By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The US Collegiate Selects Team will be the first form of NCAA representation at the Spengler Cup in over 40 years. While over half the team comprises NHL draft picks, such as Bruins prospects Chris Pelosi and Ryan Walsh, there are several high-profile undrafted free agents on the team.
A platform like the Spengler Cup, where the Collegiate Selects will compete against predominantly European professional teams, could increase interest among NHL teams in those free agents. Here are a few names to keep in mind in the coming months, should the Boston Bruins pursue them at the end of the college hockey season:
TJ Hughes – Center – Michigan
As the captain of the top-ranked team in the country, Hughes and the Wolverines have been bulldozing their way through college hockey this season. He finished the first half in a three-way tie for the Michigan scoring lead with a pair of first-round picks, Michael Hage and Will Horcoff, at 28 points apiece in just 20 games, and the Wolverines lead the nation with 4.8 Goals per Game.
Hughes is almost assured to be a top-line forward for the Collegiate Selects Team, and one of the hottest commodities on the college free agent market at the end of the season. His resume with the Wolverines: 150 points in 136 games, and counting, with a year as captain, sounds tailor-made for Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney. Boston would be wise to join the race for his signature.
Jake Livanavage – Defenseman – North Dakota
Livanavage has been one of the most prominent leaders of North Dakota’s resurgence under new Head Coach Dane Jackson. He is among the Fighting Hawks’ highest scoring skaters with 3-12-15 in 18 games, while skating an average of 24:45 a game, leading the team by over four minutes.
Having Will Zellers on your power-play unit is a good way to draw extra attention from out east. With the Bruins’ organizational depth on the blueline having been tested this season due to injuries and call-ups, making a play to bring in more pro-ready depth wouldn’t hurt.
Jack Musa – Forward – UMass
Musa was one of the top free agent forwards highlighted in the preseason after coming off a 35-point season and being the only top-six forward to return to Amherst. So far, he’s done nothing but keep his momentum rolling as the Minutemen’s leading scorer through the first half, with 8-13-21 through their first 18 games.
Musa is listed as a forward rather than a specific position, as he’s played all three offensive roles for UMass this season. His versatility could benefit him with line partnerships on the Collegiate Selects Team and in developing his professional career.
Matt DiMarsico – Left Wing – Penn State
DiMarsico earned his invitation to Switzerland as an integral piece to one of the most prolific forward lines in the nation. He, along with Charlie Cerrato and JJ Wiebusch, have been carpet bombing the opposition all season long, with all three forwards scoring over a point per game pace at the break.
DiMarsico’s 8-9-17 scoring line places second on Penn State in goalscoring and fourth in points, and he’s proven to come up in the clutch. He scored five postseason goals last spring en route to the Nittany Lions’ first-ever Frozen Four berth, including the overtime winner against UConn in the regional final.
Alex Tracy – Goaltender – Minnesota State
Tracy is as experienced as they come in net, with a 56-26-12 career record midway through his senior season with the Mavericks. In that time, he’s recorded 10 shutouts, a .927 Save %, and a sub-2.00 Goals Against Average, including stellar .946 and 1.42 figures as a Junior.
His numbers aren’t just a product of playing against largely unranked competition in the CCHA either. Tracy has scored wins against prominent programs like Michigan, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and gave last year’s eventual champions, Western Michigan, everything they could handle with 42 saves in a 2-1 double overtime battle in the NCAA Tournament. He would be an intriguing addition to a Bruins goaltending pipeline that doesn’t have much depth after the AHL.
The US Collegiate Selects Team will begin its Spengler Cup campaign on Boxing Day against Team Canada at 2:15 pm Eastern. According to College Hockey Inc., every game featuring the US Collegiate Selects team can be streamed on the Spengler Cup’s YouTube channel.
Leave a Reply