On Monday, McKeen’s Hockey released their top-10 candidates for AHL Rookie of the Year for the 2023-2024 season. Mason Lohrei did not make the top-10 but was an honorable mention with the likes of Brandt Clarke, Logan Stankoven, Shane Wright and Zachary Bolduc to name a few.
On Tuesday, Reid Dyck showed off his athleticism and technique in stopping 40 of 43 shots he faced as Swift Current defeated Kamloops 6-3. Some of his saves were of the spectacular fashion. In seasons past, he has been known to give up a soft goal in most games. I’m not sure I’d consider the third goal of the night a soft one but he went post to post quickly to get to a one-timer. Although he got there in enough time, he didn’t hug his post and the puck beat him short side. Two ways he could have played it: get to that post and hug it, or not be so deep in his net and cutting down the angle.
Over in the USHL, Sioux Falls defeated Sioux City by a score of 6-4 thanks to the game winning goal by Chris Pelosi. It was Pelosi’s 4th goal of the season in his 7th game which puts him on pace for 35 goals. That’s two more than the 33 I had him pegged for in my preseason forecast. Beckett Hendrickson assisted on the winner while also assisting on the game’s opening goal just 3 minutes into the game. It was Hendrickson’s 4th and 5th helpers on the season. He is on pace for 44 assists on the year and if he continues at this pace, he will finish with 10 more than I had forecast for him. There is a great chemistry and bond growing between the two prospects and we’re watching it develop before our eyes.
On Wednesday, Kristian Kostadinski ended a 5-game pointless streak with a helper in J20 Nationell action but it wasn’t enough for Frolunda as they lost 3-2 to Vaxjo. Fellow prospect Casper Nassen was held off the scoresheet and was moved to left wing after playing predominantly right wing. I understand the coaching staff is trying to get more offence from Nassen and even though he’s a right shot, he has always been better on the left side. I’m not sure that was the case today.
In the WHL, there was uncertainty in what to expect from Dyck playing on back-to-back nights not just early in the season, but so soon returning from injury and missing his entire training camp. After stopping 6 shots in the first period and his teammates giving him a 2-0 lead, he was under siege in the second facing 18 shots. By the 13-minute mark, Dyck had a 2-1 lead but 3 goals in under 4 minutes put Kelowna ahead 4-2. Swift current would get within 1 back in the third with Dyck under siege again facing 17 shots. He Rockets would add 2 empty net goals for a 6-3 victory. Dyck faced at least 40 shots in back-to-back games and the third time in 4 starts. In his other start he faced 35 shots. It’s going to be a long season.
In the OHL, Jackson Edward scored his second of the season on an absolute howitzer from between the circles to open the scoring. They actually went to review to make sure the puck went into the net. Edward would add an assist in the second period for his third of the season. I have mixed reviews on Edward as he bounced around from left side to right side yet again and playing with a different partner. He is fine up ice but in his own zone on his weak side there are struggles and quite visibly. He took a hitting from behind penalty that led to Brantford’s only goal but there will be no supplemental discipline.
On Thursday, Linkoping defeated Frolunda 3-0 in SHL action. There were no points for Jonathan Myrenberg and he finished a plus-1 with 1 SOG in 15:45 TOI. While I had Myrenberg to finish with 11 assists on the season, and he’s on pace to just surpass that, Linkoping is not having problems scoring goals which might have you thinking Myrenberg should be producing more. He does have some offensive flair. But it’s his usage as a shut down guy that is impressive. And at this stage in a career, it’s what defencemen playing pro need to work on. Not in this case.
On Friday, Riley Duran continued his impressive start to the season scoring his 3rd goal, to go along with 2 assists in just his 4th game of the young season. It was a great individual effort as he was skating south on the opposition end, spun along the boards and headed north and towards the middle of the ice and ripped home a shot that put Providence College up to stay in an eventual 4-3 victory over Denver. Philip Svedeback stopped 21 of 24 shots to improve to 3-1-0 on the season with a 2.69 GAA and .900 save-percentage.
Boston College defeated Rensselaer 6-1. Andre Gasseau set up the opening goal just 28 seconds into the contest and leads BC in scoring with 4 points (2 goals and 2 assists) through 3 games. He is on pace to obliterate last season’s goal total but asking him to maintain his 28.6 shooting percentage is asking too much. Oskar Jellvik scored his second of the season in the win taking a beautiful pass coming down the slot, dropping to a knee and firing home a shot. If asking Gasseau to keep up his shooting percentage, then asking Jellvik to maintain his 33.3 shooting percentage…
Minnesota-Duluth defeated Bemidji State 4-0. Cole Spicer notched his 2nd goal of the season. With his 2 assists on the year, Spicer has points in 3 consecutive games after being held off the scoresheet in the season opener. Quinn Olson assisted on the Spicer tally, his 5th helper on the season and now has points in each of the 4 games to start the year. It will be interesting to see what happens with Olson at the end of the season. He decided to return for a 5th season and unlike former Bruin prospect Dustyn McFaul, did not have the necessary credits to deem him a graduated student and thus becoming an unrestricted free agent.
North Dakota dropped a 4-0 decision to Minnesota. Obviously, Jake Schmaltz did not register a point in this one. After a promising opening night where he looked like he would have a bounce back season, he is pointless in his last 2 and only one shot on goal. At this point, he will be hard pressed to match his production as a freshman two years ago where he looked like a promising prospect.
Things aren’t going very well for Boston University as they dropped a 4-1 decision to Notre Dame and fell to 1-2-0 on the season that doesn’t include a 8-2 drubbing by U18 squad in an exhibition game last weekend. Things are looking equally ugly for Ty Gallagher, who we were looking for some very good offensive production from the back end from. After producing 16 points as a freshman and 21 as a sophomore, Gallagher has yet to produce any offence this season. Sure, it’s only been 3 games and the season is young. We are not writing him off.
In the USHL, Chris Pelosi continues his hot pace to start the year. He had the lone goal for Sioux Falls as they dropped a 4-1 decision to Tri-City. It was Pelosi’s 5th of the year and with his 3 assists has points in 6 of his 8 games played. Beckett Hendrickson hasn’t been as consistent as Pelosi but he does have 6 points in 8 games. Unfortunately, he has been held pointless in half those contests. But the other things he brings to the game are highly impressive.
In the OHL, the Erie Otters shocked the London Knights by a 5-3 score. Jackson Edward did not register a point in this game and I don’t want to sound like a broken record about his play on the left side or right side. Instead, I will say Edward has upped his physical game from a year ago if that was even possible. The difference is how smart he is about it. A year ago, he took a lot of penalties chasing the physicality – 110 PIMs in 65 games. This season he has just 6 in 9 games.
We had some heroes on Saturday!
Beginning with the NCAA Jellvik scored his third of the season and third in as many games but Boston College dropped to 3-1-0 after a 4-3 loss to Denver. It was almost identical to the goal he scored Friday. He came down the middle and riffled a wrister from between the circles to beat the goalie clean. Kid can rip a wrist shot! Gasseau was held off the scoresheet having his point streak snapped at 3 games.
Minnesota-Duluth defeated Bemidji State 5-4 in overtime in a rematch of Friday night’s contest. Olson scored his first of the season on a penalty shot in the third period to put UMD up 4-2. He also had a helper, his 6th of the season earlier in the second period. However, Bemidji battled back to tie it only to have Spicer win it in overtime with his 3rd goal of the season.
Providence defeated Rensselaer 4-2 to improve to 4-1-0. While Duran did not have any points in this one, every time I watch him play, I can’t help but think how much of a fan favorite he’ll be in Boston. It was the first time this season he was held pointless, ending a 4-game streak with 3 goals and 2 assists. Svedeback stopped 16 of 18 shots he faced to win his third in a row and 4th on the season.
North Dakota defeated Minnesota 2-1 to improve to 3-1-0 on the season. Schmaltz did not register a point for the third consecutive game and was held to one shot on goal.
Boston University got some revenge over Notre Dame, blasting them 8-2 in the rematch. Seams like the perfect game for Gallagher to get on the scoresheet but no, he remains pointless through 4 games. He did register a shot on goal dressing as the 7th defenceman. Something looks disorganized with BU and this is not the start expected of Gallagher.
Massachusetts defeated Minnesota State 1-0 on Saturday. It was the first game of the year for Dans Locmelis who was serving a suspension. Satisfied with Locmelis who was not only shaking off some rust, but was playing his first game on North America ice. The points will come for him as he shakes off that rust.
Sioux Falls defeated Omaha 4-3 in overtime in USHL action and Pelosi was the hero here as he picked up a deflected shot in the slot and fired home a shot from the top of the blue paint for the winner. It was Pelosi’s third in 3-games and 6th of the season. He ripped 7 shots on goal and was an offensive threat through the evening. Only Hendrickson had more shots on goal with 8 but did not register a point in consecutive games and has just 1 in his last 4 games.
In the SHL, Linkoping dropped a 5-2 decision to Orebro. During 16:16 TOI Myrenberg did not register a point but had to SOG. He finished a minus-1 in this game which is a rarity for him.
On Sunday, Frolunda lost 3-1 to Oskarshamn and are now outside the top 5 in the standings in the Sodra Division which means they would miss out in the J20 Nationell’s Top-10 portion of the season – the top 5 teams from the Sodra and Norra division each play 27 games against each other to determine seeding for the playoffs. Kostadinski had an assist in the losing cause, his 7th through 18 games on the season. Nassen was pointless for the second consecutive game.
Playing their third game in three days, Sioux Falls defeated Sioux City 4-3 in the USHL. Pelosi’s 3 game goal streak came to an end as all good things do. As for Hendrickson, his pointless streak was extended to 3 games. It’s not like he’s not creating opportunities for himself and his teammates, he has 12 SOG in those 3 games. At this point, he’s gripping the stick a little. His time will come.
Dyck was once again solid in Swift Current’s 2-1 victory over Regina. He stopped 23 of 24 shots and was easily the best player on the ice tonight. I said it last season and worth repeating again this season: he gives his teammates a chance almost every night. He has a .921 save=percentage through 5 games which is tied for 5th in the WHL.
In the battle of heavyweights in the OHL, Saginaw defeated London 6-4. Edward finished with an assist in this one and a surprising plus-3. I think this was his best game of the season to date.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders:
Coming up this week:
| PLAYER | M-23 | T-24 | W-25 | T-26 | F-27 | S-28 | S-29 |
| NASSEN/KOSTADINSKI | At MAL | At ROG | |||||
| MYRENBERG | Vs ROG | Vs TIM | |||||
| BYCHKOV | Vs SKA | Vs SEV | |||||
| JELLVIK/GASSEAU | Vs MSU | Vs MSU | |||||
| LOCMELIS | At BU | Vs BU | |||||
| WALSH | vs MND | vs MND | |||||
| LANGENBRUNNER | At DAR | ||||||
| SPICER/OLSON | At COR | At COR | |||||
| SCHMALTZ | Vs MNS | Vs MNS | |||||
| DURAN/SVEDEBACK | Vs VER | Vs VER | |||||
| GALLAGHER | vs UMA | At UMA | |||||
| EDWARD | Vs OTT | ||||||
| HENDRICKSON/PELOSI | At YST | At YST | |||||
| DYCK | Vs P A | Vs SEA | At P A |
AROUND THE GLOBE
WHO’S HOT:
Quinn Olson has points in all 5 games early in the season with 1 goal and 6 assists.
Oskar Jellvik has 3 goals in his last 3 games.
WHO’S WARM:
Cole Spicer has points in 4 consecutive games with 3 goals and 2 assists after going pointless opening night.
Riley Duran had his point streak end at 4 games with 3 goals and 2 assists.
Chris Pelosi has 3 goals in 4 games and 5 in his last 7 games.
Kristian Kostadinski has a small two game point streak going in the J20 Nationell.
WHO’S COLD:
Ty Gallagher is pointless through his first 4 games of the season.
Jake Schmaltz is pointless in 3 games with only 2 shots on goal in those games.
Casper Nassen is pointless in two games and has 2 points in his last 5 games.
Dom - Hockey 