By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44
The European-based players in the Boston Bruins’ prospect pool began playing a little while ago. This week, the three B’s prospects who will spend this year in the Canadian Hockey League, Cole Chandler, Cullen McCrate, and Jacob Vandeven, began their 2026-2027 seasons. So how did they and the rest of the Bruins’ prospect pool do this week?
CHL
Cole Chandler this week for the Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL): Two games played, one goal, two assists, two penalty minutes, -2 rating.
Chandler had an assist and three shots on goal on Friday in a 5-4 shootout loss against Halifax, and a goal and an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss to Charlottetown on Sunday. It was a solid weekend for the Bedford, Nova Scotia, native who is committed to Northeastern for next season.
Cullen McCrate this week for the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL): Two games played, no points, no penalties, +1 rating.
McCrate did not record a point this weekend, but did help the Bulldogs to wins over Guelph and Niagara.
Jacob Vandeven this week for the London Knights (OHL): Two games played, no points, six penalty minutes, +3 rating.
Vandeven did not record a point this weekend for London, but the Knights did record a weekend sweep over Windsor.
Europe
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): One game played, one goal, one assist, no penalties, Even Plus/Minus.
Bartholdsson played for Rogle’s U20 team on Thursday, scoring a goal and recording an assist in a 5-4 win over HV71’s U20 team, also recording four shots on goal. On Saturday, he dressed for Rogle’s SHL team but did not see any ice time.
Yuri Ivanov this week for MHK Spartak-MAH Moskva (MHL): One game played, 0-1-0 record, .857% save percentage, three goals against.
Ivanov gave up three goals on 21 shots to SKA-Akademiya in a 3-1 loss. He has a .923% save percentage and a 2.04 goals-against average in three games this season.
Matvei Kotkov this week for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL): Three games played, one goal, two penalty minutes, Even Plus/Minus.
Kotkov continues to impress in the KHL. He had an empty-net goal on Tuesday against Traktor Chelyabinsk in a 4-1 win, had a shot on goal on Friday in a 2-1 win over Avangard Omsk, and had three shots on goal and a season-high 13:38 time on ice on Sunday in a 5-0 loss to Barys Astana. Kotkov continues to get regular minutes for Lokomotiv, who is 6-1-0 in the KHL. I had him as an honorable mention in my summer Prospect rankings, and if he keeps this up he will absolutely be in the top 10 of my midseason ranking.
Oscar Olsson this week for Örebro HK U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, one goal, two assists, two penalty minutes, +1 rating.
After snapping a three-game pointless skid last week, Olsson recorded his first goal of the season on Sunday in a 5-3 loss to Vaxjo’s U20 team, also getting a primary assist, as well as putting six shots on net. He also had an assist on Saturday in a 6-0 win over Tingsryds AIF U20.
Liam Pettersson this week for Djurgårdens IF U20 (U20 Nationell): Two games played, two assists, six penalty minutes, -1 rating.
Pettersson has three assists in five games in the U20 Nationell, after recording an assist in a 6-3 loss to IF Bjorkloven on Saturday and an assist in a 4-3 shootout loss against MoDo on Sunday.
Kirill Yemelyanov this week for Loko Yaroslavl (MHL): Two games played, one assist, no penalties, +1 rating.
Yemelyanov finally got his first point of the season on Sunday with a secondary assist in a 4-1 win, sweeping a two-game set against MHK Dynamo Moskva.
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