Blackhawks Prospects
Blackhawks Prospects: Oliver Moore’s Three-Point Game, Marek Vanacker’s Hat Trick
The Chicago Blackhawks had the day off on Sunday following their home-opening 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. But their AHL-affiliate Rockford IceHogs were in action for the second consecutive day, looking to build off a 3-2 overtime victory in their season opener against the Milwaukee Admirals on Saturday night.
After failing to record a point on opening night, 2023 first-round pick (No. 19 overall) Oliver Moore came back with a vengeance against the Iowa Wild on Sunday. The 20-year-old forward performed well in his first training camp and preseason as a professional, but with the Blackhawks’ preaching patience with their prospects, the organization elected to have him start the season in the minors.
The Blackhawks want to see their top prospects dominate in the AHL before getting called up to the big leagues, which is what happened with Frank Nazar in the 2024-25 campaign. Well, Moore sure looked dominant in the IceHogs’ 6-2 win over Iowa.
The former Minnesota Golden Gophers standout tallied his first two professional goals on Sunday and added a secondary assist while skating on the team’s second line with captain Brett Seney and Nick Lardis. Moore showed off his incredible skating ability and the sneaky-strong shot he possesses in both of his goals on the night.
With the IceHogs leading 5-2 late in the game, Moore made a nifty cross-ice feed over to Lardis, who then set up Dominic Toninato in front for a power-play goal for some more insurance. Congrats to Lardis for earning his first professional point with the primary assist!
Moore’s three-point game helped guide the IceHogs to their first 2-0 start in eight years. If the smooth-skating forward can continue to lead the charge like he did on Sunday, he’ll get promoted to the NHL in the not-so-distant future.
VANACKER’S BIG NIGHT
Blackhawks 2024 first-round pick (No. 27 overall) Marek Vanacker is expected to be one of the top players in the Ontario Hockey League this season. Vanacker joined Seattle Kraken 2025 first-round selection Jake O’Brien in returning to the Brantford Bulldogs, and the dynamic duo has been lethal to begin the new year.
Brantford faced off with the Ottawa 67’s on Sunday, and Vanacker was at the forefront of the team’s 8-5 win. The 19-year-old forward recorded a hat trick, added an assist, and finished with a plus-four rating on the night.
Vanacker was set up by his good buddy O’Brien on each of his first two goals, and he went on to add an empty-netter for his third and final tally.
Funny enough, O’Brien also recorded a hat trick on Sunday, with him and Vanacker combining for six of Brantford’s eight goals.
Vanacker is now tied for the OHL lead in goals with eight, while also being 10th in points (11), despite having played in only six games. It’s been a red-hot start to the season for Vanacker, and it will be fascinating to see how many goals and points he racks up in his final year of junior hockey.
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