(Photo Credit: Connor Nee / Black N’ Gold Productions LLC)

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

While a majority of the Bruins’ prospects were on the ice at Warrior Ice Arena this week at Boston Bruins Training Camp, elsewhere across the globe, several other B’s draft picks continued their ongoing seasons. This week saw Vashek Blanar and Cole Chandler both take steps towards the next level, while Cooper Simpson and Kirill Yemelyanov continued to build on their strong starts to the year. So what happened?

Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 (U20 Nationell): One game played, no points, minus three rating, six penalty minutes. Vashek Blanar for HV71 (SHL): One game played, no points, even plus/minus, zero penalty minutes.

While Blanar may not have had the best week stats-wise, he did reach an individual milestone, dressing as the seventh defenseman Saturday for HV71’s Senior men’s team in a 2-1 loss to Frolunda, the first time Blanar has suited up in a professional game. While he did not play a shift, going from the J18 region to dressing in the highest level of hockey in Sweden in just a year shows how far Blanar has come individually in a short period of time.

Cole Chandler this week for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): One game played, no points, even plus/minus, no penalties.

Chandler suited up for the Cataractes on Friday night in a 4-1 loss to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. The Bedford, Nova Scotia, native officially announced his commitment to the Northeastern Huskies for the 2026-2027 season this weekend.

Cooper Simpson this week for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): Two games played, one assist, plus two rating.

Simpson picked up a primary assist on Friday night against the United States National Team Development Program. The Shakopee, Minnesota, native helped the Phantoms to two wins this weekend on the road and will be back in action Friday against the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL): Two games played, one assist, plus three rating.

Yemelyanov continues to produce points at a solid pace in Russia’s top junior league. He’s up to nine points in just eight games, including six goals. If the Irkutsk, Russia, native can sustain this pace over the course of the year, he will finish with 44 goals.

Training Camp Assignments

Several prospects under NHL contracts were assigned to the Providence Bruins’ Training Camp by the B’s yesterday. Jackson Edward, Loke Johansson, Luke Cavallin, and Simon Zajicek were sent down to Boston’s American Hockey League Affiliate. Whether all four will begin the season in the AHL remains to be seen, as assignment to the ECHL’s Maine Mariners could be a possibility.