By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Providence’s undefeated start to the 2025-2026 American Hockey League season was brought to an end Saturday night against the Hershey Bears. Simon Zajicek entered the game with a .939% save percentage. He finished it with a .945%. Even in defeat, Zajicek maintained a stellar level of play, stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced. The Frydlant, Czechia, native hasn’t shown any signs of struggle in his transition to North America, improving in the early going on his .930 save percentage from last year in his native country. It’s very early, but Zajicek looks like a potential hidden gem for the Boston Bruins. How did everyone else do this week?
Europe
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, one goal, two assists, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
After being held to only one point in his prior six games, Blanar exploded for three points on Friday against Rogle in a 4-3 loss. Blanar will be representing Czechia this week during the Five Nations Tournament.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL): One game played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
Juniors
Cole Chandler this week for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): Two games played, one goal, two assists, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
The Northeastern commit scored his second goal of the QMJHL season yesterday against the Newfoundland Regiment, adding two assists in a 6-5 win. Chandler is up to 2-10-12 in fourteen games this season, and is on pace for 55 points, a big improvement on his 32 point tally from last season.
Cooper Simpson this week for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): Two games played, one goal, two assists, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
NCAA
Andre Gasseau: Per Mark Divver, Gasseau had surgery for a wrist injury and is expected to return to Boston College’s lineup in January.
James Hagens this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, -3 rating.
Hagens had a six-game point streak snapped Halloween night against Northeastern in a 3-0 loss. The Eagles sit at 2-4-1 after seven games and have fallen to 18th in the latest USCHO poll.
Beckett Hendrickson this week for the University of Minnesota (Big Ten): Two games played, no points, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Oskar Jellvik this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, one assist, no penalties, -1 rating.
Jellvik returned to BC’s lineup Thursday night after missing four games due to injury. He had an assist in a 4-1 loss to Northeastern, factoring in on BC’s only goal of the weekend.
Kristian Kostadinski this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, no points, no penalties, -1 rating.
Dean Letourneau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -3 rating.
William Moore this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Jonathan Morello this week for Boston University (Hockey East): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Morello snapped a five-game pointless streak Saturday night against the University of Maine with an assist in an 8-5 loss to the Black Bears. Morello has 1-3-4 in nine games for BU, and has featured primarily as the Terriers’ fourth-line center.
Casper Nassen this week for Miami (OH) University (NCHC): Two games played, no points, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Philip Svedeback this week for Providence College (Hockey East): .926% save percentage, 1-0-0 record, 2.00 goals against average.
Ryan Walsh this week for Cornell University (ECAC): Two games played, two assists, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Will Zellers this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): Two games played, one goal, one assist, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Zellers buried another highlight-reel goal this weekend, this time in a 5-1 win over the University of Minnesota-Duluth. It feels like only a matter of time until the Maple Grove, Minnesota, native breaks out offensively at the NCAA level.
Providence and Maine
Providence went 2-1-0 on the week, with wins against the Charlotte Checkers and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Fabian Lysell had a rollercoaster of a week, getting benched on Wednesday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, being demoted to the fourth line for Saturday’s game against Hershey, before finally scoring an important goal on Sunday afternoon against Charlotte. Frederic Brunet continues to impress for the P-Bruins, as his +9 rating ties him for first with Ryan Graves and Ethan Del Mastro for best amongst AHL Defenders at time of writing.
The Maine Mariners went 2-0-1 this weekend, with wins against the Adirondack Thunder and Reading Royals, as well as a Shootout loss against the Thunder. Luke Cavallin recorded wins in both of his starts this weekend, posting a .963% save percentage across the two ECHL contests. Ty Gallagher recorded his first goal of the season on Sunday against the Royals.
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