By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
And just like that, the 2025-26 NCAA Men’s Hockey season has come to an end. For the second consecutive year, the national championship was Bruin-less, as the Denver Pioneers defeated Wisconsin 2-1 on Saturday night to win their third title in five seasons, adding to their national lead with their 11th in DU program history. Boston’s lone representative in Las Vegas, Will Zellers, and North Dakota came up short in the semifinal against the Badgers on Thursday by a similar result. How did the Bruin fare on college hockey’s biggest stage?
Will Zellers (RW) – North Dakota – Zellers was held off the scoresheet in the Fighting Hawks’ 2-1 loss against Wisconsin on Thursday night. The Badgers dominated throughout despite the close score, outshooting North Dakota 37-22, including 18-4 in the first period, when they struck twice within 30 seconds to seize control of the game. Zellers, who finished tied for the team lead with two shots on goal in 18:50 of ice time, had one of North Dakota’s best looks of the night with a breakaway early in the second period, but was denied by Wisconsin goaltender Daniel Hauser. Following the result, the winger finished his freshman year in Grand Forks with 18-16-34 in 38 games.
Looking Ahead:
With the 2025-26 season officially in the rearview mirror, we can take an early look at the next class of Bruins prospects in college hockey. Prior to any additions made via trade or at the draft, Boston is expected to have 14 prospects next season, with a few new arrivals to offset the signings and graduations, as well as the transfer portal, leading to familiar faces in new places.
Zellers will be joined by Cooper Simpson in North Dakota next fall. Simpson, a third-round draft pick from the 2025 NHL Draft, has recorded 34-40-74 in 61 games with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL this season. Cole Spicer has another year of eligibility remaining to return to Western Michigan. As of Monday evening, Casper Nassen is the lone Bruin to enter the transfer portal and has committed to Lake Superior State, where he will have two seasons of eligibility.
Both Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold have already announced their intent to return to Quinnipiac for their junior seasons. Ryan Walsh can return to Cornell for his senior year, which would be his second as team captain.
Incoming freshmen Cole Chandler and Vashek Blanar will be the latest additions to the Bruins pool of Hockey East prospects. Chandler, a fifth-round pick in 2025, is joining Northeastern from the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL, where he’s recorded 20-32-52 in 62 games this year. Blanar, a fourth-round pick from last June, is a Czech defenseman who will head to UMass by way of HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League, where he posted 3-10-15 in 30 games with their U20 team.
Dean Letourneau, Will Moore, and Kristian Kostadinski are all projected to return to Boston College. Jonathan Morello has three years of eligibility remaining and should be a fixture in the Boston University lineup after a solid freshman year. Beckett Hendrickson will be heading into his junior season with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, though the recent coaching change opens the door to further transfer portal moves within the Bruins system.
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