In Tuesday action, Linkoping defeated Oskarshamn in SHL action by a score of 6-3. It was not a good day for Jonathan Myrenberg as he left the game with an injury and only played 8:59. There was no immediate status report on the injury.
In the NCAA, Northeastern defeated Boston University 4-3. Ty Gallagher did not play and I’m not sure what to make of the situation at BU.
In the USHL Beckett Hendrickson had a very good night all around while scoring twice and adding an assist to help Sioux Falls to a 5-4 overtime victory over Tri-City. He also had 5 SOG. Chris Pelosi also had an all-around good night with 3 assists and 2 SOG. Oh, and it was Pelosi who set up Hendrickson for the overtime winner. The chemistry between these two is just amazing.
In the OHL, Jackson Edward returned from his two-game suspension and the London Knights got back in the win column with a 4-0 win over the Kitchener Rangers as the battle for top spot continued. Edward had an assist and was a plus-2 with 2 SOG and logged a lot of ice on his off side paired with potential top-10 pick Sam Dickinson. Edward threw a couple of nice big hits in this one without crossing the line. Although I do think Adam McQuaid is going to have his hands full teaching him about that line.
On Wednesday HV71 defeated Frolunda 4-3 in overtime in J20 Nationell Top-10 action. Casper Nassen recorded his third goal on this portion of the season and 7th overall. Kristian Kostadinski was held off the board for the sixth straight game. Frolunda drops to 1-5-1 in Top-10 play and in ninth place in the standings.
In the WHL, Reid Dyck stopped all 28 shots he faced as Swift Current thumped Lethbridge 6-0. And some of them were of the spectacular fashion, which we have been accustomed to seeing Dyck make. I’m not sure who started the hashtag but I believe credit goes to Ryan Switzer on X but the WHL has started using the hashtag #ReidDyckulous when they post video highlights. I can’t wait for Mike Dunham and Bob Essensa to get a hold of Dyck and fine tune his game.
On Thursday, beginning with the SHL, Linkoping was bested by Farjestad 5-2. Myrenberg did not play and still no report on his injury.
Starting with the OHL on Friday, the London Knights defeated the Erie Otters by a score of 5-3. Despite a stat line of only 1 assist, plus-1 and 2 SOG, this was Edward’s best game of the season, making an impact at both ends of the ice while being an imposing physical force. I’ve never seen that many players knocked on their asses. As a Bruins fan, there was one play that made me smile and he didn’t do much: One of his teammates knocked an Erie player down in front of the London net. Edward stood there for a few seconds towering over him with a “don’t get up look on his face”, and he didn’t.
In the WHL: He’s back! Dyck stopped all 26 shots he faced and recorded back-to-back shutouts as the Swift Current Broncos defeated the Regina Pats 3-0. Once again, he was tagged with some spectacular saves, especially in the first period when the game was scoreless and Regina was pouring it on. I’ll admit, Dyck has exceeded expectations which were lofty to begin with. He will most certainly turn pro next season but will need a contract and I hope it’s with the Bruins. I can’t wait for him to begin working with Mike Dunham and Bob Essensa.
In the USHL, it was an embarrassing loss by the Sioux Falls Stampede as the Fargo Force thrashed them by a score of 7-2. It was particularly bad in the first period where Fargo dominated. I mean it was almost like they didn’t need to resurface the ice at the Fargo end at the end of one. Things looked better in the second period when trailing 3-0, Hendrickson would set up a goal to get them back into the game. It didn’t last long. Hendrickson finished with 1 assist, 1 SOG and a minus-1. Pelosi had zeroes across he board and was a minus-3.
In the NCAA, Boston College spanked UMass-Lowell 6-1 to improve to 19-4-1. Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik didn’t hit the scoresheet until late in the third period when they set up Cutter Gauthier when the game was basically out of reach. For Jellvik, his production has dipped slightly as of late, but he is still on pace for 16 goals and 19 assists which is great for a sophomore. On the other hand, Gasseau’s production has seen a rise as of late and is on pace for 12 goals and 18 assists which is also good for the sophomore.
Massachusetts squeezed by Merrimack 3-2 to improve to 14-6-3 with the winner coming early in the third period. Dans Locmelis did not register a point and was a minus-1 and went 3 for 12 on the faceoff dot. I’m not so sure Locmelis will be given more offensive opportunities even next season with UMass given the number of players that can return, but I like how his transition to North America is going. Tonight wasn’t the best example, but I am sure he will learn from it.
Cornell improved to 12-4-4 after a 5-1 victory over St Lawrence. The latter took an early 1-0 lead but it was all Cornell after that as they scored 5 unanswered goals. Ryan Walsh scored the game winner on the powerplay with his 8th of the season. It was his second GWG of the season and 4th with the man advantage. Last week I spoke about Walsh needing to find consistency with his production and that still holds true. If and when he does that, he will become an offensive force at this level.
Harvard (4-13-3) dropped Friday night’s game to Quinnipiac and despite holding Quinnipiac to just 2 goals, it was all due to a strong goaltending performance. It was still a good performance by Mason Langenbrunner as his talents for strong defence, skating and transitioning were on display here. It’s tough to get a full read on Langenbrunner because the team just isn’t very good, but he has been one of their better players.
Minnesota-Duluth dropped to 10-12-4 on the season after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Omaha. Quinn Olson finished a minus-3 with 2 SOG. After a strong start to the season where it looked like the player playing in his graduation year might earn an NHL contract, he has really cooled of and has not scored a goal in 12 games. It’s not looking to promising at this point.
North Dakota improved to 19-6-2 after a 5-4 overtime victory over Miami. Jake Schmaltz had zeroes across the board, a minus-1 and 3 SOG. His offence has taken a nose dive since his freshman year and I don’t think his defensive game is at the point where I would say I have to sign this player. I fully expect the Junior to return to North Dakota for his senior year to try and turn things around.
What ever has been ailing Riley Duran has seemed to be over. He scored once and added an assist as Providence College blanked Connecticut 5-0. Duran had a game high and season high 6 SOG. Philip Svedeback stopped all 22 shots he faced to right his ship while collecting his 4th shutout of the season. There was one save in particular that you can probably find on a highlight reel somewhere that was jaw dropping.
On Saturday, beginning with the J20 Nationell, Frolunda HC dropped a 3-2 decision to Skelleftea AIK in Top-10 action. Frolunda dropped to 1-6-1. Casper Nassen scored his 4th goal in Top-10 action and 8th overall on the season. Kristian Kostadinski was held off the scoresheet for the 7th consecutive game. Said it before and worth repeating, this team will be in a lot of trouble in Top-10 action and currently sits in 9th place.
In the WHL, it was supposed to be a night off for Dyck but after his partner allowed 3 goals on 12 shots through two periods, Swift Current made the switch for the third period to Dyck. He went in and stopped 10 of 12 shots in the third and into overtime but the Broncos fell 5-4 in overtime to the Brandon Wheat Kings. The win allowed Brandon to pull into a tie with Swift Current for 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings with 54 points.
In the OHL, the London Knights came from behind to defeat the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 in a shootout to extend their point streak to 18 games (16 wins). Edward did not register a point, but there is a play worth talking about. An Attack player fired a shot that hit the cross bar and came down on the goal line and out. The Attack player wasn’t even sure it went in. Edward, standing behind him looked at the referee who signaled goal. The Attack player skated towards the RW boards to celebrate. Edward made a v-line towards him, hit him into the boards and started a melee. Things like that need to come out of his game. Video review determined it was no goal.
In the NCAA, Maine blanked Massachusetts 1-0. Maine scored just 1:16 into the game and both defenses took over from there. Locmelis was blanked in a losing cause, with no shots on goal and was 5-9 on the dot.
Cornell spanked Clarkson 7-2. For the second time in two nights, Walsh scored the GWG early in the second with his 9th of the season. He finished a plus-1 with 3 SOG and was 2 for 6 on the dot. If he remains true to form on the season, he should go pointless in his next 3 games. Walsh has not had a helper since he had 2 on December 19 against Massachusetts.
Omaha defeated Minnesota-Duluth 4-3. Olson finished a minus-2 with 2 SOG. Not sure I can say anything about Olson I haven’t already said.
North Dakota defeated Miami 4-1 to hit the 20-win mark and improve to 20-6-2. Schmaltz did not register a point and had 1 SOG while going 7 for 13 on the dot. As with Olson, I’m not sure what else I can add about Schmaltz that I haven’t already said.
Providence College dropped a 2-1 decision to Connecticut. Svedeback stopped 17 of 19 shots he faced. Duran did not register a goal but put 7 shots on the target. Providence controlled this game from the second period on and you would think when you outshoot your opponents 43-19 that you’re going to win the game. Not on this night.
In the USHL it was a weekend to forget for the Sioux Falls Stampede. After being spanked by the Fargo Force Friday, well history repeated itself Saturday as the Force smoked them once again, this time by a score of 6-1, both at home. The bad news: They travel to Fargo for another match Friday. Both Hendrickson and Pelosi failed to register a point and both were a minus-1.
On Sunday, Frolunda lost another one, this time by a score of 2-1 in a shootout. Both Nassen and Kostadinski were held off the scoresheet. Nassen is supposed to be an offensive player, but he wasn’t one of the 4 shooters Frolunda sent over the boards in the shootout. Speaks to the type of season he is having. Or maybe he isn’t the offensive player we thought he was.
In the OHL, if you thought I was a little angry about the play Edward made Saturday night, it reached a new level Sunday afternoon. A Guelph Storm player threw a hit against Edward’s teammate that Edward took exception too. He went after him and was surrounded by three Storm players. Edward threw a clear and vicious headbutt on the smallest of the 3 and was assessed a 5-minute major and game misconduct. Supplemental discipline is sure to follow. I don’t understand it because Edward could have dropped the gloves against any of the three and handled them. Edward just came off a suspension last weekend.
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:
Ryan Walsh has goals in three consecutive games with the last two being game winning goals.
Reid Dyck had shutouts in back-to-back games before coming in in relief Saturday.
WHO’S WARM:
Beckett Hendrickson has 4 goals and 3 assists in his last 6 games.
Chris Pelosi is pointless in 2 games and has 2 goals and 4 assists in his last 6 games.
Casper Nassen has 2 goals and an assist in 2 of his last 3 games.
Oskar Jellvik has 3 assists in his last 2 games.
Andre Gasseau has 3 gaols, 7 assists in 8 of his last 10 games.
WHO’S COLD:
Jonathan Myrenberg is out with an undisclosed injury.
Kristian Kostadinski is pointless in 8 games.
Jackson Edward will face OHL supplemental discipline for a head butt.
Cole Spicer is no longer listed on the Youngstown Phantoms roster. The plan is for him to get his grades up and hope he can return to the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season.
Dom - Hockey 