By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Other than the NCAA Tournament itself, there is perhaps no bigger stage in College Hockey than the Beanpot. While Conference tournaments decide automatic bids to the big dance, the Beanpot settles annual bragging rights amongst historical Boston rivals.
While the Beanpot is always of interest to both Bostonians and the Bruins, this year was even more noteworthy. The B’s are represented by seven active players (Oskar Jellvik is currently injured) at the event, including their two most recent first-round picks, Dean Letourneau and James Hagens. So how did they, and the rest of the Bruins’ Prospect Pool do this week?
Beanpot Semifinals
Game One: Boston College 5-1 Harvard University
BC ran away with the first semifinal, comfortably beating Harvard largely because of the B’s prospects on the Eagles’ roster. James Hagens had 2-1-3 and was a +3, with five shots on goal, while Dean Letourneau had 1-1-2 and was a +1 with four shots on target. Andre Gasseau had two assists, and William Moore added an assist on BC’s final goal. Mason Langenbrunner was a -1 for the Crimson.
Game Two: Boston University 3-2 (SO) Northeastern University
The nightcap featured only one B’s prospect in Jonathan Morello, who scored BU’s opening goal and was a +2. The Terriers outlasted the Huskies in a Shootout, with Capitals prospect Cole Hutson scoring the game-winning goal.
Europe
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 U20 (U20 Nationell): One game played, one assist, two penalty minutes, -3 rating.
Liam Pettersson this week for Vaxjo Lakers U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, +3 rating.
After a difficult start to the year where he missed a significant amount of time with an injury, Pettersson has really started to find his groove of late, with two goals in his last three games, including a nice one on Sunday, where he also recorded eleven shots on goal from the backend.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL): Four games played, five goals, two assists, no penalties, +10 rating.
Yemelyanov has a goal in each of his last five games and is an absurd +13 in that same timeframe. He’s up to 25-20-45 in 42 games in Russia’s MHL.
Juniors
Cole Chandler this week for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): Three games played, two goals, one assist, no penalties, +1 rating.
Cooper Simpson this week for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): Two games played, one goal, two assists, no penalties, -1 rating.
NCAA
Andre Gasseau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
Gasseau helped lead BC to a 4-1 win over BU on Friday. Since returning from injury in January, he is on a six game point streak.
Elliott Groenewold this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, two assists, no penalties, +3 rating.
James Hagens this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, one goal, one assist, four penalty minutes, +3 rating.
Hagens finished off a two-on-one opportunity against the Terriers with a sweet one-time finish off a pass from Letourneau, and also added an assist.
Beckett Hendrickson this week for the University of Minnesota (Big Ten): Two games played, one goal, one assist, two penalty minutes, +1 rating.
Hendrickson snapped a seven-game point drought on Saturday against Wisconsin, with a sweet individual effort against the Badgers. He also added an assist.
Kristian Kostadinski this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, no points, no penalties, +2 rating.
Mason Langenbrunner this week for Harvard University (ECAC): One game played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Dean Letourneau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
Letourneau was instrumental in BC’s win on Friday, playing 21:38. At times, it’s hard to believe just how much he’s improved from last year, as he looks to have a legit shot at being a top-six NHL forward one day.
William Moore this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Jonathan Morello this week for Boston University (Hockey East): One game played, no points, four penalty minutes, -2 rating.
Casper Nassen this week for Miami (OH) University (NCHC): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, +1 rating.
Chris Pelosi this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, two goals, two assists, two penalty minutes, +2 rating.
Pelosi had a four-point night on Friday against St. Lawrence, and is up to 16-14-30 in 28 games with the Bobcats.
Ryan Walsh this week for Cornell University (ECAC): Two games played, two assists, four penalty minutes, +3 rating.
Providence and Maine
The Providence Bruins swept a weekend series against the Charlotte Checkers, the team that eliminated them from the Calder Cup Playoffs last season. The most noteworthy occurrence from the two victories was Georgii Merkulov recording his 211th career point for Providence, becoming the Franchise’s all-time leader in points, passing Andy Hilbert for that honor.
Meanwhile, the Maine Mariners went 2-2-0 this week, defeating the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 in a shootout on Wednesday before going 1-2-0 in a weekend set against the Adirondack Thunder. Luke Cavallin started three of the four contests for the Mariners, stopping 92 of the 103 shots he faced.
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