Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
HV71 pushed its qualifying‑round record to 6‑0 with a 7–4 win over Vasteras IK on Tuesday. Blanar, who had scored in each of the previous two games, was held off the scoresheet and finished with two shots on goal.
On Thursday, they improved to 7-0 with a 3-2 shootout win over BK Karlskoga. Blanar did not register a point. He was HV71’s second shooter in the shootout and was stopped. In fact, it took 16 shooters before one got behind either goaltender.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
On Thursday, Loko cruised past JHC Dynamo with a 6–0 win in Game 1 of the MHL quarterfinals. Yemelyanov opened the scoring by driving hard to the net, with the puck deflecting in off his skate — a goal that doesn’t happen without the added net‑drive element he’s brought to his game. He later made it 3–0, jumping on a loose puck and ripping a perfectly placed short‑side shot over the goaltender’s shoulder. Yemelyanov finished with three shots on goal, a plus‑2 rating, and went a perfect 5‑for‑5 on draws in just 10:14 of ice time.
On Friday, Loko pushed its series lead to 2–0 in the best-of-five series with a 4–1 win. Yemelyanov was held off the scoresheet, registered three shots on goal, went 5‑for‑13 in the faceoff circle, and logged 19:19 of ice time.
William Zellers, – University of North Dakota
Will play in the Frozen Four on Thursday against Wisconsin and hopefully in the big game on Saturday if they win.
Chris Pelosi, Elliott Groenewold – Quinnipiac University
As noted here last week as the most likely outcome, Quinnipiac announced on X that Elliott Groenewold will return for his junior season. Groenewold finished the season with the tenth best +/- in NCAA history behind the likes of Jack Eichel, Eric Johnson, Brock Boeser, Nick Schmaltz and Johnny Gaudreau.
Just a couple of days later — and in a more surprising twist — Quinnipiac announced on X that Chris Pelosi will return for his junior season. Speculation had been building on social media about when the center, or the Bruins, would make his jump to the pro ranks official. Now we have our answer.
Beckett Hendrickson – University of Minnesota
The transfer portal is open until April 15 and no sign of Hendrickson entering the portal.
Ryan Walsh – Cornell University
No official word from the Bruins or Walsh on their intentions for next season.
Mason Langenbrunner – Harvard University
No word from the Bruins or Langenbrunner’s camp of their intention to turn pro with the organization.
Philip Svedeback – Providence College
Also, no word on Svedeback, but with the signing of Max Lundgren, the Bruins may be moving in a different direction.
Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL
Youngstown rolled to a 4–1 win over Cedar Rapids on Friday. Simpson was held off the scoresheet, finished even, and registered two shots on goal.
Youngstown closed out the regular season with a 3–1 loss in Saturday’s rematch against Cedar Rapids. Simpson did not dress, finishing his campaign with an impressive 34 goals and 40 assists across 61 games. By securing first place, Youngstown earns a bye through the best‑of‑three opening round.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
After dropping the first two games on home ice, Shawinigan went on the road and clawed back into the quarterfinal with a 2–1 win over Sherbrooke. Chandler didn’t hit the scoresheet, finishing with three shots on goal and a 5‑for‑8 night in the faceoff circle. Early in the third, with the game tied 1–1, he was assessed a five‑minute major for a check to the head, a minor for roughing, and a game misconduct. Shawinigan managed to survive the extended kill and hold on.
On Wednesday, Shawinigan evened the series at 2–2 with a 5–4 double‑overtime win. Chandler was held off the scoresheet, registered three shots on goal, finished minus‑1, and went 10‑for‑19 in the faceoff circle.
On Friday, the series shifted back to Shawinigan for Game 5, but Sherbrooke rolled to a 6–1 win to take a 3–2 series lead. Chandler picked up an assist on Shawinigan’s lone goal, finished plus‑1, and was held without a shot on net while going 7‑for‑11 in the faceoff circle.
Shawinigan forced a Game 7 on Sunday, edging out a 4–3 win to even the series at 3–3. Cole Chandler was held off the scoresheet, finishing with one shot on goal and winning his lone faceoff. The series now shifts back to Shawinigan for Tuesday’s decisive Game 7 — with the road team having won all six games so far.
Some Bruins prospect outlets and social posts reported that Chandler had been handed a one‑game suspension for a hit to the head. That’s incorrect. The confusion stemmed from a mistranslation of the team’s original French tweet, which Google Translate rendered inaccurately. In reality, Chandler received a match penalty — not a suspension.
“Punition de match” means match penalty – game misconduct in hockey.
Cole Spicer – Western Michigan
Will be returning to Western Michigan.
Providence Bruins
Providence 3 – Utica 2 SO
Providence picked up its 50th win of the season on Wednesday, edging Utica 3–2 in a shootout. Utica opened the scoring with 5:30 left in the first, and that lead held until late in the second, when John Farinacci redirected a Michael Callahan wrist shot from the point to tie it with 2:35 remaining. Christian Wolanin added the secondary assist.
Providence grabbed the lead 11:18 into the third when Matej Blumel redirected a Billy Sweezey point shot, with Callahan collecting the secondary assist. But the advantage lasted just 1:04 before Utica answered to pull even. Overtime couldn’t settle it, sending the game to a shootout.
The shootout stretched to six rounds, with Blumel and Riley Tufte converting for Providence while Michael DiPietro turned aside five of six attempts. DiPietro also stopped 23 of 25 shots through regulation and overtime. Providence generated 34 shots of its own.
Providence 4 – Syracuse 2
Providence opened the scoring just 2:52 into the first when a Colin Felix point shot deflected off Navrin Mutter, giving him his first goal as a Bruin. Syracuse answered at 6:58 to pull even, but Providence regained the lead late in the period. James Hagens threaded a perfect pass to Georgii Merkulov in the right circle, and Merkulov zipped a cross‑crease feed to Patrick Brown for a power‑play finish with 4:55 remaining.
Syracuse pulled even again just 1:35 into the second period. But Providence answered quickly. Just 2:21 later, Max Wanner walked a defender at the blue line and snapped a wrister into the top corner to restore the lead. Jake Schmaltz and Sweezey picked up the assists.
Brown closed out the scoring with an empty net goal with 43 seconds remaining. Merkulov and Callahan picked up assists.
Simon Zajicek earned the win stopping 24 of 26 shots he faced. Providence had 28 shots the other way.
Providence 1 – Rochester 2 OT
Rochester opened the scoring 3:31 into the first period. Providence answered late, tying the game on a power play when Hagens teed up Soderstrom for a wrist shot from the point with 7:58 remaining. Merkulov collected the secondary assist.
The score held until 43 seconds remaining in overtime when Rochester scored. DiPietro stopped 19 of 21 shots while Providence had 24 of their own.
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:
