Dans Locmelis
Latvia kicked off their 2025 IIHF World Championship campaign with a thrilling 4-1 victory over France on Saturday. The game was a tense battle early on, with France striking first at 15:02 of the opening period. Latvia found their equalizer in the second period with a shorthanded goal shifting the momentum in their favor. The Latvians took control in the third period, as (former Bruins) Eduards Tralmaks tipped in a point shot just over two minutes in to give his team the lead. With France pressing for an equalizer, Latvia capitalized on their desperation, as Locmelis netted two empty-net goals in the final minutes to seal the win. Locmelis was the best all-around player on the ice on this day.
Less than 24 hours later (not making excuses here), Latvia faced Canada in their next game. Despite a promising start, Latvia ultimately fell 7-1. Tralmaks put Latvia on the scoreboard early, netting a goal at 7:05 with an assist from Locmelis. However, Canada responded swiftly, equalizing just two and a half minutes later before taking control for the remainder of the game. Locmelis contributed with three shots on goal, a minus-1 rating, winning 8 of 12 faceoff attempts. He also led all Latvian forwards in ice time, logging 19 minutes and 46 seconds.
Many argue that Locmelis should be contributing to Providence’s playoff push, and there’s certainly merit to that perspective. However, I’ve long maintained that his growth as a player is directly tied to his extensive international experience. For years, I’ve challenged anyone to find a player his age with a comparable level of exposure to high-stakes international competition. If you’re not a believer in the value of the international game, you may disagree, but the reality is these matchups demand a level of intensity and skill that often surpasses what the AHL offers. The pressure, the quality of opponents, and the experience of representing his country have all played a crucial role in shaping Locmelis into the player he is today. His development has benefited enormously from these challenges, and that impact can’t be overlooked.
Loke Johansson
The Moncton Wildcats secured a decisive 4-1 victory over the Rimouski Oceanic in Game 1 of the QMJHL Finals on Saturday, grabbing an early advantage in the best-of-seven series. Moncton set the tone with an opening goal just 5:46 into the game and kept control throughout. They extended their lead with two second-period goals, heading into the final frame up 3-0. Rimouski responded with a goal at 8:36 in the third, but Moncton sealed the win with an empty-netter at 1:07 remaining. The Wildcats dominated in shots, outshooting Rimouski 38-14. Loke Johansson contributed defensively, finishing plus-1 with two shots on goal and two hits in a strong defensive showing.
On Sunday. Moncton took a 2-0 series lead with a 4-3 double overtime victory. Moncton took an early 1-0 lead but then Rimouski scored the next two to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Moncton would tie it in the second then take a lead early in the third. With the goaltender pulled, Rimouski would tie it with 2:40 remaining in the third. Just 2:34 into the second overtime, Moncton would win it. Johansson did not register a point, had two shots on goal and one hit. Games 3 and 4 go in Rimouski on Wednesday and Thursday before returning to Moncton, if necessary, on Saturday.
Providence Bruins
Providence 3 – Charlotte 2
The Providence Bruins refused to go quietly in their second-round Calder Cup playoff series against the Charlotte Checkers, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory on Wednesday at Bojangles Coliseum. With their backs against the wall, the Bruins delivered a resilient performance, cutting Charlotte’s series lead to 2-1 and setting the stage for a crucial Game 4.
The Checkers came out strong in front of their home crowd, controlling the pace early. Will Lockwood struck first for Charlotte, sniping a shot past Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro to give the home team a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period. However, Providence responded quickly, capitalizing on a power play opportunity. Riley Tufte found himself in the right place at the right time, burying a rebound to tie the game at 1-1.
Charlotte regained the lead just minutes later when Rasmus Asplund fired a one-timer past DiPietro on the power play, sending the Checkers into the first intermission with a 2-1 advantage. The Bruins, however, refused to let the deficit shake their confidence.
The second period saw Providence settle into their game, tightening up defensively while continuing to press offensively. Tufte struck again, netting his second goal of the night just as a power play expired, tying the game at 2-2. His ability to find open ice and capitalize on second-chance opportunities proved invaluable for the Bruins.
Despite Charlotte outshooting Providence 12-1 in the third period, the Bruins made their one-shot count. Tyler Pitlick emerged as the hero, finishing off an odd-man rush created when Jeffrey Viel exited the penalty box. His goal at the five-minute mark gave Providence their first lead of the series, and they never looked back.
While the Bruins’ offense did just enough to secure the win, the real difference-maker was DiPietro. The netminder turned aside 38 of 40 shots, standing tall against a relentless Charlotte attack. His composure under pressure and ability to make key saves kept Providence in the fight, especially during the Checkers’ late-game push.
Providence 3 – Charlotte 2 OT
The Providence Bruins kept their Calder Cup playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 3-2 overtime win against the Charlotte Checkers on Friday, at Bojangles Coliseum. With their backs against the wall, the Bruins clawed their way to victory, evening the series at 2-2 and setting up a decisive Game 5.
Charlotte struck first, with Wilmer Skoog finding the back of the net late in the first period to give the Checkers a 1-0 lead. Providence responded in the second frame when John Farinacci deked past a defender and flipped a backhand shot past the goaltender, tying the game at 1-1.
The Checkers regained the lead early in the third period, as Ben Steeves capitalized on a turnover and fired a shot into the top corner, making it 2-1 Charlotte. But Providence refused to back down. With just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Oliver Wahlstrom buried a wrist shot off a feed from Matthew Poitras, knotting the game at 2-2 and forcing overtime.
Overtime was a tense affair, with both teams battling for the game-winning goal. The Checkers nearly ended it early, but Providence goaltender Brandon Bussi came up with a clutch save to keep his team alive. Then, at 7:08 into the extra frame, Patrick Brown stepped up. The Bruins captain hammered a slap shot from the point that whistled past the Charlotte netminder, securing the 3-2 victory and sending the series to a winner-take-all Game 5.
Providence’s win was even more impressive considering they lost starting goaltender Michael DiPietro just minutes into the game due to injury. Bussi entered in relief and delivered a stellar performance, stopping 31 of 33 shots to keep the Bruins in contention. His composure under pressure was a key factor in Providence’s ability to rally.
Providence 2 – Charlotte 5
The playoff run came to what I call an embarrassing loss, as they fell 5-2 to the Charlotte Checkers in a decisive Game 5 matchup. Despite their resilience throughout the series, Providence couldn’t overcome Charlotte’s offensive firepower and defensive discipline, leading to their elimination from the postseason.
Charlotte wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring within the first few minutes of the opening period. The Checkers controlled zone time and limited Providence to just one shot on goal while firing 14 of their own on Bussi.
Bussi faced a barrage of shots, making several crucial saves to keep his team within striking distance. Despite his efforts, Charlotte’s offensive depth proved too much to handle. The Checkers’ ability to cycle the puck and create high-danger scoring chances ultimately overwhelmed the Bruins’ defense. The Checkers scored their second of the game just over 8 minutes into the second period and limited the Bruins to just 3 shots.
Once again, Charlotte scored early in the third period to go up 3-0. But two goals from Vinni Lettieri gave fans some false hope as the Bruins struggled to get shots on goal. They had a total of just 8 in the game. Two empty net goals by Charlotte sealed the win.
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.
Dom - Hockey 