By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
Another action-packed weekend of college hockey is in the books, filled with big wins and sensational comebacks. More Bruins prospects are putting their names on the scoresheet every week. This time, Andre Gasseau and Jake Schmaltz lit the lamp for the first time this season in big spots against ranked opponents. Meanwhile, other Bruins draftees across the country are racking up highlights and milestone wins. Of the elven Bruins prospects whose teams saw action, who had the biggest weekend?
Dans Locmeils (C) – UMass – Locmelis had a highlight reel weekend for UMass in their home-and-home split with Connecticut. He narrowly missed several chances to clinch the Friday night win in OT before opening up the shootout with a Kucherov-esque fake-out move. He added a pair of assists on Saturday night while winning 15 of 20 faceoffs, though the Minutemen’s comeback bid fell short. Locmelis currently leads all Bruins prospects in scoring with seven points in seven games.
Andre Gasseau (LW) – Boston College – Gasseau proved pivotal in BC staving off an upset bid from Western Michigan on Saturday night. With the Eagles trailing 2-0 late in the second period, Gasseau scored his first goal of the season and then assisted on Teddy Stiga’s equalizer as the Eagles eventually won 4-2. After going pointless in the opening series at Michigan State, Gasseau now has three points in his last two games.
Jake Schmaltz (LW) – North Dakota – Schmaltz scored his first goal of the season and added an assist during North Dakota’s 7-2 beatdown of third-ranked Boston University on Friday. He capped off his performance by winning 13 of 18 faceoffs on the night and went 27-9 at the dot over both games.
Philip Svedeback (G) – Providence – Svedeback backstopped the Friars to a 3-2 Friday night road win against Vermont, stopping 21 of 23 shots in the overtime contest. The win was his 34th with Providence, landing him just behind third place all-time in program history. The victory also secured Head Coach Nate Leaman’s milestone 400th career win.
Casper Nassen (LW) – Miami OH – Nassen found the back of the net for the first time in two weeks on Saturday night, scoring the game-winner in the Redhawks’ 4-1 win over Lindenwood. Nassen’s six points are second behind Dans Locmelis among all Bruins prospects, and is currently the only prospect in the NCAA ranks with multiple goals scored. All three of his goals scored have come on the power play.
Looking ahead: Ryan Walsh (C) and Mason Langenbrunner (D) finally start their Ivy League seasons, as Cornell and Harvard host North Dakota and Dartmouth, respectively. Walsh and the ninth-ranked Big Red will go head-to-head with fellow Bruins draftee Jake Schmaltz and the sixth-ranked Fighting Sioux.
Gasseau, Oskar Jellvik, and Dean Letourneau hit the road for a weekend series with tenth-ranked St Cloud State. Beckett Hendrickson and the Golden Gophers welcome newly ranked Penn St for the weekend. Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold take on Holy Cross in a Saturday standalone game.
Ty Gallagher and Colorado College have a home-and-home series with in-state rivals Air Force, while Philip Svedeback and the Friars open their weekend at home against New Hampshire. Casper Nassen and Dans Locmelis look to continue their race atop the scoring leaderboard as Nassen’s Redhawks host Rensselaer for two games, while Locmelis and the Minutemen take on American International College for a Saturday matinee.
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