, but was unable to come away with the win in overtime. The strong performances in regulation helped lift Kiekko-Espoo into ninth place with seven games remaining in the regular season. Rimpinen’s play will be crucial down the stretch, as the team fights to maintain a playoff spot and make a postseason push.
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Lead photo of Cihar by Kelowna Rockets
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