Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
Vaxjo defeated Rogle BK 3-2 on Wednesday, still with no sign of Pettersson. They have 9 days off until their next game.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
Blanar’s pointless streak reached 5 games as HV71 were blanked by Sodertalje SK 2-0 on Saturday. It is the longest draught of the season for any of the Bruins’ prospects to date.
Blanar left Sunday’s game, 4-2 loss to Vasteras IK, early in the first with the flu.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko returned to form with a decisive 4-0 win over JHC Dynamo, showing strong team structure and execution. Yemelyanov contributed an assist on the opening goal, initiating the sequence with a shot from the right circle and quickly recovering his own rebound. The puck deflected in off a teammate, but the play was driven by Yemelyanov’s awareness and second-effort mentality. Through 13 games, he’s posted 7 goals and 6 assists — a productive start that reflects both scoring touch and play-driving ability.
In Wednesday’s rematch, Loko secured a second consecutive shutout with a 3–0 victory. Yemelyanov continued to demonstrate high-end offensive vision, initiating the sequence with a puck retrieval in the right corner. He navigated behind the cage, scanning options before delivering a precise feed into the high slot to an oncoming teammate. Though the initial shot was denied, Yemelyanov’s partner recovered the rebound and finished. The sequence marked his seventh assist of the campaign, reinforcing his profile as a dual-threat playmaker.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
North Dakota extended their season-opening win streak to three with a 5–2 decision over Beckett Hendrickson and the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday. Freshman forward Zellers, skating in a top-six role on the second line, added a primary assist to bring his early-season totals to 1 goal and 2 assists. He logged 19:20 of ice time, registered four shots on goal, and finished plus-1—an encouraging all-situations showing. Through three games, Zellers is now tied for third in team scoring, signaling early offensive upside and trust from the coaching staff in key minutes.
Minnesota flipped the script on Saturday, cruising to a 5–1 win in the rematch. Zellers was held off the scoresheet but led the charge with a game-high four shots on goal, finishing the night with a minus-1 rating but they just couldn’t muster any offense.
Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)
Miami had an off week last week.
James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College
Moore remained in a second-line role on Friday, filling in for the injured Oskar Jellvik during Boston College’s 5–1 win over RPI. While he didn’t factor into the scoresheet, Moore generated two shots on goal and logged 10:59 of ice time, continuing to gain reps in a middle-six capacity. Meanwhile, Gasseau appears to be struggling in the absence of his long-time wing partner at BC, going pointless for the third straight outing. He finished plus-1, won 9 of 14 faceoffs, and saw 10:05 of ice time, though he failed to register a shot—an uncharacteristic dip in offensive activity for the veteran forward.
Kostadinski notched his first NCAA point with an assist on the game-winning goal early in the second period, breaking a 1–1 deadlock and contributing to a key momentum shift. The rangy blueliner continues to acclimate to the North American game, with his ice time trending upward—he logged 10:40 in this outing while skating as the sixth defenseman. He finished plus-2, added a shot on goal, and showed encouraging signs of situational awareness and transitional support. The performance reflects steady integration into the lineup and growing comfort with the pace and style.
All eyes were on Dean Letourneau and James Hagens, and Letourneau delivered his most complete performance to date. The towering forward assisted on the game-winning goal with a high-IQ play behind the net, using his extended reach to thread a pass through to the far side—an elite-level read under pressure. Later, he showcased his spatial awareness and finishing touch, staying active in the slot and positioning himself inside the defensive triangle. When the puck arrived, Letourneau dropped to one knee and snapped home his second goal of the season, a textbook one-touch release. He finished plus-2 with three shots on goal, went 3-for-8 on draws, and logged 9:14 of ice time—maximizing impact in limited deployment.
Hagens opened his goal-scoring account with a pair of tallies, bookending the game with the first and final markers. His opening goal came off a high-motor sequence—after disrupting a clearing attempt along the right wall, Hagens transitioned quickly to the right faceoff dot and released a deceptive wrister through traffic to beat the netminder. Later, he capitalized on a turnover, driving the middle lane with pace and timing his route perfectly. The feed hit him in stride, and Hagens finished cleanly into an open net. He led all skaters with seven shots on goal, finished plus-2, went 6-for-13 on draws, and logged 10:55 of ice time—an efficient, high-impact outing that showcased his offensive instincts and puck-tracking ability.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
As mentioned above, Minnesota dropped a 5–2 decision to North Dakota on Friday, but the game marked another step forward in Beckett Hendrickson’s usage trajectory. After opening the season on the third line and earning a bump to the second unit, Hendrickson saw time on the top line, signaling growing trust from the coaching staff. While the promotion didn’t translate to offensive production, he logged 14:06 of ice time, recorded two shots on goal, and finished minus-1. The outing reflects continued evaluation in high-leverage minutes as Hendrickson adjusts to elevated competition and expanded responsibilities.
Minnesota bounced back with a commanding 5–1 victory on Saturday. Hendrickson, still on the top line, set up the fourth goal to help put the game out of reach. He posted a plus-3 rating and fired two shots on goal, but it was his relentless energy that stirred chaos and ignited momentum whenever the Gophers needed a lift.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac clawed back from a 3–0 deficit to earn a 4–4 draw against Maine on Friday, with key contributions from emerging talent. Groenewold netted his first goal of the season to tie the game, capitalizing on a rebound near the bottom of the left faceoff circle and finishing from a near-impossible angle—his lone shot of the night. He logged 23:10 of ice time and finished plus-1, continuing to earn heavy usage in all situations. Pelosi picked up an assist on the play, adding three shots on goal and going 4-for-9 on faceoffs while skating 15:47. Both players showed poise and situational awareness in a high-pressure comeback effort. The Bruins got a close look at Albin Boija for Maine – one of the top free agent goaltenders in the NCAA.
Quinnipiac shut out Maine 4–0 on Saturday, with both Groenewold and Pelosi chipping in an assist to extend their point streaks to three games apiece. Pelosi logged 15:07 of ice time, finishing plus-1 with one shot on goal, while Groenewold matched the stat line with a plus-1 rating, one shot, and 16:51 of ice time.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
Cornel had an exhibition game against Czech University Selects on Friday and won 7-2. Walsh did not play.
Cornell will play an exhibition game against the NTDP Under-18 on Saturday before opening their season October 31.
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
Harvard topped Northeastern 4–2 in Saturday’s exhibition matchup. Langenbrunner was not in the lineup.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
BU lost a 4-2 decision to Michigan State on Friday to fall to 2-1-1. Morello had zeroes across the board and was 3 for 7 on the dot with 15:12 time on ice and continuing to skate on the fourth line.
BU came up short in Saturday’s rematch, falling 4–3 in overtime. Morello was held off the scoresheet and finished minus-1 with one shot on goal, logging a season-low 9:43 of ice time.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
Svedeback picked up his first win of the season on Saturday, backstopping Providence to a 5–1 victory over RPI. He turned aside 28 of 29 shots, many of them from high-danger areas, delivering a composed and timely performance. With the first one in the books, he’ll look to build momentum moving forward.
Cooper Simpson
Youngstown rolled past the NTDP with a 7–3 win on Friday, and Cooper Simpson continued his shift from finisher to facilitator, racking up three assists to bring his season total to nine. Though he finished minus-1 with two shots on goal, Simpson’s playmaking instincts were on full display. Entering the season, I had him pegged for 31 goals—an estimate many believed he’d eclipse, with some even projecting he could challenge Will Zellers’ mark of 44. Through the early stretch, Simpson sits at three goals, projecting to 21 over a full campaign. But the real story is his assist pace: originally forecasted for 22, he’s now tracking toward a staggering 66, signaling a notable evolution in his offensive profile and value as a dual-threat contributor.
Simpson rediscovered his scoring touch on Saturday as Youngstown downed Green Bay 4–2. Trailing 1–0 late in the first, he set up the equalizer to close out the period, then took over offensively with back-to-back goals to give the Phantoms a 3–1 lead. His first came on the power play from the top of the right circle, where he waited for the screen and snapped a shot far side over the goalie’s shoulder. His second was another wrister, this time from the right dot, slipping under the netminder’s arm. Simpson now sits at 5 goals and 10 assists through 10 games.
Simpson’s three-game point streak (3G, 5A) came to a halt Sunday as Youngstown fell 5–1 to Green Bay, despite holding a 38–22 edge in shots. The forward registered four shots on goal but finished minus-2 in the loss.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Chandler extended his assist streak to three consecutive games, factoring into Shawinigan’s overtime winner in a 3–2 decision on Canadian Thanksgiving. The play began with Chandler disrupting a 3-on-3 rush in the defensive zone, then transitioning quickly up ice before distributing at the offensive blue line for the eventual finish. His ability to read and react under pressure was evident, showcasing both defensive anticipation and transition pace. He finished the game with a plus-1 rating, registered two shots on goal, and went 11-for-14 on draws
Shawinigan dropped a 3–2 decision to Gatineau in a shootout on Friday, but Chandler continued his productive stretch with an assist on the game’s opening goal—his fourth consecutive outing with a helper. The play came six minutes into the second period, where Chandler executed a clean setup to initiate the scoring. He finished plus-1, registered one shot on goal, and went 8-for-15 on faceoffs, reinforcing his consistency in both offensive generation and puck possession. The streak highlights Chandler’s growing reliability as a driving center with situational versatility.
Chandler saw his four-game point streak come to an end Sunday as Blainville-Boisbriand outpaced his club in an 8–5 shootout. The forward was held off the scoresheet, finishing minus-4 with two shots on goal and winning 9 of 17 faceoffs.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Western Michigan swept the weekend series against UMass-Lowell, edging out a 2–1 win on Friday before dominating Saturday’s matchup 6–0. Spicer did not play in either game.
Providence Bruins
Providence 7 Bridgeport 3
The Providence Bruins skated to a 7–3 win over the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday, powered by multi-goal efforts from Alex Steeves and Riley Tufte. Georgii Merkulov and Matej Blumel each chipped in with a pair of assists, helping pace a balanced offensive attack.
Patrick Brown won a clean offensive zone draw back to Billy Sweezey, who fired a purposeful shot on net. The initial attempt was turned aside, but Riley Tufte jumped on the rebound in the slot and buried it to give the Providence Bruins a 1–0 lead.
Just seven seconds into the power play, the Providence Bruins extended their lead to 2–0. Matthew Poitras won the draw cleanly, and all five skaters touched the puck in a crisp sequence that ended with Steeves redirecting a Merkulov pass for his first goal of the night.
Bridgeport cut the deficit to one, but Brown restored the two-goal cushion for Providence, capitalizing on a loose puck at the edge of the crease and finishing with a backhand tally. Tufte and Brett Harrison picked up the assists on the play.
For the second time in the game, the Providence Bruins capitalized just seven seconds into a power play to extend their lead to 4–1. Poitras won the draw cleanly, and once again, all five skaters touched the puck in a quick clean sequence that ended with Steeves finishing at the post off a cross-crease feed from Merkulov. Blumel was credited with the secondary assist.
Tufte closed out the scoring with assists going to Dans Locmelis and Fabian Lysell. Michael DiPietro stopped 27 of 30 shots he faced for his second win in as many games.
Providence 5 Hartford 2
Simon Zajicek stopped 31 of 33 shots to lead Providence to a 5-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. The Bruins were outshot 33-22.
Jonathan Aspirot opened the scoring for Providence just 3:39 into the game, blasting home a one-timer from the point to make it 1–0. Lysell and Poitras picked up the helpers on Aspirot’s first goal of the season
Hartford pulled even with 12:39 left in the first period, but just over five minutes later, Brown threaded a pass to Tufte at the right post, where he tucked it just inside to restore the lead. Victor Soderstrom picked up the secondary assist on the play.
Just 39 seconds later, Blumel pushed the puck ahead and sprung Locmelis on a breakaway. Locmelis made no mistake, ripping a pinpoint wrist shot blocker side to stretch the Bruins’ lead to two. The goal marked his first of the season, with Aspirot picking up the secondary assist.
Just 50 seconds into the second period, Sweezey tallied his first goal of the season. Taking a pass at the right point, he charged down the boards, cut hard to the net, and slipped the puck under the goalie’s pads to make it 4–1. Tufte and Brown picked up the assists on the play.
Merkulov would close out the Providence scoring with his second of the season when he ripped a turnaround shot off a defender and into the net.
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 