Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
It was a battle of rising stars in the U20 circuit Wednesday as Vashek Blanar’s HV71 skated past Pettersson’s Vaxjo Lakers with a decisive 5–2 win. Pettersson did not register a point and was a minus-1 in the loss.
Vaxjo returned to the win column Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Frolunda, powered by Pettersson, who looked sharper since his return from injury by scoring the game-winning goal on the power play before adding an assist on the insurance marker, also with the man advantage. Both his goal and assist came off end to end rushes where he showcased his skating abilities.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
As mentioned above, HV71 defeated Vaxjo 5-2 on Wednesday. Blanar made his presence felt with an assist on the fifth goal with 1:30 remaining in the game and was a very respectable plus-3.
HV71 dropped a 3-2 decision to Orebro HK on Saturday. Blanar did not register a point and was a plus-1 in the loss.
On Saturday, they fell 4-2 to Farjestad, but Blanar made his mark with a power-play assist just before the second-period buzzer, faking a shot from the left point and instead delivering a perfectly timed slap pass into the wheelhouse of his teammate for a one-timer goal. The play underscored Blanar’s growing skills as a true power-play quarterback.
Blanar’s intentions are to go to the NCAA for next season. He is currently looking at different schools.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko stumbled on Monday, falling 5–3 to Krasnaya Armiya in a rare setback. Midway through the third, with three defenders closing in around him in the slot, Yemelyanov managed to corral a pass, drop to one knee, and fire home his 13th goal of the season—a highlight-reel finish that cut the deficit to 5–2 but proved too little, too late. He logged 19:21 of ice time, registered two shots on goal, and went 5-for-13 in the faceoff circle.
Loko returned to the win column in dominant fashion Saturday with an 8-0 rout of Krylya Sovetov, while Yemelyanov went scoreless but contributed with a plus-1 rating, two shots on goal, and an 8-for-17 performance in the faceoff circle over 15:09 of ice time, as his inconsistent production remains a storyline.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
North Dakota rolled to a 6-1 exhibition win over the U.S. Under-18 team on Friday, highlighted by a strong performance from Zellers, who recorded a goal and an assist. His tally came on a trademark one-timer—a rocket from the right faceoff circle—that showcased the scoring touch fans have come to expect.
Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)
Miami snapped its skid in dramatic fashion Friday night, outlasting St. Cloud State in a 6-5 overtime victory. Nassen, who hadn’t scored since opening night, provided a two-goal cushion with 5:51 left in regulation before the Huskies rallied to force extra time. Nassen also assisted on Miami’s opening power-play goal, finishing the night with one shot on goal and 11:00 of ice time.
The rematch on Saturday saw St Cloud win 4-2. Plating wing on the third line, Nassen was kept off the score sheet on this night and was a plus-1.
James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College
Hagens and Letourneau once again fueled Boston College’s offense on Friday, with Hagens netting two goals and Letourneau adding a goal and an assist to lead the Eagles to a 7-3 victory over Maine, their fifth straight win.
Letourneau set the tone early for Boston College on Friday, collecting the puck off an offensive zone faceoff, taking two strides to create a better angle, and ripping a wrist shot home for his fifth goal of the season. Hagens followed with what is becoming a trademark one-timer from the right faceoff circle—his fifth of the year—before adding a second tally to make it 4-2, driving the net on a 2-on-1 and redirecting a pass past the goaltender.
Will Moore had an assist in this one while Kristian Kostadinski had zeroes across the board. Jellvik and Gasseau are still out due to injury.
The win streak came to an end Saturday as Maine blanked them 3-0. Hagens was a minus-1 with 3 shots on goal and 5 for 16 on the dot with 24:57 time on ice. Letourneau was an even plus/minus with 2 shots on goal and 3 for 7 on the dot with 18:17 time on ice. Moore was a minus-3 with 3 shots on goal and 7 for 13 on the dot with 16:20 time on ice. Kostadinski had zeroes across the board with 10:02 time on ice.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
Minnesota rallied from a 2-0 deficit to edge Penn State 3-2 on Friday, securing back-to-back wins for just the second time this season. Hendrickson, elevated to the second line, didn’t hit the scoresheet but made his presence felt with four shots on goal in 16:09 of ice time, driving play with the relentless energy that has become his trademark.
However, on Saturday they slipped back into the loss column as Penn State took the game 2-1. Hendrickson had zeroes across the board with 14:35 time on ice.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac powered past Clarkson 4-1 on Friday, fueled by a Chris Pelosi hat trick. Pelosi opened the scoring by slipping past a check and finishing alone in front, then added a second on the power play by battling for position and burying a rebound to make it 2-0. He capped the night shorthanded, racing up ice to collect his own missed long-range attempt and sealing the win with his third of the game. Pelosi finished with five shots on goal and went 10-for-20 in the faceoff circle, while Groenewold chipped in with a plus-1 rating and one shot on goal.
Quinnipiac extended its winning streak to four games with a 4-2 victory over St. Lawrence on Saturday, highlighted by Pelosi and Groenewold assisting on the second goal to build a 2-0 lead. Pelosi finished with one shot on goal, an 11-for-18 mark in the faceoff circle, and 15:08 of ice time, while Groenewold added five shots and logged 20:26 on the back end.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
Cornell extended its winning streak to three games with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Union on Friday, while Walsh contributed in the faceoff circle by winning 14 of 19 draws, finishing plus-1 with 18:53 of ice time despite not recording a point.
Cornell stretched its win streak to four games with a commanding 6-1 victory over RPI, fueled by Walsh’s playmaking as he assisted on the team’s first four goals. He capped the night with a plus-4 rating, four shots on goal, and a 13-for-24 performance in the faceoff circle across 15:33 of ice time.
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
Harvard won their fourth straight with a 5-1 win over Vermont in their only game of the week. Langenbrunner did not register a point, was a plus-1 and had 1 shot on goal with 18:23 time on ice.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
Boston University fell 3-2 to Northeastern on Friday despite holding a 34-25 edge in shots, with Morello making the most of his elevated role from his usual fourth-line center spot by recording an assist, finishing plus-1, registering two shots on goal, and winning eight of 15 faceoffs across 18:20 of ice time.
BU responded with a 4-3 overtime victory over Northeastern on Saturday, highlighted by Morello’s shorthanded strike on a two-on-one that gave the Terriers a 3-1 lead. He capped the night with three shots on goal, a 15-for-24 performance in the faceoff circle, and 21:27 of ice time.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
It was a hard-fought battle Thursday night, but Providence College came up just short, falling 2-1 in overtime to UMass. The Friars carried much of the play, outshooting the Minutemen 49-30, yet couldn’t convert their chances into a victory. Svedeback turned aside 28 of 30 shots and delivered several key saves, though his performance was ultimately overshadowed by his counterpart at the other end. The decisive overtime goal will raise questions, but the Friars’ inability to capitalize on their shot advantage proved costly.
It was an easier game for Providence on Saturday winning the rematch 5-1. Svedeback only faced 20 shots and stopped 19 of them to move above .500 with a 5-4-2 record.
Cooper Simpson
Simpson once again powered Youngstown’s attack in a 4-3 win over Dubuque on Friday, assisting on the game’s opening power-play goal before netting his 10th of the season with a highlight finish—taking a stretch pass, breaking in alone, and freezing the goaltender with a slick pump fake.
In the rematch on Saturday, Youngstown took it again with a 5-3 win. Simpson had an assist, was a plus1 and had 2 shots on goal in the win.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Chandler continues to emerge as one of the season’s biggest surprises, contributing an assist in Shawinigan’s penalty-filled 4-2 win over Blainville-Boisbriand on Friday while showcasing the two-way game that has become his calling card. A key factor in limiting the Armada to just 1-for-8 on the power play, Chandler now sits at 19 points in 20 games—well above preseason expectations.
On Saturday, Shawinigan was in a close one, beating Victoriaville 2-1. Chandler was held off the scoresheet, had 2 shots on goal and was 4 for 9 on the dot.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Western Michigan’s 7-2 win over Omaha on Friday featured the long-awaited debut of Spicer, who showed some expected rust but contributed effectively, finishing plus-2 with one shot on goal while winning 10 of 14 faceoffs.
On Saturday, Western Michigan secured its fourth straight victory with a 4-2 win in the rematch, as Spicer chipped in with a goal and an assist, finishing plus-1 with two shots on goal and a 3-for-7 mark in the faceoff circle over 10:10 of ice time. Spicer’s goal came from sheer determination, gathering up a rebound in front and fighting through a check for the goal. His teammates were genuinely happy for Spicer, who has had to persevere.
Providence Bruins
Providence 3 – Lehigh Valley 2
Providence leaned on its goaltending Friday night, and Simon Zajicek delivered. The rookie netminder turned aside 30 of 32 shots to backstop the Bruins to a 3-2 victory, improving his record to 6-1-0 on the season.
Providence wasted no time getting on the board Friday night. Just 2:20 into the opening period, Victor Soderstrom unleashed a shot from the top of the right circle that Jake Schmaltz redirected for his second goal of the season. Joey Abate picked up the secondary assist on the play, giving the Bruins an early 1-0 lead.
Lehigh Valley answered quickly to even the score, but Providence regained control midway through the period. With 11:09 remaining, Soderstrom fired a snap shot toward the net that Patrick Brown redirected for the go-ahead goal. Matthew Poitras collected the secondary assist on the play, and the Bruins never looked back.
With Boston battling injuries, Providence found itself short on forwards and turned to Jacob Perreault, calling him up from the Maine Mariners. The move paid off. Early in the third period, Perreault made his presence felt—pouncing on a turnover at his own blueline before breaking in alone and finishing with a highlight-reel goal.
Lehigh Valley managed to cut the deficit with 2:12 remaining, but that was as close as the Phantoms would get, as Providence closed out the 3-2 victory.
Providence 0 – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1
Michael DiPietro stopped 34 of 35 shots on Saturday but it wasn’t enough and the Bruins fell to 13-3-0-0 on the season.
The Bruins generated 27 shots but came up empty on three power-play opportunities, while their penalty kill was perfect in shutting down all three shorthanded situations.
Boston has often utilized the Maine Mariners of the ECHL for defensive development, but with injuries on the Bruins’ blueline and subsequent callups from Providence, not to mention their own injuries, Loke Johansson has seized his opportunity and impressed. In just five games, he ranks among Providence’s leaders in shifts and time on ice. I find it unlikely he’ll return to Maine once the clubs are back to full health.
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 