College Hockey: Men's NCAA Tournament Preview
A comprehensive team-by-team breakdown heading into the regionals
This is Part 2 of the Men’s College Hockey Preview. To see Part 1, which details the top prospect from each NHL team playing in the tournament, consider signing up for a subscription to Hockey Sense. Also, make sure to check out this week’s episode of Talking Hockey Sense with ESPN’s John Buccigross by subscribing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
I don’t know if there is a weekend as fun to follow as that of the men’s regionals. You’ve got 12 games of the best teams in the country, with all the intensity and passion of an entire season riding on what happens over those three (or more) periods. It is often college hockey at its best with incredible stories, moments and performances that come out of it every year.
What makes this all the more exciting is that the fans, players, coaches and everyone involved with the game did not get to experience this weekend last season. We were just getting to the juiciest part of the year when life changed dramatically. I’ll be honest, there were times I thought we wouldn’t get to this point even this season. As a bunch of programs dropped out, I wondered how many would make it to this stage.
That we did get here is a credit to the players and athletics departments that did the very best they could at keeping COVID-19 at bay to get the season in. There were a lot of sacrifices made by the players who had to take all sorts of extra precautions to keep their team’s hopes to play in this tournament alive. We also cannot forget that despite all of those precautions, many players and teams had positive tests throughout the season. We can only hope at this point that there are not going to be long-term negative effects for those that did contract the virus and that everyone continues to stay healthy as we get closer to getting back to normalcy, whatever that may be in the future.
UPDATE: At 1 p.m. ET Thursday, the NCAA announced that Notre Dame would not be able to compete in the men’s hockey tournament due to COVID-19 protocols. The full statement from the NCAA:
“The NCAA and the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee regret that, because of COVID-19 protocols, Notre Dame’s student-athletes and coaching staff will not be able to play in a tournament in which they earned the right to participate. The Notre Dame-Boston College game scheduled for Saturday afternoon at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, will now be considered a no-contest, and therefore, Boston College will advance to the next round of the tournament. This decision was made in consultation with the Albany County Public Health Department and the NCAA Medical Advisory Group. Because of privacy issues, we cannot provide further details.”
So Boston College will await the winner of St. Cloud State vs. Boston University in the regional final in Albany.
UPDATE 2: The NCAA announced that the University of Michigan was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to COVID-19 Protocols. Minnesota Duluth will advance to the next round and await the winner of North Dakota vs. AIC.
The statement from Michigan head coach Mel Pearson:
For now, we get to enjoy a great tournament with some really excellent teams and all 10 Hobey Baker finalists, among others. After losing last year’s event, it’s hard to ask for a better bracket than the one we got.
Also, thanks to the support of my subscribers, I will be traveling to Pittsburgh for the Men’s Frozen Four. I’m really excited to be headed out there and look forward to bringing you the best coverage I can.
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Alright, let’s get this preview rolling… This is the most up-to-date bracket from the NCAA with a few game times changed.
East Regional — Bridgeport, Conn.
Wisconsin Badgers
The No. 4 overall seed in the tournament, Wisconsin went from a miserable season in 2019-20 during which they actually had their season end before the pandemic shut everything down to winning the Big Ten regular season title. They have two Hobey Baker candidates in Cole Caufield (MTL) and Dylan Holloway (EDM), two 40-point scorers in Caufield and Linus Weissbach (BUF) and a goaltending tandem in Robbie Beydoun and Cameron Rowe who have combined for a team save percentage of .933.
I thought last year’s UW team on paper was better than the one it has right now seeing as K’Andre Miller, Alex Turcotte and Wyatt Kalynuk were all part of the squad. The team never put it together and never got the goaltending even when they were playing better. Being able to split Beydoun and Rowe comfortably as the Badgers have gives them an advantage with the nature of the regional tournament. Perhaps they ride one goalie the rest of the way, but they can feel pretty comfortable with either at this point, which is a great spot to be in with back-to-back games on the schedule.
Wisconsin’s biggest strength, however, is in their offensive attack, highlighted by some sensational players and a nation-leading power play that has converted on 31.5% of its opportunities. Holloway has averaged over 1.5 points per game after missing a chunk of the season to join Canada at the World Junior Championship. Meanwhile, Caufield has been scoring at will with 28 goals in just 30 games. Having a player that can score like that means the Badgers are never out of any game. They even almost launched a huge comeback against Minnesota in the Big Ten championship game. With that group up front, plus some talented veteran defensemen in Ty Emberson (ARI), Josh Ess (CHI) and Tyler Inamoto (FLA) among others, there’s a good chance for this group to make a run.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Cole Caufield (MTL), Linus Weissbach (BUF), Dylan Holloway (EDM), Owen Lindmark (FLA), Jack Gorniak (MTL), Ty Emberson (ARI), Tyler Inamoto (FLA), Sam Stange (DET), Josh Ess (CHI), Ryder Donovan (VGK)
UMass
I wondered if UMass might end up grabbing the fourth No. 1 seed, but instead they’ll be the top No. 2 in the NCAA tournament. The Minutemen are coming off of a historic win in the Hockey East championship game, winning their first conference postseason title since joining the conference. They continue to get great performances out of top players, but this is a team where pretty much everyone finds a way to contribute at either end of the ice.
Like most good teams, UMass is built from the net out. Filip Lindberg (MIN) has taken control of the crease in Amherst and has been delivering big-time performance after big-time performance. In 12 games so far this season he has a .940 save percentage, which would be tops among most primary starters this season. The Minutemen are 7-1-4 in games he starts. The junior goalie has been sensational just about every time out, having split time with senior Matt Murray.
Defensively, there’s a lot of good experience on the UMass blue line. Marc Del Gaizo (NSH) scored the biggest goal in school history with the OT game-winner in the Frozen Four two years ago that sent UMass to the national championship game. He’s now a junior and still contributing big minutes and playing in high-leverage situations. Meanwhile, a couple of sophomores are putting up big points on the back end. Both Zac Jones (NYR) and Matthew Kessel (STL) have 20 points so far this season. They’re threats to score from the blue line and both have really good mobility that makes them difficult to contain.
Up front, junior Bobby Trivigno has been the engine for this team, scoring 30 points including 10 goals this season. He’s a big-time player who seems to come through in those key moments as he did while being named the Hockey East tournament’s most outstanding player. In addition to Trivigno, the Minutemen lean heavily on seniors Oliver Chau and Carson Gicewicz, who rank second and third, respectively, in team scoring. Gicewicz leads the team with 13 goals. I also can’t say enough good things about freshman Josh Lopina who has 20 points and gives UMass tough minutes for a center.
The experience this group has goes a long way. With so many juniors and seniors that have been on this stage already once in their career, they understand what it takes to make it to the next level. I think there’s a good chance they could make an unprecedented second trip to the Men’s Frozen Four, taking UMass from program on the rise to a top program in its own right.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Matthew Kessel (STL), Zac Jones (NYR), Marc Del Gaizo (NSH), Filip Lindberg (MIN)
Lake Superior State
It’s great to see you again, Lake State. The Lakers are back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1996 and they enter as one of the hottest teams in the country. LSSU has won 12 of their last 14 games which includes rolling through the WCHA tournament with four consecutive wins over which the Lakers outscored opponents 20-6.
It was a conference title well earned by a team that found its stride at the right time of year. Finishing 19-6-3, the Lakers went 2-5-1 against fellow WCHA teams in the tournament, but one of those wins was a 4-1 besting of Bemidji State in the conference tournament.
Lake State is led by local product Ashton Calder, who was a standout in the junior ranks and has surpassed the 25-point mark in each of his three seasons with the Lakers. He has 28 points in 28 games, matching his career high from last season in 13 fewer games. It also helps to have a great goaltender and Mareks Mitens has been phenomenal this season with a .933 save percentage in 24 starts.
I went back and watched portions of the Lakers’ tournament games through InStat to see how they rolled through as well as they did. This is a team that can control the puck well and have good defensemen who get the transition going quickly. LSSU has good size as a group and they’re quick. If you’re not careful, they can pounce. Then it all comes back to having a goalie that can give you a chance, which Mitens is more than capable of. UMass better come ready to play against this Lakers squad.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Arvid Henrikson (MTL)
Bemidji State
This was the team I was most surprised to see in the tournament, not because Bemidji wasn’t deserving but because I didn’t think there was any way the WCHA would get three teams in the tournament. But here the Beavers are and they’re going to be coming in with something to prove.
They don’t have any NHL draft picks on the roster, but that’s been kind of the norm even though there have been some quality NHL players to come out of Bemidji in years past like Matt Read and even more recently Zach Whitecloud. The Beavers are a well-coached team by the passionate Tom Serratore who has been with Bemidji State for 19 seasons now. They’ve always been a team that does a lot more with less. This year, they’re getting a lot done thanks to their senior goaltender.
Zach Driscoll has started every game but one going 14-9-3 with a .924 save percentage and posting two shutouts this year. He’s made 100 appearances over the last four years and has a .920 career save percentage to go along with a 51-34-12 career record. He has the ability to be a difference maker. He’ll have to be since Bemidji does not score a ton of goals.
The Beavers have just two 20-plus-point scorers on the team — junior Alex Ierullo and senior Brendan Harris. Bemidji’s 76 goals in 27 game ranks 19th overall nationally and 13th among teams in the tournament. They’re going to have to find ways to cut through one of the best teams in the country. It’s a tall task, but this tournament constantly shows us how anything can happen.
Drafted NHL prospects: None.
Midwest Regional — Fargo, N.D.
North Dakota
The No. 1 overall seed in the tournament and, for my money, the best team in the country is going to be a difficult team to beat in Fargo. They should be one of the few teams to have a home-ice advantage with Fargo allowing a limited crowd. Seeing how the UND faithful showed up for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, that definitely helps a team that can feed off that energy like North Dakota.
There’s way more to them than the intangibles like that. Depth is going to be an advantage in every game they play. The Fighting Hawks can roll four lines, play all of their defensemen and still have an advantage in a lot of cases. Shane Pinto (OTT) may be the best two-way center in the country, showcasing NHL ability at both ends of the ice. Veterans like Jordan Kawaguchi, Collin Adams (NYI) and Jasper Weatherby (SJS) bolster the team’s offensive attack.
On the back end, Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT), if healthy, is as good as any defenseman in the country, while Matt Kiersted is being highly sought after as an undrafted free agent due to his two-way ability. Those two guys can play a mountain of minutes, while North Dakota can also lean heavily on freshmen Jake Sanderson (OTT) and Tyler Kleven (OTT) to help them shut down the opposition.
In net, Adam Scheel had a spectacular season — the best of his three-year NCAA career — and gives UND a high-end stopper that more than adequately fills all the traits of a championship-caliber goaltender. He posted a .928 save percentage in the toughest conference in the country and has one of the NCAA’s elite defensive units in front of him.
Kiersted, Kawaguchi, Pinto, Adams and others could have gone pro last season if they wanted to. They all chose to come back with one goal in mind — finish what they started last season. This team is on a mission for a national title and know they have all the pieces to make it happen.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Collin Adams (NYI), Shane Pinto (OTT), Jasper Weatherby (SJS), Grant Mismash (NSH), Jacob Bernard-Docker (OTT), Jake Sanderson (OTT), Judd Caulfield (PIT), Gavin Hain (PHI), Tyler Kleven (OTT), Cooper Moore (DET), Harrison Blaisdell (WPG), Peter Thome (CBJ)
Michigan
I don’t think there is a team in the country that is as skilled as the Wolverines. Elite playmakers like Thomas Bordeleau (SJS) and Kent Johnson (2021), high-end scorers like Brendan Brisson (VGK), and outstanding puckmovers in Cam York (PHI), Owen Power (2021) and Nick Blankenburg on the back end makes this team really go. They can transition as well or better than any team in the country and when they’re at top speed, they’re difficult to slow down.
In addition to the skill, there’s a good amount of work ethic on the roster, too. They aren’t afraid to battle as a group. Few players embody that as much as Matty Beniers (2021), who is a do-everything center that can take over shifts and sometimes the whole game with his immense two-way game. But there are veterans who really have upped their game in the postseason, too, like co-captain Jack Becker (BOS), Jimmy Lambert, Luke Morgan, Nolan Moyle and Garrett Van Wyhe who can give Michigan good minutes.
The Wolverines hopes mostly rest in the very capable gloved hands of Strauss Mann, who has a .930 save percentage and keeps his team in games with regularity. He’s a solid, cerebral goaltender who is one of the team’s most important players on and off the ice. Mann is an impressive leader who has set the tone for a team that might have a lot of youth, but can still be a force in this tournament.
Drafted NHL prospects: Thomas Bordeleau (SJS), Brendan Brisson (VGK), Cam York (PHI), Eric Ciccolini (NYR), Jack Becker (BOS), Johnny Beecher—inj. (BOS), Jacob Truscott (VAN), Erik Portillo (BUF)
Minnesota Duluth
There may be a gap year there, but the Bulldogs are still the two-time defending national champions and as the great Ric Flair always says, “To be the man, ya gotta beat the man.” This is not the same team that won those last two national championships, but there are many players that were part of those teams and are now in bigger roles.
This team is run by juniors and seniors with that championship pedigree. Players like Nick Swaney (MIN), who led the club in points with 27; Jackson and Noah Cates (PHI) set such a tone for this team with tenacious play and the ability to produce. Jackson has 26 points this season and Noah has 18. Cole Koepke (TBL) is a skilled producer that challenges any defender. The list goes on and on and on.
The Bulldogs have had to somewhat rebuild their blue line which has been the strength of their teams in recent years. Freshman Wyatt Kaiser (CHI) has made an immediate impact in that department, but there are still longtime Bulldogs like Matt Anderson, Matt Cairns (EDM) and Louie Roehl to keep things stable.
Ryan Fanti has big goalie pads to fill. The sophomore follows Hunter Shepard who was just about as dominant a postseason goaltender as you could find in college hockey. Fanti posted a .905 save percentage in 19 games this year. He has a lot to prove, but has a number of strong performances this season to fall back on.
You always seem to know what you’re going to get out of the Bulldogs and head coach Scott Sandelin. It’s not that they’re predictable so much as they are consistent. They’re going to wear the opposition down and play a physical brand of hockey while having more than enough skill to pour on offensive pressure. They don’t have as many elite weapons as years past, but they’re a well-coached team that has belief in every game they play.
Drafted NHL prospects: Nick Swaney (MIN), Cole Koepke (TBL), Noah Cates (PHI), Quinn Olson (BOS), Wyatt Kaiser (CHI), Matt Cairns (EDM), Luke Loheit (OTT), Blake Biondi (MTL)
AIC
What more can be said about the job Eric Lang has done at AIC? They’re making their second trip to the tournament in three years and very well could have made the trip again last year. Once again, they’re the No. 16 seed in the tournament. I thought they deserved a little more respect than just being plugged into this slot, but I understand the perception that comes with Atlantic Hockey.
The Yellow Jackets, however, went 15-3-0 while outscoring opponents 66-35 this season. They have a veteran group that leads their team, including senior defenseman Brennan Kapcheck who is a high-end distributor. Tobias Fladeby has been a top player for the last three years for AIC and is one of their top scorers again this year. AIC has one of the oldest teams in the tournament with an average age of 22.8 (per College Hockey News) and that, combined with tournament experience does a team a lot of good when they’ve got such a tough opponent in front of them.
Goaltending is where I wonder if AIC has the goods to compete. The Yellow Jackets have had three different goalies start game for them and have a team save percentage of .912. Stefano Durante, the senior with 12 starts this year has a .907 save percentage with a 9-3-0 record. Sophomore Jake Kucharski (CAR) has appeared in six games and is 5-0-0.
I don’t foresee a shocking first-round upset like we saw the Yellow Jackets hand No. 1 St. Cloud State two years ago, but if their opponents aren’t ready, there’s enough talent on this team to pounce.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Jake Kucharski (CAR)
West Regional — Loveland, Colo.
Minnesota
Watching Minnesota scratch and claw its way through the Big Ten tournament, needing overtime in the quarterfinal and semifinal to get to the championship before really opening things up against Wisconsin, was eye-opening. It was a good reminder of why they had been the No. 1 team in the country at various points this season. The Gophers have depth, they have speed, they have talent and most importantly of all, they have the goaltending.
Jack LaFontaine (CAR) has been a massive difference-maker over the last two seasons in Minnesota and this year he could end up as the Mike Richter Award winner for his performance. With a .936 save percentage, five shutouts and 1.74 goals-against average, he’s been one of the top three goalies all season. You need goaltending this year and the Gophers can be really confident about theirs.
They can also be especially confident of its core of veteran players that will be leading the charge this postseason. Captain Sammy Walker (TBL) is one of the more clever players in college hockey and matches that skill with work ethic. Sampo Ranta (COL), Brannon McManus, Scott Reedy (SJS), Ben Meyers, Blake McLaughlin (ANA) can all be a handful for defenses. Ranta has been one of the more dangerous goal scorers in the country this year thanks to his speed and power as he’s continued to develop his game rapidly.
On the back end, sophomores and freshmen have really taken over. Brock Faber (LAK) and Ryan Johnson (BUF) can shut down just about any line you need them to as a pair of elite skaters with great defensive sense. Jackson LaCombe (ANA) and Mike Koster (TOR) are the more offensively gifted guys that can help get pucks up ice with that high-end forward group.
Watching Minnesota a lot this season, I think we’re seeing a team that knows exactly how it needs to play, but there have been instances where they’ve had lapses. After seeing the way they rallied around each other in very difficult games in the NCAA tournament, they’re playing some of their best hockey right now.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Sampo Ranta (COL), Sammy Walker (TBL), Blake McLaughlin (ANA), Scott Reedy (SJS), Jackson LaCombe (ANA), Bryce Brodzinski (PHI), Mike Koster (TOR), Ryan Johnson (BUF), Jack Perbix (ANA), Brock Faber (LAK), Robbie Stucker (CBJ), Ben Brinkman (DAL), Jack LaFontaine (CAR), Jared Moe (WPG)
Minnesota State
Is this the year? Minnesota State has made six previous trips to the NCAA tournament and is still waiting for win No. 1. They don’t have an easy draw in the first round with Quinnipiac being a particularly strong matchup for them, but the Mavs have to believe they can win.
You can always count on Minnesota State to play a disciplined, structured game that allows them to defend as a group while simultaneously pushing the pace against their opponents. They can possess the puck as well as any team in the country and make great decisions when they have it. Their stumble in the WCHA playoffs was an awfully uncharacteristic slip-up where they just couldn’t get a stop against Northern Michigan. Given Dryden McKay’s track record, however, it’s very unlikely he has two bad games in a row. In games where he gave up four or more goals, he always followed it up with one goal against or a shutout this year. He just didn’t lose very much in general, so we should expect a bounce-back fro him.
The Mavs should have a chip on their shoulder in this tournament. While their run of success in the WCHA has been so impressive over the last several years, it’s always hit with the caveat that their strength of schedule isn’t there. That’s especially true this year with no non-conference games to prove themselves further. That’s why I think you’re going to see a motivated team in this tournament.
They have good skill in their group with players like Nathan Smith (WPG), Julian Napravnik and Cade Borchardt. Those guys have been producing all season and can put pressure on opposing defenses. Akito Hirose has been a great addition to the Mavs’ blue line. Meanwhile, Minnesota State has some hungry veterans like Jake Jaremko who it feels like has been in college for the better part of a decade and has been such a quality college player. Same with Riese Zmolek. This team has a lot of guys that can find a role, play it to perfection and give them a chance in games where they’re seemingly outmatched.
The Mavs are dangerous, even if history is not on their side. One of these years the streak has to end.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Nathan Smith (WPG), Todd Burgess (OTT)
Quinnipiac
I picked the Bobcats as a potential national title contender dark horse at the beginning of the season while I was still at ESPN. I still feel that way about them, though maybe a little less confident. They’ve had an up-and-down year, with their last game being a tough OT loss to St. Lawrence in the ECAC final. I wonder how much that game left a bad taste in this team’s mouth that motivates them to have an extra gear in Loveland.
This team has so many veterans that have been playing for an opportunity like this. With all the uncertainty about whether or not we’d even have an ECAC season, no one knew for sure if they’d even get the chance. But when Quinnipiac is putting it all together, they’re a very difficult team to beat.
Well coached and disciplined, Quinnipiac can shut teams down, but they never seem to sacrifice their ability to push the pace offensively. That all starts with Odeen Tufto, who has been the most productive player in the NCAA over the last four years. He’s an elite playmaker at the NCAA level and I think someone is going to give him a chance to prove it as a pro with an NHL deal later this spring. Tufto is second in the nation with 45 points. But there are other weapons, too, like freshman Ty Smilanic (FLA) who has showcased high-end finishing ability with 14 goals this season. Junior forward Ethan de Jong also has scored 14 times this season. Another huge boost to this roster is the return of Wyatt Bongiovanni who missed a good chunk of the season. In the eight games he has played, he’s put up eight points.
On the blue line, the Bobcats are led by a pair of productive juniors in Zach Metsa and Peter Diliberatore (VGK). Metsa’s 26 points puts him tops among blueliners this season in the NCAA and Diliberatore has 19 while providing solid defense.
Quinnipiac’s hopes rest largely on the goaltending of Keith Petruzzelli (DET) who has shown an ability to win this team games. It wasn’t always easy in his NCAA career, but Petruzzelli stuck with it and got better every year. He put up a career-best .927 save percentage while going 17-7-4. If he has his best game, Quinnipiac could be one of the likelier candidates to pull some surprises in the tournament.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Ty Smilanic (FLA), Peter DiLiberatore (VGK), Skyler Brind’Amour (EDM), Keith Petruzzelli (DET)
Omaha
It wasn’t a sure thing that the Mavs would get in, but they had some key wins over top teams, including two over No. 1 North Dakota. It shows that they can compete with anybody on any given night. They have plenty to prove and will get as good a showcase as possible with a first-round matchup against Minnesota. Nothing like proving doubters wrong by knocking off a top seed. It won’t be easy, though.
You have to give a lot of credit to Mike Gabinet for what he’s built over the last few years in a tough conference to compete in. Omaha is a junior-driven team with big Chayse Primeau and Tyler Weiss (COL) leading the charge with 23 and 21 points respectively. They may be on different sides of the spectrum when it comes to physical stature, but they both impact the game where it matters most — the scoreboard.
Goaltender Isaiah Saville (VGK) may be one of the more under-appreciated goalies in the country because he doesn’t have eye-popping numbers, but he definitely has pro upside and competes for every puck. I’ve always liked the way he plays and expect him to be a difference-maker if Omaha is to have success.
On the blue line, the Mavericks lean heavily on big Brandon Scanlin, who could be a sought-after free agent either this offseason or next. Senators draft pick Jonny Tychonick also has shown some flashes of that high-end skill that got him drafted in the first place.
I’ve had a hard time getting a great read on the Mavericks this season just with the way their schedule ended up being set up with so many games against the same teams, but there’s no doubt they’ve been battle tested throughout the year.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Tyler Weiss (COL), Jonny Tychonick (OTT), Isaiah Saville (VGK)
Northeast Regional — Albany, N.Y.
Boston College
The Eagles may have put a little doubt in our minds with the performance they had in the Hockey East semifinals, but even the best teams have clunkers every now and again. There’s no doubt Boston College is one of the most talented teams in this tournament from top to bottom.
It all starts in net with Spencer Knight (FLA) who is one of the elite goaltending prospects in all of hockey. He can win games all by himself if he has to and the Eagles have actually let him see an awful lot of pucks this year as he’s averaging over 30 saves per game this season. Knight is one of the best puck-moving goalies and highly intelligent. The thing that should scare most teams is that he had a really, really rough game against UMass-Lowell last week. It is very, very rare that Knight will have two consecutive games like that. He has not suffered back-to-back losses since January 2020.
After Knight, you have to look at the incredible forward group led by top-line stalwarts Matthew Boldy (MIN) and Alex Newhook (COL), two of the best NHL prospects in the NCAA currently. They can beat teams all by themselves if they have to, but don’t have to very often. Both are elite playmakers, they both have great shots and can make things challenging in the defensive zone as well. The Eagles also have gotten great production out of Mike Hardman, a top free agent this offseason who should be getting significant NHL interest. Junior captain Marc McLaughlin is another player that will have a lot of NHL interest and is one of the better two-way forwards in college hockey, while also showing up in big moments to score clutch goals. Talented freshmen Nikita Nesterenko (MIN) and Colby Ambrosio (COL) have also taken this team’s game to the next level at various points this season. So there are a lot of weapons that can beat you.
One player I’ve been really intrigued by this season is defenseman Drew Helleson (COL) who has shown better offensive capabilities this season and is a very talented defender. That BC blue line has talent all over, with Yale transfer Jack St. Ivany (PHI) stepping into a big role right away, the dynamic Marshall Warren (MIN) being able to get pucks up ice and freshman Eamon Powell (TBL) being able to do a little bit of everything.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Matt Boldy (MIN), Nikita Nesterenko (MIN), Jack McBain (MIN), Alex Newhook (COL), Colby Ambrosio (COL), Drew Helleson (COL), Eamon Powell (TBL), Logan Hutsko—inj. (FLA), Marshall Warren (MIN), Trevor Kuntar (BOS), Jack St. Ivany (PHI), Michael Karow (ARI), Spencer Knight (FLA)
St. Cloud State
With seven wins against fellow tournament teams this year, don’t sleep on the Huskies. St. Cloud State has not had a ton of tournament success historically and their last time at the NCAA tournament ended with a loss to AIC despite SCSU being the top overall seed. There are enough players still around from that one that will be able to impress on the younger players how quickly this tournament can turn on you.
The good news, though, is that a lot of the new blood the Huskies have that weren’t around for that one have really injected great energy into the lineup. The team’s top three scorers are underclassmen. Freshman forward Veeti Miettinen (TOR) has been such a revelation this year, scoring a team-high 23 points. Both Jami Krannila and Zach Okabe are sophomores with 20 points apiece, too. Defenseman Nick Perbix (TBL) also has 20 points this year as his game has taken off. Meanwhile, junior forward Sam Hentges (MIN) seems to be hitting his stride more as the season progresses.
Like so many teams in this tournament, the question lies with goaltending. Senior Dávid Hrenák (LAK) at the top of his game can steal wins for this team, but he’s not been there a lot this season with a .906 save percentage in 23 starts so far this season. If he has an average game, it won’t be good enough for them. We know he can pull out a big performance, though. Just has to hope he has another in him before wrapping up his collegiate career.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Veeti Miettinen (TOR), Nick Perbix (TBL), Sam Hentges (MIN), Dávid Hrenák (LAK)
Boston University
In a season that was bizarre for everyone, I don’t know if any team had a more challenging year on the COVID front than BU. They didn’t play their first game until Jan. 8 and would have guys in and out of the lineup over the 15 games they got in. The Terriers have been pretty streaky this year, too. They only have four losses, but have had a couple of clunkers thrown in the mix including their quarterfinal loss to UMass Lowell where their offense just couldn’t get cooking.
BU has had a lot of really good games this year, too. They swept UMass earlier in the season and picked up a 3-1 win over BC in February. There’s no doubt the Terriers have the weapons at their disposal to challenge anyone in the tournament.
Defenseman David Farrance (NSH) was so good in the 10 games he appeared in this year, it was enough for him to get a spot as a Hobey Baker finalist. He really is one of the most dynamic players in the country when at his best. If he’s healthy, he’s going to play a ton. Sophomores Alex Vlasic (CHI) and Domenick Fensore (NSH) should see some big minutes, too.
BU also has some intriguing forwards. Providence transfer Jay O’Brien (PHI) has come in and been a consistent producer with 16 points over 15 games. The same is true of freshman forward Luke Tuch (MTL) who had 10 points over his 15 games this season.
Drew Commesso (CHI) could be the X-factor for Boston U in this tournament, too. He has nine starts under his belt and put up a .924 save percentage while seeing an average of over 34 shots per game. He is going to have to be sharp for BU to make a move.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Jay O’Brien (PHI), David Farrance (NSH), Luke Tuch (MTL), Logan Cockerill (NYI), Robert Mastrosimone (DET), Alex Vlasic (CHI), Domenick Fensore (CAR), Dylan Peterson (STL), Case McCarthy (NJD), Cade Webber (CAR), Jake Wise (CHI), Ethan Phillips (DET), Drew Commesso (CHI)
Notre Dame
UPDATE: Notre Dame had to withdraw from the tournament due to COVID-19 protocols.
They were the last team in, but I wonder how much that new life gives the Irish a nothing-to-lose mentality. They were the last team in, only there because St. Lawrence had to pull out due to a positive COVID-19 test. Notre Dame is just scary enough, though, especially with all of the veteran talent they have on their roster.
Alex Steeves has 32 points so far this season as one of college hockey’s top 10 scorers and a sought-after free agent. Graham and Landon Slaggert (CHI) have done their pops, associate head coach Andy, proud this season. Not only are they among the toughest guys to play against on the team, they’re second and third in scoring on the roster with 25 and 22 points, respectively.
On the blue line, Notre Dame got a breakout season from junior Nick Leivermann (COL) who had a career-best 17 points in 29 games. Spencer Stastney (NSH) didn’t have big numbers this year, but is a sneaky good puck mover who always finds a way to impact the game.
One of the most important developments for the Irish this season was the career year put together by senior goalie Dylan St. Cyr, who has a .921 save percentage in 21 starts this season. He’s one of the best puck-moving goaltenders in college hockey, but he’s shown the ability to make some incredible saves this year. As an undersized player for a starting goalie, he’s maximized his talent after biding his time behind Cale Morris for the last three years.
The Irish have a super tough draw with Boston College in the first round, but they are not to be taken lightly.
Drafted NHL Prospects: Landon Slaggert (CHI), Nick Leivermann (COL), Spencer Stastney (NSH), Trevor Janicke (ANA), Jake Pivonka (NYI), Matt Hellickson (NJD), Nate Clurman (COL), Ryder Rolston (COL), Jake Boltmann (CGY)
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