Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
The U20 Nationell is on pause for IIHF Tournaments taking place.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
The Five-Nations Under-20 tournament opened with a strong statement from Czechia, who rolled to a 5-2 win on Thursday. Blanar chipped in with a power-play assist on Czechia’s fifth goal, helping cap a dominant stretch before the opposition clawed back. He finished the night with 12:57 of ice time and a minus-1 rating in the tournament opener.
Czechia cruised to a 5-1 win over Switzerland on Friday at the Five Nations U-20 Tournament, with Blanar turning in a steady performance. While he didn’t hit the scoresheet, Blanar finished plus-2 and logged 17:12 of ice time, continuing to build his case for a World Junior roster spot.
Czechia rolled to its third straight victory on Saturday, topping Slovakia 5-2 in convincing fashion. Blanar opened the scoring with his first national team goal—a blistering one-timer from the point that rocketed over the goaltender’s stick-side shoulder. Positioned and stick ready after an offensive zone faceoff win, Blanar wasted no time unleashing the shot. He finished the night with two shots on goal, a plus-1 rating, and logged 12:18 of ice time in the win.
Czechia’s run came to a close with a 6–2 loss to Sweden in their fourth game in as many days. Blanar was held off the scoresheet, finished minus-2, and logged 19:35 of ice time in the finale. While the stat line won’t turn heads, his overall body of work likely keeps him in the mix for a spot on the Czech national squad. Now, the waiting begins.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko delivered a commanding 9-0 rout of JHC Dynamo on Tuesday, powered by a clinical hat trick from Yemelyanov, who did all his damage on the power play. Exploiting soft coverage on the right side, Yemelyanov’s first of the game came with a slick backhand-forehand finish from beside the net—his ninth of the season—before hammering home two signature one-timers from the right circle. The dynamic forward capped his night with three shots, a dominant 10-for-13 performance on faceoffs, and 16:37 of ice time in a statement outing.
Sunday brought more of the same for Loko—another game, another win, another step forward in a dominant campaign. With a 4–2 victory over JHC Spartak Moscow, Loko improved to 18-1-1 through 20 games, boasting just one regulation loss and one overtime setback in a 52-game slate. Yemelyanov didn’t hit the scoresheet but turned in a steady performance: two shots on goal, two blocked shots, and a commanding 11-for-15 in the faceoff circle across 18:23 of ice time.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
Zellers found the back of the net twice on Friday night, powering North Dakota to a commanding 7-2 win over Omaha. His first came on the power play, finishing off a 2-on-1 rush by driving the slot and redirecting a feed to make it 4-1. He added his second on a 5-on-3 advantage, sneaking back door and tapping home a back door pass into a yawning cage to extend the lead to 6-1.
North Dakota won Saturday’s rematch, skating to a 4–1 victory and tightening their grip on early-season momentum. Zellers chipped in with an assist on the empty-netter that iced the win, finishing the night plus-1 with one shot on goal.
Zellers now sits fourth in team scoring with 5 goals and 4 assists through 10 games. He’s riding a four-game point streak, tallying 3 goals and 2 assists over that span—quietly emerging as a reliable contributor in the Fighting Hawks’ lineup.
Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)
For the first time in 10 years, Miami was ranked in the top-20 teams Nationally.
This was an off week for Miami.
James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College
Boston College snapped a three-game skid Friday night, edging Vermont 2-1 to get back in the win column. Letourneau opened the scoring on the power play with a slick backhand finish—his third goal of the season. After collecting the puck to the right of the net, he glided across the crease and tucked it home, giving the Eagles a much-needed jumpstart.
Vermont drew even late in the third, setting the stage for what looked like an overtime showdown. But with just 1:30 left on the clock, James Hagens delivered a pinpoint pass to spring his teammate in alone, leading to the game-winning goal and a dramatic finish for Boston College.
Jellvik returned from injury and did not register a point. He had 3 shots on goal and 14:51 time on ice, easing himself back in. Kostadinski had 1 shot on goal with just 7:46 time on ice while Moore had 1 shot on goal and was 10 for 14 on the dot with 14:16 time on ice.
Letourneau had 4 shots on goal, 6 for 10 on the dot and 17:16 time on ice while Hagens had 2 shots on goal and 18:12 time on ice.
BC found victory a little easier on Saturday with a 5-0 win in the rematch. Hagens had an assist, was a plus-2 with 2 shots on goal and 3 for 7 on the dot with 21:38 time on ice. Letourneau was pointless, had 5 shots on goal and was 4 for 8 on the dot with 19:37 TOI.
Will Moore had a goal with 2 shots on goal and was a plus 2 and 4 for 12 on the dot with 14:56 TOI. Kostadinski had 1 shot on goal while seeing more ice time with 12:39 TOI. Oskar Jellvik was scheduled to play on Moore’s left, but did not play.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
Minnesota snapped a skid and improved to 3-7-1 on the season with a 3-0 shutout victory over Notre Dame on Friday. Hendrickson broke the ice in the second period, netting his second goal of the campaign—and first since opening night—by burying a cross-crease feed with a quick-release wrist shot for the eventual game-winner. He finished the night plus-2 with four shots on goal, delivering his typical energy filled game. Hendrickson skated on the second line.
For the first time this season, Minnesota has won back-to-back wins following Saturday’s 4-1 over the same Notre Dame squad. Hendrickson did not register a point and finished a minus-1 playing second line left wing.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac and Alaska skated to a hard-fought 2-2 draw Tuesday night, with early fireworks courtesy of Pelosi, who opened the scoring on the power play by pouncing on a rebound off the post and burying it into a wide-open net for his fifth of the season. Pelosi finished with four shots, went 2-for-5 on faceoffs, and logged 17:42 of ice time. On the back end, Groenewold turned in a heavy-minute performance, registering three shots while anchoring the blue line for 25:01, though he was held off the scoresheet.
Quinnipiac dropped a 4-2 decision to Yale on Friday, snapping forward Pelosi’s three-game goal streak. He was held off the scoresheet but managed two shots on goal and went 5-for-7 in the faceoff circle. Groenewold remained quiet offensively, extending his scoreless stretch to five games without registering a shot. It marks his longest drought since a nine-game span between November 16 and January 4 last season.
Quinnipiac needed overtime to get it done Saturday, edging out a 4–3 win in a tightly contested matchup. With the game knotted at 1–1, Pelosi ripped a wrister from the slot over the goalie’s shoulder to give the Bobcats the lead, then added a primary assist on the 3–1 tally just five minutes later. He finished plus-1 with six shots on goal, won 8 of 13 draws, and logged 18:59 of ice time. Groenewold chipped in with an assist on the opening goal, posted a plus-2 rating, and added one shot on goal across 19:17.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
On Thursday, Walsh was named to the U.S. Collegiate Selects team that will represent the Americans at the Spengler Cup. The event will be hosted by the Swiss team HC Davos and runs from December 28 – 31.
Cornell skated to a 3-1 win over Mason Langenbrunner and Harvard on Friday night. Walsh shouldered a significant load, easily leading all Cornell forwards with 21:30 of ice time. He went 13-for-27 on draws and registered three shots on goal, but remains in search of his first tally of the season—a slower-than-anticipated start for one of Cornell’s key returnees.
Cornell came up short in a tightly contested 2–1 loss to Dartmouth on Saturday, and the early-season grind continues for Walsh. Despite logging a team-high 23:24 of ice time among forwards, Walsh was held off the scoresheet, finished minus-1, and registered just one shot on goal as he continues to search for offensive traction
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
After sitting out the season opener, Langenbrunner made his return Tuesday night as Harvard cruised past Stonehill with a 6-2 win. While he didn’t hit the scoresheet, the senior blueliner posted a plus-1 rating and logged 16:18 of ice time, skating on the second pair. His minutes ranked fifth among Harvard’s seven dressed defensemen, marking a steady re-entry into the lineup.
As mentioned above, Harvard lost 3-1 to Ryan Walsh and Cornell on Friday. Langenbrunner was a minus-1 with 4 shots on goal and 18:49 time on ice.
Harvard bounced back with a 6–5 win over Colgate on Saturday, and defenseman Langenbrunner quietly made his mark with two assists despite finishing minus-1. He registered two shots on goal and logged 20:14 of ice time—second most among Crimson blueliners—while continuing to earn reps in all situations from the second pair. With the Bruins in need right-shot defensemen, Langenbrunner continued development remains a must.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
Boston University needed extra time to get it done, but emerged with a 3-2 overtime win over Merrimack on Friday night. Jonathan Morello opened the scoring with his first goal since the second game of the season, showcasing slick hands as he drove the net, took a backhand feed with his back to the puck carrier, and tucked it in back door. The freshman forward finished the night plus-1 with one shot on goal, went 2-for-5 in the faceoff circle, and logged 9:35 of ice time
Boston University clawed back to the .500 mark with a 5–4 rematch win on Saturday, edging out a tight contest. Morello was held off the scoresheet, finishing minus-1 with two shots on goal, a 2-for-5 mark in the faceoff circle, and 11:40 of ice time.
While his offensive numbers are tracking right on schedule—projected for 6 goals and 10 assists, currently pacing for 7 and 10—it’s his defensive consistency that stands out. Making the leap from the USHL to the NCAA is no small task, but he’s handled the transition with poise, maintaining a reliable two-way presence that’s been just as impressive as his production.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
Providence College rode a standout performance from goaltender Philip Svedeback to a 4–1 win over Connecticut on Friday night. The netminder turned aside 37 of 38 shots and even picked up an assist on the game-winning goal, capping off a night that saw him deliver in key moments. UConn generated 4.7 expected goals, but Svedeback’s timely saves kept the Friars in control from start to finish
Saturday’s rematch officially ended in a 2-2 draw but UConn won the shootout. Svedeback wasn’t as busy as he was on Friday stopping 28 of 30 shots he faced. He also stopped 2 of 3 in the shootout.
Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL
Cooper Simpson delivered a standout performance Friday night, notching a goal and an assist to lead Youngstown past the Sioux Falls Stampede in a 6-2 victory. Renowned for his lethal shot, Simpson showcased it in full force midway through the contest, curling into the right faceoff dot and ripping a wicked wrister that beat the goaltender clean for the eventual game-winner. Just four minutes later, he added a crisp assist to stay locked atop the USHL scoring race.
Youngstown cruised to a 4–0 shutout victory over Sioux Falls on Saturday, with Simpson once again leading the charge. The forward notched a goal and an assist, opening the scoring midway through the first period with what proved to be the game-winner—capitalizing on a broken play – his teammate all alone in front fell – by scooping up a loose puck in the slot and slipping it past the goaltender with a slick deke. Simpson later added a helper on the insurance marker, continuing his strong run of form.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Shawinigan came up short in a 5-4 loss to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada on Friday night. Chandler picked up an assist on the game’s opening goal midway through the first period but was otherwise held in check, finishing plus-1 with one shot on goal and a 7-for-14 mark in the faceoff circle. Despite the quiet outing, Chandler has been productive of late, posting 2 goals and 9 assists over his last 10 games following a brief two-game drought to open October.
Shawinigan bounced back in a big way Saturday, rolling past the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies with a 7–3 win. Chandler continued his impressive start, netting a pair of goals—including the game-winner, a quick release from the slot for his third of the season—before sealing the victory with an empty-netter. He finished the night with two shots on goal, a plus-2 rating, three hits, and went 8-for-17 in the faceoff circle
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Spicer did not play last week as he is still trying to resurrect his hockey career.
Providence Bruins
Providence 2 – Cleveland 1
Michael DiPietro made a career high 43 saves to lead Providence to a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Monsters on Friday night.
Dans Locmelis opened the scoring late in the first period, capitalizing on a shorthanded opportunity with just three minutes remaining. On a 2-on-0 rush with Patrick Brown, Locmelis took a crisp feed and hammered a one-timer past the outstretched glove of the goaltender, giving his team the early edge.
With just 22 seconds left in the opening frame, Providence doubled its lead in unexpected fashion. On a two-on-one rush, John Farinacci attempted a pass that deflected off a defender’s stick and slipped past the goaltender to make it 2-0. Matej Blumel and Fabian Lysell picked up the assists on the fortunate bounce.
Cleveland clawed back with a shorthanded tally of their own with 4:28 remaining in the second period, but that would be the end of their push. DiPietro slammed the door shut from there, turning aside everything that came his way to preserve the win.
Providence 3 – Cleveland 2 (OT)
It took an overtime goal by Matthew Poitras, but the Bruins left Cleveland with two victories on the weekend following Sunday’s win.
Cleveland struck first, opening the scoring 7:48 into the contest. But the Bruins responded early in the second period with another shorthanded tally. Farinacci forced a turnover and threaded a perfect pass to the far post, where Jake Schmaltz buried his first goal of the season to even the score at 1-1
Cleveland jumped back in front with 8:49 to go in the second period, but the Bruins answered early in the third. Riley Duran carried the puck up ice and fed Farinacci, who snapped a shot just under the bar to knot the game at 2-2. Schmaltz picked up the secondary assist on the equalizer.
Just 49 seconds into overtime, Georgii Merkulov threaded a crisp pass to the far post, where Poitras made no mistake, redirecting the puck into the back of the net for the game-winner. Blumel was credited with the secondary assist on the decisive play.
Simon Zajicek stopped 28 of 30 shots for the win. The Bruins improved to 10-1-0-0 and will play the next five games at home. Lysell did not dress.
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 