Dans Locmelis versus Beckett Hendrickson
It took overtime but Locmelis’ UMass defeated Hendrickson’s Minnesota on Thursday night 5-4. UMass advances in the NCAA tournament while Minnesota is sent packing. Locmelis had a pair of assists in the win. His first one came on the goal that tied it 3-3 just shy of the midway point of the third period. His second came on the overtime winner where he sent a perfect backhand pass to the left side doorstep for an easy tap in goal. He finished a plus-3 but did not manage a shot on goal. Hendrickson had zeroes across the board in the loss.
On Saturday, it was a heartbreaking loss for UMass as they fell 2-1 to Western Michigan and eliminating them from the NCAA Tournament. Locmelis scored his 8th of the season to put UMass up early in the first, but that’s all they could get behind the WM goaltender. Locmelis finished the game with 3 SOG and 13 for 22 on the dot with 16:54 TOI. He ends the season fourth in scoring on the team with 8 goals and 33 points in 40 games. Watch for Locmelis to go to Latvia to prepare for the World Championships in May and representing his country once again.
Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau
Friday’s 3-1 win by Boston College over Bentley was supposed to be easy. It was anything but. It took 2 goals with 1:17 remaining to squeak out the victory and move on to face Denver on Sunday. Letourneau did not register a point, had 1 SOG and was 3 for 5 on the dot with 8:02 TOI. Gasseau was also pointless, was a plus-1 and had 3 SOG while going 10 for 13 on the dot and 18:51 TOI. Jellvik remains out with an injury.
The season came to an end for BC on Sunday as they lost to Denver 3-1. It was an exciting game from start to finish but Denver goaltender Matt Davis stopped 35 of 36 shots and was a brick wall. Gasseau was a minus-2 with 5 SOG and 11 for 20 on the dot. Letourneau was an even plus/minus with 1 SOG and 2 for 4 on the dot. Now we wait to see if Gasseau turns pro or returns for a final year.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold
To say that Quinnipiac had a disappointing end to their season is an understatement. After losing to Cornell in the ECAC semifinal, they lost to Connecticut in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament 4-1 to end their season. Chris Pelosi was a minus-2 with 1 SOG and 5 for 12 on the dot with 15:13 TOI. Elliott Groenewold was also a minus-2 with no shots on goal and 17:32 TOI. For both players, it was a very good freshman season where both exceeded expectations. Their paths to pro hockey got off to a great start and for now the future looks promising for both of them.
Ryan Walsh
Cornell advanced following another upset victory, this one by a 4-3 score over Michigan State on Thursday, led by Walsh who had a pair of goals. His first came during the first period that knotted the game 1-1. He went in on the forecheck, stole the puck and turned in the right faceoff dot and absolutely wired a shot home. His second of the night tied it 3-3 with 7:22 remaining as he collected a rebound out in front and quickly snapped it over the pad and under the glove of Trey Augustine. Cornell would then win it with 10 seconds remaining.
The Cinderella Story came to an end Saturday for Cornell as they dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Boston University. Walsh had the game’s opening goal, was a plus-2 with 6 SOG and was 8 for 18 on the dot with 23:23 TOI to lead all forwards. He finished the season leading Cornell in goals (17) and pints (31). Watch for his linemate Dalton Bancroft to turn pro shortly. The Bruins have expressed interest in him.
Philip Svedeback
The season came to an end for Providence College following a 5-1 loss to Denver on Friday. Providence outshot Denver 31-20 but was plagued with what always plagues them: they can’t score. Svedeback allowed a couple of questionable goals, which seems to be an issue. He finished the year playing in 26 games (fewest in his NCAA career), a 14-8-4 record (best winning percentage of his NCAA career), a 2.42 goals-against-average (worst of his NCAA career) and .911 save percentage (best of his NCAA career). Now, he must decide if he wants to turn pro or return for a final season with Providence. And the Bruins must decide whether they want to sign him.
Jonathan Myrenberg
Myrenberg is still with the Providence Bruins and we await news on what will happen with the young defenseman.
Loke Johansson
It was a great back-and-forth opening game of the QMJHL playoffs that required a come from behind overtime victory by the CHL’s top team. Moncton defeated Quebec 4-3 to take a 1-0 series lead. Loke Johansson played a steady, physical, shut down role but did manage an assist late in the first period that put Moncton up 2-1. During a 4-on-4 situation, Johansson picked up the puck deep in his own zone, skated up ice and dropped a pass at the Quebec blueline where a slap shot from far out beat the Quebec netminder. Johansson finished a plus-2 but did not manage a SOG.
On Saturday, Moncton took a 2-0 series lead with a 4-0 win over Quebec. Johansson did not register a point and was a plus-2 with 1 SOG for the win. The first two periods were almost even with Quebec holding a 27-20 SOG advantage. But Moncton locked it down in the third, thanks in part to Johansson and scored all four of its goals in the final period. The series now shifts to Quebec for the next three games on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (if necessary).
Kristian Kostadinski, Jonathan Morello, Cole Spicer
Dubuque went head-to-head against Will Zellers and the Green Bay Gamblers on Saturday with Dubuque coming out on top 5-4 in overtime. Kostadinski did not register a point and was an even plus/minus with 1 SOG. Morello was also pointless and was a minus-2 with 2 SOG. Spicer had an assist and was a plus-1 with 2 SOG in the win.
Spicer has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in hopes of resuming his NCAA career next season.
Will Zellers
In the loss to Dubuque, Will Zellers had a pair of goals, his 42nd and 43rd of the season beating the old franchise record of 41 for most goals in a season. Zellers has been on a roll and is on a 6-game point streak with 6 goals and 2 assists in that run.
Zellers continued his hot streak with a goal and two assists in Sunday’s 6-2 win over the NTDP. Zellers had a goal and 2 assists with 6 SOG and was a plus-1 in the victory.
Providence Bruins
The first of back-to-back games against the Charlotte Checkers didn’t go as planned for Providence as they fell 6-3 on Tuesday night. Trevor Kuntar and Jaxon Nelson, two players who can’t seem to find their place in the lineup and that latter often being a healthy scratch, each had a goal and an assist. Matthew Poitras had the other goal, extending his point streak to 9 games (13 points). Brandon Bussi was pulled after two periods after allowing 5 goals on 29 shots. Michael DiPietro came in relief and stopped 8 of 9 shots.
The Bruins didn’t do much better on Wednesday as Charlotte came out on top once again, this time by a 5-2 score. DiPietro was unable to go due to an injury suffered earlier in practice and Bussi started once again stopping 29 of 32 shots he faced. Riley Duran and Oliver Wahlstrom scored for Providence. Jeffrey Viel and Riley Tufte assisted on Viel’s goal while Fraser Minten and Frederic Brunet had the helpers on Wahlstrom’s goal.
Providence clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. Hartford took a 1-0 lead with just 52 seconds remaining in the first period. Tyler Pitlick would tie it 2:05 into the third period with a backhander that slid under the pad of the goaltender. Brunet and Viel would draw the assists. Nelson would score the game winner with 5:06 remaining when he wired a one timer into the top corner of the net for his second goal in 3 games. Ty Gallagher would get the only assist. Bussi stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced. Jake Schmaltz would play in his first pro game and didn’t look out of place.
Bussi stopped 26 of 29 shots he faced but it wasn’t enough as Providence dropped a 3-2 decision to Springfield on Sunday. Pitlick had an assisted goal after blocking a shot in his zone and went in all alone, firing a shot from the slot to pull Providence into a 1-1 tie. Poitras put the Bruins up 2-1 when he fired home a rebound in front from a Georgii Merkulov shot. But that’s all the offence Providence could muster from their 37 shots on goal.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a column called “Benchrates” This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created an 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:
Dom - Hockey 