Roman Bychkov has finally found a home in the KHL with Moscow Spartak. The defenceman has appeared in 8 games to start the season and has 1 assist. Bychkov has looked good so far this season, but he is a long shot to play for the Bruins.
Jonathan Myrenberg missed his fifth game due to injury on Thursday. He would also miss Saturday’s game.
On Friday in QMJHL, the Moncton Wildcats defeated the Acadie-Bathurst Titan with a score of 5-1, bringing their season record to 3-1-1. Although Loke Johansson did not contribute to the scoring, there are positive signs in his performance. Since his first preseason game until now, he has adjusted well to playing on the smaller ice surface, showing noticeable improvement. While he still has some areas to work on, the changes are encouraging.
The Dubuque Fighting Saints beat the Chicago Steel by a score of 5-2, bringing their season record to 3 wins and 1 loss. Kristian Kostadinski had an assist, his first USHL point while Jonathan Morello did not contribute to the scoring in this match. Kostadinski’s skating has notably improved since he first attended Boston’s Development Camp, but there is still room plenty of room for growth. His physical play stands out. Morello appears to be quicker than I recall, which is impressive. Even though he finished the game with a minus-2 rating, his defensive skills are noticeable. When he was winning faceoffs, he won them decisively, as if there was no opponent facing him.
The NCAA season kicked off with Miami University and Ferris State ending in a 3-3 tie. For Casper Nassen, this was his first real experience on the smaller ice rink, and overall, he performed well. Although he didn’t score any points, he played right wing on Miami’s second line. However, I’ve noticed that he tends to look more comfortable on his off wing each time I see him. I’m going to keep a close eye on his progression.
On Saturday in NCAA action, Dans Locmelis and UMass played their season opener, defeating Bentley 5-4. Locmelis assisted on the tying goal and later contributed to the eventual game winning goal, marking his first points of the season. He performed in his usual center role on the third line and displayed strong skills, resembling his mid-season form. I anticipate a standout year for Locmelis.
In other NCAA action, Miami and Ferris State ended their match in another tie, this time with a score of 4-4. Nassen scored his first goal in the NCAA during the first period, tying the score 1-1. With under 8 minutes left in the third period, he earned his first assist by helping to set up the tying goal that made it 4-4. Once more, Nassen played as the right winger on the second line and showed impressive performance on the smaller ice rink.
In the USHL, Dubuque triumphed over Waterloo by a score of 4-3 in overtime, securing the top position in the Eastern Conference with a record of 4-1-0-0. Although Morello contributed with an assist, his performance was less impactful compared to his first four games of the season. In contrast, Kostadinski stood out positively, showcasing impressive stick skills that surprised me, especially given his larger size.
The lone regular season action on Sunday was in the QMJHL as Moncton defeated the Charlottetown Islanders 4-1. Johansson failed to register a point but I like how he is showing progress. You can see him gaining confidence with each passing day and the coaches are rewarding him with more ice time and putting him in more difficult situations.
Coming up this week:
On Sunday, Chris Nosek and myself were on the Dom-Hockey Podcast discussing all the Bruins prospects. If you enjoy the show, please give us a like and make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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