By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
The Boston Bruins are in the midst of a playoff push, with each of the team’s 19 remaining regular-season games being of the utmost importance. The same can be said for most of the B’s prospect pool, too, especially those who play for Boston College. After a disastrous end to the regular season, which saw the team lose four straight games for the first time all year, the Eagles have their backs against the wall. A loss in any fashion on Friday to the University of Maine will see BC’s season end. However, BC isn’t the only team with Bruins’ prospects on it that faces critical games this week. How did the Bruins’ prospect pool do this week, and what is their postseason status?
Europe
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, one goal, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Blanar had a highlight-reel goal on Friday against Vasteras IK, his first in nine games in the U20 Nationell. Unfortunately, HV71 did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing with an 11-22-3 record. However, there season is not over yet, they have to play in the relegation round in order for HV71 to remain in the U20 Nationell for next season.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL): Three games played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, +1 rating.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Loko-76 Yaroslavl (MHL): One game played, no points, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Yemelyanov played in one game for Loko-76 on Friday, similarly to last season, when he played three games for them, while spending the majority of the season with Lokomotiv. Loko are comfortably in first in the MHL’s Western Conference Gold Division, and have a few more regular-season games remaining before playoffs begin.
Juniors
Cole Chandler this week for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL): Three games played, one goal, two penalty minutes, -4 rating.
Chandler had Shawinigan’s lone goal on Saturday in a 4-1 loss to the Quebec Remparts. The Cataractes have already clinched a playoff spot and have four more regular-season games.
Cooper Simpson this week for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): Three games played, no points, no penalties, -1 rating.
It was a rare quiet weekend for Simpson, who did not register a point in three games. The Phantoms are first in the USHL’s Eastern Conference, and are the only team in the conference to clinch a playoff spot so far.
NCAA
Andre Gasseau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, -1 rating.
Gasseau finished the regular season with 6-16-22 in 21 games, despite missing time due to injury. Friday could be the final game of a successful Collegiate career for Gasseau, one which has seen the Garden Grove, California, native amass 110 points in 133 games with the Eagles.
James Hagens this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one goal, one assist, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Perhaps the most intriguing situation of the Bruins’ prospects is what will happen with Hagens when his college season ends. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported on Wednesday that some believe Hagens will join the Bruins this year. We shall see.
Beckett Hendrickson this week for the University of Minnesota (Big Ten): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, -2 rating.
Hendrickson had a goal on Saturday in a 3-3 tie with Michigan State. The Gophers take on Penn State tomorrow in the Big Ten Quarterfinals. A loss would end their season.
Oskar Jellvik this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -1 rating.
Like Gasseau, Friday could be the last game of Jellvik’s NCAA Career. The Taby, Sweden, native has only played in seven games this season due to injury.
Kristian Kostadinski this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -3 rating.
Mason Langenbrunner this week for Harvard University (ECAC): One game played, no points, two penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Harvard advanced to the ECAC Quarterfinal with a 4-3 overtime win over St. Lawrence on Friday. The Crimson will face Ryan Walsh and Cornell in a best-of-3 series that begins on Friday. Langenbrunner is a Senior and if Harvard loses the series, his collegiate career is over.
Dean Letourneau this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, -3 rating.
William Moore this week for Boston College (Hockey East): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -2 rating.
Moore did not commit a single penalty in 31 regular-season games with the Eagles. If there was a NCAA version of the Lady Byng award, he’d probably be the front-runner.
Jonathan Morello this week for Boston University (Hockey East): One game played, no points, no penalties, -2 rating.
BU hosts Vermont tomorrow at Agganis Arena for the opening round of the Hockey East tournament. A win and they advance to the Quarterfinals on Saturday. A loss either to Vermont or in the Quarterfinals, would end the Terriers season.
Casper Nassen this week for Miami (OH) University (NCHC): Two games played, no points, no penalties, -3 rating.
Miami (OH) was swept by Denver in the NCHC Quarterfinals, ending their season. Nassen has two more years of NCAA eligibility, and finished his sophomore season with a 6-12-18 statline in 36 games, an improvement on the 6-4-10 he managed in his freshman season.
Cole Spicer this week for Western Michigan University (NCHC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Western Michigan swept Colorado College, advancing to the NCHC Semifinals, where they’ll take on Denver. Regardless of the result, the reigning National Champions will be in the NCAA Tournament.
Philip Svedeback this week for Providence College (Hockey East): One game played, 0.00 goals-against average, 1.000% save percentage.
Svedeback came in for the final seconds of Providence’s 3-1 win over UConn. The Senior missed significant time for the Friars with an injury, and Saturday’s appearance was his first since January third. Providence is the first seed in the Hockey East Tournament, and gets a bye to the Quarterfinals. They do not yet know their opponent, and they will be in the NCAA Tournament regardless of the result.
Will Zellers this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): One game played, one goal, two assists, 15 penalty minutes, +2 rating.
After missing Game one of the best-of-three series, Zellers helped eliminate Nebraska-Omaha with a goal and two assists. He also had a major and a game misconduct for face masking. UND will host Minnesota-Duluth in the NCHC Semifinals, and regardless of the result will be in the NCAA Tournament.
Elliott Groenewold and Chris Pelosi had a bye to the ECAC Quarterfinals, where they will host Clarkson in a best-of-three series. They will almost certainly be in the NCAA Tournament, and both players are eligible to return to Quinnipiac next season.
Providence and Maine
The Providence Bruins had a solid week on the ice. They won two games and lost one, beating the Hartford Wolf Pack and Hershey Bears, while losing to the Bridgeport Islanders. However, they were busy off the ice, too. On the NHL Trade Deadline day, the Bruins traded Jackson Edward and Brett Harrison to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Alexis Gendron and Massimo Rizzo. Then, the Bruins acquired forward Lukas Reichel from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. All three players will report to Providence. Meanwhile, the Maine Mariners have now won 11 straight games and are receiving reinforcements, with Luke Cavallin getting reassigned back to the ECHL.
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