By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
The 2024-25 NCAA Men’s Hockey season officially kicked off over the weekend. Division I teams across America are opening up their non-conference schedule or playing exhibition matches to get tuned up. Among the hundreds of players taking the ice this season, thirteen have been drafted by the Boston Bruins, and seven saw action this past weekend.
Casper Nassen (LW) – Miami (OH) – A seventh-round pick from 2023, Nassen was stuck in eligibility limbo with the NCAA leading up to his debut with the Redhawks but was cleared in time to play in both games against Ferris State. Nassen was held off the scoresheet in the 3-3 tie on Friday night but scored a goal and an assist in the Saturday night rematch, which ended in a 4-4 tie.
Dans Locmelis (C ) – UMass – Locmelis opened up his sophomore season in style, logging a pair of assists in the Minutemen’s 5-4 win over Bentley on Saturday night. Both of his assists came in the second period, contributing to teammate Aydar Suniev’s hat trick. Locmelis was a 2023 fourth-round pick for Boston and is primed to build off a 14-point freshman campaign.
Chris Pelosi (C ) & Elliott Groenenwold (D) – Quinnipiac – Both incoming freshmen skated in the Bobcats’ 4-2 exhibition loss against Northeastern on Sunday afternoon. Pelosi, a 2023 third-round pick, got Quinnipiac on the board with a deflection in the second period. Groenenwold, a ‘24 fourth-round pick, was held off the scoresheet. The Bobcats will officially open their season next Saturday with a home tilt against Penn State.
Jake Schmaltz (LW) – North Dakota – Schmaltz and the Fighting Hawks opened their exhibition schedule with a 4-1 loss against Augustana University on Saturday night. The 2019 seventh-round pick and cousin of Utah HC forward Nick Schmaltz was held off the scoresheet and finished the night as a -2. North Dakota opens their regular season next Saturday with a neutral site matchup against Providence College and fellow Bruins prospect Philip Svedeback.
Beckett Hendrickson (LW) – Minnesota – Hendrickson, another 2023 fourth-round pick, made his unofficial freshman debut Saturday in a 5-1 exhibition win over St Cloud State. Skating on the fourth line, Hendrickson did not factor in any goals for the Golden Gophers. Minnesota officially opens the season on Friday night against Air Force in Las Vegas.
Ty Gallagher (D) – Colorado College – Gallagher, a 2021 seventh-round pick, transferred to Colorado College after three seasons with Boston University, where he scored 42 points in 111 games for the Terriers. He debuted with the Tigers in an 8-0 exhibition blowout win over Briercrest College on Saturday night, scoring back-to-back goals from the blue line. Gallagher will likely be an essential figure for the Tigers this season after they narrowly missed out on the NCAA tournament last year as the highest-ranked team under the cut.
The season fully kicks into gear this coming weekend, with 2024 first-round pick Dean Letourneau joining Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik on the same forward line at Boston College, while the aforementioned Philip Svedeback will be back in goal for his Junior season with Providence. Ryan Walsh (C, Cornell) and Mason Langenbrunner (D, Harvard) will have to wait a little longer to get in on the action, as the Ivy League doesn’t officially start their season until November 1st.
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