By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
The Boston Bruins’ 2026 NHL Draft Class continues to impress in the early going of the 2026-2027 season. It was another strong week for Swedish forward Nils Bartholdsson, who continues to dominate the Swedish Junior Leagues, while Cullen McCrate once again put up a solid week in the OHL. So how did they, and the rest of the Bruins’ prospect pool do this week?
CHL
Cullen McCrate this week for the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL): Two games played, two goals, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
McCrate had two goals on Sunday in a 5-2 win over the Soo Greyhounds, as well as an assist on Friday in a 1-0 win over the Barrie Colts. McCrate has nine points in as many games for the Bulldogs this season. He is committed to Michigan State.
Jacob Vandeven this week for the London Knights (OHL): Two games played, no points, four penalty minutes, +6 rating.
Vandeven has yet to record a point this season, however, his +15 rating through nine games is tied for first in the OHL alongside his teammate Cooper McAslan.
Europe
Nils Bartholdsson this week for Rogle BK (SHL): Two games played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Bartholdsson dressed in two games for Rogle’s SHL team, but did not see any ice time.
Nils Bartholdsson this week for Rogle BK U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, three goals, one assist, two penalty minutes, +5 rating.
Bartholdsson had a shorthanded goal on Sunday in a 9-2 win over Tingsryds AIF, where had 13 shots on goal. He had two goals and an assist in a 7-4 win on Friday against Vaxjo. He has 7-5-12 in 5 games in the U20 Nationell, and is on pace for 84 points in 35 games.
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 U20 (U20 Nationell): Three games played, no points, two penalty minutes, -3 rating.
Blanar did not register a point in three losses for HV71, but did manage 10 shots on goal over those three games.
Yuri Ivanov this week for MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva (MHL): Two games played, 0-2-0 record, .899% save percentage, eight goals allowed.
Ivanov stopped 71/79 shots this week in two different 4-1 losses for Spartak’s second junior team. He has a .912% save percentage and 2.85 goals-against-average in 10 games for Spartak’s second junior team, compared to his .981% save percentage and 0.53 goals-against-average when dressing for Spartak’s top junior team.
Matvei Kotkov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL): Three games played, one goal, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Kotkov had a goal on Thursday in a 5-2 loss to Severstal Cherepovets, and had a penalty on Tuesday in a 1-0 loss to Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk. He played around 11 minutes in each of the three games, and has 3-1-4 in 17 KHL games.
Liam Pettersson this week for Djurgardens IF (SHL): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Pettersson recorded his first career SHL point on Tuesday in a 6-2 loss to Frolunda, playing 9:15.
Liam Pettersson this week for Djurgardens IF U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, two goals, two assists, two penalty minutes, +1 rating.
Pettersson had a three point game on Sunday in a 6-3 win over MoDo, and added an assist on Saturday in a 3-2 overtime win over IF Bjorkloven.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL): Three games played, one assist, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Yemelyanov had an assist in Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Severstal Cherepovets, and took a penalty in Saturday’s 6-3 win over HK Sochi. Yemelyanov has seen his ice time decrease significantly, as he went from 13:24 on Thursday, to 2:06 on Saturday, to 1:52 on Tuesday.
NCAA
Elliott Groenewold this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): One game played, no points, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Groenewold played 21:07 in a 6-3 win over Penn State on Friday, and had a shot on goal.
Beckett Hendrickson this week for the University of Minnesota (Big Ten): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, +1 rating.
Hendrickson had an assist on Friday in a 7-1 loss to Minnesota-Duluth, as well as two shots on goal. He played 14:12 in a 2-2 tie the following night.
Roberto Henriquez this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, 0-1-0 record, .800% save percentage, five goals allowed.
Henriquez allowed five goals on 25 shots in his collegiate debut, as the Eagles fell 5-3 to St. Cloud State.
Kristian Kostadinski this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, +1 rating.
Kostadinski has played over 20 minutes in each of the Eagles’ three games so far this season, after playing in mostly a depth role last season.
Dean Letourneau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one goal, two assists, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Letourneau had an empty-net goal on Thursday in a 4-0 win over St. Cloud State, and had two assists on Saturday in a 5-3 loss to the Huskies.
Jonathan Morello this week for Boston University (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -1 rating.
Morello played 12:52 and 12:51 in a weekend series against Vermont. The Terriers lost on Friday, and won in overtime on Saturday.
Casper Nassen this week for Lake Superior State University (CCHA): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -3 rating.
Nassen did not record a point as LSSU split a weekend series against Alaska-Anchorage.
Chris Pelosi this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): One game played, two assists, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Pelosi had two assists and four shots on goal, in 19:09 of ice time in the Bobcats 6-3 win over the Nittany Lions.
Cooper Simpson this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): One game played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Simpson had four shots on goal on Friday in a 5-0 win over Bentley. He did not play on Saturday.
Cole Spicer this week for Western Michigan University (NCHC): Two games played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, +1 rating.
Spicer had a goal and an assist on Friday in a 6-1 win over Notre Dame, and had three shots on goal the next night, as WMU beat the Fighting Irish 4-0.
Will Zellers this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): Two games played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Zellers did not register a point this weekend as UND swept Bentley with two 5-0 wins. He had seven shots on goal over the two games.
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