Rangers CHL, USHL prospects notebook: Strong starts for Anderson, Farhammar

The third week of play in North America's major junior leagues provided a good look at how the Rangers prospects are settling into their seasons. Some players are finding early momentum, others are adjusting to new leagues and a few are already standing out with strong performances.

This past week had a mix of everything, but here are the two prospects who made the biggest impact in Week 3.

First Star: Darian Anderson — Flint Firebirds (OHL)

Darian Anderson , New York's sixth-round pick (No. 163 overall) put together another strong weekend for Flint and took the lead in scoring among Rangers' junior prospects.

He scored his fourth goal of the season on Saturday, but the Firebirds lost 3-2 to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Anderson opened the scoring at 10:01 of the first period when he slipped a shot through the goalie's five‑hole.

Sunday's game against London was a different story. Anderson earned Second Star honors with a goal and two assists in a 7-2 win against London. His shot from the high slot created a rebound that turned into the Firebirds' first goal. Anderson then scored his fifth of the season during a power-play scramble, giving Flint a 3-0 lead. That turned out to be his second game-winning goal of the season and his second on the power play.

🚨: Darian Anderson 🍏: Jimmy Lombardi 🍏: Martins Klaucans pic.twitter.com/yzKQUDCawD — Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) October 4, 2026

🚨: Darian Anderson 🍏: Jimmy Lombardi 🍏: Martins Klaucans pic.twitter.com/yzKQUDCawD

Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) October 4, 2026

He added another assist in the third period when his shot was deflected into the net for Flint's sixth goal. Anderson leads Flint with five goals and is second with seven points in five games.

Only five players scored more goals so far in the OHL , and each played more games than Anderson.

Second Star: Felix Farhammar — Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)

Felix Farhammar , a defenseman who was New York's seventh-round pick (No. 203 overall) in 2025, continues to adapt to North American hockey at both ends of the ice.

He scored his second goal of the season on Friday, when Muskegon doubled up the Madison Capitols 6-3, then stretched his points streak to five games on Saturday with the primary assist on the game's first goal. It gave Muskegon an early lead in a game the Lumberjacks lost 4-3 in a shootout to Madison.

Farhammar has two goals and five points in six games, a nice way to start his USHL season. He's adjusting well to the league's pace and physical style.

Danai Shaiikov — Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Goaltender Danai Shaiikov stopped 24 of 26 shots, when Gatineau rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Shawinigan 3-2 in overtime on Friday night. He allowed one goal, a short-handed tally, on 10 shots in the first period and was beaten through a screen in the second, but stopped all five shots he faced in the third period and four more in overtime for the win.

The Rangers' third-round pick (No. 67) in the 2026 NHL draft was back in the net Saturday at Val‑d'Or and opened strong, stopping eight of nine shots in the first period against the Foreurs. He stopped all 11 shots he faced in the second period. But he allowed the game-tying goal early in the third and surrendered the game-winner in overtime. Shaiikov finished with 25 saves in the 3-2 loss.

Compilation from Sunday's game against Val d'Or Foreurs for #NYR prospect Danai Shaiikov (R3, 2026). Made some good saves on breakaways and scoring chances where Val d'Or moved the puck well. He probably wants that goal in OT back, even though his view was obstructed. pic.twitter.com/Ssb68T7ilw — Stat Boy Steven 🇳🇱🇮🇪 (@StatBoy_Steven) October 6, 2026

Compilation from Sunday's game against Val d'Or Foreurs for #NYR prospect Danai Shaiikov (R3, 2026). Made some good saves on breakaways and scoring chances where Val d'Or moved the puck well. He probably wants that goal in OT back, even though his view was obstructed. pic.twitter.com/Ssb68T7ilw

Stat Boy Steven 🇳🇱🇮🇪 (@StatBoy_Steven) October 6, 2026

He did not play Sunday, dressing as the backup in Gatineau's 5–4 win.

Shaiikov is 3-0-2 record, a. 2.64 goals-against average (tied for sixth best in the QMJHL ), and a save percentage of .895.

Spencer Bowes scored his third goal of the season, an empty‑netter, to cap Ottawa's 4-1 win over Oshawa on Friday. He finished with one goal on five shots and was 9 of 18 on face-offs.

He scored the 67s' final goal of the game Saturday in a 6-1 win over Erie, finishing with one goal, three shots on goal and was plus-2. He took a roughing minor and won six of 17 face-offs.

The fourth-round pick (No. 102) in the 2026 draft has four goals and six points in five games this season. He's tied for the team lead in both categories.

Andre Mondoux — Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)

Defenseman Andre Mondoux scored his first goal of the season Friday, when Kingston defeated Peterborough 5-3. He made it 2-0 in the first period with a hard shot from the point. The sixth-round pick (No. 162) in the 2026 draft finished with two shots on goal and has a goal and an assist through seven games.

A MONDOUX MISSILE🚨 How about the Defence making it happen😤 @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/XIce2cEEfn — Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) October 2, 2026

A MONDOUX MISSILE🚨 How about the Defence making it happen😤 @OHLHockey pic.twitter.com/XIce2cEEfn

Kingston Frontenacs (@KingstonFronts) October 2, 2026

Mondoux was scoreless in Kingston's 8-6 loss to Erie on Sunday. The Frontenacs dropped to 3-4-0, fourth in the five-team East Division.

Red Deer opened a road trip Wednesday in Prince Albert by falling 4-1 to the Raiders. Zeb Lindgren, New York's fifth-round pick (No. 139 overall) in 2025, continues to adjust to the North American schedule and pace, and he handled the minutes well in the loss.

On Friday, the Rebels won 4-2 in Saskatoon. Lindgren had no shots on goal and was plus-1. Red Deer closed its three‑games‑in‑four‑nights stretch Saturday with a 5-2 win over Moose Jaw. Lindgren finished with one shot and was plus-1.

Through seven games, he has two assists, is plus-8 and looked steady early while giving the Rebels a reliable defensive presence while he adapts to the North American game.

Defenseman Artem Gonchar had seven shots on goal, when Sudbury rolled past Niagara 7-1 on Friday. He picked up the primary assist on the Wolves' sixth goal, a power‑play tally late in the third period. The third-round pick (No. 89 overall) in 2025 has two assists, four penalty minutes and is plus-3 in three games.

Sudbury is 5-0-0 for the first time in team history after finishing eighth in the Eastern Conference last season. The Wolves sit atop the OHL's Central Division.

Barrie's early struggles continued Thursday in a 2-1 loss to Niagara that dropped the Colts to 0-4-1 to start the season. Evan Passmore was scoreless with two shots and was minus-1. It's a tough shift going from the top of the OHL standings last season to the bottom, but the 19-year-old defenseman continues to show up and compete.

Passmore, a sixth-round pick (No. 171 overall) in 2026, had one shot on goal and was plus-2 when Barrie defeated Sarnia 5-3 for its first win of the season. He has one point, a goal, 14 penalty minutes and is minus-3 in six games.