Liam Pettersson – Vaxjo Lakers – U20 Nationell
Two weeks ago, reports surfaced that Pettersson had begun exploring North American opportunities — a development also noted here. But last week, Expressen, the Swedish outlet plugged into all things hockey, added a new wrinkle, reporting that according to one source, Pettersson has agreed to a deal with Djurgårdens of the SHL.
His representatives confirmed to me that he explored North American options, but they wouldn’t touch the rumor mill — declining to confirm or deny anything circulating right now. They did, however, confirm one point to me: under the current NHL–Swedish Hockey Association transfer agreement, Pettersson is not eligible to play in the AHL at this time.
Vashek Blanar – HV71 – U20 Nationell
Czechia dropped its Five Nations U‑20 opener on Wednesday, falling 2–0 to Finland in a tightly contested matchup. The Finns broke through on a power play just 2:25 into the second period, then sealed it with an empty‑netter in the final second. Blanar logged top‑pair minutes throughout and was deployed in every situation, underscoring his importance on the Czech blue line.
Czechia broke through on Friday, earning its first win of the tournament with a 2–1 victory over Switzerland. After trailing 1–0 through 20 minutes, they pulled even just 32 seconds into the second period, with Blanar helping to set up the power‑play equalizer. He finished the night plus‑1 and led the team with three shots on goal — a strong all‑situations performance in a tight game.
Czechia kept rolling on Saturday, edging Slovakia 4–3 to pick up its second win of the tournament. Blanar didn’t factor into the scoring but turned in another steady performance, finishing plus‑1 with two shots on goal. He’s been logging heavy minutes through the first three games and has clearly emerged as Czechia’s most reliable defenseman. At this point, it feels safe to say he’s tracking toward a spot on their World Juniors roster in December.
Czechia closed out the tournament at 2–2 after a 3–1 setback to Sweden on Sunday. The game’s middle frame unraveled into a parade to the penalty box, featuring 12 minors, two majors, and a pair of game misconducts. Amid the chaos, Blanar made his mark, threading the setup on a power‑play strike that briefly pulled Czechia even before Sweden regained control.
I can also confirm that Blanar will attend Bruins development camp.
Kirill Yemelyanov – Loko Yaroslav – MHL
Loko opened their best‑of‑five second‑round series with a 3–1 win over Dinamo‑Shinnik, and Yemelyanov stayed red‑hot in the process, scoring his fourth goal in as many playoff games. He struck just 54 seconds into the third period, jumping on a loose puck at his own blue line, breaking in on a 2‑on‑1, and keeping it himself before lifting a backhand over the glove for the insurance marker. He finished with three shots on goal, went 11‑for‑14 on draws, posted a plus‑1 rating, and logged 18:27 of ice time.
On Tuesday, Loko rolled past Dinamo 6–1 to seize a 2–0 lead in the series, and once again Yemelyanov made his presence felt. He struck 6:55 into the second period, extending the lead to 3–1 with a classic net‑front effort. Drifting into his office at the top of the blue paint, he corralled a pass that landed in his skates and, with a defender draped all over him, located the puck and hammered it home.
Loko wrapped up their second sweep of the postseason on Friday, edging Dinamo 3–2 in overtime to punch their ticket to the next round. Yemelyanov didn’t hit the scoresheet in the clincher, but he was heavily involved throughout — registering four shots on goal, dominating the dot at 22‑for‑26, and logging a hefty 22:57 of ice time in a strong two‑way effort.
Loko will now face JHC Spartak in the semifinals. There is no start date as of yet as there are still series going on.
Casper Nassen – Lake Superior State
Nassen has entered the transfer portal, leaving Miami (Ohio) in search of what he hopes will be greener pastures at Lake Superior State. The Bruins’ 2023 seventh‑round pick has struggled to gain traction since being drafted, both in the U20 Nationell and during his time at Miami. A change of scenery might be exactly what he needs to reset his trajectory.
Cooper Simpson – Youngstown – USHL
Simpson was named a finalist for the USHL Forward of the Year award.
Youngstown dropped its series opener on Friday, falling 2–1 to Madison in a tight, grinding matchup. Trailing 2–0, Simpson managed to jam the puck across the line during a chaotic goal‑mouth scramble that left five players sprawled in the blue paint. He finished the night plus‑1 and led all skaters with five shots on goal — a hard‑driving effort in an otherwise frustrating loss.
Saturday tilted heavily in Youngstown’s favor on the shot clock, but not on the scoreboard. Despite a 30–11 advantage in regulation, the game remained locked at 0–0. Overtime brought more of the same—Youngstown pressing, Madison hanging on—as the Phantoms outshot their opponent 10–3. But it was Madison that broke through, striking with 2:54 left in the first extra frame to seize a 2–0 series lead. Simpson, usually a volume shooter, was limited to just two shots on goal.
Game 3 of the best‑of‑five shifts to Madison on Friday, where the Phantoms will try to extend the series. If a fourth game becomes necessary, it will also be played in Madison, keeping home‑ice advantage firmly in their hands.
Cole Chandler – Shawinigan – QMJHL
After dropping the first two games on the road, Shawinigan returned home Tuesday hoping to shift the momentum — but it didn’t materialize. Rouyn‑Noranda skated to a 3–2 victory, seizing a commanding 3–0 stranglehold on the series. Chandler was sidelined once again, missing yet another game.
The season came to an end on Wednesday as Rouyn-Noranda defeated Shawinigan 4-2 to sweep the series 4-0. Chandler missed his fifth straight game.
He will head to Northeastern University for the 2026-27 season.
Providence Bruins
Michael DiPietro was selected as the IOA/American Specialty Man of the Year for Providence for his outstanding contributions to the local community and charitable organizations.
DiPietro was also named to the AHL All-Star First Team.
Providence 1 – Utica 4
It may have been a meaningless game in the standings, but that’s no excuse for a flat start. Providence found itself down 2–0 late in the first, yet finally showed some urgency on a two‑man advantage. Matej Blumel hammered home his 20th of the season with a one‑timer from high in the right circle, cutting into the deficit. Georgii Merkulov and Frederic Brunet picked up the assists on the lone bright spot of the period.
Simon Zajicek got the start and turned aside 30 of the 34 shots he faced, keeping the score respectable on a night when Providence offered little support. His teammates managed just 14 shots at the other end, never finding much sustained pressure. Zajicek was backed up by recently signed Max Lundgren, while DiPietro was given the night off.
Providence 2 – Utica 4
Providence didn’t script the regular‑season finale this way, and the effort reflected it. The group never truly found its edge, and that lack of urgency showed. With the postseason now looming, they’ll need to sharpen their focus quickly, because a repeat of that performance won’t carry them far when the stakes rise.
Providence struck first 6:26 into the opening period, sparked by a sharp read from Brunet. The defenseman dropped a pass to Blumel at the top of the circle, and the winger wasted no time—cutting into the slot and ripping a wrist shot into the top corner to give Providence the early edge. Ty Gallagher picked up the secondary assist on the sequence.
Utica flipped the script late in the second period, striking twice in a 21‑second span with just a minute remaining to grab a 2–1 lead. They added to it in the third, pushing the advantage to 3–1 with 7:52 left in regulation to keep Providence chasing the game.
Merkulov pulled Providence back within one with 5:22 to play in the third, snapping a wrist shot inside the post during a 4‑on‑4 sequence. Blumel and Brunet collected the assists on the goal. But Utica had the final say, sealing the win with an empty‑netter in the closing 39 seconds.
DiPietro stopped 27 of 30 shots he faced while Providence fired 31 shots the other way. Lundgren backed up DiPietro as Zajicek was called up to Boston as their third goalie for the trip to Buffalo as their playoff series gets underway.
Providence has a bye in the opening round of the playoffs.
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.
—
