Controversy surrounded the Swift Current Broncos before their Tuesday night matchup against the Medicine Hat Tigers. And interim coach Taras McEwan called it the best complete game of the season. We’ll agree to disagree. While they won on the scoreboard 6-3, they were outshot 37-25. If not for goaltender Reid Dyck, this game could have had a different result. Again. Reid was particularly brilliant in the third period with his team leading 3-1. He stopped 17 of 19 shots in the third alone while his teammates scored on 3 of their 6 shots. This was another of those “Dyck gives his team a chance to win” games.
On Wednesday, the J20 Nationell got back into action after a week off and it was another loss for Frolunda, dropping a 3-2 decision in overtime to Vaxjo HC. Kristian Kostadinski registered an assist in a losing cause giving the hulking defenceman points in 3 straight games. For Casper Nassen, he had no points in this one and wasn’t much of a threat. With 4 games remaining, Frolunda is 3 points out of 5th place and a chance to move onto the Top-10 play.
In the OHL, Jackson Edward scored a beauty unassisted for his 5th goals of the season to put London up 2-0 in their 5-2 victory over the Guelph Storm. But it was a selfish play that could have cost his team that sticks out to me. In the second period up 3-1, he chased a hit in front of the benches. He made contact and got his gloves up too high – definitely deserving of a roughing penalty which he was called for. While skating by the official, he had something to say while clapping and earned a 10-minute misconduct. Earlier in the season, he had been keeping his PIMs under control, but lately he has been racking up the minutes.
On Thursday, we’ll begin with off the ice news. USA Hockey announced its Junior Select Team roster for the 2023 World Junior A Challenge which will take place in Truro Nova Scotia next month. Two Bruins prospects have been named to the squad: Beckett Hendrickson and Chris Pelosi. Congratulations to both!
On the Ice, the SHL returned to action with Linkoping defeating Farjestad 4-2. Jonathan Myrenberg assisted on the game winning goal midway through the second to break a 2-2 deadlock. It was classic transition for Myrenberg who has 1 goal and 4 assists now on the season. Linkoping improved to 8-3-6-1 on the season and second place, 3 points behind Farjestad.
In NCAA action Dans Locmelis and U-Mass defeated Providence and Riley Duran and Philip Svedeback 3-2. It wasn’t a great game if you’re a Bruins fan. Locmelis was moved up in the lineup at times but it didn’t show up on the score sheet. He did finish with 2 shots on goal. Duran was ineffective offensively in the loss and had zeroes across the board. Svedeback lost for the first time in 10 games stopping 24 of 27 shots. You couldn’t fault him on any of the goals against.
A busy Friday beginning in the USHL saw Sioux Falls drop a 4-3 shootout decision to Sioux City. No points for our boys Pelosi and Hendrickson but it wasn’t for lack of trying and not creating opportunities. Pelosi had 6 shots on goal to lead all skaters and also missed his shootout opportunity. It’s a shame these two won’t be going to the same school next season because they have chemistry to spare an I would love to see it continue before they turn pro.
In the OHL the Flint Firebirds defeated the London Knights 7-4 in what was a sloppy game for London. Edward did not register a point but somehow finished a plus-1 with 2 shots on goal.
In the NCAA, Boston College improved to 8-2-1 with a 5-4 overtime win over Connecticut. Andre Gasseau scored twice with the first on a well disguised shot from the top of the right circle to open the scoring. His second came while he was standing in front of the net taking the goalies eyes away and the puck went off him for his 4th of the season. Oskar Jellvik assisted on that one. In overtime, it was Jellvik with the beauty moves that found himself alone in front of the net, but he couldn’t finish. His teammate did and Jellvik had his second helper of the game.
U-Mass (7-3-1) defeated Providence College (8-2-2) by a 3-2 margin. Svedeback stopped 24 of 27 shots in the loss, dropping his second consecutive game. Duran had zeroes across the board and played most of the game on the second line. For the winning side, Locmelis had no points, 2 shots and finished 5 for 10 on the dot.
Quinnipiac thumped Cornell 8-4. Ryan Walsh did not register a point and finished a -1 with 3 SOG. He was absolutely destroyed on the dot going 1 for 12 on faceoffs. Nothing bright to say about Cornell or Walsh in this one except to hope for a bounce back game Saturday.
St Cloud State (7-4-0) beat Minnesota-Duluth (3-6-3) by a score of 2-1. This game had a bit of everything from great goaltending to some rough stuff to close it out and everything in between. Nothing to show for it offensively for Quinn Olson or Cole Spicer who are now pointless in 2 and 3 games respectively. Both finished with one shot on goal and Spicer went 6 for 16 on the dot.
Boston University (7-3-1) defeated Maine (6-2-1) by a 3-2 score. Ty Gallagher had zeroes across the board. If there is a bright spot it’s that he hasn’t been the 7th defenceman the last couple of games. Gallagher needs to play with confidence to play his game and that’s been lacking. Let’s hope this gives him a boost.
On Saturday in the J20 Nationell, Frolunda dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to Farjestad BK to fall to 10-10-4 in what is increasingly becoming must win games for them. Nassen missed the game with an undisclosed injury while Kostadinski notched his 9th assist of the campaign and was a force defensively.
In the SHL, Linkoping also dropped a shootout decision, by a score of 4-3 to Vaxjo and falling to 8-3-6-2 and a tie for second place in the SHL. Myrenberg, again in transition, set up the goal to put Linkoping up 3-2 early in the third but they couldn’t hold on for a win.
In the NCAA, Boston College (9-2-1) defeated Connecticut (5-8-1) 3-0. Jellvik scored his 6th of the season into an empty net to seal the victory. He finished a plus-2 with 2 SOG. Gasseau did not register a point and had 3 SOG.
U-Mass (8-3-1) defeated Providence (8-3-2) by a 2-1 score in overtime. On the winning side, Locmelis did not have a point, finished a plus-1 with 1 SOG and was 3 for 9 on the dot. Nice to see him getting more ice time and quality opportunities even though it has not translated to the scoresheet yet. On the losing side, Svedeback stopped 14 of 116 shots (PC outshot U-Mass 33-16) for his second consecutive loss. Duran finished a minus-1 with 1 SOG.
Cornell (4-3-1) lost in overtime by a score of 2-1 to Princeton (3-2-1). Walsh did not register a point but had a couple of chances driving the second line for most of the night. He finished with 3 SOG and finished 10 for 17 on the dot.
Minnesota-Duluth (3-7-3) lost to St. Cloud State (8-4-0) by a score of 6-5. Olson had a goal and a helper in the losing cause to improve to 2 goals and 10 assists on the season. Spicer did not register a point, had 2 SOG and was 9 for 23 on the dot.
Boston University (8-3-1) defeated Maine (6-3-1) by a score of 5-4. Maine dominated the shot totals 43-24 but couldn’t come out on top. Gallagher continues to see more ice time after spending most of the season as the 7th defenceman. He did not register a point and finished a plus-2 with 1 SOG.
In the OHL, the slumping London Knights dropped a 4-2 decision to the Erie Otters. Edward did not factor in the scoring for London and had one shot on goal. Edward is on pace for 17G and 17A on the season, well above and below the 7G and 31A I had projected for him.
On Sunday, Frolunda defeated Orebro 4-3 to move into a tie for 5th place in the Sodra division of the J20 with Rogle but Rogle holds the tie-breaker. The top 5 teams in the Sodra move on to play in the Top-10 portions of league play with the top 5 teams from the Norra division. Nassen missed his second consecutive game while Kostadinski was kept off the scoresheet.
Sioux Falls lost a 6-4 decision to Waterloo in USHL action. Waterloo led 2-0 after two periods and then came one of the wildest third periods with each team scoring 4 times. Pelosi had 2 assists with 6 SOG while Hendrickson had a goal and assist with 3 SOG. It wasn’t enough as the Sioux didn’t get the goaltending required to get it done.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders:
Coming up this week:
| PLAYER | M- 20 | T- 21 | W- 22 | T- 23 | F- 24 | S- 25 | S- 26 |
| NASSEN/KOSTADINSKI | At IKO | ||||||
| MYRENBERG | At RBK | Vs OBK | |||||
| BYCHKOV | Vs SPA | Vs LAD | |||||
| JELLVIK/GASSEAU | at NDM | ||||||
| LOCMELIS | At HAR | ||||||
| WALSH | Vs B U | ||||||
| LANGENBRUNNER | vs UMA | ||||||
| SPICER/OLSON | |||||||
| SCHMALTZ | Vs BMJ | Vs BMJ | |||||
| DURAN/SVEDEBACK | At ASU | ||||||
| GALLAGHER | Vs QUI | Vs COR | |||||
| EDWARD | At N B | At SUD | At BAR | ||||
| HENDRICKSON/PELOSI | Vs D M | Vs LIN | |||||
| DYCK | At M J |
AROUND THE GLOBE
WHO’S HOT:
Beckett Hendrickson has 3 goals and 3 assists in his last 4 games.
WHO’S WARM:
Kristian Kostadinski has a goal and 2 assists in his last 5 games.
Jonathan Myrenberg has a goal and 2 assists in his last 5 games.
Oskar Jellvik has a goal and 2 assists in his last 2 games.
Chris Pelosi has no goals in his last 6 games but has 4 helpers.
WHO’S COLD:
Reid Dyck, Jake Schmaltz and Casper Nassen are out with injuries.
Andre Gasseau has 2 goals (in the same game) in his last 6 games and 2 goals and an assist in his last 9.
Riley Duran, after a hot start to the season, has 1 goal and 0 assists in his last 9 games.
Ryan Walsh is pointless in 3 games after a very hot start to the season (5GP – 3G – 2A).
Cole Spicer is pointless in 4 games and has 1G – 0A in his last 7 games.
Dom - Hockey 