Teammates James Hagens and Andre Gasseau of Boston College and Chris Pelosi of Quinnipiac were named semi-finalists for the Walter Brown Award, awarded to the top U.S. born D-1 hockey player in New England. There are 25 players remaining for contention.
Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
The U-20 Nationell had an off week.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
The U‑20 Nationell was idle this week, but Blanar was anything but. The forward suited up for his native Czechia at the Five Nations U20 – and named captain, where the Czechs opened the tournament against Finland on Wednesday and fell 5–2. Trailing 2–0 with 14 minutes gone in the second period, Blanar put his team on the board with a heads‑up play. Crossing the red line, he lofted a bouncing puck toward the net that skipped its way past the Finnish goaltender. Call it fortunate if you want, but the touch was intentional — a calculated flip designed to create chaos. He earned that one. It was one of his three shots on goal in 16:59 time on ice.
On Thursday, Czechia played their second of 4 games in 4 days and lost to Switzerland 2-0.
On Friday it was Czechia’s turn for a shutout as they blanked Germany 2-0. Blanar did not register a point, had an even plus/minus with 16:52 time on ice.
On Saturday, Czechia defeated Sweden 3-1 to finish the tournament 2-2-0-0. Blanar assisted on the clinching goal with 1:10 remaining. He was a plus-1 with 15:53 time on ice.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko continued their dominant stretch Tuesday with a 4–0 win over JHC Spartak MHA. They’ve allowed just one goal in their last 4 games. Yemelyanov stayed red‑hot, posting a goal and an assist to give him 6 goals and 3 helpers over his last five outings.
He opened the scoring on the power play, slipping away from coverage and sliding to the right post for a clean tap‑in. Later, he helped make it 2–0 by disrupting a play in the neutral zone, steering the puck into the left corner, and outmuscling two defenders before finding a teammate alone in front for the finish.
Loko’s winning streak came to an end on Sunday with a 5–4 loss to Krasnaya Armiya. Yemelyanov extended his personal point streak to six games with an assist, giving him six goals and five assists over that span. He added two shots on goal, went 9‑for‑21 in the faceoff circle, and logged 20:19 of ice time.
Casper Nassen – Miami (Ohio)
Miami edged Western Michigan 3–2 in overtime on Friday, improving to 17‑8‑2 on the season. Nassen, skating on the fourth line after a lineup shuffle, finished without a point or a shot on goal and posted a plus‑1 rating in 12:06 of ice time.
Miami couldn’t complete the weekend sweep, falling 3–1 to Western Michigan on Saturday. Nassen was held off the scoresheet, recording one shot on goal while logging 14:58 of ice time.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
North Dakota dropped a 3–2 decision in overtime to Minnesota-Duluth on Friday night. Zellers was held off the scoresheet and registered two shots on goal in what proved to be a relatively quiet outing for the forward. He was a minus-1.
North Dakota bounced back on Saturday, taking the rematch 4–1 with all the scoring coming in the third period. Zellers delivered the game‑winner on the power play, hammering a one‑timer from the right circle just inside the near post. Zellers has 4 goals and 2 assists in his last 4 games.
James Hagens, Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau, Dean Letourneau, Kristian Kostadinski, Will Moore – Boston College
Boston College secured its spot in the Beanpot Final on February 9 with a commanding 5–1 win over Harvard in Monday’s semifinal. And for anyone who tuned in, it was must‑see hockey — Bruins prospects were front and center throughout the night, leaving their mark all over the scoresheet and the flow of the game.
BC struck early, opening the scoring just 3:10 into the game. The sequence began in their own end, where Letourneau helped disrupt a play before the Eagles transitioned up ice and finished it off. Letourneau picked up the secondary assist on the tally.
Later in the period, Hagens and Gasseau made their presence felt. A crisp give‑and‑go between Gasseau and Oscar Hemming (a name worth keeping in mind) produced a quality chance that was turned aside, but Hagens pounced on the rebound and buried it to give BC a 2–0 lead.
Just 2 minutes and 10 seconds later, Hagens and Gasseau struck again on a 2‑on‑2 rush. Hagens fed Gasseau, who quickly gave it back, setting up a clean back‑door tap‑in for Hagens to push the lead to 3–0 at the end of period one.
Harvard got one back just 29 seconds into the second period, but BC had the final say before intermission. With 20 seconds left in the frame, it appeared Hagens had completed the hat trick on a one‑timer from the top of the right circle. Instead, it was Letourneau — planted in front and taking away the goaltender’s eyes — who got the deflection for the goal.
Moore got on the board with 1:05 remaining in the game with the secondary assist on a powerplay goal to close out the scoring.
Hagens ended up with 2G – 1A, plus-3 and 5 shots on goal and 21:21 TOI; Letourneau 1G – 1A, plus-1 and 4 SOG with 19:12 TOI; Gasseau had 2A, plus-2, 5 SOG and 19:15 TOI; Moore had 1A. even plus/minus, 2 SOG and 14:39 TOI; Kostadinski was pointless, 3 SOG and 12:16 TOI. Jellvik is still out with an injury.
Boston College turned in one of its sloppiest performances of the season on Friday, falling 6–1 to Vermont. The lone bright spot came from James Hagens, who scored the Eagles’ only goal while registering five shots on net, finishing at minus‑1 with 20:21 of ice time.
Dean Letourneau added two shots on goal and posted an even rating, going 8‑for‑13 on faceoffs in 19:22. Will Moore contributed one shot and went 3‑for‑6 on draws across 9:53, while Andre Gasseau finished minus‑1 with one shot on goal and a 2‑for‑9 mark in the faceoff circle over 16:14. Kristian Kostadinski rounded out the group with a minus‑1 rating, one shot on goal, and 14:36 of ice time.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac cruised past Brown on Friday with a dominant 9–1 victory. Chris Pelosi did not dress for the matchup. Elliott Groenewold recorded an assist, finished plus‑2, and registered one shot on goal in just 11:04 of ice time — his lowest total of the season.
A notable stat for Groenewold: he entered the night leading the nation at plus‑30. Nationally, only two players have posted a better mark through 28 games — JT Compher (+35) and Kyle Connor (+33).
The offense kept rolling on Saturday as they cruised past Yale with an 8–0 victory. Groenewold added his fifth goal of the season just past the midway point of the third period, finishing plus‑4 with four shots on goal and 21:02 of ice time. Pelosi did not dress for the game.
Jonathan Morello – Boston University
Boston University punched its ticket to the Beanpot Final on Monday, edging Northeastern 3–2 in overtime to set up a showdown with Boston College on February 9. Trailing 1–0 after the opening frame, BU drew even at 1:41 of the second when Morello planted himself in front of the Northeastern netminder, providing the screen as a shot from the left circle deflected off him and in. He closed the night at plus‑2, recorded one shot on goal, and went 6‑for‑12 on draws while logging 14:05 of ice time.
Before turning the page to the Beanpot final, Boston University took care of business Friday with a 3–2 overtime win against Maine. Morello, centering the third line, did not factor into the scoring but registered three shots on goal, went 5‑for‑10 in the faceoff circle, and logged 15:53 of ice time.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
Minnesota fell to 10‑17‑1 after a 6–2 loss to Ohio State on Friday. Hendrickson was held off the scoresheet, finishing minus‑3 with one shot on goal across 14:02 of ice time.
It was a tighter contest on Saturday, but the outcome didn’t change, as they fell 2–1. Hendrickson picked up an assist on Minnesota’s lone goal, finishing plus‑1 with one shot on net in the loss.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
Cornell extended its winning streak to five games with a 5–2 victory over Colgate on Friday. Walsh was held off the scoresheet and finished minus‑1 in just 6:48 of ice time after receiving a five‑minute major for cross‑checking and a game misconduct late in the first period. The hit caught the Colgate player high, making contact with the side and back of the head.
Playing without Walsh on Saturday, Cornell couldn’t get it done as Colgate won 3-2 in overtime.
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
Harvard came up short on Friday night, falling 3–1 to Dartmouth. Langenbrunner did not factor into Harvard’s lone goal, finishing minus‑1 with two shots on net while logging 22:52 of ice time.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
Injured.
Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL
Youngstown needed a shootout to secure a 4–3 win over Lincoln on Friday night. Simpson scored Youngstown’s third goal, skating down the left wing and beating the goaltender from a near‑impossible angle for his 25th of the season before Lincoln mounted its comeback. He also scored in the shootout to secure the victory.
Youngstown closed out the weekend with a 4–1 win in Saturday’s rematch. Simpson delivered the game‑winner with 6:48 left in the second period, driving the cycle, taking the puck to the net, and forcing it across the line while down on the ice. He added an assist and now carries a four‑game point streak, totaling three goals and three assists over that span.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
Shawinigan skated past Rimouski 6–4 on Friday night. Chandler chipped in with an assist, finished plus‑1, and went 8‑for‑19 in the faceoff circle in the victory. It was his 26th assist of the season, equaling his total from the two previous seasons combined.
Shawinigan rolled past Baie‑Comeau 5–2 on Saturday. Chandler was held off the scoresheet, registering two shots on goal and going 9‑for‑22 in the faceoff circle.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Spicer returned to the lineup on Friday, but Western Michigan couldn’t solve Miami, falling 3–2 in overtime. Easing back into action, Spicer posted zeros across the board, though he did go 8‑for‑11 on faceoffs while logging 8:56 of ice time.
Western Michigan took the Saturday rematch 3–1, with Spicer providing the eventual game‑winner before the midway point of the second period. The goal stood after Miami challenged for a kicking motion, but the review confirmed it as a good goal — though I’m not so sure.
Providence Bruins
Congratulations to Michael DiPietro on being named the AHL Goaltender of the Month for January.
Providence 2 – Bridgeport 1
Providence earned their eight straight victory Wednesday as the defeated Bridgeport 2-1.
Riley Tufte opened the scoring at 16:37 of the first period, breaking free after Patrick Brown sprung him with a crisp breakout pass. Tufte finished the play with confidence, snapping a wrist shot stick‑side for his 200th career AHL point.
Christian Wolanin doubled the lead 4:07 into the second period, hammering a power‑play slapshot from the point off a setup from Georgii Merkulov. Matej Blumel also earned an assist on the play.
Bridgeport would get one back with 7:42 remaining in the second period, but that’s as close as they would come.
DiPietro was outstanding, turning aside 36 of the 37 shots he faced to keep Bridgeport in check throughout the night. Providence generated just 19 shots on goal, but DiPietro’s performance ensured they stayed firmly in control.
Providence 3 – Hartford 1
With 2:10 left in the opening frame, Brett Harrison snapped a shot from the slot that was turned aside, but the rebound landed perfectly for Merkulov. The winger spun and slipped it past the outstretched pad to open the scoring at 1–0. Matthew Poitras picked up the secondary assist on the play.
Just 45 seconds later, the lead doubled. Frederic Brunet jumped on a turnover in the slot and ripped a wrist shot into the top‑left corner, pushing the advantage to 2–0.
Hartford cut the deficit with six minutes remaining in the second period, but the Bruins restored control midway through the third. Poitras threaded a pass into the slot for Merkulov, who buried a wrist shot to the top‑right corner to put the game out of reach. Wolanin collected the secondary assist.
DiPietro continues to put on a show as he stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced.
Providence 2 – Hartford 1 (SO)
On the power play, Merkulov threaded a cross‑ice feed to Harrison in the left circle, and Harrison buried a wrist shot into a half‑open net to give Providence a 1–0 lead at 10:42 of the first period. Wolanin picked up the secondary assist on the play.
Hartford pulled even just 2:11 into the second period, and the 1–1 score held through the remainder of regulation and overtime.
Luke Cavallin stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout while Merkulov scored the winner in the third round. Cavallin stopped 25 of 26 shots during the game to improve to 4-0-0 in the AHL.
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 