On Tuesday, the Latvian Ice Hockey Federation officially announced that Dans Locmelis has been selected for the 2024 Latvian Men’s National Team for the IIHF Men’s World Championships taking place from May 10 to 26. Locmelis will be playing alongside two former Bruins, Eduards Tralmaks and Kaspars Daugavins.
Two Bruins prospects were chosen in the USHL Draft last Tuesday. Kristian Kostadinski was selected in the second round, 16th overall, while Cole Spicer was picked in the sixth round, 90th overall. Kostadinski competed for Frolunda in the J20 Nationell this season and currently has no commitments for the upcoming season. Spicer previously played for the University of Minnesota-Duluth but became ineligible due to his grades. He is now working diligently to improve his grades and intends to rejoin UMD for the next season.
The Providence Bruins lost 3-2 to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday in overtime, putting them behind 2-1 in the best-of-5 series. The Bruins had 35 shots on goal compared to Hartford’s 25. Providence failed to score in four powerplay opportunities and successfully defended one of two penalties. A positive note was return of Fabian Lysell after being sidelined since March 23.
The OHL final started on Thursday, with the London Knights dominating the Oshawa Generals 8-1 in their pursuit of the J. Ross Robertson Cup and a spot in the Memorial Cup. Jackson Edward contributed with an assist, but it was his exceptional defensive play that shone through. This game showcased one of his strongest defensive performances of the playoffs or even the whole season. Edward consistently disrupted plays with his agile stick work, swiftly closing gaps, and maintaining impeccable gap control throughout the game. He imposed himself physically and gave the Generals little to no time in front of his goalie.
The USHL final began on Friday, with the Fargo Force emerging victorious over the Dubuque Fighting Saints with a 3-1 score, granting them a 1-0 advantage in the five-game series. Fargo took an early 1-0 lead just 3 minutes into the match, extending it to 2-0 less than 7 minutes later. Dubuque narrowed the gap to 1 goal at the 18:25 mark of the second period. Fargo secured their win with an empty net goal with only 39 seconds left on the clock. Beckett Hendrickson, despite not contributing to the scoring, managed 2 shots on goal and engaged in double shifting during the third period as Dubuque pushed for an equalizer.
The Providence Bruins were knocked out of the AHL playoffs following a 2-1 overtime loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday. Hartford secured the best-of-five series 3-1. Despite Fabian Lysell returning from injury two nights prior, he was absent in the crucial game due to another injury. The callups necessitated by injuries in Boston posed challenges for Providence. Additionally, their own injuries, including those of Lysell and Alec Regula, further hampered their performance. Nevertheless, this playoff experience will be valuable for the younger players introduced to the team this season.
The London Knights secured a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven OHL final series by defeating the Oshawa Generals 9-1 on Saturday. They outscored their opponents 17-2 in the first two games. The series will now move to Oshawa for games three and four. Jackson Edward, despite not registering a point, achieved a game-high plus-4 and took 2 shots on goal.
Also on Saturday, the Fargo Force secured a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five USHL final series by defeating the Dubuque Fighting Saints 6-3. Beckett Hendrickson’s impressive tip-in goal tied the score at 2-2 during the second period. He ended the game with 4 shots on goal and a plus-1 rating. The next 2 games will take place in Dubuque, where the Fighting Saints face a challenging situation. While they have the potential to stage a comeback, it will be a difficult task.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a Benchrates column. 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.
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Dom - Hockey 