Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday season and that the new year brings you and your family plenty more joy and happiness. 2023 was a productive year here and I hope to bring you plenty more for 2024 and hope that you will come along for the ride!
By now, you probably already know that Cole Spicer is done with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. At Least for this season. Head Coach Scott Sandelin announced Spicer was declared academically ineligible. Spicer could return next season, but a lot of things would have to fall his way. There was speculation that Spicer could play Major Junior in the WHL but that would nullify any opportunity to return to the NCAA. His only real options were the BCHL or the USHL. He chose the latter and will play the remainder of this season with the Youngstown Phantoms where Georgii Merkulov and Trevor Kuntar played.
On the ice, beginning on Tuesday, Linkoping defeat HV71 by a score of 4-1 in SHL action. Jonathan Myrenberg did not factor in the scoring in 15:25 TOI and but had a season high 3 SOG.
On Wednesday, Swift Current defeated Lethbridge 7-6 in overtime in WHL action. Reid Dyck is still out with an injury and has been out since November 14. Swift Current is now 6th in the Eastern Conference standings just 2 points out of third and 6 points out of 9th. Just how important is Dyck to the team’s success? They are 8-4-0 with him (.667 Points-percentage) and 9-10-3 without him (.477 points-percentage).
On Thursday, Linkoping was at it again defeating Orebro by a score of 3-2. It was a relatively quiet game for Myrenberg with just 12:52 TOI. Linkoping has won 4 of their last 5 and sit third in SHL standings. Myrenberg is tied for third among team defence in scoring but more impressively is second in plus/minus with a plus-9. Impressive because he is doing it as a 19-year-old.
In the OHL, the London Knights defeated the Sarnia Sting 6-2. Jackson Edward to did factor in the scoring and finished a plus-1 with 3 SOG logging big minutes on the blueline. Overall, I am satisfied with how Edward is progressing. He should have more assists with this London Knights team and maybe there is a stronger second half to come.
In the NCAA, a Spicer-less Minnesota Duluth lost 4-3 in overtime against Northeastern in a non-conference game. Quinn Olson collected an assist, his 12th of the season and is now second in scoring for UMD. More is going to be require from Olson now and we’ll see how he responds as he tries to earn an NHL contract.
Moving onto Friday, in NCAA action Cornell and Massachusetts battled to a 2-2 tie. Ryan Walsh set up both goals for Cornell including one on the powerplay with about 5 minutes left in the second period to put Cornell up 2-1. They would hold onto the lead until Mass scored with 2:02 remaining in regulation. Walsh was 50% on the dot but did not have a SOG in this one.
In non-conference action, Minnesota-Duluth defeated Air Force by a score of 4-1. Olson did not register a point in this one and ha 2 SOG. He remains second in team scoring with 3 goals and 12 assists in 19 games.
In another non-conference game, Boston University thrashed Yale 6-1. I’ve been extremely tough on Ty Gallagher at times this season but with the caveat that he’s not getting the same playing time and duties he has in the past with BU. With several teammates away at the WJC, he got some PP time and set up the 3-1 goal to virtually put the game away. He had 2 SOG and more ice time, but was also a minus-1.
In the OHL the London Knights defeated the Sarnia Sting 5-1 for their second win in as many nights against Sarnia. This game had a lot happening. Lot’s of roughing, some fighting, stick work worthy of major penalties, even an abuse of officials call. But if you look at the box score, zeroes across the board for Edward except one SOG. This game should have been right up his alley.
In USHL action, the Sioux Falls Stampede returned to action after the holiday break with a 6-3 win over Sioux City. It was a longer break for Chris Pelosi and Beckett Hendrickson as they took part in the WJAC. What a return for Pelosi. He had 2 goals, 2 assists, 5SOG and finished a plus-3. He scored once by flying down the wing, beating the defender wide and going to the net, and then by going to the net, gaining position and firing home a pass at the top of the blue paint. Hendrickson’s lone assist came on that play.
We begin our look at Saturday’s action in the NCAA where Cornell and Arizona State battled to a 2-2 tie. Walsh did not register a point in this one and finished with 1 SOG and was just 3 for 7 on the dot. With 5 goals and 4 assists through 14 games and fifth on the team in scoring, the freshman can say it’s been a good 2023 for him with more to come in 2024.
Harvard is just 1-6-3 after dropping a 5-2 decision to Princeton. No points for Mason Langenbrunner and he finished a minus-1 with 2 SOG. Obviously, it has not been a good season for Harvard and for Langenbrunner. But there is some good to come from playing through adversity.
North Dakota lost a 4-3 overtime decision to the US Under-18 squad in an exhibition game. Jake Schmaltz did not hit the score sheet in this one.
Philip Svedeback stopped all 15 shots he faced as Providence College defeated Brown 3-0. Svedeback wasn’t overworked and made the saves he needed to make to earn his second shutout of the season. Riley Duran assisted on the empty net goal with 2 minutes remaining to help seal the deal.
In USHL action, Sioux Falls defeated Cedar Rapids 5-2 to win the first two of their three-in-three weekend. Pelosi kept his sizzling streak going with an assist in this one while Hendrickson added two helpers to keep his more modest streak alive.
On Sunday in NCAA action, Harvard fell to Connecticut by a score of 4-2 in non-conference action. They drop to 1-7-3 on the season and nothing is going right for them. There were no points for Langenbrunner and he finished with 1 SOG and a minus-1.
In the USHL, Sioux Falls dropped a 6-2 decision to Des Moines. Hendrickson scored one of the goals for Sioux Falls on a bank shot off the goaltender from behind the net. It was one of four shots for the winger. Pelosi did not get a point and had 3 SOG. Both players finished a minus-1.
In the OHL, the London Knights improved to 23-11-0-1 with a 5-3 victory over the Flint Firebirds. Edward had an assist on the game’s clinching goal mid way through the third. He finished a plus-1 with 2 SOG.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “value” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created and algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.
Coming up this week:
AROUND THE GLOBE
WHO’S HOT:
Beckett Hendrickson has a goal and 3 assists in his last 3 games and 2 goals, 5 assists in 5 of his last 6 games.
Chris Pelosi has 6 goals and 5 assists in 5 of his last 6 games.
Oskar Jellvik has 2 goals and an assist in his last 3 games and 4 goals, 5 assists in 6 of his last 7 games.
WHO’S WARM:
Ryan Walsh has a goal and 2 assists in 2 of his last 3 games.
WHO’S COLD:
Cole Spicer as mentioned das been disqualified from the rest of the NCAA season. He is academically ineligible.
Jonathan Myrenberg is pointless in his last 5 games
Reid Dyck continues to miss time with an injury.
Dom - Hockey 
At what point does it make sense to take players not getting minutes in Providence to Maine? Thinking specifically about Harrison and Brunet
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