By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Will Zellers entered his sophomore season with high expectations. After an impressive freshman year both with the University of North Dakota and with the United States World Junior team, Zellers has an opportunity to further showcase his talents and potentially win a National Championship on a loaded UND squad. Meanwhile, Nils Bartholdsson has had an up-and-down season. After being drafted 88th overall in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft by Boston, Bartholdsson has spent the year between Rogle’s Junior and SHL teams. So, how did these two, and the rest of the B’s prospect pool do this week?
CHL
Cole Chandler this week for the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL): Two games played, no points, no penalties, +1 rating.
Chandler had four shots on goal this weekend, in losses to the Quebec Remparts and Chicoutimi Sagueneens. He has gone four games without a point, after putting up six in his first four games.
Cullen McCrate this week for the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL): Two games played, one assist, seven penalty minutes, -1 rating.
McCrate had an assist in a 4-2 loss on Saturday to the Kingston Frontenacs, and got into a fight on Sunday in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Ottawa 67’s.
Jacob Vandeven this week for the London Knights (OHL): One game played, no points, no penalties, +2 rating.
Vandeven was +2 in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Erie Otters on Friday.
Europe
Nils Bartholdsson this week for Rogle BK (Champions Hockey League) Two games played, one goal, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Nils Bartholdsson this week for Rogle BK (SHL): One game played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Nils Bartholdsson this week for Rogle BK U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, three goals, three assists, six penalty minutes, +2 rating.
Bartholdsson played a ton of hockey this week. Last Tuesday, he played 14:24 and had two shots on goal in the Champions League against the Swiss team Davos; Rogle won 3-2. On Thursday, he did not see any ice time in the SHL, as Rogle beat HV71 4-3. This weekend, he went back down to the U20 Nationell, and dominated, recording five points on Saturday in a 7-2 win over BIK Karlskoga, and scored a goal on Sunday’s rematch in a 7-2 loss. Today, he was called back up to Rogle’s Senior team, and scored his first professional goal in a 5-1 loss to HK Nitra of Slovakia, recording eight shots on goal in 15:39 of ice time. While this week was a roller coaster for Bartholdsson, it feels like it could be progress.
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 U20 (U20 Nationell) One game played, one goal, two assists, no penalties, +3 rating.
Blanar had a goal and two assists in a 5-4 shootout win over Tingsryds AIF on Thursday.
Yuri Ivanov this week for MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva (MHL): Two games played, 0-2-0 record, .933% save percentage, three goals allowed
Yuri Ivanov this week for MHK Spartak Moskva (MHL): One game played, 1-0-0 record, 1.000% save percentage, one shutout.
Ivanov had another solid week in Russia’s Junior League, putting up a 31-save shutout on Tuesday against Taifun Primorsky Krai, before stopping 34/36 shots on Friday against MHK Atlant Mytishchi. Finally, today he stopped 23/24 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to Amurskie Tigry.
Matvei Kotkov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL): One game played, no points, no penalties, +1 rating.
Kotkov played 10:31 in a 6-1 win over Minsk on Saturday.
Oscar Olsson this week for Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, three goals, 10 penalty minutes, +2 rating.
Olsson had a goal on Saturday in a 5-2 win over Sodertalje, before scoring two more on Sunday in a 5-3 win over Linkoping. He has 7-5-12 in 12 games this season.
Liam Pettersson this week for Djurgårdens IF (SHL): Two games played, no points, no penalties, +1 rating.
Pettersson played 10:46 on Thursday, in a 2-1 win over Orebro, and 9:53 on Saturday, in a 5-1 win over Linkoping, where he was a +1. He had a shot on goal in each game.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL): One game played, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
Yemelyanov had an assist, his first KHL point, in a 6-1 win over Minsk. He also had a goal called back on a coach’s challenge, playing 12:29.
NCAA
Elliott Groenewold this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, one assist, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Groenewold had an assist on Friday in a 2-1 win over Maine, helping Quinnipiac to a split weekend against the Black Bears.
Kristian Kostadinski this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, no points, no penalties, -1 rating.
Kostadinski had four shots on goal and was a -1 in 20:53 of ice time in his season debut.
Dean Letourneau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, one goal, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Letourneau had a power play goal in his season debut, as well as seven shots on goal in 22:03 of ice time. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for BC to avoid an upset loss to Alaska Fairbanks.
Will Moore this week for Boston College (Hockey East): One game played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Moore had two shots on goal in 10:03 of ice time against Alaska.
Casper Nassen this week for Lake Superior State University (CCHA): Two games played, one goal, three assists, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Nassen had a solid first weekend as a Laker, putting up four points in two games in a weekend split against Lindenwood.
Chris Pelosi this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -1 rating.
Pelosi was a -1 over two games against Maine, registering two shots on goal in the process.
Cooper Simpson this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, -2 rating.
Simpson had an assist on Friday, playing about 12 minutes in each game against Bemidji State.
Cole Spicer this week for the University of Western Michigan (NCHC): Two games played, no points, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Spicer had no points this weekend, as Western Michigan swept a weekend series against Ferris State.
Will Zellers this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): Two games played, two goals, four assists, no penalties, +3 rating.
Zellers earned NCHC Player of the Week honors after a dominant weekend against Bemidji State. The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native could easily find himself in the Hobey Baker Award conversation, as he could lead a very talented UND team in points this year.
Providence Update
It was a rough weekend for Providence; however, Simon Zajicek was credited with his first AHL goal after an errant pass by the Charlotte Checkers slid into the empty net, and Michael Eyssimont recorded a hat trick in the same game. BNG colleagues Jake Ferraro and Mark Allred were in Attendance this weekend, providing boots-on-the-ground coverage. You can read their work here.
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