By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The second half of the 2024-25 NCAA Men’s Hockey season is underway and has kicked off with fireworks all over the country. Among the slew of shocking upsets, invitationals and non conference tilts, the College Bruins have wasted no time getting back into rhythm. Although only four have skated in official games since Christmas, they haven’t been lacking big time impact. Philip Svedeback celebrated Christmas with a pair of wins over the weekend, while Chris Pelosi and Mason Langenbrunner rang in the New Year with fireworks of their own:
Chris Pelosi (C) – Quinnipiac – Pelosi has been on fire since returning from Team USA’s World Junior Camp. He broke a month-long scoring drought in the Bobcats’ first game of the second half against American International College, in addition to winning nine of eleven faceoffs. Against Harvard on New Year’s Day, Pelosi was all over the ice and had several scoring chances denied by the Crimson. Pelosi would have scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period if not for an exceptional save by Harvard goaltender Ben Charette.
He finally got one through in overtime, jamming a loose puck past a mound of Crimson bodies and clinching the victory for Quinnipiac. His second goal in as many games has doubled his goal tally for the season, having only scored twice in the first 15 games before the break.
Mason Langenbrunner (D) – Harvard – Langenbrunner’s offensive breakout season continued with a goal against Quinnipiac in the Crimson’s second-half opener, taking a D-to-D pass from his blueline partner and hammering one home to spark the Crimson’s comeback early in the second period. After having just one in his first two seasons combined, he has three goals on the year. Postgame, Langenbrunner added that playing against fellow Bruins prospects whom he became friends with during development camp added more motivation on the ice.
Philip Svedeback (G) – Providence – Svedeback started and won both games for the Friars at the Ledyard Bank Classic last weekend. Providence defeated Hockey East rivals Northeastern and 17th-ranked Dartmouth to claim the title, with Svedeback stopping 28/32 shots across both games. Providence thoroughly dominated possession in the final, with Svedeback only facing ten shots on goal. The junior goaltender sports an 11-2-1 record with a 2.24 Goals Against Average and a career-best .918 Save Percentage and just received Hockey East Goaltender of the Month honors for December.
Looking Ahead—Several Bruins prospects open their second halves tonight with non-conference tilts. Ryan Walsh and Dans Locmelis will face off as Cornell faces UMass in the Desert Hockey Classic. Depending on the outcome, either team will face Robert Morris University or Arizona State. Ty Gallagher and Colorado College return to work, hosting Augustana for a weekend after an exhibition warmup against UNLV.
Beckett Hendrickson and top-ranked Minnesota will host Mercyhurst for their first home series of the second half. Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewald will host Northeastern on Saturday afternoon and Stonehill on Monday. Mason Langenbrunner will look to carry his momentum into Saturday night’s game against UConn. Philip Svedeback and the Friars have a Tuesday night tilt against local rivals Brown before heading into the teeth of their Hockey East schedule.
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