By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
Class is officially back in session. The first big weekend slate of 2025 delivered several high-octane nonconference matchups, invitationals, and outdoor hockey. A handful of college Bruins were getting their first game action in over a month but hardly looked rusty and found their names on the scoresheet before the weekend was over. Some broke scoring droughts, while others kept their momentum rolling from December like nothing happened:
Dans Locmelis (C) – UMass – Locmelis recorded a pair of assists in the Minutemen’s 8-0 blowout victory over Robert Morris in the Desert Hockey Classic consolation game on Saturday, breaking a three-game scoreless streak. The Latvian playmaker extended his career-high point total to 17 points after breaking his freshman year mark of 14 against Army on Black Friday. Locmelis’ two assists also padded his lead in the Bruins college prospect scoring race, as he now leads Ty Gallagher by four points.
Ty Gallagher (D) – Colorado College – Gallagher picked up right where he left off in the first half, leading all skaters in time on ice in both games and recording an assist on Saturday. However, the Tigers dropped both games at home to Augustana University. The senior Boston University transfer is having a career season in Colorado Springs, with four goals and 13 points in 18 games, all well on pace to break his career highs from his sophomore season with BU. CC will need every ounce of production they can get from Gallagher, as the weekend sweep was particularly damaging to their Pairwise rankings, and they have a lot of ground to make up to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
Chris Pelosi – (C) – Quinnipiac – Pelosi continued his torrid start to the second half with a goal against Northeastern, his third in a week. The freshman center has seriously elevated his game since the break. His recent goal binge has already eclipsed his total from the first half (in 15 games) and almost matched his total scoring output of five points. The Bobcats are another team finding themselves on the bubble for tournament contention, 17th in the Pairwise rankings as of Tuesday night, and more consistent production from Pelosi will only strengthen their bid to qualify for a fifth straight NCAA tournament.
Beckett Hendrickson (LW) – Minnesota – Hendrickson was bumped up to the Golden Gophers’ top line over the weekend, filling in for a pair of teammates who competed for Team USA in the World Juniors and took full advantage of his opportunity. He logged his two highest time-on-ice totals in the weekend romp over Mercyhurst and scored his first goal since Black Friday on Saturday night.
Hendrickson started the play by forcing a giveaway at the Minnesota blueline and taking a breakaway pass from center ice to beat the Lakers goalie for the Gophers’ fifth goal of the night. The freshman wing now has three goals and five points in 22 games and could see more opportunities higher up the lineup in the future.
Ryan Walsh (C) – Cornell – Walsh continued his season-long trend of scoring in every other game with a goal in the Big Red’s 4-2 win against UMass in the Desert Hockey Classic. He did not score in Cornell’s last game of the first half against Colgate and did not factor against Arizona State on Saturday. Although quirky, his scoring pattern translates to a pace that will quickly eclipse his freshman-year production. Walsh’s six goals and 11 points in 13 games project to smash last season’s 12 goals and 22 points in 35 games.
Looking Ahead – Several Bruins start their second halves this weekend after an extended winter break. Andre Gasseau, Oskar Jellvik, and Dean Letourneau open with a home-and-home against Merrimack, starting Friday night on Chestnut Hill. Dans Locmelis has a home-and-home with Northeastern in what may be the Minutemen’s last trip to historic Matthews Arena.
Jake Schmaltz heads to the desert as 14th-ranked North Dakota takes on 16th-ranked Arizona State. Casper Nassen and the Miami Redhawks head to Denver to face the Pioneers. Ty Gallagher and Colorado College have an opportunity for a bounce-back weekend, journeying to Nebraska for a weekend series with a struggling Omaha team. Beckett Hendrickson will head to Columbus for a significant series in Big Ten play. 11th-ranked Ohio State trails the third-ranked Golden Gophers by just four points in the conference standings.
Ryan Walsh will head down to Fairfield County for the weekend as Cornell takes on Sacred Heart for a pair. Mason Langenbrunner and Harvard will play host to fellow Ivy League schools Brown and Yale for the weekend. Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold each found the back of the net this week and will look to continue their momentum with a home-and-home with Princeton.
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