By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
Bruins fans have been clamoring for James Hagens’ Bruins debut, and it finally arrived this week. Well, sort of. While Hagens has yet to sign an Entry-Level Contract with Boston, signifying a call-up to the National Hockey League, he did make his long-awaited American Hockey League debut this week with the Providence Bruins. How did he, and the rest of the B’s Prospect Pool do this week?
Europe
Vashek Blanar this week for HV71 U20 (U20 Nationell Relegation): One game played, one goal, no penalties, +1 rating.
HV71 are 5-0-0 in the Relegation playoff in the U20 Nationell, and it’s in large part to the play of Blanar, who has been fantastic. He added his seventh goal of the season on Saturday, with a nice shot from the point.
Juniors
Cole Chandler this week for the Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL Playoffs): Two games, one assist, no penalties, -1 rating.
Shawinigan is down 2-0 in the best-of-seven first-round series against the Sherbrooke Phoenix. The Cataractes will need to win at least one of the next two games in order to stay alive. Otherwise, Chandler’s QMJHL career will be over as the Bedford, Nova Scotia, native will play next season at Northeastern.
Cooper Simpson this week for the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL): One game played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
Simpson had a goal and an assist on Friday, as Youngstown defeated the US National Team Development Program 6-2.
NCAA Tournament
Elliott Groenewold this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, +1 rating.
Groenewold had a goal and was +3 in Quinnipiac’s 5-2 win over Providence on Thursday, and was -2 in their season ending loss to North Dakota on Saturday. He finished his Sophomore season with 7-13-20 in 40 games with the Bobcats, and was an absurd +39 on the year.
Chris Pelosi this week for Quinnipiac University (ECAC): Two games played, one goal, no penalties, -3 rating.
Pelosi scored a breakaway goal against Providence on Thursday, but was held scoreless against North Dakota. He finished his Sophomore campaign with 18-16-34 in 35 games with the Bobcats.
Cole Spicer this week for Western Michigan University (NCHC): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, +2 rating.
Spicer had an assist in the Broncos’ 3-1 win over Minnesota State on Friday, but his season came to an end yesterday in a 6-2 loss to Denver. He had 3-3-6 in 13 games with Western Michigan.
Will Zellers this week for the University of North Dakota (NCHC): Two games played, four assists, two penalty minutes, +3 rating.
Zellers is the only B’s prospect still standing in NCAA Tournament play, as UND defeated Merrimack 3-0, and Quinnipiac 5-0, to advance to the Frozen Four. North Dakota will face Wisconsin in the National Semifinals.
Providence and Maine
All eyes in Providence were on James Hagens this week, and for good reason. The B’s seventh overall pick impressed in his first week in Pro Hockey, scoring his first professional goal in a 6-4 win over the Bridgeport Islanders, and adding an assist the next day in a 4-2 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds. Providence went 2-1-0 this week.
The Bruins also added a new prospect to the system in Goaltender Max Lundgren. A native of Angelholm, Sweden, Lundgren played for the Merrimack College Warriors this season, where he played every single minute, leading them to their first-ever Hockey East title. Lundgren is expected to report to Providence sometime soon after signing his Entry-Level Contract.
Meanwhile, the Maine Mariners clinched a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs yesterday, with a weekend sweep over the Greensboro Gargoyles. Luke Cavallin stopped 16/16 shots in a 6-0 win last night, his fourth shutout of the season.
Leave a Reply