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 |  The Detroit News

U.S. sweeps doubleheader against Canada

The U.S. collegiate women’s team and the U.S. U18 women’s team both defeated Canada on Thursday in game two of their respective series against Canada at the Lake Placid Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Franklin’s Elyssa Biederman scored the game-winning goal in the 14th round of the shootout for the U.S. collegiate team and Detroit’s Annalies Bergmann made 24 saves in a 4-3 victory.

Biederman, a 21-year-forward who played five years in the Little Caesars hockey program, has 53 goals and 139 points in three years with Colgate University.

The U18 team edged Canada, 3-2. The final game of both series is Saturday.

Holland’s Hutson compared to Lafleur

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (Holland, Michigan) received some high praise from Hall of Fame defenseman Serge Savard and Larry Robinson of the Canadiens.

The 5-foot-9, 162-pound Hutson led all NHL rookies in points (66) and assists (60) last season, winning the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year.

“Time will tell, but he’s probably the most talented player the Canadiens have had since Guy Lafleur,” Savard said at his annual golf tournament held at Le Mirage Golf Club in Terrebonne, Quebec.

“Ever since I saw him, from the very beginning, I said he was the Canadiens’ best player. I was convinced early on that he would be a big star in the National Hockey League.”

Hutson was tied with former Wolverine Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks for second in the League at his position in assists, two behind Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.

“The first thing everyone said about Hutson was that he was so small he was going to get killed,” Robinson said. “It reminds me a lot of what people used to say in Wayne Gretzky’s day. They said he wasn’t big enough and that he was going to get hurt. Look at what he’s done, it’s not so bad!

“It’s exciting for the city of Montreal to have a player like Hutson.”

Mammoth prospect Desnoyers undergoes wrist surgery

Utah Mammoth prospect Caleb Desnoyers underwent wrist surgery and is expected to be out 12 weeks, the team announced on Thursday.

Desnoyers, 18, was selected fourth overall by the Mammoth in June’s draft.

The 6-foot-2 centre played last season with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats, finishing tied for fifth in league scoring with 35 goals and 84 points in 56 games.

He helped lead the Wildcats to the league’s best record of 53-9-2 and went on to lead Moncton to a Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champion and represented the QMJHL at the Memorial Cup.

Desnoyers finished second in playoff scoring with nine goals and 30 points in 19 games and won the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the QMJHL playoff MVP.

Oilers goaltender Rodrigue heading overseas

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Oliver Rodrigue is heading overseas to continue his career.

Rodrigue signed with HC Barys in the KHL on Thursday, six weeks after going unqualified by the Oilers as a restricted free agent. 

The 25-year-old netminder appeared in two games with the Oilers last season, going 0-1-0 with a .862 save percentage and a 3.10 goals-against average in 77 total minutes of playing time. He had a 18-16-7 record with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, posting a .897 save percentage and a 3.12 GAA. 

The Chicoutimi, Que. native was selected by the Oilers in the second round of the 2018 draft. 

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