On Monday, the WHL announced that Reid Dyck was named the Goaltender of the Week for the week ending February 4, 2024. Dyck went 2-0-1-0 with a sizzling goal against average of 0.85 and a .970 save percentage with 2 shutouts.
The ECAC announced that Ryan Walsh has been named Rookie of the Week for the week ending February 4, 2024. Walsh scored twice, both game winners and took home the honors for the first time.
London Knights defenceman Jackson Edward received a 2-game suspension for a headbutt on Tuesday. The OHL, unlike the NHL has set suspensions for certain infractions and the going rate for a headbutt is usually 2 games, if there is no injury. Many, including myself thought the league might tag on an extra game or two because he had just come off a suspension, but that was not the case.
It was also the start of the Beanpot! Boston University took care of Boston College by a score of 4-3, although things got tense in the third period when BC scored twice in under 3 minutes to pull within 1 goal. Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik did not register a pint in the loss while both also finished a minus-1. Gasseau had 1 SOG while Jellvik was blanked. On the winning side, Ty Gallagher also finished a minus-1 with no points and did not register a SOG.
In the other matchup, Northeastern defeated Harvard 3-2 in overtime. Mason Langenbrunner finished with no points and a minus-1 with 2 SOG. Of special interest, Derek Mullahy, who attended Bruins rookie camp, stopped 33 of 36 shots in the loss. Northeaster will face Boston University on Monday for the Beanpot Championship.
On Tuesday, the Swift Current Broncos topped the Red Deer Rebels 4-3. Full credit to Dyck in this one as Red Deer outshot Swift Current 36-27. He made the saves he was supposed to make and two or three you wouldn’t fault him for had he not made the save. I can’t see any scenario where the Bruins do not sign him to his entry level contract and he turns pro next season.
Moving onto Friday night in the WHL, Dyck stopped 25 of 26 shots as the Broncos defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings 4-1. The only goal he gave up came while down a man on a shot through a teammate that beat him short side. He left some room on his left side and even though he couldn’t see the shot until it was too late, he could have made the positional save if h had taken away the short side. Still a solid game and he’s only given up 1 goal in his last three starts.
In the NCAA it was a battle of the goaltenders as UMass blanked Connecticut 2-0. With the game still scoreless entering the third period, Dans Locmelis scored the GWG 2:55 into the final frame. Standing in front of the net, Locmelis moved to his right to make himself a pass option, dropped to one knee and ripped a shot over the pad and glove of the goaltender. It was his 6th goal of the season and is now tied for third most goals for the Minutemen despite playing in 7 fewer games.
Boston College spanked New Hampshire 6-1. Jellvik beat out an icing, fed the puck in front for his first assist of the game. Then, he circled near the blue line, skated to the top of the left circle and ripped what look like an intended pass, hit someone in front and went to his teammate who just had to direct it into the empty cage for his second assist. Then, in an almost identical move to the first assist, this time further out, he found a teammate cutting in front of the net for his third assist of the game. He finished a plus-2 with 2 SOG. Gasseau finished with zeroes across the board and was a plus-1.
Cornell defeated Rensselaer 4-1. Last week, I talked a lot here about Walsh finding consistency and that if he stayed true to form, he would go pointless in his next three games. It began tonight as he had zeroes across the board and went 6 for 13 on the dot. Still, his 9 goals on the season are tied for second on the team just 1 away from the leader. Despite the inconsistent production, his transition to the NCAA has been very smooth and at this point, successful.
Providence College fell to 15-9-2 to Maine in what has been a common story this season. They regularly outshoot their opponents but either don’t score enough or don’t get a game stealing save when they need it. Philip Svedeback stopped 21 of 23 shots in the loss while his opponent stopped 27 of 28. Yet, he remains 7th in the NCAA with a 2.16 GAA but 49th with the more important .902 SV%. He has played the 7th most games but is 39th in saves with 507. Riley Duran went pointless in this one and could only muster 1 SOG.
Boston University embarrassed Merrimack by a score of 7-1. Gallagher was once again the seventh defenceman and assisted on the 7th goal, long after the game was decided. It will be interesting to see what Gallagher decides to do as he clearly isn’t getting the opportunities under coach Jay Pandolfo.
In the USHL it was the third consecutive game for the Sioux Falls Stampede against the Fargo Force. Nothing went right for the Stampede as they got trounced by a score of 12-4. Beckett Hendrickson did manage an assist, 2 SOG and was a minus-1. Chris Pelosi went pointless (in all 3 games against the Force), had 2 SOG and was also a minus-1. There was nothing good about this game.
It was a quiet Saturday, but we’ll begin with the NCAA. UMass defeated Connecticut by a score of 3-1. Locmelis did not register a point in this one and was a plus-1 with 1 SOG and going 1 for 2 on the dot. I’ve said many times here I am not concerned about production for Locmelis this season but I was interested why he wasn’t doing well in the assist category. His linemates tonight have combined for less goals than Locmelis has on his own. And they’ve combined for 4 assists in 43 combined games. At least Locmelis is learning to create his own offence.
Cornell handily took care of Union by a score of 6-1. Despite the score, the play was pretty much even as Union outshot Cornell 24-23. Walsh did not score but had a powerplay helper that put Cornell up 3-0 early in the second period. It was just his 5th helper on the season. Walsh led his squad with 4 SOG and was just 5 for 14 on the dot.
Providence College squeezed by Maine 4-3 in overtime. Duran, who didn’t have a SOG, helped set up the tying goal late in the third period to force overtime while Svedeback stopped 22 of 25 shots he faced. PC outshot Maine 32-25 including 1-0 in overtime.
In the USHL, Sioux Falls Stampede were spanked again but not as bad this time around as the Sioux City Musketeers trounced them 6-1. Hendrickson score the lone goal for the Stampede, set up by who else but Pelosi. Both finished a plus-1 while Pelosi had 5 SOG and Hendrickson 4. The Stampede have dropped four in a row by a combined score of 31-7. Pelosi and Hendrickson are 2nd and 3rd respectively in team scoring and 1st and 2nd respectively in points per game.
Sunday’s OHL action saw this:
Jackson Edward had zeroes across the board. The left shooting, right side defenceman didn’t see the amount of ice time he is accustomed to, especially in the second period. He didn’t appear injured and did see more time in the third. This was a physical game and one he should have excelled in.
INSERT STAT CHART HERE
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:
Reid Dyck has won his last 4 starts stopping 108 of 112 shots with 2 shutouts.
WHO’S WARM:
Oskar Jellvik hasn’t scored a goal in 7 games but has 7 assists in 4 of those 7 games.
Ryan Walsh has 3 goals and 1 assist in 4 of his last 5 games. It’s his first assist in 11 games.
Riley Duran has 3 goals and 3 assists in 4 of his last 6 games.
Philip Svedeback has won 4 of his last 6 games stopping 104 of 116 shots with 1 shutout.
Beckett Hendrickson has 3 goals and 3 assists in 4 of his last 5 games.
WHO’S COLD:
Andre Gasseau is pointless in 2 games, hasn’t scored in 4 games and has just 1 assist in that time. He’s on one of his mini slumps.
Dans Locmelis has 1 goal and 1 assist in his last 6 games. Now is not the time to be concerned.
Quinn Olson is pointless in 3 games, and has just 2 helpers in his last 9 games, both coming in the same game.
Jake Schmaltz is pointless in 3 games and has just 1 assist in his last 13 games. Four of his 7 assists on the season have come in two games and is still looking for his first goal of the year.
Chris Pelosi has just 1 assist in his last 4 games.
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Dom - Hockey 