Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
Vaxjo fell 7-3 to IF Malmo on Saturday, with Pettersson absent as he remains with the SHL club. With Vaxjo of the SHL, Pettersson did not register a point, was a minus-1 and played just 6:45.
On Sunday, he returned to the U20 as Vaxjo defeated Linkoping 4-0. Pettersson did not register a point and hat 19:52 of ice time.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
As I previously reported, Blanar will be leaving December 10 to join the Czech Junior team for the World Junior Championships later this month. There will be nine defensemen hoping to make the final roster for the tournament.
HV71 lost to Frolunda HC 6-1 on Saturday. Blanar did not register a point and was a minus-1 on the day. It was his final game before heading out to attempt to make the Czech squad for the WJC.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko defeated Chaika 5-4 in overtime on Saturday to get back on the winning side. Yemelyanov did not play.
It’s worth noting a measure of caution when evaluating Yemelyanov’s production. While his 25 points in 26 games are solid, he’s not exactly dominating the MHL the way one might expect. He currently ranks 26th in league scoring, sits 9th in goals—10 behind the leader—and is just 106th in assists, 18 off the pace. At 18, soon to be 19 on January 8, his age is comparable to the league’s top scorer, who turned 19 on December 4, underscoring that expectations should be tempered despite the excitement surrounding his game.
The MHL, established in 2009-10, has produced a very share of NHL talent but remains a modest draw for scouts. Last season, 21 players were drafted out of the league, compared to 28 from Sweden’s U20 Nationell. Political factors sit high among the reasons, and its likely why NHL clubs don’t commit significant resources to scouting the MHL.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
On Wednesday, Will Zellers was named the NCHC Rookie of the Month for November.
North Dakota extended its win streak to four with a 4-3 victory over St. Cloud State on Friday, highlighted by Zellers’ tenth goal of the season—the game-winner. Jumping into the play as the trailer, he slipped unchecked to the net, took a feed, and showcased his skill by cutting across the crease, shifting from backhand to forehand, and burying the finish. It was another example of his ability to score in different ways, and this one belonged on the highlight reel.
The streak reached five games on Saturday as they secured a 4-2 win over St. Cloud. While Zellers didn’t deliver a highlight-reel goal on this night, he contributed a power-play assist on the opening goal, added two shots on net, and logged just 11:57 of ice time.
Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)
Miami dropped to 10-5-0 following a 4-0 loss to Denver on Friday. Nassen was obviously held without a point, was a minus-1 and had 1 shot on goal.
Miami’s struggles continued Saturday as Denver closed out the series with a 5-2 victory. Nassen picked up an assist, but finished at minus-1 and was held without a shot on goal.
James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College
On Monday, James Hagens was named the Co-player of the Week for Hockey East.
Boston College kept its momentum rolling Friday with a 3-1 victory over UMass-Lowell, powered by standout performances from Hagens and Letourneau. Letourneau opened the scoring after being left alone on the right side of the net, finishing with a simple tap-in. Hagens doubled the lead with a blistering one-timer from the top of the right circle, and Letourneau struck again—this time redirecting a shot at the top of the crease to make it 3-0.
Hagens led the way with a game-high eight shots in 17:22 of ice time. Letourneau added five shots on goal, went 6-for-10 on faceoffs, and logged 17:12. Will Moore was held off the scoresheet, finishing 5-for-11 on draws in 15:17, while Kristian Kostadinski closed the night at minus-1 over 12:30.
Since ending October with three straight losses, BC has caught fire, winning eight of its last nine, capped by Saturday’s 3-1 victory over UMass Lowell. Hagens factored into the game-winner, recovering after briefly losing control at the blueline before setting up a long wrist shot that found the back of the net.
Letourneau capped the scoring with a blistering shot from the right dot to secure BC’s victory. Even as he was being knocked down, he buried the chance, then engaged with a UMass Lowell player and was assessed an unsportsmanlike penalty—a trade-off the I will gladly accept.
Hagens finished with a game high 5 shots on goal and 18:57 time on ice. Letourneau made his only shot count, was 7 for 11 on the dot and had 18:58 time on ice. Moore was pointless, had 3 shots on goal and was 10 for 12 on the dot with 12:45 time on ice while Kostadinski had one shot on goal and 9:48 time on ice.
BC’s next game is December 28.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
Hendrickson delivered a clutch performance against Ohio State on Thursday, scoring his fourth of the season with a gritty effort—after getting knocked off the puck along the right wall and noticing his teammate had gained possession, he drove to the net, deflecting a point shot that was stopped, and while falling, shoveling the rebound through the pads to put his team ahead 3-1. After the Buckeyes rallied to tie it 3-3, Hendrickson again made the difference, breaking up a breakout at center ice and threading a no-look backhand pass to spring his teammate in alone for the eventual game-winner, a sequence that highlighted his hustle, vision, and knack for timely plays.
Minnesota came up short Friday, falling 6-5 in overtime to Ohio State. Hendrickson contributed an assist, finished plus-1, and logged 16:51 of ice time despite not registering a shot on goal. Should he reach the NHL, Marco Sturm will – to use his own words – “trust him,” a sentiment that underscores Hendrickson’s dependable style of play.
Minnesota does not play again until January 2, 2026.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
On Thursday, Chris Pelosi was named to the Collegiate Selects Squad that will represent the United States at the 2025 Spengler Cup in Switzerland, joining Ryan Walsh.
Quinnipiac continued its surge with a seventh straight victory, rolling past RPI 5-1 on Friday to improve to 12-3-2. Pelosi chipped in two assists—his ninth and tenth of the season—while posting a plus-2, two shots on goal, and going 2-for-6 on faceoffs. Groenewold, meanwhile, was held off the scoresheet with zeros across the board.
Union shut the door on Saturday, handing them a 4-0 defeat. Pelosi was held off the scoresheet, finishing minus-1 while winning 8 of 13 faceoffs and registering two shots on goal in 18:58 of ice time. Groenewold led the team with four shots, posting an even plus/minus across 19:37 of action.
Quinnipiac’s next game is an exhibition game on December 28 against Concordia.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
Cornell fell 4-1 to Clarkson on Friday, marking its first back-to-back losses of the season. Walsh was held off the scoresheet, finishing a team-worst minus-3 with two shots on goal while winning 16 of 26 faceoffs.
Cornell delivered a statement rebound on Saturday, rolling to a 7-2 win over St. Lawrence. Walsh, shifting from finisher to facilitator, notched two assists—his ninth and tenth of the season—putting him just four shy of matching last year’s total of 14. He added one shot on goal, went 5-for-13 in the faceoff circle, and logged 16:29 of ice time.
Cornell’s next game is January 2, 2026 although Walsh will be at the Spengler Cup.
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
Harvard snapped a two-game skid with a 3-2 victory over Yale on Friday. Langenbrunner was held off the scoresheet, finishing minus-1 with one shot on goal across 20:50 of ice time.
Harvard cruised past Brown on Saturday, securing a 7-3 victory. Langenbrunner was held off the scoresheet, finishing with one shot on goal across 17:26 of ice time.
Harvard’s next game will be January 2, 2026.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
Boston University won its third straight with a 2-1 win over Vermont on Friday to improve to 8-7-1 on the season. Morello had zeroes across the board and was 10-17 on the dot.
Vermont bounced back in Saturday’s rematch, edging BU 3-2. Morello set up the tying goal midway through the third, but BU’s rally fell short as the Catamounts netted the winner with just 21 seconds left. Morello finished without a shot on goal, going 4-for-8 on faceoffs and logging 15:48 of ice time.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
On Monday, Svedeback was named the Hockey East Goaltender of the Week.
Providence College did not play last week and have an upcoming game of December 9 against Brown before shutting down for the holidays. They will return to action January 2, 2026.
Cooper Simpson
Youngstown skated past Tri-City with a 3-1-win Thursday, highlighted by Simpson’s takeover of the USHL scoring lead from teammate Ryan Rucinski. Simpson struck first, waiting in the right faceoff circle before dropping to one knee and ripping a one-timer to open the scoring. He then orchestrated the next two Youngstown tallies, finishing with a goal and two assists to push his season total to 33 points in 24 games and cement his team’s 3-0 advantage before closing out the victory.
Youngstown capped off its fourth straight meeting with Tri-City by completing the sweep in emphatic fashion, rolling to a 5-0 win on Friday. Simpson added two assists, bringing his season total to 23, and continues to outperform expectations much like Zellers. Originally projected for 31 goals, he remains on pace for 30, but it’s his playmaking that stands out—having already eclipsed his 22-assist projection and now tracking toward an impressive 57.
Simpson’s 12 game point streak in which he had 7 goals and 13 assists came to an end Saturday as Youngstown blanked NTDP 1-0. On too the next streak.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Shawinigan fell 4-1 to Drummondville on Thursday at The 55 Cup, the QMJHL outdoor event. Chandler’s offensive struggles continued as he went pointless for the fourth straight game. The forward finished a minus-2, registered two shots on goal, and won six of eight faceoffs, marking his longest scoring drought of the season.
Shawinigan snapped a four-game skid in style Saturday, rolling past Sherbrooke 5-1 in their second outdoor matchup at The 55 Cup. The victory secured third place in the four-team event, which began November 28. Chandler played a pivotal role, assisting on Shawinigan’s first two goals before adding the empty-netter to seal the win.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Western Michigan’s four-game win streak was halted Friday in a 4-1 loss to Minnesota-Duluth. Spicer was held off the scoresheet, recording one shot on goal while going 9-for-17 on faceoffs in 13:38 of ice time.
Western Michigan needed overtime in Saturday’s rematch, but came away with a 3-2 victory. Spicer set up the tying goal 5:37 into the third to force the extra frame. He finished without a shot on goal, went 4-for-6 on faceoffs, and logged 15:54 of ice time.
Western Michigan’s next game is December 28.
Providence Bruins
Providence 1 – Laval 4
Providence’s swing through Canada made a stop in Laval, Quebec on Tuesday, but the Bruins couldn’t capitalize, leaving empty-handed in their bid for a Canadian sweep.
Their lone goal, which tied the game 1-1, came when Fabian Lysell sent a pass across the blueline to Frederic Brunet, who’s long distance wrist shot found the back of the net. Patrick Brown earned the secondary assist.
Michael DiPietro stopped 18 of 22 shots in the loss. Providence outshot Laval 29-22 on the night and Providence dropped to 16-4-0-0.
Providence 4 – Springfield 3 (OT)
Christian Wolanin scored the overtime winner and earned himself an AHL contract on Sunday out of necessity.
Jake Schmaltz opened the scoring 3:55 into the game when he stood at the left post and took a Joey Abate pass from behind the net and put it far side to put Providence up 1-0. Riley Duran earned the second assist.
Just 1:50 later, Dalton Bancroft fired a shot off the goaltender’s mask. The rebound came out to Patrick Brown waiting in the slot and banged it off the crossbar and in to put the Bruins up 2-0. Brett Harrison earned the secondary assist.
With 5:38 remaining in the opening frame, Springfield would get one back. Lysell would restore the two-goal lead just 1:07 into the second period when he fired a shot from the right faceoff circle passed the blocker side. Matthew Poitras and Brunet would earn the assists.
Springfield would score the next two to tie the game and force overtime where 45 seconds in, Wolanin would rip a one-timer from the circle to earn the victory. Dans Locmelis and Georgii Merkulov would earn the assists.
Simon Zajicek stopped 20 of 23 shots he faced to earn his eighth win of the season and improve to 8-1-0.
Providence 1 – Springfield 3
Despite a depleted lineup due to callups to Boston, Providence dominated the shot clock with a 46-16 edge. Still, the scoreboard told a different story, as Springfield capitalized where it counted to come away with the win.
Springfield opened the scoring 7:03 into the game but with 10:19 remaining in the first Merkulov ripped a one-timer just inside the post on the powerplay to even the score. Wolanin received the only assist on the goal.
Former Bruins Chris Wagner score the game winner 3:04 into the second period. Springfield would add an empty netter with 24 seconds remaining.
DiPietro stopped 13 of 15 shots he faced and dropped to 9-4-0 on the season.
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 