Red Wings Prospect Report: Guimond Wins QMJHL Debut

Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect Rudy Guimond was among the first players taking advantage of the changing hockey landscape that now is allowing players heading for NCAA hockey to be playing in the CHL.

Guimond (169th overall, 2023 NHL entry draft) was making the decision to leave the USHL Cedar Rapids Roughriders to join the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. The 19-year-old netminder who is heading for Yale next season got his first QMJHL start on Sunday. Turning aside 37 shots, he got the win as Moncton was edging the Saint John Sea Dogs 3-2.

Moncton is a top contender for the 2024-25 Memorial Cup. The Wildcats are currently ranked No. 2 in the QMJHL and fourth overall in the CHL.

Red Wings Pick Top Rookie

Max Plante is certainly making memories during his first couple of weeks in the lineup of the NCAA Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

Putting together a two-goal, three-point weekend against then No. 19 Arizona State, Plante (47th, 2024) was earning recognition as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Rookie of the Week.

Max Plante, forward from @UMDMensHockey, has been added to the preliminary roster of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team.

Full #WorldJuniors preliminary roster: https://t.co/L9mgdFZhi0 pic.twitter.com/G7wObWQ6CD

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 10, 2024

The freshman out of Hermantown, Minn. figured in half of the University of Minnesota Duluth’s goals on the weekend (five). He scored the first collegiate goal of his career, as well as adding an assist Friday against the Sun Devils. Plante then added another goal Saturday.

In all, Plante had 10 shots on goal on the weekend and was +1. He now has two multiple-point games and has six points (2-4-6) in his first five collegiate games this season.

Tuesday, USA Hockey was announcing that the son of former NHL forward Derek Plante was being added to the country’s preliminary roster for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship.

Playing It Safe With ASP

There was immediate concern within the communities tracking Swedish hockey and the future of the Red Wings when defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka was removed from the Skelleftea lineup in the second period of their weekend SHL game. However, it turned out that there was nothing to be worried about.

The decision to sit Sandin Pellikka (17th, 2023) for the remainder of Skelleftea’s 6-3 victory over Farjestad was simply precautionary.

“There is no danger with him,” reported Kasja Kalmeus of Sweden’s TV4. “It is a pure safety measure and he was careful that he was absolutely not benched.”

Only one player has won top defenseman at the #WorldJuniors twice – Vyacheslav Fetisov in 1977 and 1978.#LGRW prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka has a realistic opportunity to become the second. pic.twitter.com/ctd0sFDPAu

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) December 6, 2024

They didn’t want to risk anything happening to Sweden’s defensive dynamo in the last game prior to the SHL break. He’ll be now joining the Swedes for the World Juniors. The top defender at last year’s tourney, were Sandin Pellikka to again earn that honor, he’d be only the second to so. The other? Former Red Wings defenseman Viacheslav Fetisov (1977, 1978).

Sandin Pellikka did pick up an assist in the win. The SHL scoring leader among rearguards is now showing 8-14-22 totals from 25 games. His stats sheet is displaying eight points in his last eight games.

Among Skelleftea’s scorers in the win over Farjestad was former Red Wings defenseman Luke Witkowski. It was his first goal in two years.

Two Points For Baker

The USA was opening the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta with a resounding 8-0 win over Canada East.

Helping to lead the way was Red Wings draftee Austin Baker (203rd, 2024). The left-winger who’s destined for Michigan State was dishing out a pair of assists in the win.