The Province from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • A46

HOCKEY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 4B I SPORTS I THEPROVINCE.COM Jonah finally has whale of a game Canucks prospect trying to become an AHL mainstay in Utica's lineup down the stretch MIKE RAPTIS It's the latest edition of the weekly tracker, where we tally up the efforts of the Vancouver Canucks' highest-profile prospects: JONAH GADJOVICH They called him the "Man Child" during his days in junior hockey. Now in his rookie season in the AHL, Jonah Gadjovich finds himself playing in a grown man's game and is finally seeing growth in his own game at the pro level. Last week, the big winger showed the Utica Comets coaching staff that he's turning the corner. Gadjovich was named the second star in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Laval Rocket, tipping in a goal to open the scoring and closing the game with a spirited fight that sparked joy in the Utica crowd. Gadjovich's goal was a classic case of getting to the net and putting your stick on the ice.

It's also the kind of goal that will help cement his place in a lineup that he's often been missing from. Gadjovich also dropped the gloves with about a minute left in the game, feeding his Rocket adversary with fists of fury while Sweet Caroline bellowed out of the loudspeakers. Gadjovich nearly scored again in the third period and finished the night a plus-2 with two shots on net. After the game his most effective of the season Gadjovich told the Utica Observer-Dispatch that he's finally feeling good about his level of play: "This is my game. I feel like I'm just kind of coming into my own, trying to build my game here at the pro level." Gadjovich has also been getting some power-play time as the net-front presence while another big Utica winger, Zack MacEwen, plays for the Canucks in a call-up situation.

Comets coach Trent Cull was quick to point out the progress Gadjovich has made. "I think Jonah is doing whatever he can to stay in the Canucks power forward prospect Jonah Gadjovich, seen here during a pre-season game in September, nearly completed a Gordie Howe hat trick Wednesday in the Utica Comets' 4-1 AHL win over the Laval Rocket, scoring once and engaging in a spirited scrap, the Canadian press files Hughes, whose Wolverines lost their only game last week, a 5-2 defeat at 16th-ranked Notre Dame, has already matched his output of 29 points from last season. He didn't factor in the scoring in Tuesday's loss, but had five shots on net and finished the game a plus-1. He also had a moment of frustration late in the game after taking a series of whacks by former teammate Graham Slaggert. Hughes went coast to coast on the play and tried to dish the puck to the front of the net as Slaggert gave him the business with his stick.

Hughes had enough, turning to Slaggert and cross-checking the Fighting Irish player, breaking his stick over him in the QUINN HUGHES Start counting down the days. With only four games left in Michigan's NCAA season and an outside chance at a deep playoff run, Quinn Hughes will most likely be playing for the Canucks before the end of March. And the next great hope on the Vancouver blue-line can't wait to hook up with his future Canucks teammates, he told Sports Illustrated last week. "I'll just do what I'm good at and hopefully that helps all of them out. I'm sure they'll make me a better player, too, because I know how skilled and smart they are," he said.

"Hopefully we can just complement each other." lineup and send a message to me or the team," Cull said post-game. "I love his play. I think he's doing a really good job. He's working on the details of his game and it's great when a player goes in there and defends his teammates. I was super impressed with Jonah tonight.

Just a great job." Gadjovich's knuckles were notably banged up after the game. He didn't produce a point in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and didn't dress for Sunday's 5-4 comeback win against the Cleveland Monsters, but expect bigger things from the Canucks' 2017 second-rounder as the Comets' season enters the stretch drive. Michigan's Quinn Hughes could soon be a member of the Canucks as the defensive prospect's NCAA season is close to coming to an end. the associated press files ets are 6-2-1-1 in their last 10 games and are now in third place in the North Division with a 29-19-4-2 record. Gadjovich, 20, has two goals, five assists and a minus-4 rating through 30 games this season.

The Com.