By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Dans Locmelis has had a solid first full professional season in the Boston Bruins’ organization. The Jelgava, Latvia, native had amassed 15 goals and 28 points in 43 American Hockey League games for the Providence Bruins before departing for Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Many wondered how the young forward would handle the pressure of competing against the best players in the world with Team Latvia. Locmelis impressed, with two goals in four games, while Team Latvia bowed out of the tournament in the Qualification round.
Unfortunately, that’s the last that Bruins fans will see of him this season. According to Mark Divver of Rinkside Rhode Island, Locmelis will undergo shoulder surgery this week and is expected to be ready in time for Training Camp next fall. A tough setback for a player who was pushing for a call-up to the National Hockey League. How did the rest of the Bruins’ prospect pool do this week?
Europe
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, no points, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Liam Pettersson this week for Vaxjo Lakers HC U20 (U20 Nationell): One game played, two assists, no penalties, +1 rating.
Pettersson recorded his second multi-point game of the season, adding two assists in a 7-2 win over Malmo.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL): One game played, one goal, no penalties, +2 rating.
Yemelyanov had a goal on Saturday in a 7-0 win over Almaz. He’s up to 29-23-52 in 50 games in the MHL.
Juniors
Cole Chandler this week for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): Two games played, one goal, two assists, two penalty minutes, +2 rating.
Chandler had a goal and an assist on Sunday against Rouyn-Noranda in a 6-4 loss. The Bedford, Nova Scotia, native is up to 19-29-48 in 55 games in the QMJHL, and is committed to Northeastern for next season.
Cooper Simpson this week for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): Three games played, three goals, one assist, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Simpson had another big week for Youngstown, scoring two goals on Wednesday against Muskegon, adding an assist.
NCAA
Andre Gasseau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, -5 rating.
Elliott Groenewold this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, no points, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
James Hagens this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, two assists, no penalties, -4 rating.
Beckett Hendrickson this week for the University of Minnesota (Big Ten): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Hendrickson scored his first goal since 1/31 on Friday, with a goal against the University of Michigan. The Sophomore forward is up to 6-12-18 in 33 games.
Oskar Jellvik this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one goal, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Jellvik returned to the BC lineup on Friday for the first time since November 7th. He scored his first goal of the season on Saturday off of a nice feed from James Hagens.
Kristian Kostadinski this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, +1 rating.
Mason Langenbrunner this week for Harvard University (ECAC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, +1 rating.
Langenbrunner snapped a ten-game pointless streak with an empty net goal on Friday against Princeton.
Dean Letourneau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, -4 rating.
Letourneau scored on Friday, but was otherwise quiet in what was a rough week for the Eagles, dropping both games to arch-rivals BU.
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, +1 rating.
Casper Nassen this week for Miami (OH) University (NCHC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, -1 rating.
Chris Pelosi this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, -2 rating.
Pelosi had a goal on Friday in a 7-4 loss to Dartmouth, his first goal since 1/30, after he missed some time with an injury.
Cole Spicer this week for Western Michigan University (NCHC): Two games played, no points, two penalty minutes, +1 rating.
Ryan Walsh this week for Cornell University (ECAC): Two games played, one goal, three assists, two penalty minutes, +4 rating.
Walsh had a huge weekend for Cornell, highlighted by a three-point night Friday against St. Lawrence.
Will Zellers this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, -2 rating.
Zellers had a highlight-reel goal on Friday night against the reigning National Champions, Western Michigan. He’s up to 17-10-27 in 33 games for UND.
Providence and Maine
It was a successful week for the Providence Bruins, as they won all three games, defeating the Bridgeport Islanders twice and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms once. Riley Duran had a shorthanded goal in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Bridgeport, only his second tally of the season. Matej Blumel had a goal in each of the three contests, as well as two assists against the Phantoms. The Maine Mariners also continued their winning ways, defeating the Adirondack Thunder, Worcester Railers, and Trois-Rivieres Lions. Boston’s ECHL affiliate has now won eight games in a row.
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