By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The Boston Bruins prospects in College Hockey flexed their collective firepower this past weekend with the whole field finally in play. The twelve skaters combined for six goals and fourteen points, including four recording multi-point games. Mason Langenbrunner is suddenly on the verge of setting a career-high in scoring. Elliott Groenewold matched his first-half goal output (2) in less than a week. Ty Gallagher tied his career-high goal total (5). Casper Nassen scored his first goal since late October, and these guys weren’t even the standouts of the weekend:
Dans Locmelis (C) – UMass – Locmelis recorded a pair of assists in UMass’ 5-0 rout over Northeastern on Friday night, his second straight game with two assists. The sophomore center has 19 points this season, pacing all Bruins in the NCAA, and now has more assists (16) than he had points as a freshman (14).
Chris Pelosi (C) – Quinnipiac – Pelosi continues to add to his red-hot January, tacking on an assist to the eventual game-winner against Princeton last Friday night. He’s now up to four points in his previous six games after just five before Christmas.
Andre Gasseau (LW) – Boston College – Gasseau opened his tab for the second half with a pair of assists during BC’s 4-1 drubbing of Merrimack on Saturday night, his first multipoint effort since November 10th vs Maine. His first helper came on the power play for the icebreaker, and the second set up Teddy Stiga’s empty netter to close it out. Gasseau’s eight goals and 13 points have him on pace to surpass his career-high production of 12 and 29 from the previous season.
Ryan Walsh (C) – Cornell – Walsh chipped in on both Cornell goals on Saturday night, scoring one and logging a primary assist on the other, though the Big Red were upset by Sacred Heart 4-2. His seven goals and six assists through 15 games have him well on pace to smash his freshman-year totals of 12 and 22 in 35 games.
Jake Schmaltz (C) – North Dakota – Schmaltz recorded a goal and an assist on a late equalizer to a crucial conference win for North Dakota on Saturday night. He opened the scoring in the second period, then won a board battle to create the tying goal with 30 seconds to play. Schmaltz has tied his scoring total from last season with 11 points and could beat his sophomore year total (12) as soon as next weekend.
Looking Ahead – A big one on tap in Hockey East with 2nd-ranked BC and 6th-ranked Providence, featuring Andre Gasseau, Oskar Jellvik, and Dean Letourneau going head to head with Philip Svedeback. Elsewhere in Hockey East, Dans Locmelis and UMass have a home and home with Merrimack.
Ryan Walsh and Cornell travel to Princeton on Friday night and then take on Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold, and 16th-ranked Quinnipiac on Saturday. The Bobcats host Colgate on Friday night before facing the Big Red. Mason Langenbrunner and Harvard hit the road to upstate New York for the weekend, taking on Rensselaer and Union.
Ty Gallagher and Colorado College host Minnesota-Duluth in another weekend series they badly need to keep their tournament hopes alive. Jake Schmaltz and the Fighting Hawks host 4th-ranked Western Michigan in a significant NCHC matchup, as both schools are part of a three-way tie atop the conference, but Western has two games in hand on UND. Casper Nassen and Miami host Omaha for the weekend, hoping to build momentum after finally breaking his scoring drought. Beckett Hendrickson and the 3rd ranked Golden Gophers play host to Notre Dame at Mariucci Arena for two games.
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