NCAA Hockey – McKeen's Hockey

NCAA: Jack Dugan – Nation’s Leading Collegiate Scorer’s Continuing Development

Jashvina Shah — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 13:32:26 +0000

BUFFALO, NY - APRIL 11: Providence Friars Forward Jack Dugan (12) skates up ice during the NCAA Frozen Four men's hockey game between Providence Friars and Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on April 11, 2019 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. (Photo by Jerome Davis/Icon Sportswire)

Jack Dugan had just spoken to Chadd Cassidy, his former prep hockey coach at Northwood. The Friars had just split a series with New Hampshire and Dugan snapped a two-game scoreless streak — his longest of the season.

Chats with Cassidy are a common occurrence - Dugan and Cassidy keep in touch regularly.

Cassidy, after all, was the reason Dugan went to Northwood.

So, Cassidy was the reason Dugan ended up at Providence

Because Cassidy was the reason Dugan stayed at Northwood instead of returning home.

“Moving and not knowing anyone, going to a school, you're sleeping in your own room, you don't have anyone making you food or telling you to go to bed or telling you (that) you need to be home at a certain time,” Dugan said. “And you don't drive anywhere, you're there at all times of the day. It’s a different type of lifestyle and it definitely took me a month or two to really get used to it and start enjoying it.

“For the first month I definitely did not enjoy it. I wanted to go back home with all my buddies who were sophomore and juniors in high school and hang out and do whatever.”

Dugan and his teammates at McQuaid Jesuit High had just won the state championship in 2015 (the same year Providence won its first national championship) and Dugan had netted 53 points in 18 games. He opted to leave for prep hockey because he knew it was the only way to further his career.

“It was getting to the point where playing high school hockey was not really challenging enough anymore and neither was travel hockey, so I needed to pick the next level and that's when I ended up choosing Northwood,” Dugan said.

Cassidy had just been hired as head coach the summer before Dugan joined Northwood. Because Cassidy was a late hire and the team was already set, he could only bring in one recruit. He chose Dugan. And he invested in the newcomer, helping Dugan through the difficult first month.

“He looked out for me during my whole two years there. Now we talk every week,” Dugan said.

In his first season with Northwood, Dugan finished with 53 points in 49 games. In his second season, he posted 80 points in 47 games. After his two years at Northwood, Dugan left for Chicago of the USHL. In his one year with the Steel, he scored 66 points in 54 games.

Now, Dugan is leading the country with 42 points at the collegiate level.

“Every year, especially if you stay at the same level that you're at, at least for me, I set personal goals for myself before the year starts and I'm pretty confident in myself and I think that has something to do with it,” Dugan said.

Last year Providence also made the Frozen Four, giving Dugan a boost of playoff experience. Providence head coach Nate Leaman agreed that experience played a part in Dugan’s higher numbers. But he also noted Dugan’s offseason, where he worked on his shot and on getting stronger.

“He's at his best when a line runs through him a little bit,” Leaman said. “Last year he was with two really good players, Josh Wilkins and Kasper Bjorkqvist, and they both signed NHL contracts. Jack has done a really good job this year of leading a line. I don't know if a line runs through him is the right terminology, but he's done a really good job of leading his line this year.”

Dugan has already recorded 14 multi-point games and has scored four points three times, including in the season opener against Maine.

In 2017, prior to arriving at Providence, Dugan was drafted by Las Vegas in the 5th round of the NHL Entry Draft. The next day he flew out to development camp and has been keeping in touch with the Golden Knights since.

“I really don't even remember that much of it,” Dugan said of the draft.

“I talk to them pretty frequently and we have a great relationship. They’ve been nothing but honest with me and I've been nothing but honest with them and we've been able to build up a great relationship.

“I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I'm extremely excited to have been picked by them.”

Appropriately for a player that is extremely well-liked by his teammates, honesty and loyalty are two of his core values. He committed to Providence when he was 15 years old, before he exhibited signs of being a prolific scorer. As Dugan got better, the offers increased. But he never forgot who recognized his potential first.

“I always had some sort of loyalty to that and as the years went on, I just wanted to come here more and more obviously that's what ended up happening,” Dugan said.

When he entered his freshman season, he knew he would have no trouble adapting offensively. It was the defensive game that would be the challenge. But it took him only 10 games to adjust, much faster than he expected.

That season Dugan scored 39 points, second in the league to only Niagara’s Ludwig Stenlund. That performance, in theory, should have been good enough for a Rookie of the Year nomination. But because of how balloting works, the only players nominated nationally for Rookie of the Year are players who won their conference Rookie of the Year awards. Furthermore, each conference end-of-year award is awarded based only on in-conference play, not play overall. And there, Dugan fell just short to current NHLer Joel Farabee.

“[Farabee] was really deserving of rookie of the year in our league so I don't want to diminish that. But Jack wasn't even on the ballot. He should've been on the ballot,” Leaman said. “And if he was, I think a lot more people would've been like, ‘oh he had a great year last year, now he's following up with a great year this year’ and it's, some people think he came out of left field but he really didn’t."

Despite a lack of national attention, Dugan has been progressing well. Like almost all college hockey players, he had to work on his 200-foot game — a must for any player interested in succeeding at the next level.

"The wall play was something that he had to adapt to last year,” Leaman said. “That and he had a lot of success on the power play early last year but when you go through a year, teams take it away. They take away your primary options. So for him, [it was] developing secondary and third options on the power play. That’s something he's done really well this year. He can very much read a power play, and what the opponent's try to take away, and then look for option B, C or D. It shows because all the guys on that power play have been really successful.”

Aside from the improvements, Dugan’s best assets are his vision and his passing.

“He knows a play's there before anybody else on the ice knows a play is there,” Leaman said. “He can wait and wait and wait until a play develops with a puck and create that play. It’s dual talent. Sometimes he'll get it and he'll wait, and he'll wait with the puck but he's just being patient, patient, patient and all of a sudden, he'll just find a guy. Then there's other times where a play happens quickly, and everyone thinks that the normal play is going to occur, and Jack does something completely different.”

While Dugan is now a top scorer in the country — and leads Hockey East with 26 in-league points — his path to Providence was not without its challenges on and off the ice, and academically.

While leaving home early posed difficulties for Dugan off the ice, it also made his academic situation more difficult. He attended three different high schools, so he had to take online classes while playing with Chicago in the USHL to get enough credits to get into Providence. Since attending college, the workload hasn’t decreased. He takes four to five classes a semester, two summer school classes whereas some players take one or two classes over break.

“It's definitely not any different than any other student,” Dugan said. “It’s all the same requirements and we don't really get like a special pass or anything. People may not know that as much, but it's definitely a grind and the weeks are long and basically just look forward to playing the games on the weekend. At least that's what gets me through."

Dugan has come a long way since he was a child, skating on the backyard rink his dad and grandfather would build each season.

“It wasn't always the best every year, but that’s why I remember it,” Dugan said. “Because some years it would work and some years it wouldn't."

Now he just needs to shoot the puck more.

“He's got a very good shot,” Leaman said. “Recently in the past three games he's hit three poles with it. He's starting to shoot more but that was one thing I would like. Because he's got a very good shot. He can score but he likes to be a pass-first guy."

NCAA: World Junior Edition – Key players and underdogs to watch from US College hockey

Jashvina Shah — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 13:37:06 +0000

ORNSKOLDSVIK, SWEDEN - APRIL 19: USAs Spencer Knight #30 holds his mask during the national anthem following a 12-5 preliminary round win against Slovakia at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship at Fjallraven Center on April 19, 2019 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. (Photo by Steve Kingsman/HHOF-IIHF Images)

The most wonderful time of the year, when it’s cold outside and people are strapping on their skates to … represent their countries at the World Junior Championship

The annual tournament is a favorite amongst those who follow prospects, although none really know why. Perhaps it’s because of the never-ending USA-Canada rivalry. Or maybe it’s because players have one year, maximum two, to take home a gold medal. Perhaps it’s because, unlike the Olympics, this team is still a “team” and less a compilation of famous stars. Perhaps it’s because this a chance to catch the next generation of NHL players before they are NHL players. Or perhaps it’s because it’s a chance to see the best players of this generation, even though some of them won’t become NHL players.

For some, it’s because the World Junior Championship is a chance to watch some of the best college players in the country face off against the best of the best worldwide in their age group. And it is so much fun, albeit slightly alarming, how much people’s lives depend on the outcome of a game played by a bunch of 19-year-olds.

Each year a slew of elite college hockey players end up at the World Juniors. Most of them play for USA, but a few are scattered amongst other countries. This year, 27 college hockey players were selected to preliminary rosters.

Most, as mentioned above, ended up on the U.S. roster. The Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden also named one NCAA player each to their respective rosters. (The interesting note is that those players aren’t from programs you would normally associate with recruiting in those areas, since Finland’s Sampo Ranta plays for Minnesota and Sweden’s Erik Portillo is a Michigan recruit.) Canada named four players to its preliminary roster but later cut BC’s Alex Newhook, Quinnipiac’s Peter Diliberatore and Wisconsin’s Dylan Holloway.

The tournament runs from December 26, 2019 to January 5, 2020 in the Czech Republic. Countries still need to trim their rosters. Five must go from USA, which started its training camp on Dec. 15. The teams will practice before playing a controlled scrimmage against the National Team Development Program U18 (a.k.a. half of the future World Junior Championship roster).The team will then fly to the Czech Republic for pre-tournament games against Sweden and Germany.

There will be a preliminary round robin of group play followed by elimination games, which begin with quarterfinals on Jan. 2.

Group A consists of the United States, Russia, Canada, the Czech Republic and Germany. Group B features reigning champion Finland along with Switzerland, Sweden, Slovakia and Kazakhstan.

Here is a full list of NCAA prospects currently on preliminary rosters, along with their stat lines:

Canada:

Jacob Bernard-Docker | D | North Dakota | 17gp 3-11-14

Czech Republic:

Ondrej Pavel | F | Fargo, USHL (Minnesota State Recruit) |19 gp 6-4-10

Finland:

Sampo Ranta | F | Minnesota | 18gp 7-4-11

Sweden:

Erik Portillo | G | Dubuque, USHL (Michigan Recruit) | 15gp .912 sv%

USA

Goaltenders:

*Spencer Knight | Boston College | 15gs, .940 sv%

Isaiah Saville | Nebraska-Omaha | 3gs, .887 sv%

Defensemen:

Ty Emberson | Wisconsin | 18gp 0-3-3

Jordan Harris | Northeastern | 17gp 3-8-11

Ryan Johnson | Minnesota | 18gp 0-5-5

Zac Jones | UMass | 17gp 3-9-12

Christian Krygier | MSU | 17gp 0-3-3

*K’Andre Miller | Wisconsin | 18gp 6-5-11

Mattias Samuelsson | Western Michigan | 12gp 1-3-4

Spencer Stastney | Notre Dame | 17gp 2-6-8

Cam York | Michigan | 18gp 4-5-9

Forwards:

John Beecher | Michigan | 16gp 5-4-9

Bobby Brink | Denver } 18gp 7-6-13

Cole Caufield | Wisconsin | 18-12-8-20

*Jack Drury | Harvard | 10gp 4-6-10

Parker Ford | Providence | 17gp 6-8-14

Curtis Hall | Yale | 9gp 6-1-7

Trevor Janicke | Notre Dame 17gp 7-3-10

Robert Mastrosimone | Boston University | 17gp 4-6-10

Shane Pinto | North Dakota | 17gp 8-6-14

Jacob Pivonka | Notre Dame | 17gp 4-4-8

Alex Turcotte | Wisconsin | 18gp 6-9-15

Trevor Zegras | Boston University |17gp 5-12-17

*On last year’s WJC roster

The theme for selected NCAA players is scoring. It is unsurprising given that, in the past, USA Hockey has struggled in World Juniors because of lack of scoring. This team has five of the country’s 10 highest-scoring freshmen, with Caufield leading the way.

Majority of these players are from Midwestern teams, specifically from the Big Ten. Wisconsin has four players, Notre Dame has three, Michigan has two players as well as a recruit, Minnesota has two players and Michigan State has one. (Oddly enough, both Wisconsin and Notre Dame, who each have some of the top freshmen in the country, are struggling of late. But that’s a topic for a different day.) There are just two Eastern players on the defensive core, and five out of 12 in the forward core.

Here are some players to watch, by position:

Spencer Knight. Photo courtesy of the USNTDP.

Goaltending:

Players to watch:

The answer to this is, obviously, Spencer Knight. Knight, an NTDP alumnus, was actually on last year’s roster as the third stringer behind Cayden Primeau and Kyle Keyser. Primeau did pretty well, posting a .937 save percentage, leaving no need for Knight. Barring something unforeseen, Knight will be the starter this year.

Expected to be one of the top incoming freshman goaltenders in the country, Knight has played like it. He is sixth in the nation — and first amongst freshman goaltenders — with a .940 save percentage in 15 starts. That’s impressive because adapting to the faster speed can be a challenge for freshmen. Knight is the only rookie in the country with a save percentage that ranks in the top 14.

Underdogs:

Team USA generally has used Major Junior goaltenders over college hockey goaltenders because Major Junior goaltenders have more playing experience, although this trend may be shifting. It is interesting that this year the U.S. has two college hockey goaltenders. While Knight is the obvious front runner, don’t sleep on Isaiah Seville.

The starting netminder at Nebraska-Omaha, Saville has a .889 save percentage on a team that is last in the NCHC with two conference wins. But team stats aren’t really goaltending stats and Saville, the former USHL Goaltender of the Year, has a reputation of getting hot at the right time. And when he’s on, he’s on. He won gold with the U.S. at the World Junior A Challenge as well. Most likely Saville won’t see much action, but it would be surprising if he didn’t get any looks.

ANN ARBOR, MI - NOVEMBER 24: Wisconsin Badgers defenseman K'Andre Miller (19) skates with the puck during a regular season Big 10 Conference hockey game between the Wisconsin Badgers and Michigan Wolverines on November 24, 2018 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire)

Defense

Players to watch

The NCAA World Junior pool is loaded with high-end defensemen who can also contribute points from the blue line like K’Andre Miller, Cam York and Zac Jones. Jacob Bernard-Docker, Canada’s only remaining NCAA player, is a former CJHL Top Defenseman and a World A Junior Challenge gold medalist.

Last year Miller was one of the best freshmen defenders in the country, unfortunately missing some playing time with injuries. But Miller is one of the few WJC veterans on this team and played in six games during last year’s WJC with one point. He is tied for second most goals in the country amongst defensemen and leads this group with goals from the blue line.

Meanwhile Jones, despite his freshman status, is the highest-scoring defender in this group.

Underdogs:

Points are important but so are solid blue liners — a lesson we often re-learn in World Juniors. Michigan State has been burning through the Big Ten and just as they are underdogs, so is defenseman Christian Krygier. Yes, he was drafted, but as a seventh round. He has international experience, playing in the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup. Unlike Zac Jones, Krygier isn’t a scorer. He’s not flashy. But solid defensemen are important for championships, and Krygier – who has been impactful for Michigan State — could be impactful here, too.

Forwards

Players to watch

There are so many to choose from, but Cole Caufield is the correct answer. Yes, Caufield is short. That has led some to question his ability to make it in pro hockey. But the Montreal Canadiens disagreed, drafting him fifth overall. Yes, he may be small. Yes, the NHL and college hockey are physical. But you can’t hit what you can’t catch. Caufield has the mix of speed and skill that makes him the best player on this team, without question. Caufield broke both the single-season and career goal scoring records for the NTDP and finished with 180 points. At U18 Worlds, he tied Alexander Ovechkin’s scoring record with 14 goals. It is going to be a lot of fun to see him weave through the rest of this competition.

Underdogs

Parker Ford may be the biggest underdog of all the NCAA players selected for World Junior preliminary rosters. It is easy to lose his name amongst Providence’s other top scorers, like Jack Dugan, but Ford’s name is one to remember. The only undrafted player on the USA World Junior roster, Ford is already showing glimpses of how good he can be as he develops further. He also won gold with USA in the World Junior A Challenge.

Trevor Janicke’s name also may not jump out, but he has been phenomenal for the Fighting Irish thus far. He has given Notre Dame’s offense a boost as the team’s highest-scoring freshman. His offense may have tapered off of late, but earlier in the year he had a four-game goal streak. He skated with the NTDP and played in the U18 Worlds, where he won silver in 2017-18. He also won gold at the 2019 world Junior A Challenge.

Games to watch:

Dec. 26: Czech Republic vs. Russia

Sweden vs. Finland

Canada vs. USA

Dec. 27: Germany vs. USA

Dec. 28: Finland vs. Slovakia

Czech Republic vs. Germany

Switzerland vs. Sweden

Russia vs. Canada

Dec. 29: Kazakhstan vs. Finland

USA vs. Russia

Dec. 30: Kazakhstan vs. Sweden

Germany vs. Canada

USA vs. Czech Republic

Dec. 31: Sweden vs. Slovakia

Finland vs. Sweden

Canada vs. Czech Republic

Jan. 2: Quarterfinals

Jan. 4: Semifinals

Jan. 5: Quarterfinals

NCAA 2019-20 Season Preview: Big Ten

Ryan Wagman — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 17:01:14 +0000

With seven schools participating, the Big Ten is inappropriately named. Even if/when the University of Illinois is granted a Division I team and joins the conference to which their other intramural athletics belong, there will only be eight schools in the Big Ten. Once upon a time, there were only ten schools in the historic conference, but it has been 20 years since that was last the case, as Penn State – then without a Division I hockey program – was granted entry to give the conference a round 11 teams.

Until that fateful day arrives when the Fighting Illini grow the sport, the Big Ten will be stuck on seven teams. And they are good teams, with rich histories (except for Penn State, which doesn’t yet have a history). Four different current Big Ten schools have made the Frozen Four championship game in the past decade, but somehow none have walked away with a title. The situation was almost comical in 2018, when the Frozen Four featured three squads from the Big Ten, plus one from the NCHC. The lone NCHC squad naturally ran the table for the title. The most recent Big Ten school to win the National Championship was Michigan State, which won all the marbles in 2007, capping off a run of four titles by three Big Ten schools in six years.

As always though, there is hope in the Midwest that the Big Ten will find a new champion this year. The seven schools have all recruited well and the schools are well coached, with one school in particular bringing in a veritable murderer’s row of high-end talent to supplement an already strong core. But we’ll get to that below. Let’s walk through the schools.

Michigan Wolverines

One the one hand, superstar Quinn Hughes is gone, off to the NHL to quarterback the building Vancouver Canucks’ power play. Fellow blueline stalwarts Joseph Cecconi and Nick Boka have also moved on. The only other significant departure is center Josh Norris, who missed the second half of last season to injury, who turned pro to sign with Ottawa. On the other hand, literally the rest of the team has returned, including captain Will Lockwood, passing on the chance to join Hughes in the Vancouver season to play out his senior year in Ann Arbor.

Besides Lockwood, the star attraction on the Wolverines’ roster this year will be Hughes’ direct replacement, highly touted freshman defender Cam York, like Hughes an alumnus of the USNTDP program, and likewise a first-round pick, having been selected last June by Philadelphia. He is expected to drive the offensive attack from day one. Another USNTDP first rounder joining the team along with York is big center John Beecher, who played a depth role with the UNSTDP last year, but is a fantastic skater and has enough in his hands to expect him to play a two-way top six role with Michigan. After Lockwood and Beecher, the offense features a number of upperclassmen who can contribute to the attack in Jake Slaker, Nick and Michael Pastujov, and Jake Becker. I would also keep an eye on sophomore Nolan Moyle, graduate transfer Jacob Hayhurst, who comes over from RPI, and incoming freshman Eric Ciccolini, who starred in Junior A in Ontario, who all have sleeper potential.

If Michigan is to be a successful team and not just a collection of talented players, they will need one or both of their returning netminders, Strauss Mann, and Hayden Lavigne to step up and stop more than 90% of shots faced, which neither managed last season.

Drafted Players: D Luke Martin (Car, 2^nd round, 2017), D Cam York (Phi, 1^st round, 2019), C Jack Becker (Bos, 7^th round, 2015), C John Beecher (Bos, 1^st round, 2019), RW Eric Ciccolini (NYR, 7^th round, 2019), RW Will Lockwood (Van, 3^rd round, 2016), LW Nick Pastujov (NYI, 7^th round, 2016)

Michigan State Spartans

After three consecutive last place finishes in the conference and having not finished above fifth since 2013-14, the Spartans return with an experienced roster with no lack of skilled players, attempting to turn around the school’s on-ice fortunes. Veteran Head Coach Danton Cole is only his third year in East Lansing, and to his credit, the number of players of interest on the squad has continued to rise, although perhaps not to the extent promised through his years coaching the USNTDP, as precious few of his former charges have followed Cole to MSU.

One who has been able to experience Cole in both location is bis center Patrick Khodorenko, who along with winger Mitchell Lewandowski, is expected to lead the attack, helping supporters move on from, if not outright forget, Taro Hirose, a 2018-19 Hobey Baker Finalist and the Big Ten player of the year, but skipped his senior year to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. At least he will be close by. Candidates to replace Hirose on the first line include seniors Logan Lambdin and Sam Saliba, or star recruit Josh Nodler, although in the latter scenario, either Nodler or Khodorenko would have to move to the wing, as both are natural centers. Nodler at least is a gifted play maker and could fill a similar function on the top line. The other big recruit to the Spartans is Switzerland native Nicolas Muller, who has a long international history for his mother land as well as a history of offensive production in the Swedish junior leagues.

Whichever wingman Cole chooses for his two big returning forwards, the team will not improve in the standings until they tighten up their defensive core. Twin blueliners Cole and Christian Krygier were both passable as freshmen, and Christian looked good in the national colors at the mid-summer World Junior Summer Showcase event. Tommy Miller and Jerad Rosburg round out a reasonable, if unspectacular top four. Similar compliments could be laid upon the returning netminders, Drew DeRidder and John Lethemon. Both stopped a touch better than 90% of the shots they faced last year, although they faced far too many shots for that to be enough. Their brand of high event hockey will be fun to watch, but without a tightening up in the back, they will fall short all too often.

Drafted players: D Christian Krygier (NYI, 7^th round, 2018), D Cole Krygier (Fla, 7^th round, 2018), C Mitchell Mattson (Cgy, 5^th round, 2016), C Josh Nodler (Cgy, 5^th round, 2019)

Minnesota Golden Gophers

When Big Ten Hockey got going, the Golden Gophers were the clear team to beat, winning the regular season title for the first four seasons of the conference’s existence, before a precipitous fall from grace in 2017-18, when they found themselves in the unfamiliar and uncomfortable position of fifth in a seven team conference. Minnesota rebounded to third last year, but it is now clear that their days of homogeneous rule of the roost are over. Hockey in Minnesota still takes on religious fervor and the university team is still an institution, usually getting the pick of local stars, which they have supplemented with the occasional import from another state or nation. But really, this team is, per usual, mostly homegrown, with only eight of 27 roster players with a listed birthplace from out of state.

The top three scorers from last season are all gone, as well as some key blueliners, but the depth of talent in Minneapolis will make the team a threat once again. Speedster Sammy Walker between gifted wingers Blake McLaughlin and Sampo Ranta, all of whom are entering their sophomore seasons, are primed to grow into high end collegiate threats on their way to pro careers. Versatile forward Brannon McMannus took that step forward last year, and an additional step forward on his part could have him firmly in the cross hairs of NHL scouts. Incoming freshmen Ben Meyers, Bryce Brodzinski (the reining Minnesota Mr. Hockey), and Jack Perbix all have a history of offensive production and could challenge for top six roles from the get-go.

The blueline is similarly pro aspiring, with six drafted defenders among them. Tyler Nanne may be the grizzled veteran who will be relied upon to quarterback the power play, but freshmen Ryan Johnson and Jackson LaCombe could both be stars in short order. Both primary goalies from last year are gone, but the two primary incoming tenders are both NHL draft picks in Jack LaFontaine, who previously spent two years at Michigan, and was fantastic in the BCHL last year, and Jared Moe, who was steady, if unspectacular over two seasons with Waterloo of the USHL. If the Golden Gophers can harness the collective talents of the players to play as a cohesive unit under decorated head coach Bob Motzko, they could credibly challenge for the top of the conference once again.

Drafted players: G Jack LaFontaine (Car, 3^rd round, 2016), G Jared Moe (Wpg, 6^th round, 2018), D Ben Brinkman, (Dal, 6^th round, 2019), D Ryan Johnson (Buf, 1^st round, 2019), D Jackson LaCombe (Ana, 2^nd round, 2019), D Tyler Nanne (NYR, 5^th round, 2014), D Robbie Stucker (Clb, 7^th round, 2017), D Ryan Zuhlsdorf (TB, 5^th round, 2015), RW Bryce Brodzinski (Phi, 7^th round, 2019), LW Blake McLaughlin (Ana, 3^rd round, 2018), RW Jack Perbix (Ana, 4^th round, 2018), LW Sampo Ranta (Col, 3^rd round, 2018), C Scott Reedy (SJ, 4^th round, 2017), C Samuel Walker (TB, 7^th round, 2017)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Another program with exceptional coaching, Jeff Jackson enters his 15^th year behind the bench at South Bend, and his 21^st season altogether as a head coach at the NCAA level. The Fighting Irish have a deep veteran roster, augmented by a number of talented recruits. While the squad may not be at the level as the ones which went to the Frozen Four in back to back years, they still will be competitive on a nightly basis and could compete for supremacy in the Big Ten.

The main challenge for the team will be overcoming the graduation of Bobby Nardella, and the early exit of Andrew Peeke, both players going on to NHL contracts. Thankfully, the defensive core still has more than their fair share of pro prospects, with senior Tory Dello hoping a big deal gets him a similar free agent contract as it did for former teammate Nardella. He is joined by four drafted players, with New Jersey pick Matthew Hellickson the likely quarterback. I also expect to see a big jump forward from Nashville pick Spencer Stastney. The blueline will be protecting the net of Cole Morris, whose .930 save percentage last season was actually a letdown after an incredible .944 mark, and accompanying Mike Richter Award, in 2017-18.

Pushing the pace on offense will be a squad that does not look to have one or two central figures, but figures to attack in waves. Captain Cal Burke, a senior, will be looking to earn an NHL contract offer after being among the team’s offensive leaders as a junior. Colorado draft pick Cam Morrison has disappointed since a strong freshman campaign, and he will have ample motivation to finish his collegiate career with a bang. Sophomore Alex Steeves will also want to step forward to put his name back in the crosshairs of NHL scouts, after being overlooked at the draft despite a very strong draft year in the USHL. Trevor Janicke is the most highly touted new recruit, but I wouldn’t sleep on Max Ellis also doing well in his rookie collegiate season.

Drafted players: D Nate Clurman (Col, 6^th round, 2016), D Matthew Hellickson (NJ, 7^th round, 2017), D Nick Leivermann, (Col, 7^th round, 2017), D Spencer Stastney (Nas, 5^th round,, 2018), C Trevor Janicke (Ana, 5^th round, 2019), LW Cam Morrison (Col, 2^nd round, 2016), C Jacob Pivonka (NYI, 4^th round, 2018).

The Ohio State Buckeyes

On the one hand, all of the schools in the Big Ten (with the possible exception of Minnesota) are more known for the exploits on the gridiron than on the ice sheet. That is especially true with THE Ohio State. Between appearances in the Frozen Four in 1997-98 and their triumphant return in 2017-18, the Buckeyes only even reached the year end tournament six times over 20 years, never getting past the first round. In that same time span, the Buckeyes’ football time won 10 Big Ten titles, and two national championships. Now they enter the 2019-20 season coming off three consecutive Tournament appearances, only the second time in school history they have achieved such a run of success. It says here, they could set a new record this year with a fourth consecutive showing, even though their roster has less drafted talent than most others.

With two of the top three scorers last season gone, the offensive drive will be centered on Hobey Baker candidate Tanner Laczynski, whose skills and overall game have improved year over year through three years in Columbus. His skating has gotten more fluid and he has always been an exquisite puck handler and playmaker. He should be ably assisted by Carson Meyer, who acclimatized quickly after transferring from Miami to OSU. I also expect Swedish center Gustaf Westlund to take a big step forward in his sophomore season. As far as newcomers to the squad, look out for Michael Gildon, the only regular skater from last season’s elite USNTDP squad who wasn’t drafted, but capably demonstrated a knack for playing with top end talent and creating space for them. He could grow into a third wheel role on a top six line.

Forwards aside, OSU’s chances for success will once again lie squarely with the defensive half of the team. That include the blueline squad’s ability to keep their own end clean while kick-starting the counterattack with regularity. Matt Miller is the most common defenseman to remain active in the offensive zone, but I expect to see more contributions on the scoresheet from Wyatt Ege this year. Newcomer Layton Ahac could also help give the transition game more of a push. Behind that deep blueline squats one of the more underappreciated netminders in the college game in Tommy Nappier. He has ideal pro size at 6-3”, 194 and took over a regular role as a sophomore last year with sparkling numbers including a 1.86 GAA and a .934 save percentage. A follow up performance that even approaches last year’s will make OSU a tough out no matter how much their offense produces.

Drafted Players: D Layton Ahac (Vgk, 3^rd round, 2019), D Ryan O’Connell (Tor, 7^th round, 2017), LW Miguel Fidler (Fla, 5^th round, 2014), C Tanner Laczynski (Phi, 6^th round, 2016), RW Carson Meyer (Clb, 6^th round, 2017).

Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State’s rise to a legitimately strong hockey school in only seven years as an NCAA accredited program has been nothing short of spectacular. They were close to a .500 team in their debut in 2012-13 and then fell hard in their follow up, finishing with a record of 8-26-2. In the five years since, their cumulative record has been 104-70-17, which included two seasons which finished I the NCAA tournament. On the strength of those finishes, the Nittany Lions have been able to recruit a number of high-end players to further the school’s on-ice exploits, while paving the way for subsequent NCAA entry Arizona State to reach the tournament in a similarly quick period of time. Their quick ascension was also said to be a driving factor in the push for the University of Illinois to seek NCAA status for their Ice Hockey team.

Penn State is well positioned for a strong eighth season, with eight of their top ten-point getters from 2018-19 returning, as well as their starting netminder. And while he wasn’t in their top ten in points last season, Aarne Talvitie would easily have made the cut were he not injured during the 2019 WJC as he had been one of Finland’s best players prior to the injury. Talvitie is also returning. Augmenting the likes of veterans Brandon Biro, Evan Barrett, Liam Fowlkes, and Alex Limoges up front, the Nittany Lions are bringing in a few solid recruits from the USHL in Connor MacEachern and Connor McMenamin, as well as Kevin Wall from the BCHL. If Denis Smirnov can rebound and produce like he did as a freshman, the attack will be exceptionally difficult to contain.

The blueline is similarly deep, led by veterans Cole Hults, Kris Myllari, and Paul DeNaples. Joining them this year are a pair of BCHL recruits in Kenny Johnson (brother of Pittsburgh Penguin, Jack) and Mason Snell, as well as a high-profile transfer from fellow Big Ten program Minnesota in Clayton Phillips. The Penguins draft pick was granted a transfer exemption and will not need to sit out for a season before suiting up, as would almost always be the case with a transferring junior.

Drafted Players: D Cole Hults (LA, 5^th round, 2017), D Clayton Phillips (Pit, 3^rd round, 2017), C Evan Barratt (Chi, 3^rd round, 2017), C Nikita Pavlychev (Pit, 7^th round, 2015), RW Denis Smirnov (Col, 6^th round, 2017), C Aarne Talvitie (NJ, 6^th round, 2017), RW Kevin Wall (Car, 6^th round, 2019)

Wisconsin Badgers

If we look at talent in a vacuum, Wisconsin may be not only the best team in the Big Ten, but in the discussion for the best team in the nation. This is nothing new, and yet the Badgers have not made it to the NCAA tournament since 2013-14, and have only had a record above .500 once in the five subsequent seasons. The lack of team-wide success has been buffluding to the six time nation champions, but head coach Tony Granato has recruited very well and the program continues to add top end players to its ranks on an annual basis, with the most recent freshman class considered by many to be the finest in NCAA hockey. Those players, some of whom we will discuss momentarily, supplement a core which lost only one of its top ten scorers. Despite their previous inconsistency, there was a lot of talent among that holdover bunch as well.

Very little has changed between the goaltending or the defensive crew from last year. Every goalie who appeared in a game is back, and incumbent starter Daniel Lebedeff will be expected to play more steady, reliable brand of hockey between the pipes as the presumptive starter once again. The only regular blueliner to depart was team captain Peter Tischke, who graduated. The five returnees are all NHL drafted and K’Andre Miller still has the look of a future star at the highest levels. If he can stay healthy and in line with team rules, that ascent can begin now. Wyatt Kalynuk and Josh Ess are both smart puck movers, while Tyler Inamoto and Ty Emberson are both more renowned for strong play in their own ends.

With all due respect to holdover forwards like Sean Dhooghe and Linus Weissbach, all eyes this year will be on Wisconsin’s A-rated recruits among the forwards. They include a pair of top half of the first round NHL draft picks from the USNTDP in Alex Turcotte (5^th overall) and Cole Caufield (15^th overall), in addition to their teammate with the USNTDP Owen Lindmark an another mid-round pick in Ryder Donovan. There are also some who think that the true top recruit to Madison is 2020 draft eligible forward Dylan Holloway, who spent last year tearing up the AJHL, and has already represented Canada at last year’s WU18 tournament and this past Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Holloway could be a lottery pick this year if he proves able to produce at the NCAA level as a true freshman. It can be very difficult for so many top talents to gel as a team, but if they can manage it, the Badgers can push for a seventh title. It might be now or never as some of their more prominent drafted players could be turning pro as soon as the 2019-20 comes to a close.

Drafted Players: D Ty Emberson (Ari, 3^rd round, 2018), D Joshua Ess (Chi, 7^th round, 2017), D Tyler Inamoto (Fla, 5^th round, 2017), D Wyatt Kalynuk (Phi, 7^th round, 2017), D K’Andre Miller (NYR, 1^st round, 2018), RW Cole Caufield (Mtl, 1^st round, 2019), C Ryder Donovan (Vgk, 4^th round, 2019), C/LW Jack Gorniak (Mtl, 4^th round, 2018), C Owen Lindmark (Fla, 5^th round, 2019), C Alex Turcotte (LA, 1^st round, 2019), LW Linus Weissbach (Buf, 7^th round, 2017), LW Max Zimmer (Car, 4^th round, 2016).

Big Ten Top Draft Eligible Players

Dylan Holloway, C, Wisconsin
Michael Gildon, LW, Ohio State

Holloway is the only first-time draft prospect of note in the conference, and likely the first collegiate drafted in 2020. I think Gildon should have been selected last season and a solid freshman campaign for the Buckeyes could see him selected in his go-round.

Big Ten Top Free Agents

Brandon Biro, Penn State
Tommy Nappier, Ohio State
Mitchell Lewandowski, Michigan State
Patrick Khodorenko, Michigan State
Cale Morris, Notre Dame

The Big Ten is the conference to be for NCAA free agents this year and I would add names like Alex Limoges (Penn State), Nate Sucese (Penn State), and Brannon McManus (Minnesota) as players to watch.

NCAA Division 1 Hockey Playoffs

Ryan Wagman and Leslie Treff — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 19:18:29 +0000

West Regional

There are no easy regionals at this level, but the #1 seed who gets to open their tournament against the representative from Atlantic Hockey will have a leg up. St. Cloud State has that matchup as its reward for carrying the top rank nationwide into the tournament. This Minnesota-centered regional also includes the runner up last year (Minnesota-Duluth) and a stealth sleeper in Minnesota State.

Air Force

Although NHL draft pick accumulation is not and should not be the defining factor in determining the strength of various NCAA hockey programs, or even conferences, it is somewhat telling that the Atlantic 10 Conference has only two roster players who are affiliated with an NHL club. The other five conferences (and one independent team) have 185. Air Force, this year’s Atlantic 10 Hockey representative does not have either of those players. As a service academy, it is highly unlikely that any of their players are able to pursue professional hockey upon the completion of their collegiate eligibility, although previous Air Force netminder Shane Starrett left school early for a pro contract with Edmonton. The Falcons finished the regular season third in their conference, mostly on the strength of an exemplary defensive game, tying for the fewest goals allowed in the conference, while finishing middle of the pack in goals scored. Their special teams rates skew similarly. Their 13.6% power play success rate is among the worst of all DI NCAA schools, while they finished 11^th nationwide (7^th among teams in the tournament) in penalty killing, with an 83.5% kill rate. They are also among the smallest teams in the tournament.

Player to watch: Billy Christopoulos, G

With a .920 save percentage placing him 14^th nationwide among regular netminders, Christopoulos, a junior, has risen to the occasion when it mattered most. In the last month, including work in the Atlantic 10 tournament, he pitched three shutouts, and surrendered only a single goal on two other occasions, including in the Atlantic 10 championship game against Robert Morris. The North Carolina native spent two years in the USHL and one in the BCHL before joining the Falcons. This is his first year as the Air Force starter. Already 24 years old, his odds of a professional hockey career are slim, but a good performance against number one seed St. Cloud State would be a hell of a way to leave an impression.

Minnesota State

The most consistently strong mid-major school in college hockey, Minnesota State had a fantastic regular season, winning 29 of 39 games from end to end. Had it not been for being upset in the WCHA tournament by Michigan Tech, not only would Minnesota State have vied for a #1 seed, but the conference would have been limited to a single team in the tournament. They are a remarkable possession team, having outshot opponents by an average of 35-22. In other words, both shots taken and shots allowed were second (or tied) across the land. One could argue, and not entirely incorrectly, that it is easy to ring up impressive shot metrics against the likes of Alaska-Fairbanks, and Lake Superior State, but the Mavericks also split the season series against St. Cloud State, swept an early season series against Boston University and outshot Minnesota Duluth 24-15 in a 1-0 loss in late January. Theirs is an older squad (oldest in the tournament) led by a number of outstanding seniors.

Player to watch: C.J. Suess, LW

The only drafted player on Minnesota State’s roster, Suess (formerly known as CJ (Clinston) Franklin) was a fifth round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 2014. Although only 5-11”, 190, he plays a power forward’s, generally driving the net and providing an all-around agitating presence. He was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist for his work this year, finishing tied for 15^th in NCAA scoring. His 22.9% shooting percentage is clearly unsustainable over the long-term, but at this point, he only needs to keep it up for another 4 games. He is unlikely to get that much of a chance, but the Minnesota State offense – and likewise their chances of a run – go through Suess.

St. Cloud State

One of the top scoring teams in NCAA hockey, the Huskies were ranked at or near the top throughout the season. Unlike some high-powered teams, St. Cloud State is not run by one dominant line, but rather receives offensive contributions from throughout the lineup. Continuing in the team spirit, even their netminders share duties, although that seems to be at least somewhat due to a mid-season injury to presumptive starter David Hrenak, a 2018 draft candidate, as it was to the generally solid play of his partner Jeremy Smith. If they have a weakness, it is in a subpar penalty kill, near the bottom quartile of tournament teams. On the other hand, their 55.3% success rate on faceoffs was second in the nation, although there is question how valuable that trait is, it certainly did not hurt the Huskies. They have earned their top seed.

Player to watch: Mike Eyssimont, C

While he was not St. Cloud State’s leading scorer this year (his 39 points placed him second to Robby Jackson’s 42), he is always their most dynamic and dangerous with the puck. Eyssimont’s hands are among the best in the collegiate game. He uses them to create chances from nothing for himself, or to set up teammates. He keeps his head up, making it very difficult for defenders to discern whether he intends to shoot or pass. The LA Kings’ draft pick (5^th round, 2016) also gives a good effort off the puck. A junior, he is likely to be lured to the NHL at the end of his tournament.

Minnesota-Duluth

In a region with four strong defensive teams, all things considered, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs have the tightest defensive structure, having allowed barely more than two goals against per game in perhaps the toughest conference in the NCAA. That said, they are not at all a boring team to watch, as last year’s NCAA finalist can score with the best of them and their power play was the sixth most efficient in the sport. Also notable, man to man, they are the heaviest team in the tournament, both literally and figuratively. They have size up and down the roster and top half of the roster players including Riley Tufte, Joey Anderson, and Dylan Samberg all play physical games. The Bulldogs came into the season with some questions in the crease, due to the early signing of Hunter Miska with Arizona, but replacement Hunter Shepard has arguably been even better.

Player to watch: Scott Perunovich, D

Minnesota-Duluth’s leading scorer this year was undrafted freshman blueliner Perunovich. A high end scorer in high school in Minnesota, he was ignored in his first draft eligible season thanks to his tiny stature and his defensive flaws. He then went on to Cedar Rapids of the USHL for a season where he was solid, if not spectacular on a poor team. He exploded this year with UMD, and Team USA at the WJC. A very exciting puck rushing defender, he constantly puts defenses back on their heels. He has learned to make up in positioning what he lacks in size. He can be caught out going for a home run option when a safer option may be more advisable. He will not be ignored on draft day for a third time.

Prediction

St. Cloud State should make quick work of Air Force and the Minnesota State Mavericks will out gun the Bulldogs, earning their undrafted players another look in front of scouts in a big game. But only one more look though, as St. Cloud State should walk out of this region into the Frozen Four.

East Regional

The East Regional begins on Friday in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Notre Dame is the cream of this regional with Providence ranked number two and Clarkson third. If any team other than Notre Dame comes out of this Regional, it will be a great surprise.

Clarkson

Clarkson finished third in the ECAC. The team had a 14-game win streak this season, but since early February has been much more inconsistent. With a much more balanced roster than in the recent past, Clarkson can play both sides of the puck. It has one of the best defenses in the country, led by seniors Kelly Summers (elected to the ECAC First Team All-League) and Terrance Amorosa (who ran Clarkson’s power play). Both are legit NHL prospects, who move the puck quickly out of the back end.

Player to Watch—Sheldon Rempal

A smaller sophomore winger, is Colgate’s player to watch. A dynamic scorer, with great hands and excellent vision, Rempal was The Golden Knights’ leading scorer this season. Named to the ECAC First Team All-League, Rempal scored the overtime goal against Harvard to get to the ECAC finals last week. He is a clutch player and must be guarded at all times by Providence on Friday.

Providence

Ranked seven overall in the country, Providence is making its fifth straight regional appearance. The Friars won the National Championship in 2015, but have not come close since. Although not likely to get through this bracket to St. Paul, Providence does have some strong players in Jacob Bryson on the back end (a Hockey East First Team All-Star), Erik Foley and Brian Pinho up front, and Hayden Hawkey in net. The team can pile on points, given the chance, but the Friars will have to convert every offensive opportunity this weekend to overcome Clarkson’s incredible defense.

Player to Watch—Erik Foley

The hard charging junior winger, is the team’s leading scorer. Named a Hockey East’s First Team All-Star, Foley plays well in traffic, takes the body, and is very talented offensively. However, the third-round 2015 selection of the Winnipeg Jets was not very visible in the Hockey East championships. For the Friars to come through this bracket and on to St. Paul, Foley will have to put some numbers on the board.

Michigan Tech

Although Michigan Tech scored their fair share of goals this year (131), the 113 goals they allowed was more than any other team in the tournament barring Penn State. Their hockey is very much a high event style of game, trading possession and shots with their opponents with regularity. Considering how they barely finished above .500 in conference play in the WCHA (12-11-5), it is clear that the Huskies would not have been in the tournament this year were it not for a shock of conference regular season champs Minnesota State in the WCHA tournament, winning the deciding game in overtime by a 2-1 count. While the school was a hockey powerhouse in the 60s and 70s, winning championships in 1962, 1965, and 1975, they have fallen on harder times in recent years, they are having a sort of renaissance. This is their second WCHA tournament championship in a row, and for seniors on the squad, this will be their third NCAA tournament.

Player to watch: Mark Auk, D

Although not one of the Michigan Tech players currently affiliated with an NHL club, Auk parlayed a strong year and a half stint with Cedar Rapids of the USHL into a very good four year run with the Huskies. An offensive blueliner by nature, he has improved his output year over year (from 13 points as a freshman, to 17 to 23 to 31 this year). He began his senior year on fire, with points in his first six games – nine of them, in fact – and stayed strong to the end, scoring a key goal in the second game of the WCHA semi-finals against Minnesota State. He is a very good stickhandler and took on a big role this year with three blueliners graduating to pro hockey last year. More likely to receive an AHL than NHL deal, Auk should be playing for money somewhere next season.

Notre Dame

Along with finalists Denver and Minnesota-Duluth, Notre Dame is one of three teams from last year’s Frozen Four to be afforded a chance at a return engagement. Despite losing superstar netminder Cal Peterson to the LA Kings’ organization, the Fighting Irish settled on a more than capable replacement in Cale Morris and ended up taking home their first ever Big 10 title following a very strong regular season. Behind Morris’ mind-boggling .946 save percentage, Notre Dame were nearly impossible to beat. A rock solid blueline crew, led by NHL prospects Andrew Peeke and Dennis Gilbert, played a big part in that. They lost only nine games on the season, although with four losses in their final five games of the regular season, there was some fear that they had hit the wall. They put those fears to rest in the Big10 tournament with a pair of 3-2 victories, first over Penn State and then over Ohio State in overtime for the banner.

Player to watch: Jake Evans, C

Notre Dame’s leading scorer by eight points, the Montreal draft pick was arguably better in his senior season than he was as a junior, even though his offensive output dropped by a pair. Wearing the C for the Irish, Evans showed an improved stride, allowing him to push the pace a bit more than he had previously. One of the better playmakers in the collegiate game, he seems to have put a mid-season slump (3 points in 10 games from Dec. 8 through Feb. 3). With two primary assists in the Big10 finale against OSU, he may be primed for a big NCAA tournament to put a pin on his amateur career.

Prediction

Notre Dame against Michigan Tech looks like one of the biggest mismatches on the opening weekend. Stranger things have happened, but do not look for an upset here. Clarkson started the year strong, but cooled off down the stretch. That said, their goaltending gives them a chance against Providence. This game looks like it could be one of those that stretches into multiple overtimes. A mild upset sees the Golden Knights move to the Region final where they lose to Notre Dame.

Midwest Regional

A strong argument could be made that Denver is the to team in this region, but the collegiate rankings see them in 5^th, while Ohio State sits ahead by a hair in 4^th. ECAC tournament champs Princeton and emerging NCAA powerhouse Penn State round out the Midwest regional, which is taking place in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Princeton—The Tigers gained entry into this regional after the team winning the ECAC Championship last weekend. Princeton is the only seventh seed to ever win the ECAC’s Whitelaw Trophy (and has done it twice now). It is the first time in 9 years that Princeton returns to the NCAA Tournament. A long-shot to come through the Midwest bracket (Princeton has to face powerhouse Ohio State on Saturday afternoon), the Tigers are a team that plays strategic hockey. A team with a lower skill level than some others in the tournament, Princeton plays an excellent positional game, waiting for opportunities. The Tigers put together a seven-game win streak to end the season and hope to repeat their magic this weekend against the top seed in the Regional.

Player to Watch: Ryan Ferland

Princeton will rely on 20 year old freshman goalie Ryan Ferland and junior winger Max Véronneau to pull off another upset. Undrafted freshman netminder Ferland came to Princeton from the NAHL NJ Junior Titans. At 6’0”, he is a little undersized for the NHL, but Ferland has good lateral movement and excellent coverage down low. He only allowed one goal in each of the two final ECAC championship games in the week following being named both the ECAC Rookie and Goaltender of the Week. Véronneau, a playmaking winger who is excellent at creating chances and handling the puck, led the Tigers in scoring this season with 55 points (17 G, 38 A); he has the school record for points and assists in one season. The 22-year-old right handed shot was named first-team All-ECAC Hockey and ranked second in the nation in points per game (1.61) and first in assists per game (1.12).

Ohio State

Although Ohio State was better out of conference than their main Big Ten rivals Notre Dame, the Buckeyes had three fewer wins in-conference than the Irish, and more notably, lost in the Big Ten title game to their rivals in a thrilling match then was only decided in overtime by a 3-2 score. That scoreline was also the typical score for an OSU game, as they scored 121 goals on the season, and allowed 80 in their 38 games. They control play pretty well, coming in seventh nationwide in shots taken, with 1260. Their team game helps their talent level play up, as the team has some offensive powerhouses, but lack the depth of some of their competition at this point. Only five players exceeded 20 points. They will need to score on more than 9.6% of their shots, as was their rate during the season.

Player to watch: Tanner Laczynski, C

The Philadelphia draft pick (6^th round, 2016) has come a long way since going undrafted in his first year of eligibility. Not the best skater, Laczynski takes control with his hands and his vision. He has a plan for the puck before it even reaches his stick. The former Team USA WJC participant, the sophomore has improved his balance and lower body strength, allowing him to play more in traffic without any loss of effectiveness. He is also a plus player away from the puck, often trusted by his coaches to defend those one goal leads in the final minute of action. He makes players around him better.

Penn State

One of the top scoring teams in college hockey this year, Penn State’s quick success since joining the NCAA in 2012-13 has inspired other non-hockey playing schools to throw their hats (and lots of money) into the rink, including Arizona State and likely Illinois in the near future. This year’s team has taken a step back from the 20+ win teams of the last two years, but they are still a team to be taken seriously. They do not have the talent up and down the lineup as some of the other tournament teams, but are coached impeccably. They manage to control games without dynamic action. To wit, their combined 1498 shots on goal was a whopping 130 more shots than the runner up – coincidentally, their game one opponents from Denver.

Player to watch: Denis Smirnov, RW

Drafted by Colorado in the sixth round last year, in his second year of draft eligibility, he has had to prove that his lack of prototype stature would not be an impediment to his offensive game. The Russian native has been playing in North America since he turned 14, and has scored wherever he has played. While his sophomore year (27 points in 29 games) was a down year in comparison to his fantastic freshman showing (47 in 39), he is still easily Penn State’s most gifted offensive player. He has a nose for the puck and an active stick. If Penn State can afford him some physical protection – he lacks strength, especially in his upper body – he can create some havoc.

Denver

If you come for the king, you better win. The defending champions return this year with many of the same players who led them to the title last year. As for the ones who have moved on, like previous Hobey Baker award winner Will Butcher, the Pioneers have recruited well, and the absences are scarcely felt. In that example, freshman defender Ian Mitchell, a Chicago prospect has proven a very quick study in the NCAA and has ascended to the throne of offensive quarterback. They play a high-event puck controlling style that is both effective and exciting. While they have offensive ability up and down the lineup, their first line, an all-prospect trio including Henrik Borgstrom, Troy Terry and Dylan Gambrell is one of the best lines in the collegiate game.

Player to watch: Henrik Borgstrom, C

A rare first round pick drafted in his second year of eligibility, it is not at all controversial to say that Borgstrom is the most dynamic, offensively gifted forward in the NCAA ranks. His hockey IQ is off the charts. His stickhandling and passing ability are both near elite. When he is on his game, the only way to stop him is to commit a penalty. He regularly makes a highlight reel play out of what looks on its face to be a nothing possession. Many suspected that he would turn pro after winning the title as a freshman. It is fair to say now that he has nothing left to learn about his craft in college. This tournament should be his collegiate swan song.

Prediction

Princeton has surprised many this year and looks to have a few of its players signed to ELCs by NHL clubs. Ohio State, one of the quieter top teams in the tournament is likely strong enough to eke out a narrow victory. On the other end, Penn State, for all of its depth to their offensive game, have enough hole on the back end that Denver should be able to exploit them time and again. In the Regional final, look for the defending champs to book a return trip to the Frozen Four thanks to an unstoppable top line of Borgstrom, Terry, and Gambrell.

Northeast Regional

Perhaps the most competitive regional in the country this year, the Northeast Regional opens in Worcester on Saturday. Any of the four teams that are competing, Cornell, Boston University, Michigan, and Northeastern, could win this bracket without much surprise. All the teams are in the top 13 of last week’s college hockey Rankings.

Cornell

In late January, Cornell rose to the number one overall ranking in the nation for the first time in 15 years. The Big Red had managed 10 straight games without a loss and looked unbeatable. Although Cornell lost to Princeton in the ECAC Championship semis, the team is still considered a top contender for the national title. Ranked third overall in the tournament, Cornell has six players drafted by NHL teams, a Hobey Baker award finalist, and team built on speed and defense. One their toughest games of the year will be on Saturday against Boston University, however. Although the Big Red beat BU earlier in the season, the Terriers are peaking at the right time. It should be a great game.

Player to Watch: Matthew Galajda, G

Freshman goaltender Matthew Galajda is the Ivy League Player of the Year and the Rookie of the Year, as well as a Hobey Baker finalist. The undrafted 20-year-old Galajda was also selected to the All-Ivy League first team, was the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year, and Goaltender of the Year as well. There are not enough accolades for the freshman, who led all collegians in GAA and shutouts. The 6’0” netminder is a little undersized for the NHL, but is being watched by every NHL team.

Boston University

BU is packed with excellent NHL prospects, but did not play up to its potential earlier this year. Currently ranked 13^th overall in the country, the Terriers have improved as the season has gone along and recently won the Hockey East title to get into the Regionals in Worcester. The question is, can the team put it all together now? They have the firepower up front in Jordan Greenway, Shane Bowers, and Bobo Carpenter, and an excellent goaltender in Dallas first-round pick Jake Oettinger. This should be BU’s year, as several of the top NHL prospects may be gone by next season.

Player to Watch: Jake Oettiniger, G

As Head Coach David Quinn has said, this time of year, it’s all about the goaltender. Hockey East tournament MVP Jake Oettinger is the player to watch for the Terriers. The 2017 NHL first-round selection exhibited up and down play early in the season and in the WJCs, but since his return in January, it’s been a different netminder between the pipes. The athletic goaltender has very good size, tracks the puck well, and challenges shooters. If he can shut down Cornell, Oettinger will put BU in a great position to return to the Frozen Four.

Northeastern

Northeastern is the only university in the tournament with two Hobey Baker award finalists, Adam Gaudette and Dylan Sikura. Don’t let the fact that the Huskies lost to Providence College last week fool you into thinking that they will be a pushover for Michigan this weekend. This is a very talented offensive team that can run away with the game at the blink of an eye. Northeastern won the Beanpot over Boston University by a score of 5-2, and just two weeks ago clobbered UMass 7-2. A fast team, with a very high skill level, the Huskies are fun to watch. But they also have a very good D. The question will be can Northeastern’s freshman netminder Cayden Primeau continue to play at a very high level when under so much pressure. Primeau performed extremely well at the Beanpot, but it remains to be seen whether he can continue that level of play in the Regionals.

Player to Watch: Adam Gaudette, C

Center Adam Gaudette is not just a Hobey Baker finalist, he was named the Hockey East Player of the Year last week. The Huskies junior leads the country in both points and goals, one of the few players to score 30 goals in a season in the history of the school’s hockey program. The Vancouver Canucks prospect was named to the Hockey East’s First Team All Star Team, received the Walter Brown Award (for the best American born player in New England hockey) this past week, and was named Beanpot MVP last month. Opposing teams (including Michigan this weekend) must watch Northeastern’s alternate captain at all times. He can hurt you anywhere on the ice—Gaudette sees the ice extremely well, is willing to go into traffic, is strong on his skates, and has an excellent release.

Michigan

In their first year under new head coach Mel Pearson – the first Wolverines’ head coach not named Red Berenson since the 1983-84 season, Michigan played strong, is inconsistent hockey all year, and return to the NCAA tournament following a one year absence. Expect goals a plenty in their games. They are both one of the better offensive teams in the tournament and one of the worst defensive squad as well. Much of the defensive struggles are the result of mediocre goaltending, with a .903 save percentage ahead of only Penn State among the 16 finalists. That said, it might not be so bad, as the numbers are brought down by poor play from Jack LaFontaine, who has played only once since New Years’ Day. Current starter Hayden Lavigne has been much more steady. They will be in tough against Northeastern, but will not go down easy.

Player to watch: Cooper Marody, RW

It would have been easy to pick all-world draft eligible Quinn Hughes in this spot (you should definitely watch him!) but Marody is the real engine of the Michigan offense. He recently had his NHL rights traded from Philadelphia, which drafted him in the 6^th round in 2015, to Edmonton, and his 46 points in his junior season have more than doubled his output from his first two collegiate years. He is a clever puck handler with a sniper’s release. Not the fastest skater, he uses his teammates and deception to get to danger spots. He will need to continue his hot streak to close the year (14 points in his final eight games) to give the Wolverines the chance at a lengthy run.

Prediction

If there is a prize for most likely #4 over #1 upset, Boston University would win it hands down. That said, the smart money is still on Cornell, with the best defense in the nation, to stifle the Terriers. In the other matchup, two exciting teams face off, but expect the 3^rd ranked power play of Northeastern to prove to be the difference against Michigan’s PK, which ranked fourth worst in collegiate hockey. Northeastern can carry that play into the region’s final and defeat Cornell.

Frozen Four Prediction

If our regional prediction bear out, Notre Dame will play Northeastern, while St. Cloud State will have the chance to avenge a loss in the NCHC finals to Denver. I expect the two returning teams to both fall at this stage, and for Northeastern to break the three year run of NCHC champions in a thrilling final on Minneapolis on April 7.

NCAA: Wyatt Kalynuk (Wisconsin – Philadelphia), Peter Thome (North Dakota – Columbus)

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 13:00:33 +0000

Wyatt Kalynuk was drafted in the seventh round in his third year of eligibility. He has steadily improved season over season in the meantime and is beginning to project as a potential NHL'er. Ryan Wagman explains further below. Another late round draft pick by Columbus, Peter Thome has stepped up in the wake of starter Cam Johnson's injury and getting starts in his freshman season. An analysis of his game follows.

A note on the 20-80 scale used below. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Wyatt Kalynuk	2017 Draft (196th - Philadelphia Flyers)
Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 6-0", 165 lbs
Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Wisconsin Badgers, Big10/NCAA (13-1-6-7-12)

Skating: Really fast, smooth skater. Excels in the transition game, carrying the puck up the ice. Has tremendous recovery ability. Kalynuk’s wheels will flash going both north and south. This is the selling point of his game. Grade: 55

Shot: Kalynuk has a bland point shot. Relatively accurate, but not one that opponents will hesitate in getting in front of to block. It is more likely to be useful for creating rebounds if and when he gets one off quickly before the shooting lane closes. Grade: 45

Skills: Comfortable and confident puck carrier. While the skating is close to dynamic, he lacks in creativity with the puck. Will make all of the standard plays and passes to push the play in the right direction. Grade: 50

Smarts: Looks calm under pressure. Maintains his sense of defensive responsibility for the full 60. Kalynuk uses his stick well to break up opposing plays. Demonstrates solid reads of developing plays in all three zones. He is willing to commit to an offensive rush, but remains mindful of the potential of a counterattack. Grade: 55

Physicality: Almost painfully lean. May not have the frame to carry a great deal of weight. Not opposed to attempting physical coverage but he simply lacks the muscle to be overly effective in that style. Better off using his stick to separate the puck from the player than using his body to separate the man from the puck. Grade: 45

Summary: Only drafted in the seventh round in his third and final year of draft eligibility, Wyatt Kalynuk had steadily improved season over season in the USHL with first Lincoln, and then Bloomington (now Central Illinois), improving his point production each season. His work with the puck, whether carrying or shooting, is relatively basic, but between his plus skating ability and overall hockey IQ, he has adapted very quickly to the improved level of play in NCAA with the Wisconsin Badgers. The Manitoba native is already receiving ample time on the PK and is used in late and close game situations. He should not be expected to leave college early, but the Flyers should be pleased with the early returns from their 2017 seventh rounder. If my assessment of his ability to put on more muscle mass is incorrect, his ceiling may be higher. As is, he has the look of a solid third pairing blueliner.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 51.25

Peter Thome	2016 Draft (155th - Columbus Blue Jackets)
Position: G, Catches: L	H/W: 6-3", 195 lbs
Stats to date (GP-GAA-Save%)	North Dakota Fighting Hawks, NCAA (6-2.60-.911)

Athleticism/Quickness/Speed: Feet are a weakness. Can make the first move, but struggles to recover from it. Further, he opens a gaping five hole when he has to go from post to post, opening him up for trouble. Grade: 45

Compete/Temperament: Missed a lot of time last year and was nailed to the bench for the early run of his freshman season with North Dakota. When he hit the ice, he was ready to go. No visible reactions. Keeps steady when traffic hits, or after giving up a weak goal. Grade: 50

Vision/Play Reading: Seems to follow the play well, tracking puck movement. Generally speaking, is ready for the puck when it moves. Grade: 50

Technique/Style: Positioning is clean. Thome uses his frame very well, maximizing the amount of the net that he is filling up. As he lacks in athleticism or quickness, he relies on getting his body in front of the puck and generally does a good job of getting himself in position to have the puck hit him in the chest. Grade: 50

Rebound Control: Not too many juicy rebounds. Uses body to deaden shots for the most part. On other occasions, he pushes the puck out behind the red line or into the corners. Grade: 55

Puck Control: Thome will settle the puck, but will not do very much with it. Best to keep the puck away from his stick. Grade: 45

Summary: Drafted in the 6^th round of the round of the 2016 draft out of the Aberdeen program in the NAHL, Peter Thome struggled mightily when he moved up a level in his first post draft year, playing for three separate clubs in the USHL (Omaha, Chicago, and Waterloo). The Blue Jackets should not have been faulted if they are already quietly downgrading his chances based on his play across the league. With former NCAA champ Cam Johnson returning to North Dakota, Thome would not have expected to play very much as a freshman, much like Flyers prospect Matej Tomek scarcely played last year, before leaving school out of frustration. When Johnson was hurt early in the season, Thome stepped in and stepped up. He has a very large, almost ideal, goalie frame and uses it to his advantage, positioning himself so as to block pucks. This is critical, as he has heavy, slow feet, making him a touch too cumbersome when he has to go post-to-post. As Mike Babcock likes to remind us, when a big goalie is having a bad game, he is still a big goalie. Thome fits that fit. He can be very hard to beat, but his lack of general athleticism likely will restrict his potential to that of a decent backup.

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 49

Wheeler’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2016 NHL Draft by League (November)

Scott Wheeler — Mon, 02 Nov 2015 13:00:18 +0000

Each season, I release three instalments of my rankings of the top 60 prospects for the NHL draft.

This year, these rankings will be divided by league and produced in November, February, and May, and available online at McKeen’s for the second time.

My top 60 is not to be confused with the official McKeen's Hockey top 30, which is published throughout the draft season.

Note on the rankings: The following rankings are compiled through extensive coverage and viewings of Ottawa 67's and Gatineau Olympiques home games, which provide the chance to watch and follow a hundred or-so draft eligible players in the OHL and QMJHL who make up the majority of the top end of the draft class. For prospects from the NCAA, USHL, NTDP and abroad, I make sure I have several viewings before the first publication of these rankings in November. These viewings are cumulative from this year and last (while scouting the previous class). Events viewed beyond the CHL include the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, World Junior Development Camps, the Subway Super Series, U17s, U18s, club play internationally, marquee U.S. events, college tournaments, and a heavy focus on a select few European players in SHL and Swe. Jr. games.

November’s Top 60 Prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft by League (overall ranking in brackets)

Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

Jakob Chychrun, Sarnia, D (#2)
Matthew Tkachuk, London, LW (#4)
Alex Nylander, Mississauga, LW (#6)
Olli Juolevi, London, D, (#10)
Alex DeBrincat, Erie, RW (#18)
Dmitri Sokolov, Sudbury, C (#20)
Michael McLeod, Mississauga, C (#23)
Logan Brown, Windsor, C (#24)
Mikhail Sergachev, Windsor, D (#26)
Max Jones, London, LW (#27)
William Bitten, Flint, C, (#28)
Sean Day, Mississauga, D (#31)
Adam Mascherin, Kitchener, C/LW (#35)
Victor Mete, London, D (#39)
Dante Salituro, Ottawa, C (#49)
Taylor Raddysh, Erie, RW (#50)
Kyle Maksimovich, Erie, LW (#51)
Travis Barron, Ottawa, LW (#58)
Nathan Bastian, Mississauga, C (#59)
Markus Niemelainen, Saginaw, D (#60)

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

Pierre-Luc Dubois, Cape Breton, LW/C (#9)
Vitali Abramov, Gatineau, RW (#15)
Julien Gauthier, Val-d’Or, RW (#16)
Samuel Girard, Shawinigan, D (#21)
Luke Green, Saint John, D (#32)
Maxime Fortier, Halifax, RW/C (#36)
Frederic Allard, Chicoutimi, D (#37)
Pascal Laberge, Victoriaville, C (#42)
Matthew Boucher, Quebec, LW (#43)
Otto Somppi, Halifax, C (#45)
Brandon Gignac, Shawinigan, C (#48)

Western Hockey League (WHL)

Tyler Benson, Vancouver, LW (#12)
Sam Steel, Regina, C (#14)
Jake Bean, Calgary, D (#19)
Kale Clague, Brandon, D (#22)
Dillon Dube, Kelowna, C (#29)
Simon Stransky, Prince Albert, LW (#33)
Brett Howden, Moose Jaw, C (#38)
Max Lajoie, Swift Current, D (#41)
Libor Hajek, Saskatoon, D (#44)
Vojtech Budik, Prince Albert, D (#52)
Zach Sawchenko, Moose Jaw, G (#56)
Lucas Johansen, Kelowna, D (#57)

United States (NCAA, USHL, NTDP)

Kieffer Bellows, NTDP, C, (#8)
Clayton Keller, NTDP, C (#13)
Charlie McAvoy, Boston University, D (#17)
Chad Krys, NTDP, D (#25)
Luke Kunin, Wisconsin, C (#46)
Adam Fox, NTDP, D (#53)

Sweden (SHL, Swe. Jr.)

Carl Grundstrom, MODO, LW (#30)
Rasmus Asplund, Farjestad, C/LW (#40)
Sebastian Aho, Skelleftea, D (#47)
David Bernhardt, Djurgardens, D (#54)
Jonathan Dahlen, Timra, C/LW (#55)

Finland (Liiga)

Jesse Puljujarvi, Karpat, RW (#3)
Patrik Laine, Tappara, RW (#5)

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)

Dante Fabbro, Penticton, D (#7)
Tyson Jost, Penticton, RW (#11)

Switzerland (NLA)

Auston Matthews, Zurich, C (#1)

Russia (MHL, U18)

German Rubtsov, Russia U18, C (#34)

Just missed: Evan Fitzpatrick, Givani Smith, Otto Makinen, Beck Malenstyn.