Firstov, Blumel Ranked by NHLCS
Published on January 21, 2019 under United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release
Waterloo, Iowa - Waterloo Black Hawks forwards Vladislav Firstov and Matej Blumel have each come from thousands of miles away to play hockey in Waterloo; National Hockey League scouts have taken notice of the Hawks' two highest-scoring forwards, positioning both among the leading draft-eligible prospects skating in North America this winter.
Monday, NHL Central Scouting ranked Firstov 21st and Blumel 107th in its annual January midterm rankings. At the conclusion of most junior hockey league regular seasons in April, Central Scouting will provide a final evaluation of the players it is tracking. The 2019 NHL Draft will be conducted in Vancouver during late June, consisting of seven rounds and 217 selections.
Blumel is in his second season of draft eligibility and his second year with the Black Hawks. Throughout 2018/19, he has been Waterloo's leading scorer and has also positioned himself among the league leaders. Through 32 appearances, the native of Czech Republic has 23 goals and 22 assists. Blumel has already more than doubled the scoring marks from his rookie season (eight goals, 10 assists in 50 games).
The timing of Blumel's offensive contributions has also been notable. His three shorthanded goals rank third in the league, and his 17 power play points stand fourth. Blumel has put more shots on net than any other player this season (129) and leads the USHL with seven game-winning goals. Those figures have been compiled despite Blumel missing four games in December while representing Czech Republic during the 2018 World Junior A Challenge in Alberta.
Firstov is more than a year younger than Blumel, yet has still averaged more than a point per game, with 18 goals and 20 assists in 36 appearances. His point production leads all USHL rookies. Firstov also has a team-high 18 power play points, a total which stands third in the USHL.
So far this winter, the 17-year-old from Yaroslavl, Russia, has five multigoal games. He trails only Blumel on the Waterloo roster with four game-winning goals. Both Firstov and Blumel are committed to the University of Connecticut.
The two international imports have helped Waterloo to a second place tie in the United States Hockey League Western Conference. The Hawks attempt to improve their position farther on Thursday at home against the Omaha Lancers. Fans in attendance for the game can enjoy a Black Hawks' Family 4 Pack, including four tickets, four concession vouchers, and four chuck-a-pucks for $48. To order, call the Domino's Black Hawks Box Office at (319) 291-7680.
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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