Chicago Rinkcast staff members Andy Campbell, Sean Fitzgerald, Andrew Bard and Jimmy O’Malley jump on to talk Blackhawks and IceHogs:

With Jeremy Roenick now in the Hockey Hall of Fame, is Duncan Keith next?

Andreas Athanasiou on waivers

Can, when and how will Connor Bedard get going?

Too early to sell, and if not, what?

Rockford IceHogs news (matter of time for Frank Nazar?)

CHL-NCAA agreement, i.e. Jack Pridham

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After nixing an NHL deal with Chicago that would have put Mitchell into the fold with the Blackhawks this season, the 2017 second-round pick returned to Denver University for his junior season, where he served as the Pioneers’ captain. After a spell of “will he or won’t he” from the Blackhawks’ fan community, everyone can breathe a little easier knowing that the coveted defenseman will be playing his professional hockey with the Blackhawks.

Ian Mitchell headlined the Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA prospects this season. (Photograph courtesy of the Chicago Sun-Times)

An already accomplished NCAA prospect, Mitchell played with Team Canada this past December at the Spengler Cup in Switzerland. He tallied a goal and an assist in four games played, helping Canada win their 16th Spengler Cup.

In three seasons playing at Denver, Mitchell skated in 116 games and tallied 89 points. He was part of the 2018 NCAA Championship team as a freshman and was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team in the 2017–18 season. Mitchell was named a NCHC Second Team All-Star as a sophomore in 2018–19 and a NCHC First Team All-Star this season as a junior. Mitchell was also named the Pioneers’ Team MVP this season with 32 points in 36 games played prior to the NCAA season being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 5-foot-11 and tipping the scales around 180 pounds, Mitchell is not the most physically imposing defenseman, but he played heavy minutes over the last two seasons at Denver and all indications are that he will be able to play at the speed and physical level seen in the NHL. It is important to note that Mitchell will need time to adjust and more than likely is not the singular missing piece to the Blackhawks’ woes defensively. But, signs do point to Mitchell getting a crack at the NHL right away once he joins the organization, which is hopefully sooner rather than later.

The post Blackhawks, Ian Mitchell agree to terms on entry-level contract appeared first on The Rink.

Ian Mitchell could have signed a professional contract last season with the Hawks, but he made the decision to play his junior year at the University of Denver, noting that he wanted to dominate at the collegiate level; and that he did.  The Calahoo, Alberta native came into the Pioneers program as a freshman with high expectations.  Mitchell was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL draft by Chicago and was committed to Denver, a team that had just won a national championship.  Mitchell was slated to take over for senior Will Butcher who had just won the Hobey Baker Award for the NCAA’s top men’s hockey player.

That year, the Pioneers were surprised to have a couple of their top players stick around for an extra year and try for another national title.  Now Sharks forward Dylan Gambrell, Ducks forward Troy Terry, and Panthers forward Henrik Borgstrom were a trio that made the Pioneers one of the most potent offenses in college hockey, and Mitchell had the keys to the powerplay.  Just like any freshman would do, Mitchell deferred to many of the upperclassmen but that didn’t mean he didn’t have the skills to be out there with them.  Mitchell often walked the blue line and created open lanes for his forwards to work their magic, knowing that one day it would be his turn to work his.  In his freshman year, Mitchell registered two goals and 28 assists, landing him a spot on the NCHC’s All-Rookie team.  The Pioneers ultimately fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Frozen Four regionals.

In Mitchell’s sophomore season, many thought Denver would take a step back with many of their top players departing for the pros, but a fresh crop of recruits helped the Pioneers get to their 17th Frozen Four appearance in school history.  The 2018-19 Denver team had one of the best defenses in the league and received great goaltending from freshman Filip Larsson.  They got significant contributions from Emilio Pettersen and Cole Guttman, two freshman who played the entire season together on the first line with senior Jarid Lukosevicious.  And to top it off, Denver had just lost head coach Jim Montgomery to the NHL and were led by rookie head coach David Carle.  Mitchell had another solid season with six goals and 21 assists.  The Pioneers fell just short of getting to the national championship game, losing in overtime to Cale Makar’s UMass Minutemen in Buffalo.

In that same year, Mitchell represented Team Canada in the World Junior Championships as an alternate captain.  He played alongside several NHL prospects selected in the first round such as Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, New York’s Noah Dobson, and New Jersey’s Ty Smith.  Unfortunately, Canada lost to Finland in overtime in the quarterfinals.

Ian Mitchell (@DU_Hockey) scores his first of the tournament to put up by one early in the second! #CANvsFIN #REPRESENT #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IDXLJQFlAs

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2019

Entering his junior year at Denver, Mitchell was voted team captain and was on a mission to be Denver’s go-to guy.  In his first seven games, Mitchell had three goals and seven assists.  He went on to have seven multi-point games and score a career-high 32 points.  Mitchell also helped Team Canada win gold at the 2019 Spengler Cup.  The Pioneers had their ups and downs in the 2019-20 season, but it seemed like they were turning a corner.  Winners of four of their last six games, Denver concluded the season with a sweep of rivals Colorado College and were set to host Omaha in the first round of the NCHC playoffs.  It’s unfortunate that the NCAA tournament was canceled due to public health concerns, but there’s no doubt that Mitchell and his Pioneers would have been center stage in another chase for college hockey stardom.

So this leads us to the original question of the article of what are the Chicago Blackhawks getting in Ian Mitchell.  Now that you know the background story, here’s my take.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ian’s father and younger brother at a couple Pioneers games and they are definitely a hockey family.  Hockey is in his blood, as his uncle also played professional hockey.  Ian’s father Bill said to me that he spent countless hours with Ian teaching him the art of power skating, giving him the ability to jump into plays and also to keep up with some of the fastest forwards in his age group.  I know that there were significant changes to Ian’s game between his sophomore and junior seasons.

Knowing that professional hockey was on the horizon for him, Mitchell started training and changing his diet to be in the best hockey shape possible.  Not only did he take good care of his body, he took care of the people around him.  He is very well liked by his teammates and coaches, and is a natural-born leader.  Ian would always make time to say hello and shake my hand following post-game press scrums and was always a good quote.  The Blackhawks are getting a very high-character individual which is probably why they are so excited.  This is a player who is a big communicator on the ice and is highly competitive.

As for on-ice qualities, there is a lot to look forward to.  There has been a lot of growth in Mitchell’s game since his first Blackhawks prospect camp.  He’s bigger, stronger, faster, and comes with three years experience in one of college hockey’s toughest conferences in the NCHC.  Going against Minnesota-Duluth, North Dakota, and St. Cloud is no small feat, yet Mitchell and the Pioneers found success annually.

On the offensive side, Mitchell likes to compare his game to Tyson Barrie of the Maple Leafs.  He doesn’t have game-breaking speed, but he can get up the ice into the rush like Barrie and be just as dangerous as a forward.  His ability to get pucks through traffic using fakes and dekes has created a lot of chances for his forwards.  Mitchell also has an underrated slapshot.  A lot of the time, he will take a hard wrist shot if he has time from the top of the circle, but he can also rip it from the point and the puck gets to the net in a hurry.  I would say that Mitchell is the definition of a powerplay quarterback.  He is a triple-threat player from the point where he can shoot, pass, or skate at any time.  His scoring ability is just as good as anybody in college hockey, but he’s a natural playmaker.  Mitchell’s at his best when he’s setting up his teammates for layup goals after he does all the heavy lifting.

#Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell with a beautiful assist pic.twitter.com/3PEfXI8yd8

— Blackhawks Nation (@BlkHwkNationCHI) November 3, 2018

On the defensive side, it’s his hockey IQ that will wow you.  Mitchell plays with an active stick and can escape high-danger situations surprisingly without getting hit too often.  He can spin out of big checks and is phenomenal at breaking the puck out of the zone.  He can beat you with the stretch pass or he can skate it through the zone himself.  I will say that he has one of the best first passes out of the zone that I’ve seen the last few years in the conference.  Mitchell isn’t the overly aggressive type in front of the net, but he also won’t get pushed around.  I’ve seen him get into it after the whistle a few times, but he’s never put his team in a bad spot because of it.

Overall, the Blackhawks are getting a defenseman who can give fans some peace of mind, much like Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson have done in years past.  Those three got the Blackhawks through multiple Stanley Cup Playoffs playing over 25 minutes a night, being trusted in every situation.  I’m not saying Mitchell is ready for that, but with the right development, he can rise to a top-four blueliner that Chicago can lean on in the future.  The Hawks have drafted a handful of top defensive prospects the last few years hoping to solidify their defensive core.  Those prospects have come and gone like a game of musical chairs, and it’s no surprise Mitchell is one of the few guys left with a seat at the table.

Stan Bowman likes what he sees out of Ian Mitchell, who is returning to Denver for his junior year. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/xTiFXmVcdj

— Eric Lear (@EricLear312) July 17, 2019

The post What are the Chicago Blackhawks getting in Ian Mitchell? appeared first on The Rink.

In one of the biggest games of the year, the seniors came up big.  The Pioneers were also under some pressure from Western Michigan who swept Miami and drew pretty close to leapfrogging Denver.

Thank you, Seniors #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/ANeMCX1aQ7

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 8, 2020

Here’s how things played out:

Game 1

Friday night the Pioneers traveled to Colorado College with hopes of bringing home the Gold Pan.  It was senior night for the Tigers and they definitely made it exciting for the fans.  The Pioneers were dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 44 of 64 draws, and possessed the puck well.  Although there was no score in the first period, Denver tallied twice in the second with an Ian Mitchell shot that went off a defender and a Tyler Ward rebound goal.   But, with five minutes left in the game, CC wasn’t ready to call it quits.

The Tigers went on a four-on-three powerplay, desperate to get back into the game.  They cycled the puck low to high and Grant Cruikshank took a shot from the right circle.  Magnus Chrona made the save, but the rebound went right to Tigers senior Chris Wilke who scored the first goal of the game for CC.  Then with less than ten seconds left in the game, Wilke got a pass in the high slot and nailed the game-tying goal.  Overtime wasn’t enough so the game went to a shootout where Brett Stapley won it for the Pioneers.

ICYMI – @CWilkie44 scored two goals late in the third period as CC rallied to a 2-2 tie against 6th-ranked Denver. pic.twitter.com/jXWeQ0Dw3v

— CC Hockey (@CCTigerHKY) March 7, 2020

Game 2

There was no doubt that Saturday night’s season finale against CC was going to be big, but the crowd seemed to take it to another level.  The student section was constantly chanting and banging on the glass, making it a difficult environment for the Tigers.  Nick Halloran scored first for the Tigers on a breakaway, beating Chrona, but it was all Pioneers after that.  Denver would score five straight goals to beat CC 5-1.  Emilio Pettersen would score his 13th goal of the season, but Michael Davies stole the show with this backhand beauty over Matt Vernon.

What a pretty goal.

Michael Davies gives @DU_Hockey a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/exEOYeh7Dt

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) March 8, 2020

What’s next?

Denver begins their road to the Frozen Faceoff this weekend against No. 6 Omaha.  The Mavs are 3-7 in their last ten games, but they do have some impressive wins this season against North Dakota, Arizona State, and Wisconsin.  Omaha and DU only met twice this season in Denver back in January, where they tied both games.  The Pioneers will have to strike first and not let the Mavs hang around or they could steal a game.

Tickets are on sale now for this weekend’s best-of-three series vs Omaha.

The post Pioneers secure No. 3 seed in NCHC playoffs after Colorado College sweep appeared first on The Rink.

With just a home-and-home series with Colorado College left in the regular season, the Pioneers will need to finish strong, as Western Michigan and St. Cloud are just two and four points behind Denver in the NCHC standings, respectively.  Let’s recap what happened with St. Cloud.

Game 1

Friday night’s game was very competitive until the second period when St. Cloud decided to open things up.  After Emilio Pettersen scored his 11th goal on the season on the powerplay, the Huskies scored three straight in a span of ten minutes and that’s all St. Cloud needed to earn three points on Friday.  Shots for the Huskies, by period, were 5, 20, and 3, having clearly moved into preventative defense in the third period.

Huskies goaltender David Hrenak was phenomenal, allowing just one goal on 32 shots.  St. Cloud improved to an impressive 9-0-2 when leading their opponent after the second period. Illinois native Kevin Fitzgerald led the Huskies with two goals and an assist in a much-needed win for St. Cloud, who are also fighting for their playoff position.

Here are a few observations from Friday’s game:

• For the first time in nine starts this season, Devin Cooley was pulled after giving up four goals on 19 shots.
• After registering 11 shots on goal in the series with Miami, captain Ian Mitchell was limited to just one shot Friday night.
• Freshman forward Bobby Brink was held out again after sustaining a lower-body injury in the North Dakota series.

Power play, POWER GOAL!@DU_Hockey ties this baby up. pic.twitter.com/kbpTjWYlBp

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) February 29, 2020

Game 2

Saturday night’s game was a different story.  After head coach David Carle emphasized the Pioneers refocusing their efforts and staying out of the penalty box, the team turned in one of their best games of the season, defeating the Huskies 5-2.  Despite going 0-6 on the powerplay, the Pioneers had five different goal scorers with Liam Finlay, Jake Durflinger, Kohen Olischefski, Mitchell, and Pettersen all lighting the lamp.  After starting Friday’s game on different lines, Cole Guttman and Pettersen were reunited Saturday and combined for eight shots on goal.

As expected, this game was very physical with several roughing minors.  For the St. Cloud seniors, this was the last time they would skate for the Huskies at home and they weren’t about to go down easily.  If anything, St. Cloud sent a message that this wouldn’t be the last time both teams crossed paths.  It’s possible that in just a few weeks this could be a playoff matchup.

Pettersen extended his scoring streak to three games and has officially doubled his goals from last year with 12.  Finlay has his own point streak of four games, and Mitchell tied his career-high in points with 30.

Bullseye @IanMitch15 #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/WLb00bKLeR

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 1, 2020

What’s next?

The Pioneers face off against their bitter rivals, the Colorado College Tigers, as they wrap up the Battle for the Gold Pan.  Denver swept the Tigers back in December, winning 3-0 and 3-1.  Colorado College is currently 8th in the NCHC and coming off two losses at home against Minnesota-Duluth.  The Tigers wouldn’t like anything better than to play spoiler for the Pioneers.  You can catch Saturday night’s game at Magness Arena on CBS Sports Network at 8:07 mountain time.

The post Pioneers eyeing playoff home-ice after split with St. Cloud appeared first on The Rink.

Then there is Ryan Shea.

A four-year college defenseman at Northeastern University who was a fifth-round selection by the Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Draft, Shea is a relatively under-the-radar prospect in the Chicago system that will have his future decided with the organization in a few short months. Shea is the captain for the Huskies in senior season that has Northeastern ranked tenth in the nation. With 29 points in 28 games this season, Shea is on pace to double his previous career-high in points (17) and could finish the year in the top-five of scoring defensemen when all is said and done.

I had the chance to talk with Shea as he and the Huskies prepare for a home-and-home series against sixth-ranked Boston College this week. We spoke about his development from draft day to his senior year, what being a three-time Beanpot champion means, and his future with the Blackhawks organization.

“You start to think about how you got to this point and who got you here…”

Through three years playing at Northeastern University, Ryan Shea was a steady, two-way defenseman. He wasn’t flashy and wasn’t blowing people away with gaudy production numbers. But that was never his role; Shea has always put the focus of his game on the defensive side first.

“I’m definitely not considering myself an offensive defenseman at all,” Shea explained about his new-found explosion on offense. “After Jérémy Davies signed early this year, there were some more offensive responsibilities put on my shoulders, which is why you see the numbers I’m getting this year, but I’ve always been very strict about my defensive game.”

Shea is tied for second on the Huskies in points and leads the team with 24 assists. While Shea doesn’t want his numbers to fool anyone into thinking he’s going to be a powerplay expert at the next level, his skills as a puck-moving defenseman who can make the right plays is going to be his calling card once he makes the jump to the professional ranks.

BOSTON, MA. FEB 3: Northeastern Huskies celebrate after beating Harvard Crimson , Monday, February 3, 2020, during the first game of Beanpot Hockey Tournament at TD Garden in Boston (Jim Michaud / MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

“I want to go out as part of the class that has the most wins in Northeastern hockey history. We still have a chance at that.”

Shea’s winning ways at Northeastern have him and the rest of the Huskies Class of 2019-20 on the verge of setting the class wins record for the program. With 85 wins and counting over the last three seasons and change, Shea’s senior class is already the second-winningest in program history, only behind last year’s senior class of 2018-19 which finished with 90 wins.

Northeastern has won the Hockey East championship and the Beanpot tournament in the same season twice, once in 1987-88 and again last season in Shea’s junior year. Getting the Beanpot again this season sets the Milton, Massachusetts native up to be the Captain of one of the most successful Senior classes in program history.

“It never gets old winning that tournament”

When Shea arrived at Northeastern, the Huskies hadn’t won a Beanpot tournament in nearly 30 years. His father, Dan Shea, played four years at Boston College from 1984-1988 but never won a Beanpot tournament title. Growing up 15 minutes south of Boston, the Shea family has always been connected to the tournament. “We grew up watching the Beanpot, we went to it every year. It’s been in my family for such a long time.”

In his sophomore year, the streak was broken after Northeastern topped Boston University, 5-2. The next season, Northeastern won back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1984 and 1985 tournaments. As a senior, the captain of the team, Shea was looking to be part of the eighth team to win at least three Beanpot titles in-a-row.

“The amount of alumni and fan support behind us just brought the moment to another level. It never has gotten old.”

Blackhawks prospect Ryan Shea raises the Beanpot Trophy after winning the Beanpot tournament in Boston on February 10, 2020. (Photo credit: Jim Pierce-Northeastern)

In a frantic Beanpot Final this year, Northeastern was mere moments away from sealing their third-straight title before Boston University tied the game with less than two seconds remaining in regulation. After a five minute overtime period, the Final would head to double overtime.

“It was definitely nerve-wrecking,” Shea recalled of the long night. “The most important part for our team that night was getting out of the five-minute overtime. They were taking it to us. After we regrouped in the locker room, we got back on the same page. It was a great overtime for both teams, I can’t imagine watching it because it was so intense playing in it.”

The final breakthrough that Northeastern needed in the double overtime period came at the hands of Shea himself, drawing a penalty. But it wouldn’t be without controversy.

Northeastern’s #Beanpot Final game-winning goal came on a Powerplay in 2OT. Here is the penalty “drawn” by #Blackhawks prospect Ryan Shea to setup the eventual winning Powerplay #NCAA #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/CTCV9XxR5P

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) February 11, 2020

“Obviously there’s a lot of people who were not happy with the way it ended, but that’s just how it happened. There were calls missed on them against us and missed calls on us against them, but I don’t think it’s something you can blame on the officials. They made a call in a high-pressure moment and took advantage of it.”

Northeastern would go on to score on the ensuing powerplay, which Shea was on the ice for, topping Boston and winning their third-straight Beanpot title.

“It’s possible I could be reunited with him and that would be pretty fun.”

After the satisfaction of winning the Beanpot begins to subside, and the final weeks of the season creep up, Shea is reminded of a former teammate that had a similar path to the Blackhawks organization. A sixth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, Dylan Sikura was a star at Northeastern in his four years as a Husky. He was part of the 2017-18 Huskies squad that won the first of three-straight Beanpot titles alongside Shea and signed his entry-level deal with the Blackhawks shortly after finishing his senior year in Spring 2018.

Ryan Shea and Dylan Sikura celebrate a goal for Northeastern during the 2017-18 season. (Photo courtesy of Northeastern University)

“When he was here, he was one of my best friends on the team,” Shea said of his relationship with Sikura. “The communication between me and him is always open. He loves it there and he has his brother [Tyler Sikura] there too, which is awesome. He just tells me to take my time and make the best decision for myself and my family. He’s given me nothing but positive thoughts on the organization and the city.”

“The feedback has been nothing but great…”

The season is winding down for Shea with Northeastern; only three more weeks remain before postseason play begins. If all goes according to his plans, Shea will be finishing his year winning the program’s first-ever National Championship and wrapping up the year on April 11. That timeframe would leave no games remaining for the Blackhawks or IceHogs, unless either makes the postseason, to see Shea play at the professional level. The Blackhawks organization would have a few months left to reach an entry-level deal with Shea before the August 15 deadline where his draft rights with Chicago would expire.

Northeastern’s Ryan Shea #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ABUHYZhLxE

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 15, 2019

“I feel like I’ve done a good job of not letting that distract me this year, especially as the season gets closer to the end. But every prospect at this point starts to think about going to the next level. Chicago and their staff has been nothing but good to me and have helped me with my development an incredible amount, so I have no problems with them. Chicago is an unbelievable spot and I know Rockford is too, so hopefully I can keep playing good hockey here and the organization likes what they see from me.”

Northeastern is set to take on Boston College this week, a matchup of two top-ten programs in the country. Shea knows that some of the Blackhawks brass will be in town for the high-profile contests and remains focused on finishing his year as strong as possible. With his professional future ahead of him, Shea’s focus on his legacy at Northeastern has set him up to be a highly valuable player for any organization, whether it is in fact Chicago or not.

The post Ryan Shea cementing legacy at Northeastern as Blackhawks future awaits appeared first on The Rink.

For a college hockey fan like myself, I only came across The Beanpot tournament in the last decade. The tournament is held annually in Boston between Northeastern University, Harvard, Boston University, and Boston College. It originally began in 1952 and has been held on the first two Mondays of February each year since at the famed Boston Garden (TD Garden), although the inaugural Beanpot tournament took place at the Boston Arena. It holds a special place among the rich tradition of hockey in the Boston area and forever holds collegiate bragging rights in the city for those who hoist the Beanpot Trophy.

The 68th Beanpot Tournament this year features three Blackhawks prospects with Jake Wise and Alex Vlasic of the Boston University Terriers and Ryan Shea, captain of the defending back-to-back Champion Northeastern Huskies. Last night, Northeastern topped Harvard and Boston University came back against Boston College setting up all three Blackhawks prospects in next Monday’s Final. Shea and the Huskies have an opportunity to win the Beanpot Tournament for a third time in-a-row, while Vlasic and Wise could help give the Terriers their first Beanpot Title since 2015.

Shea, Northeastern going for seventh Beanpot Title

In the opening game of the tournament, the 12th-ranked Northeastern Huskies topped 17th-ranked Harvard 3-1 to advance to next Monday’s Final against Boston University. The Huskies were led by Chicago Blackhawks 2015 fourth-round draft pick and captain Ryan Shea as he tallied a primary assist and an empty-net goal in the victory.

Zach Solow with a deflection goal.

Tyler Madden (VAN) hovers all over the offensive zone to find open ice. Great pass from Madden to Ryan Shea (CHI). Shea's shot gets deflected.#Blackhawks #Canucks pic.twitter.com/hGOzpoJ1BS

— Josh Tessler (@JoshTessler_) February 3, 2020

Shea’s two-point night gives him a point-per-game pace this season for the Huskies with 24 points in 24 games played. He has set NCAA career-highs in goals (4), assists (20) and points (24) this season with Northeastern.

Ryan Shea of Northeastern addressed the media following his team's Beanpot semifinal win over Harvard. pic.twitter.com/X7d2BhUUHz

— NESN (@NESN) February 4, 2020

Shea and the Huskies head to their third-straight Beanpot Final, looking to bring home their seventh tournament championship in program history. Northeastern has had the least success of the four schools involved in the tournament historically, but their recent success as of late can be attributed in part to Shea and former Husky and current Rockford IceHogs standout Dylan Sikura. Sikura was part of the Northeastern squad along with Shea that started the road to a three-peat back in 2017. While his long-term future is unclear with the Chicago Blackhawks, Shea’s immediate future lies with leading his Huskies squad to the Final against Boston University, looking to be the first three-peat winners since Boston College won five-straight from 2010 to 2014.

Vlasic, Wise and Boston advance past Boston College in overtime

In an even more thrilling contest Monday night, the Boston University Terriers upset the fourth-ranked Boston College Eagles 5-4 in double overtime to advance to the Beanpot Final and set up a rematch from the 2018 tournament final, won by Northeastern.

The Terriers were powered by multi-point efforts on the night from David Farrance (goal, two assists), Patrick Harper (goal, two assists), and Schaumburg, Illinois native Patrick Curry (goal, assist). Wise was held off the scoresheet and Vlasic tallied a secondary assist on the game’s overtime-winning goal from Wilmer Skoog.

Wilmer Skoog nets the winner to put BU into the Beanpot final. #BUvsBC #Beanpot (via @NESN) pic.twitter.com/yHFMSeKvO7

— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) February 4, 2020

For the freshman Vlasic, he tallied his fourth assist on the season as he continues his transition to the college hockey level of competition. A second-round pick by the Blackhawks this past June and native of Wilmette, Illinois, Vlasic projects to be a player that the Blackhawks hope to be able to slot into their defensive rotation at the NHL level in the next two or three seasons. At six-foot-six and 200-pounds, Vlasic is an imposing physical presence on the ice and moves well for his size and age on the ice.

Wise hasn’t been the same player that the Blackhawks drafted in the third round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Injuries have derailed his progression since joining the Boston University program. In 25 games this season, Wise has just one goal and six assists. It appeared Wise was headed for a fast-track with the Blackhawks just two years ago, but his NHL projection has slowed and his return to health and return to form are what the organization need from him.

What’s Next?

The 68th Beanpot Tournament Final takes place on Monday, February 10 at the TD Garden in Boston. The consolation game takes place on the same day, with a 3:30 p.m. CST puck drop. The Final puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. CST and can be found on the NHL Network. Boston University is searching for their tournament-best 31st title, while Northeastern looks for Beanpot Championship number seven.

The post Blackhawks at the Beanpot: Shea, Vlasic, and Wise reach Final appeared first on The Rink.

The team, as a whole, dominated play through all three periods, with all five skaters active across the zones. Captain Ian Mitchell was a huge part of that success, registering two assists and a stunning shorthanded game-winner. Forward Hank Crone joined Mitchell in leading the scoreboard with two goals on the night, including the icebreaker and a powerplay goal in the third.

You can watch Mitchell’s highlight-reel goal here:

This is Ian Mitchell at his best. #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/4ARdBCEA4q

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 11, 2020

Scoring went back and forth through the first two periods before Mitchell went coast-to-coast on the shorthanded game-winner. That opened the third period to an offensive onslaught from the Pioneers, who scored twice more to solidify a decisive victory over the Huskies. Hank Crone and Kohen Olischefski opened the Pioneer scoring in the first; Ryan Barrow tallied the sole Pioneers goal of the second; and Mitchell, Crone, and Liam Finlay closed it out in the third. St. Cloud’s goals came courtesy of Jack Poehling, Easton Brodzinski, and Chase Brand.

The Pioneers let their special teams shine in the second and third, going 2-for-3 on the powerplay and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The entire game was characterized by the Pioneer’s excellent puck possession in the offensive zone, helped by the fact that the entire team was skating with speed. They unleashed a season-high 48 shots on goal, though the majority of the goals were scored by excellent puck movement in front of the net and by taking advantage of rebounds.

Mitchell summed the game up perfectly when asked about the team’s offensive explosion: “When we play like that we’re going to be a tough team to beat.” 

It was the sort of game that the Pioneers needed. Mitchell admitted in the postgame that the team had dug themselves a bit of a hole in the first half in the standings. The team is now on a six-game win streak after sweeping St. Cloud, and they now sit at 15-4-3, 5-3-2-1. 

The post Ian Mitchell Leads DU to 6-3 win over St. Cloud appeared first on The Rink.

One of the Pioneers goals tonight came in the second period from forward Jake Durflinger.  The junior from Walnut Creek California plays on the checking line for the Pioneers and knows a thing or two about bringing energy.  He is often mixing it up with opponents and fighting for the pucks in the “dirty areas.”  Saturday night was no different.

The-Rink caught up with Durflinger after the Pioneers 6-1 win.

On his second period goal against Western Michigan

“We were at the end of our shift and our defenseman made a good play turning the puck up playing fast.  Jack made a smart play getting it deep and Wardo did a good job getting to the net like we talked about all night on this goalie.  I was in the right spot at the right time.”  

Pucks in Deep: 101 #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/TiRyc2B3Zk

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 24, 2019

What has David Carle said to the team recently about staying positive?

“It’s just about staying calm.  We’re a confident group even though the last five games struggling to find a win.  We stayed confident in the room and stuck to our process.  We had to get back to it a bit, we strayed away from it for a few games and that’s why games didn’t result in a win.  But tonight we were able to get back to our process which ended up with a good win.”

What has been your advice to younger players on the team?

“Every night is going to be a good team, it doesn’t matter who it is in the NCHC.  It’s the best conference in college hockey so we have to be ready every night and instill in our younger guys that if we stick to the process we’re going to win hockey games.”

On the return of Devin Cooley

“It’s awesome.  He’s a big part of our team.  He’s proven with a lot of success last year and he’s worked really hard all summer to come back from injury.  It was awesome to get that win for him.”

On what makes this year’s Pioneers team special

“We’ve had good teams in my first two years here but we want to go further.  We think… we know we have a special group but we have to accomplish it.  That was a good first NCHC win, but now we need to get on a roll.”

The post Durflinger adds much needed energy to Pioneers’ 6-1 win vs Western Michigan appeared first on The Rink.

Parts of the series

Introduction

Tiers one and two

Tier three

Tier four

Tier five

Tier six

Complete tier listings with our panel’s original average tier ratings (* represents a unanimous rating from the panel)

Tier one

Adam Boqvist (1*)
Kirby Dach (1*)

Tier two

Ian Mitchell (1.833)
Nicolas Beaudin (2.333)

Tier three

Alex Vlasic (2.833)
Alex Nylander (3)
Dominik Kubalik (3.167)
Philipp Kurashev (3.167)
Chad Krys (3.333)
Jake Wise (3.5)
Alexis Gravel (4)

Tier four

Evan Barratt (3.5)
MacKenzie Entwistle (3.667)
Aleksi Saarela (3.833)
Josiah Slavin (3.833)
Dennis Gilbert (4)
Matthew Highmore (4)
Kevin Lankinen (4)
Niklas Nordgren (4)
John Quenneville (4*)
Michal Teply (4)
Lucas Carlsson (4.167)
Tim Soderlund (4.167)
Alexandre Fortin (4.333)

Tier five

Brandon Hagel (4.333)
Antti Saarela (4.333)
Dominic Basse (4.5)
Artur Kayumov (4.5)
Josh Ess (4.667)
Jakub Galvas (4.833)
Mikael Hakkarainen (4.833)
Reese Johnson (4.833)
Cole Moberg (4.833)
Andrei Altybarmakyan (5.167)
Ivan Nalimov (5.167)
Joni Tuulola (5.167)

Tier six

Mathias From (5.333)
Roope Laavainen (5.333)
Ryan Shea (5.333)
Parker Foo (5.5)
Jake Ryczek (5.5)
Nathan Noel (5.667)
Graham Knott (5.833)

Note: Our panel discovered at a later date Jack Ramsey had been omitted from the series and agreed Ramsey falls into tier six.

The post RECAP: The-Rink’s Blackhawks prospect pyramid: Blood, sweat and tiers appeared first on The Rink.

Each year, it seems that more NHL prospects are choosing college hockey as their route to the pros.  It is not just because the level of competition has increased, but it gives players the opportunity to thrive as student athletes and to be around kids their age in an educational environment. This year, Blackhawks prospect Josiah Slavin will be heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for his freshman year playing for the Colorado College Tigers. Led by former Blackhawks assistant coach Mike Haviland, the Tigers play in one of the toughest conferences in college hockey, as the NCHC has been home to the last four NCAA national champions.

Slavin has some history with Colorado College. His big brother, Jaccob, attended CC from 2013–2014 and now plays for the Carolina Hurricanes. Although he will not be playing with his brother, Josiah will not be going to college alone. He will be joined by fellow Chicago Steel alum Casey Staum. Staum is a 2016 Montreal Canadiens fifth round draft pick and played in the USHL for three seasons.

Last season after Slavin was drafted, he made a strong impression with the Blackhawks staff at development camp. His size and skill, although somewhat raw, complemented his compete level nicely. He won pucks in the corners and created chances for his teammates a lot of the times out of nothing. Slavin also looked very strong on the puck. It is not often that late-round draft picks are talked about, but he did get Joel Quenneville’s attention on the first day.

As Slavin enters his first year in the NCHC, he could really thrive under Haviland. The Tigers play a simple, downhill game that is so persistent that you can never count them out until that third buzzer. Haviland preaches that a simple game with hard work will reward you with success. The Tigers won a lot of games despite several injuries to key players last season, and as they continue bringing in their recruits under Haviland, they will continue to round out their depth. Slavin will play a big role in their improvement.

Four times a year, Slavin will run into a familiar face in Ian Mitchell, a junior at the University of Denver who is now captain of the Pioneers. Slavin and Mitchell will have participated in two development camps after this July and will now be a part of a bitter rivalry in the Battle for the Gold Pan between CC and DU. The games tend to be competitive and very hard-hitting no matter where the teams are in the standings.

Something to watch for next season is how much opportunity Haviland gives his young guys. After losing seniors Mason Berg, Trey Bradley and Westin Michaud, the Tigers lost a lot of production and top-six players. CC will be leaning on a couple sophomores in Ben Copeland and Grant Cruikshank and to step up and help senior Nick Halloran put points on the board. Slavin could be a big help on the powerplay if he can get to dirty areas and use his size to his advantage. If he can stay healthy and implement his leadership skills in a very team-first system, Slavin could be an immediate-impact type player for the Tigers.

The post Blackhawks’ Josiah Slavin set to debut with Colorado College this fall appeared first on The Rink.

If a player has played in a league that does pay their players, they can still play for an USHL team, but cannot play for a college team. As an example, Matteo Pietroniro played three season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) which pays their players, albeit it acts more like a small stipend.

The Chicago Steel has an excellent history of players moving onto the college level, which you can view HERE, after their playing days are done in the USHL. With that being said, here is a list of the current Chicago Steel team college commitments:

Nick Abruzzese – Harvard University
Mathieu De St. Phalle – University of Wisconsin
Jimmy Dowd – Penn State University
Joshua Groll – University of Michigan
Robert Mastrosimone – Boston University
Owen Power – University of Michigan
Cole Quisenberry – Brown University
Luke Reid – University of North Dakota
Adam Robbins – Princeton University
Justin Robbins – Quinnipiac University
Uula Ruikka – Miami University
Christian Sarlo – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Jake Schmaltz – University of North Dakota
Neil Shea – Northeastern Unversity
Jaccob Slavin – Colorado College
Casey Staum – Colorado College
Matthew Sutton – Brown University
Travis Treloar – Western Michigan University

Currently in the NCAA conference tournaments in college hockey, Penn State (Jimmy Dowd) plays in the Big Ten finals against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Brown (Matthew Sutton, Cole Quisenberry) takes on Cornell in one semifinal game in the ECAC, while Harvard (Nick Abruzzese) matches up against Clarkson in the other semifinal.

In the Hockey East Conference, Boston University (Robert Mastrosimone) faces off against Northeastern (Neil Shea) in a semifinal matchup.

The NCHC semifinals includes Colorado College (Jaccob Slavin, Casey Staum) as they matchup with St. Cloud state this weekend.

As you can see, current roster players on the Chicago Steel will soon play huge roles at their respective colleges. With the excitement of March Madness, keep an eye out for more college teams to make the NCAA tournament, as we are sure to see more future Steel colleges in the National Championship mix.

For more college hockey news and future NCAA tournament games you can click HERE.

Until their college careers start, the Steel are smack in the middle of a playoff race in the Eastern Conference in the USHL, with games at Green Bay, on Tuesday and Friday, before coming home for a matinee game on Sunday against the Lincoln Stars.

The post Looking To The Steel Future: Chicago College Commitments appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks fans can’t help looking toward the future.  As much as it would be nice to make the playoffs, most of us know what a playoff roster looks like and it’s debatable whether the Hawks have that right now or not.  But as we’ve been saying all season, help should be on the way.  There are a handful of Blackhawks prospects that are participating in their conference tournaments right now for a chance to earn a NCAA tournament berth.

Last year was a unique Frozen Four with three Big Ten teams in Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State.  But this year there are a lot of good teams heading into the tournament that aren’t just from the Big Ten.  With traditional powerhouses like North Dakota and Boston University having down seasons, there may be some new faces this year in Buffalo.

Let’s take a look at where the Blackhawks prospects are.

Photo courtesy of PennLive.com

Evan Barratt – Penn State University

Barratt has had an outstanding sophomore season with the high flying Nittany Lions of Penn State.  He more that doubled his point total from his freshman year scoring 16 goals and 27 assists this season.  Penn State won their first two series of the Big Ten Tournament by defeating Wisconsin in the first round and shocking #1 seed Ohio State.  Penn State will face Notre Dame in the conference final this Saturday.  Should Penn State lose, they will be on the cusp of the Frozen Four Tournament bubble team as they’re current #16 in the pairwise rankings.

Photo courtesy of cornellsun.com

Beau Starrett – Cornell University

The ECAC was a very competitive conference this season and Cornell finished tied for first with Quinnipiac.  Beau Starrett chipped in seven goals and six assists in the regular season, and now can help the Big Red reach the conference finals if they can defeat Brown University this Saturday in the semifinals.  The Big Red ended Union’s season last week, the team Blackhawks prospect Parker Foo plays forward for.  If Cornell advances to the championship, they will play the winner of the Harvard vs Clarkson game this Friday.

Photo courtesy of goterriers.com

Chad Krys – Boston University

What a wild ride it’s been for the Boston University Terriers this season.  After going 16-17-4, the BU has found some life at the end of the year.  Winners of four of their last six games, Boston went into UMass-Lowell and won their first round matchup of the Hockey East Tournament.  Chad Krys scored four points in the series and has proven to be one of BU’s leaders on the ice and in the locker room.  The Terriers will play Northeastern University for the chance to play for the final against either UMass or Boston College.  This is probably the best chance BU has at getting into the NCAA Tournament.

Photo courtesy of 929theticket.com

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University

#3 seed Northeastern has had a great year in Hockey East tying for second in the conference with 36 points.  Their offense did well, but their defense and goaltending gave up a conference low 73 goals all season.  A quiet reason why is Blackhawks prospect Ryan Shea who finished the regular season with 15 points and was a +21.  As the #8 team in the nation, it looks like Northeastern will dance in the NCAA tournament even if they don’t win Hockey East.

Photo courtesy of dobberprospects.com

Ian Mitchell – Denver University

After eliminating the University of North Dakota last weekend, Denver enters the Frozen Face-off in St. Paul with a chance to defend their title from last year.  Ian Mitchell has been a big leader for the Pioneers this season, a young team that has shown they are capable of beating any team in the NCHC.  With 23 points on the season, Mitchell’s game has grown to a new level being more aggressive and owning more responsibility on the ice.  Despite only being a sophomore, Mitchell will be showing a lot of younger players how to manage playoff hockey in one of the hardest conferences in the NCAA.

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Update: Post-Season Edition appeared first on The Rink.

Today we saw the LA Kings deal defenseman Jake Muzzin to Toronto and get a nice return including a 2019 1st round pick.  The Kings are in a similar situation where they have a core of aging vets locked into long term deals, yet they are at the bottom on their division.  But the Kings are making the best of it by selling off valuable assets for future picks.

.@SportChek Player Alert: The @MapleLeafs have acquired defenceman Jake Muzzin from Los Angeles in exchange for forward Carl Grundstrom, the rights to Sean Durzi and Toronto’s first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft.#LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/3DYt3w0dc1

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 29, 2019

But in the minds of John McDonough and Stan Bowman, they still believe winning can be achieved.  Even with both executives deeming the last few seasons as unacceptable, the turmoil continues to trend south.

So what’s the answer?  Time will surely tell, but for now the Blackhawks need to do what most good teams do.  That is building through the draft.  The Hawks have several high-end prospects that will make their way to the NHL soon, but star-power doesn’t get you everything in today’s NHL.  You need depth scoring and surprise surprise; toughness.  NHL teams did a great job of transforming the game into a mostly skill game, but teams with predators like Tom Wilson are proving to have an edge over less-physical teams.

I wanted to point out a couple of players that are in the Blackhawks NCAA prospect system that could add some edge to the bottom six that would be low cost and high reward.  Let’s take a look.

Jack Ramsey – Forward – University of Minnesota

I’ve always thought that to make it in the NHL, you need to do at least one thing right.  The higher paid guys do several things right, but you can survive with a singular talent.  You can win face-offs, block shots, hit, or simply just be smart and responsible with the puck.  The point is that guys can make a career by knowing their role and doing their job.

Jack Ramsey isn’t a points guy, although he’s looked pretty good offensively against other Blackhawks prospects in camp.  Ramsey has great size and speed, and most importantly he knows his role.  He’s not going to dazzle you with stick-handling but he’s going to live in the corners and create space for other players.  He can hunt the puck and force costly turnovers.

The Blackhawks bottom six is full of a bunch of “guys” right now who don’t really know what they want to do well.  Ramsey would bring a physical edge and a lot of heart to the Hawks.

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha

I’ve had the pleasure of talking with Freddy and watching him play a handful of times and it’s been a treat watching his game mature.  Olofsson is in his senior year playing for the Mavericks and is one of the most experienced Blackhawks prospects in the system.  His transition from wing to center has really taken form this season.  Olofsson is having a career season with eight goals and 17 assists in 24 games.

One thing that I’ve noticed is Olofsson’s will that has changed.  He’s always been a player that can score.  His can pick corners well, his passing anticipation is strong, and his skating has always been good.  But this season, it’s noticeable that he’s out-willing other players for the puck.  He’s always been responsible in his own end, but now Omaha runs their top lines through him.

Another vast improvement has been his face-offs.  Olofsson can win a draw cleanly, but he’s even better at tying a guy up and winning the puck back.  These little moves and tricks that he’s picked up give him the advantage over younger players and make him invaluable to the Mavericks.

It will be interesting to see if the Hawks work out a deal with Olofsson after his NCAA season is over.  The Hawks are desperate for center depth so it’s possible he gets a look.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State

I’m not sure how this all happened so fast for Evan Barratt, but it did and all at the same time.  From his lacrosse-style goal, to making the world junior USA team, back to helping lead his Penn State hockey club, Evan Barratt grew up pretty fast.  With 15 goals and 20 assists, there will be some serious pressure for Barratt to come out of college just after his sophomore season.  But what better time than now?

The Blackhawks are starving for a heart-and-soul player like Barratt to come through the system.  He plays with a lot of edge, running around pissing people off like Andrew Shaw used to do at the United Center.  Yet, Barratt can really score.  He players in a very fast system at Penn State so he may be a fit for a top-nine role with the Hawks.  It just depends how much seasoning the Hawks brass thinks Barratt needs.  If he does sign at the end of this year, it will be a big boost to their forward depth.

Can the Hawks turn things around?

We’ve been asking ourselves this question all year.  Can the Blackhawks find some combination where they can compete with the top teams in the league?  Corey Crawford’s health is the biggest issue and we all have to assume at this point that he can’t play at a high level right now.  We also have to face the reality that our defense got old overnight.  And with every year that passes, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane prove the law of diminishing returns.

We all want this movie to never end, but it just needs to be rewritten.  That process starts with getting young guys ice time.  Collin Delia looks to be something in goal.  There are tons of defenseman in the system.  Now, it’s time for some young forwards to get a look.

The post Blackhawks Need to Develop Impact Players From Within appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks’ prospect pipeline is sprinkled with some serious talent on the blue line and they have the opportunity to draft high again this year.  The problem is if the Hawks have the right GM to successfully rebuild the team.  Hitting on draft picks and development is the only way to sustain winning in today’s NHL and it’s debatable whether Bowman is the right person for the job.  But with interest waning and ticket prices still sky high, the Blackhawks need some sort of splash to keep them relevant.

Last weekend, we saw a couple players stand out and contribute to their teams who aren’t usually on the scoresheet.  We also saw Ian Mitchell return from the World Juniors and not miss a beat.  As we enter the second half of the NCAA season, competition is starting to ramp up.  Let’s get into what happened last weekend.

Parker Foo – Forward – Union

Parker Foo sure picked a great weekend to shine for the Union Dutchmen.  Union took on top-ranked St. Cloud State Friday night and upset the Huskies 7-2 in Pittsburgh in the Three Rivers Classic.  Foo scored his fourth goal of the season after he beat the defenseman to the outside and drove the net.  Foo also added two assists to his total on Saturday in the Dutchmen’s loss to Brown 6-3.  Foo now has four goals and four assists in his sophomore season at Union in 16 games.

(1/2) Let's recap those Dutchman goals during the second period shall we? Here's a look at Foo's goal that he scored driving to the net! pic.twitter.com/ir3L2pgEEl

— Union College Men's Hockey (@Unionmhockey) January 4, 2019

Jack Ramsey – Forward – Minnesota

The Gophers had a tough test this weekend when they welcomed the Penn State Nittany Lions to Minneapolis.  Penn State is known for putting up a huge amount of shots per game and can score over five goals with ease.  But the Gophers fought hard and earned a split.  Blackhawks prospect Jack Ramsey scored a couple nice goals earning him his first two points of the season.

Ramsey’s first goal was a beautiful curl-and-drag snipe that will most likely be one of the plays of the week.  And with his second, Ramsey fights hard in front of the net and somehow maneuvers the puck around the goaltender for the score.

Toe drag swag. pic.twitter.com/Uk2QAeKlmo

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 5, 2019

Jack Ramsey is having a really, really good weekend. pic.twitter.com/EeebX8ID9F

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 6, 2019

Jack Ramsey's first goal of the year gave the #Gophers a late spark last night…five of the the senior assistant captain's 21 career points have now come against Penn State. #PrideOnIce

Hear from Ramsey after last night's game at 3MAM. pic.twitter.com/51eoSx1MbJ

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 5, 2019

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman  – Denver

After a bittersweet exit from the World Juniors Championship, Mitchell didn’t sulk for long.  The Denver Pioneers defenseman caught up with his teammates for their first series of 2019 against Wisconsin and he contributed in a big way.  Mitchell had three assists in the weekend series where the Pioneers swept the Badgers on the road.  I’m not sure when the Blackhawks are going to see Ian Mitchell, but when they do he’s really going to turn heads.  He has the talent to snipe a goal or circle the wagons until he finds a man open for the easy score.  He has the complete game.

Ian Mitchell (@DU_Hockey) scores his first of the tournament to put up by one early in the second! #CANvsFIN #REPRESENT #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IDXLJQFlAs

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 3, 2019

GREAT to have you back, Mitchy  #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/gZoPnAFNIq

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 5, 2019

Evan Barratt – Forward – Team USA

Meanwhile in the gold medal game of the World Junior Championship, Evan Barratt and Team USA fell to Henri Jokiharju and Finland.  Barratt had a strong start to the tournament, but cooled off eventually.  In a bizarre year where Canada and Sweden were knocked out early, USA had the opportunity to come away with gold, but fell just short.

#Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt (#17) accepts his Silver Medal#USAWJC #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/MLCjs0qfB3

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) January 6, 2019

The post Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Jan 4-6 appeared first on The Rink.

Team Canada looks to have selected a combination on heavy and versatile defenseman to round out their roster going into the tournament.  A big advantage of keeping Mitchell on the roster is most likely his ability to lead the Team Canada powerplay.  Mitchell’s a great facilitator on special teams and there is no doubt he will be successful.  He’s responsible in his own zone and has one of the best first passes in college hockey.

Mitchell is in his second season at Denver and is taking on a much larger role this season with the departures of Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Gambrell, and Troy Terry.  In 14 games this season, Mitchell has two goals and nine assists helping the Pioneers to a 8-4-2 record this season.

Earlier this year, The-Rink caught up with Mitchell to talk about the growth of his game this season.

.@DU_Hockey defenseman @IanMitch15 on the growth of his game this season and facing @SCSUHUSKIES_MH next week #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/XAqzOsQFsX

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) November 4, 2018

For more on Ian Mitchell and other Blackhawks prospects playing in the World Junior Tournament, be sure to check back in with The-Rink.com.

The post Blackhawks Prospect Ian Mitchell Makes Team Canada World Junior Roster appeared first on The Rink.

It’s a good sign that the Hawks have a couple players in college hockey that are doing well, as well as their prospects playing in the CHL.  But who are the next young players that can turn into regulars at the United Center?  Apparently it wasn’t Nick Schmaltz and maybe not Dylan Sikura.  And with systems changing under head coach Jeremy Colliton, it’s hard to say who will fit the new Blackhawks model.

As we approach March, careful eyes will be on the Blackhawks who in my opinion have a lot to sell.  The dilemma will be with Stan Bowman, a GM who may be too proud to sell off core pieces who still have value to save his own job.  When in reality, the Blackhawks need to get back to the basics and draft good players.  It’s hard to watch the slow decline of this core and listen their answerless post-game interviews.  It’s time to take a hard look in the mirror and acknowledge who the Blackhawks are and where they’re going because fan support is waning.

Let’s take a look at something more positive, like the Hawks’ college hockey prospects.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 12G, 13A

Photo courtesy of the Daily Collegian

Evan Barratt continued his hot streak going into last weekend.  He scored a goal and an assist in Friday and Saturday’s game.  Unfortunately the Nittany Lions tied 3-3 on Friday and lost to Wisconsin on Saturday 5-8.  Team USA will be announcing their preliminary roster invitations for the World Junior Tournament in the coming days and Barratt’s name will be on watch for Blackhawks fans.

Penn State hosts Notre Dame this weekend.

https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1068694883454599173

Gadowsky on Evan Barratt: "Two things really stand out about him: his compete level and IQ are off the charts. He loves to compete, and his mind is elite — it's different."

— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) December 4, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 2G, 9A

Photo courtesy of Magness Mayhem

The Pioneers were off last weekend, but two weeks ago Denver beat and tied Providence in a solid series at home.  Mitchell was held to one point, but continues to show his leadership and poise on the powerplay.  He has shown a lot of growth since his freshman year and isn’t shy about the spotlight.  Mitchell tends to make plays when he has the puck and his Pioneers teammates trust him to carry the mail at the point.

Team Canada has also noticed his progress this season, selecting Mitchell to the preliminary World Juniors roster.

The Pioneers travel to North Dakota to play the Fighting Hawks this weekend.

Making power moves #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/x5MWtLnsJx

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 25, 2018

Ian Mitchell → Hockey Canada WJC Selection Camp

Release: https://t.co/vOrmyXKMQg | #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/K89boo6miE

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) December 3, 2018

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 3G, 5A

At 4-7-2, the Boston Terriers aren’t the powerhouse of Hockey East this year and that’s unfortunate for Chad Krys.  The Blackhawks 2016 2nd round pick has lost a lot of hype since the Blackhawks drafted Henri Jokiharju, Adam Boqvist, and Nicholas Beaudin and the struggling Terriers aren’t helping his cause.  Krys still has eight points in 10 games this season and continues to be a veteran leader for Boston.  It will be interesting to see where Krys fits into the Hawks system if he chooses to sign after this year.

Boston hosts UMass-Lowell this weekend.

Here's the goal that got @AgganisArena rocking in the first! #GoBU pic.twitter.com/IabyYEfOr5

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) December 1, 2018

Other Notables

Check out Beau Starrett's third goal of the year, which also accounts for Joe Leahy's first collegiate point on the assist! pic.twitter.com/d7KREr3ROM

— Cornell Video (@CornellVideo) December 1, 2018

Clean as it gets. Madden wins the faceoff, Shea shovels it over to Filipe, and Matty rips it home for the early lead | #HowlinHuskies pic.twitter.com/7jrzZdYxH0

— Northeastern Men’s Hockey (@GoNUmhockey) December 1, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson, who leads the NCHC in power play points, added another with an assist on the Morelli power play goal!

Freddy is…wicked. pic.twitter.com/grOjZoiXQF

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) December 1, 2018

The post Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 30 – Dec 1 appeared first on The Rink.

This is great news for Blackhawks fans.  If Barratt can provide some center depth in a couple years, he will bring a lot of value.  There aren’t a lot of guys willing to get to the net on the Hawks right now and that’s something new head coach Jeremy Colliton is stressing.  They need players who want to work to get to the dirty areas and get rewarded.  Barratt could be one of those players.

Let’s get right into what happened this weekend in college hockey for the Blackhawks prospects.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 9G, 10A

Photo courtesy of the Daily Collegian

Last time we left off, we talked about how Evan Barratt was a nice player on a pretty good team.  But this week in Penn State’s series against the University of Michigan, Barratt turned into a star.  The Nittany lions split the series with the Wolverines, but again it was a high scoring bout.  Barratt added a goal and an assist in Friday’s game and had a hat-trick in Saturday’s game.

NOT 1⃣. NOT 2⃣. BUT 3⃣ GOALS.@BarrattEvan became the seventh player in program history to score a hat-trick on Saturday night against Michigan! #HockeyValleyHatTrick pic.twitter.com/Gq7aPOpmi3

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 18, 2018

Penn State plays at Ohio State next weekend.

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 2G, 8A

Photo courtesy of Magness Mayhem

Ian Mitchell and the Denver Pioneers had a difficult matchup this weekend when they hosted the No. 1 ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.  The teams split the series, but it was one of the most exciting couple of games in college hockey.  The Pioneers won Friday’s game 2-0 with Mitchell scoring the first goal on the powerplay, followed by a late game empty net goal.

IAN MITCHELL WITH A FROM THE POINT. 1-0 PIOS ! pic.twitter.com/gGRi73ORti

— LetsGoDU (@LetsGoDU) November 17, 2018

The Pioneers host Providence next weekend.

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 2G, 5A

The Boston Terriers are slowly getting warmer after a slow start to the season.  Until Saturday night’s loss at home against Maine, Boston had won three games in a row.  Chad Krys and the veteran blue liners had some nice puck movement on this powerplay goal by Joel Farabee Friday night.

And then Farabee gave us a lead moments later… #GoBU pic.twitter.com/moYhTPpt92

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 17, 2018

Boston plays UConn and Yale/Union next weekend.

Other Notables

Boston University’s Jake Wise assisted on David Farrance’s game-winning powerplay goal Friday night.

Here's a look at Farrance's late game-winner. Our third PP goal of the night. #GoBU pic.twitter.com/vejZXVJG4F

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 17, 2018

GOAL, Cornell:
Beau Starrett deflects a long shot by Cody Haiskanen past Princeton goaltender Ryan Ferland to give Cornell a 2-0 lead 11:02 into the contest. pic.twitter.com/85lju224Gp

— Cornell Daily Sun Sports (@DailySunSports) November 18, 2018

The post Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 17-18 appeared first on The Rink.

It’s a little early to think about how some of the college players can help the pro level teams, but there will be an influx of players at the end of this year who will be ready for the pros.  And it’s kind of crazy to think about considering how many defenseman are competing for ice time in Rockford.  It will be interesting to see who is there one year from now, but there is no question that help is on the way.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 5G, 9A

Photo courtesy of the Daily Collegian

Evan Barratt and the Nittany Lions continued their impressive season this weekend by sweeping Robert Morris University.  Barratt added two goals and two assists to his season total putting him at 14 points, tied for 3rd best in the NCAA.

https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1061053435934597120

Barratt has made an extraordinary step in his sophomore year and looks to be a very versatile player.  He plays with an edge but is also in the right place at the right time to score.  A lot of people were hoping that Barratt could be similar to Dave Bolland but he might be even better.

In an article written in OnwarsState.com by Mikey Mandarino, head coach Guy Gadowski spoke very highly of the Blackhawks prospect:

“He’s a much, much more consistent and mature hockey player,” Gadowsky said. “It’s not only that — I just love the fact that he brings a lot of energy. We’re very happy with his development. He’s very receptive to improvement and suggestions, and he’s just a really good teammate.

“When you combine those things with his skillset, you get a very special player.”

Penn State hosts Michigan next weekend.

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 3G, 8A

Photo courtesy of omavs.com

The Omaha Mavericks played the Western Michigan Broncos on the road and got a much needed split.  The Mavs are now 2-7-1 are are looking to turn around their slow start.  Olofsson continues to be a silver lining for the Mavs who added another power play goal and assist this weekend to his total.  He has three goals and assists on the season.

The Mavericks are off next week and will host Arizona State in two weeks.

P3 | Fredrik Olofsson scores on the power play!

The Mavericks are on the board pic.twitter.com/LNr481NDSm

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) November 10, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 1G, 8A

Photo courtesy of the St. Cloud Times

The Denver Pioneers had a tough matchup this weekend taking on the No. 2 St. Cloud State Huskies in Minnesota.  St. Cloud has shown to be one of the NCHC’s top teams, but the Pioneers hung in there with them losing both games by just one goal.  Ian Mitchell had an assist in Saturday’s loss.

The Pioneers host the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs next weekend.

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 2G, 3A

The Terriers won their only game this weekend against New Hampshire 3-2.  Chad Krys scored the first goal of the game followed by two goals by Avalanche prospect Shane Bowers.  Krys and the Terriers will try to dig their way out of a slow start to the season when they host the University of Maine next weekend.

Shot from above the left circle gets through traffic… PP goal by Chad gives us an early 1-0 lead! #GoBU pic.twitter.com/FkBqpLQyMu

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 11, 2018

Other Notables

Josh Ess gives @BadgerMHockey the lead!!!

(also: he's from Minnesota )

https://t.co/AGNL74FrC1 pic.twitter.com/ZRa4BuGHUy

— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) November 11, 2018

#VCATS GOAL

Jake Massie rings one off the post and in with 2 seconds left on the first Eagle penalty! pic.twitter.com/Qwb1AEtSjb

— UVM Men's Hockey (@UVMmhockey) November 10, 2018

A beautiful pass from the right point to exploit a defensive breakdown, and Starrett taps it in to double the lead! pic.twitter.com/3tT53RDrtB

— CornellSportsGameday (@CUBigRedGameday) November 10, 2018

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 8-10 appeared first on The Rink.

I was lucky enough to sit next to an NHL scout this weekend at the University of Denver game against Western Michigan. He me some great insight on what NHL teams are looking for in amateur players.  He emphasized that good players will play no matter their size, and that skating is everything.

Although the Blackhawks prospects are putting up some good numbers at the collegiate level, they are also bring different things to the table which is why Blackhawks fans should be excited about the future.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 3G, 7A, +6

Photo courtesy of gopsusports.com

It was quite the weekend for Evan Barratt and the Nittany Lions.  Penn State and Arizona State split their series with both games being decided by one goal.  Barratt picked up a pair of goals and an assist giving him an impressive 10 points in seven games, tied for the team lead.

Barratt was featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top Plays showing his incredible wrap-around goal.  It’s not often that college hockey plays get on ESPN but this goal was quite special.

Penn State plays a home-and-home with Robert Morris next weekend.

@BarrattEvan @ESPNAssignDesk @Buccigross #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Jy1zL1nNEH

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 4, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2G, 7A, -6

Photo courtesy of omavs.com

The Omaha Mavericks finally got in the win column this weekend, splitting the series with the Miami University RedHawks.  Fredrik Olofsson continued his hot start adding a goal and an assist to his total on the year.

Olofsson scored another powerplay goal by creating space for himself on the right side and sniping a top corner.  On tape, Olofsson looks a lot more comfortable skating the puck up the ice and distributing it to his wings.  In his second full season playing the center position, he’s showing good development and productivity despite the Mavericks record.

The Mavs travel to Kalamazoo Michigan next weekend to take on the Western Michigan Broncos.

Freddy Olofsson starts a of @OmahaHKY scoring in the second period. The Mavericks lead Miami 4-2 headed to the 3rd period. pic.twitter.com/s7Riedg7px

— Omaha Video (@OmahaVID) November 4, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 1G, 7A, +4

Photo courtesy of JJ Seaward

The University of Denver Pioneers always get a handful of top recruits every year so it can be hard to stand out at times.  But sophomore Ian Mitchell is showing noticeable growth in his game.  This past weekend against division rivals Western Michigan, Mitchell earned four assists and made some highlight reel plays.

Mitchy put it on a platter #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/P4OCm4WeCG

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 3, 2018

After the game Saturday night, we caught up with Mitchell who talked about the growth of his game and how he’s stepped into a leadership role on the Pioneers.

Denver travels to St. Cloud next weekend to battle the Huskies in a big NCHC showdown.

.@DU_Hockey defenseman @IanMitch15 on the growth of his game this season and facing @SCSUHUSKIES_MH next week #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/XAqzOsQFsX

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) November 4, 2018

Chad Krys – Defenseman – Boston University – 1G, 3A, +3

The Terriers picked up their first win of the season this weekend against Northeastern in a home-and-home series.  Chad Krys broke out in the second game adding three assists.  Krys had a nice powerplay goal in Thursday night’s game but the Terriers tied with the Huskies.

Crazy game at Northeastern. 5-5 after BU’s Chad Krys (@NHLBlackhawks 2nd rounder) power play goal #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/DFHqmDq48R

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) November 2, 2018

Despite their slow start, Krys said in an interview with Boston University that he feels confident that the team will find their stride as the season goes on.

The Terriers play next Saturday at New Hampshire.

Check out the weekend preview with rinkside reporter @catherinebogart and junior Chad Krys. #GoBU pic.twitter.com/bed0eV0Yua

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 1, 2018

Liam Coughlin & Jake Massie – University of Vermont

Coughlin and Massie are off to productive starts with four and three points in six games, respectively.  The Catamounts are 3-3 after a tough series that they split with UConn.

Head coach Kevin Sneddon praised the play of Massie and Coughlin to get the game tied that Vermont ultimately won in overtime.

Vermont plays at Boston College next week.

Coach Sneddon’s postgame thoughts. #VCats #ThisIsVermont pic.twitter.com/gtrWawjvtH

— UVM Men's Hockey (@UVMmhockey) November 4, 2018

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Nov 1-4 appeared first on The Rink.

It’s interesting to see so many non-conference series to start the season in college hockey because there isn’t the element of familiarity.  But as we enter November, teams will start to welcome bitter foes into their own barns which will ignite the competition level.  This should be a fascinating season for Blackhawks prospects in college hockey with several of them having the potential to sign professional deals at season’s end.

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University – 1G, 5A, +5

Photo courtesy of OnwardState.com

This weekend Penn State was host to Niagra and defeated them in both games by sizable margins.  Friday night the Nittany Lions won 8-2, followed by a 4-1 Saturday night win.  Evan Barratt had a great series scoring a goal and four assists.

In an article by The Daily Collegian, Jim Krueger describes Barratt’s contributions coming in the form of points and physicality:

“Beyond his scoring exploits, he was destructive force on the ice.  His passing and scoring was complemented by his checking. He layed out several good hits, agitating the Niagara skaters.”

Barratt had this to say about the line of he, Liam Folkes, and Alex Limoges that has been coming up big for the Nittany Lions:

“I’m sure you guys can see on the ice how much fun we’re having,” Barratt said. “Every time, if it’s practice or a pregame skate or whatever it may be we’re so happy to be on the ice together.”

Penn State will host the Princeton Tigers next weekend.

Check out the highlights from Friday night's 8-2 victory over Niagara! Folkes and Larsson score twice to lead six players with multi-point efforts!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/0CoT2ZVE20

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 20, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 1G, 5A, -7

Photo courtesy of the Omaha World-Herald

The Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks are starting their season a bit slow losing three of their first four games.  This past weekend, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish didn’t give them much of a chance in South Bend beating UNO 4-1 and 8-2 in the two games series.

One bright spot for the Mavericks was a nice powerplay goal by Fredrik Olofsson.  From the top of the circle, Olofsson ripped a wrist shot by the Notre Dame goaltender to even the game at 1-1.

Get that MINI ZAMBONI out! @OmahaHKY ties it up off the power play. pic.twitter.com/JuhVU4cvH7

— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) October 19, 2018

After Saturday night’s game, Olofsson met with the media and was confident that the Mavericks can play with top teams like the Fighting Irish:

“I thought there was energy in the room, we were pretty dialed(in).  It feels good when you know you can skate with good teams.  I think it’s just that consistency over 60 minutes that will be the difference maker.  But we felt good.  We know we can play with them, we just can’t beat ourselves.”

News Conference: @OmahaHKY vs Notre Dame Game 2 pic.twitter.com/t4VuBeKD0k

— Omaha Video (@OmahaVID) October 21, 2018

Blackhawks prospect spotlight: Why Freddy Olofsson isn’t freaking out over his ‘make-or-break’ season

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver – 1G, 3A, +4

After a solid start to the season getting wins against Air Force and Alabama-Huntsville, the Denver Pioneers were looking to get more points in the NCHC standings against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.  Friday night the Pios won 4-1, but Saturday the Nanooks tied the Pioneers in a game where Denver had to fight back from a 3-0 deficit after taking two major penalties.

Defenseman Ian Mitchell is starting to heat up earning three assists this past weekend.  He set up defenseman Les Lancaster with a perfect pass that led to a one-timer that tied the game Saturday night.

Somebody call the bomb squad #PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/ue1an30hUI

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 21, 2018

The Pioneers are off next week but will host the Western Michigan Broncos the following weekend.

Powers Points: Blackhawks prospects encouraged by Henri Jokiharju’s early success

Beau Starrett – Forward – Cornell University

Cornell hasn’t started their regular season, but they are looking pretty good in the preseason.  Beau Starrett had a beautiful goal against Guelph Sunday when he buried a perfect wrist shot on a 2-on-1 rush.

The Big Red begin their season next weekend when they host the Michigan State Spartans.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS from @CUBigRedHockey's 7-0 win over Guelph! #YellCornell pic.twitter.com/W825JD6CuR

— Cornell Video (@CornellVideo) October 21, 2018

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Oct 19-21 appeared first on The Rink.

This week was highlighted by University of Nebraska-Omaha’s Fredrik Olofsson earning five assists in two games and 2018 draft pick Mikael Hakkarainen leaving Providence College to return to the USHL.

Thanks again for reading and as always we appreciate your feedback!

Evan Barratt – Forward – Penn State University

Entering year two of his college hockey career, the Nittany Lions have a lot of hope in Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt to help lift the program.  As a freshman in college hockey, there is some getting used to as far as pace which Barratt became much more comfortable with towards the end of last season.  He has the opportunity to be a serious difference-maker, especially on the powerplay for Penn State this season.

https://twitter.com/PatrickBurns_/status/1050898254379053056

In his first two games against Clarkson, Barratt had just one assist but generated good opportunities.  His work ethic and commitment to driving to the net will most likely reward him in production this season.  The Nittany Lions are now 2-0 and will play Niagara at home next weekend.

"At the end of the day we know collectively as a team what we want to achieve, so each day we come to the rink we need to work toward that goal," – sophomore forward @BarrattEvan #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/mkRqsYA003

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) September 25, 2018

Fredrik Olofsson – Forward – University of Nebraska-Omaha

Olofsson opted to return to UNO for this senior season in 2018-19 and will get another year of experience at the center position.  He is playing in between junior forwards Tristan Keck and Zach Jordan who both netted goals in double digits last season.  Olofsson was also named an alternate captain for the Mavericks this year.

Over the weekend, Olofsson had a strong performance in the Mavericks series against Union College despite the team’s 0-1-1 result.  On Friday night, Olofsson had two assists and was 3-for-12 at the faceoff circle.  Saturday, he had three assists and went 3-for-7 at the dot.  The Mavericks host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish next weekend in Omaha.

Josh Ess – Defenseman – University of Wisconsin

Josh ess and the Wisconsin Badgers started their season with a bang sweeping the Boston College Eagles this weekend.  Ess is playing on the third pairing with freshman Ty Emberson, a 2018 3rd round selection of the Arizona Coyotes.  Ess has proven to be reliable for the Badgers who are looking for a bounce-back season.  The Badgers defense features Florida Panthers prospect Tyler Inamoto and 2018 Rangers 1st round pick K’Andre Miller.  The Badgers travel to the east coast next weekend to play Clarkson and St. Lawrence.

#BadgerOfTheDay: Josh Ess, So., D, Lakeville, MN, 2g, 2a, 4pts, shared team lead at plus-10 as a frosh, 2017-18 Dr. Joseph Coyne/Joe Pavelski Most Consistent award, 2017 Chicago Blackhawks draft pick. pic.twitter.com/srBnrahGDj

— Tony Granato (@TonyGranato) August 27, 2018

Parker Foo – Forward – Union College

Senior center Brett Supinski, Union's best playmaker, back in the lineup after missing the season opener with an injury. No sign of Parker Foo, who coach Rick Bennett said has been ill.

— Mike MacAdam (@Mike_MacAdam) October 12, 2018

Ryan Shea – Defenseman – Northeastern University

The Northeastern Huskies lost a lot of talent with Blackhawks prospect Dylan Sikura and Hobey Baker winner Adam Gaudette leaving for the pros, but they’re still looking to be competitive in Hockey East.  Ryan Shea is starting the season paired on the second line with captain Eric Williams.  Shea was selected to be an alternate captain for the Huskies this season.

Mikael Hakkarainen – Forward – Providence College

It has been reported that Blackhawks 2018 5th round draft pick Mikael Hakkarainen is leaving Providence College and returning to the USHL to play for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.  Hakkarainen said that he didn’t enjoy managing classes and hockey, leaving college hockey after just one game.  It’s interesting to note that Blackhawks defenseman Jake Ryczek also left the Providence program last season after a handful of games to return to the QMJHL.

Chicago Blackhawks prospect Mikael Hakkarainen (a freshman) leaves Providence per @MarkDivver – https://t.co/iwLkjQnGdj

— Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonCHN) October 10, 2018

Ian Mitchell – Defenseman – University of Denver

Mitchell has a lot on his plate this season at Denver but he has embraced the opportunity.  With seniors Tarik Hammond and Adam Plant graduating to the pros, Mitchell is heading into his sophomore season with a lot of responsibility on the back end.  His teammates selected him as an alternate captain for the Pioneers.

This past weekend, Mitchell and the Pioneers beat Air Force then shut out the University of Alabama-Huntsville for their homecoming game on Saturday.  Mitchell had a nice powerplay goal Friday, sniping Air Force goaltender Billy Christopolous from the top of the circle.  The Pioneers host the University of Alaska-Fairbanks next weekend.

.@IanMitch15 with an absolute snipe on the PP. Pios up 2-0 almost halfway through the 1st against Air Force. pic.twitter.com/3tyYESBy4S

— LetsGoDU (@LetsGoDU) October 13, 2018

Jake Wise – Forward – Boston University

The Boston University Terriers had a difficult weekend getting swept by the Minnesota-State Mavericks.  In his first two college hockey games, Jake Wise didn’t register any points, but he is playing on BU’s top line with Bobo Carpenter and Buffalo Sabres prospect Max Willman.  It’s safe to say that there will be plenty more opportunities for him to score this season.  The Terriers host the US Under-18 Team and travel to Merrimack next weekend.

Honorable Mentions – Jake Massie & Liam Coughlin – Vermont

Last weekend, Vermont went on the road to Michigan and beat the top-ranked Wolverines.  On the year, Coughlin has two assists and Massie has one.  The two upper-classmen look to lead the Catamounts to a better season in Hockey East.  Vermont doesn’t play for two weeks when they travel to New Hampshire and Brown.

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Campus Report: Oct 13-14 appeared first on The Rink.

If you take a look at every team in the Central Division, you’ll notice that they’re all very strong at the center position.  Whether it’s going up against Mark Scheifele in Winnipeg, Ryan Johansen in Nashville, or Eric Staal in Minnesota, it’s always a battle for the puck.  And over the years, the Blackhawks haven’t been able to find depth beyond star Jonathan Toews.  Nick Schmaltz showed a lot of potential last season, but he’s still growing and has yet to be locked up long term.

So who could be next?

One prospect that has been in the Blackhawks system for a few years has been Beau Starrett of Cornell University.  Drafted in the third round in 2014, Starrett is going into his senior season playing for the Big Red.

Throughout his college hockey career, Starrett has never produced more than 14 points, but his towering figure brings other elements to the game that the Blackhawks should be intrigued by.  The most important being his faceoff numbers.

During his senior season, Starrett took 469 draws and won almost 54% of them on Cornell’s top line.  He also can skate pretty well.  At the last couple prospect camps, Starrett had quick feet and did a great job moving the puck up to his wings on the breakout.

Starrett’s obvious physical talent is his size at 6’5 222lbs.  He doesn’t necessarily throw his weight around, but his board-play and ability to fight for positioning with his body are both attributes the Blackhawks need desperately on their roster.  Starrett also has a nose for the net.  He’s often found lurking around the goal-mouth cleaning up rebounds or setting screens for his shooters.

A similar player who has had moderate success in the NHL is Jimmy Hayes who weighs in at 6’5 215lbs.  Hayes played for the Blackhawks for a few years and produced because of his ability to get to the dirty areas.  Starrett could do the same.

Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville loves the try hard, effort guys so there are other ways to win him over besides being a player like Patrick Kane.  Because Starrett is already a great faceoff man he’s already ahead of the curve, but playing great defense and being responsible in your own end is important.  The biggest problem you see with young players is their ego.  They over-think a play, try to get cute, or just don’t make the simply play.  Hockey IQ is just as important as skill on the Hawks.

We also have to take into consideration that NHL teams lose their rights to NCAA players in the fall following their senior seasons if they cannot reach an agreement.  Let’s hope Starrett has a great season and inks his future with the Hawks by season’s end.

The post Blackhawks’ Prospect Beau Starrett Faces Pivotal Senior Year at Cornell appeared first on The Rink.

Once the NCAA season officially kicks off this fall, we will get back to posting weekly roundups on our blog and on twitter recapping production and progress from all the Hawks’ NCAA players.  But right now, we wanted to rank the top five players at the collegiate level.  There is a good mix of lower and upperclassmen playing in several conferences of college hockey this year so it should be a blast.

Let’s get started.

Chicago Blackhawks’ Top Five NCAA Prospects

5.  Jake Wise – Forward, Boston University

I didn’t plan on having Wise crack this list, but his prospect camp performance and upside made it a tough decision.  Drafted this year in the third round, Wise is coming off a couple seasons playing in the US National Development program.  He will be attending Boston University this fall, joining a hockey program that has been dominant in years past.

Wise’s numbers show he’s a play-making center and he put that on display this summer at prospect camp.  His speed and hands were the topic of conversation over the summer earning him a reputation of potentially being the Blackhawks’ “steal of the draft.”  Wise will be spending his weekends playing tough opponents such as the Northeastern Huskies and the Boston College Eagles, but hopefully fellow Blackhawks prospect and junior at BU Chad Krys can help him ease into the transition.  Wise will also be surrounded by a great forward group featuring Bobo Carpenter, Shane Bowers, and Patrick Harper.

4.  Fredrik Olofsson – Forward, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Although Olofsson’s numbers don’t blow you out of the water, he was one of the most polished players that I got to see play last year.  Qualities like speed and size stick out immediately to the naked eye of a spectator, but hockey sense is blaring to those who watch a lot of hockey.  Olofsson showed a lot of maturity and poise last season, and could be on the verge of a breakout season.

The Broomfield Colorado-native could have signed pro but decided to go back to college for his senior year.  The Mavericks will be much improved from last season when they went 17-17-2, and they could turn the tide on other powerhouses in the NCHC like Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Denver.  Now that he is more familiar playing the center position, this season is huge for Olofsson to prove he’s worthy of a pro contract, and the Hawks could really use a player like Freddy.

3.  Evan Barratt – Forward, Penn State University

Evan Barratt may be one of the most exciting Blackhawks prospects to watch this season.  Adding 18 points in 32 games, Barratt had a solid season for a freshman and really started to thrive in the Nittany Lion’s system towards the end of the season.  His frame and size resemble a former Blackhawk that show an intriguing comparison;  Dave Bolland.  Bolland was an absolute pain in the rear to play against but he also had great skill.  Not to mention his goals were as scrappy as they come.  If Barratt can continue to score and be scrappy, he may find his niche to get his ticket to Chicago someday.

Penn State and their run-and-gun style of play should take a huge step this season and Barratt could be at the forefront of that.  The Big Ten is set to be a difficult conference again this fall, but don’t look past what kind of noise Penn State could make.  If Barratt can find his was past the 30-35 point mark with some extra ice time this season, he could really show some serious positive strides.

2.  Chad Krys – Defenseman, Boston University

The is no doubt defenseman Chad Krys has skill, but the question is where he fits into the Blackhawks future plans on the blue line.  In a system that was once dried up of defensive prospects, it now may rank in the top ten NHL-wide.  Krys has the competition of several prospects at the AHL level above him, and top draft picks below him in the junior ranks.  Of course all he will say is that he needs to focus on himself, but we all know his season will have to do the talking for him.

The Blackhawks want to see more physicality and ability to retrieve pucks and exit cleanly from Krys.  It’s no secret he can skate better than most that he’s on the ice with, but this season will be a focus on his ability to keep pucks out of the net.  The next year or two will most likely have a few prospects on the move to make roster spots and Krys will have to do his best to show he’s worth the wait.

1.  Ian Mitchell – Defenseman, The University of Denver

Defenseman Ian Mitchell is becoming one of the most decorated Blackhawks prospects when it comes to his hockey resume.  Last season, he was one of the nation’s top defenseman and made the all-freshman team for the NCHC conference.  The Denver Pioneers were just one win away from another Frozen Four appearance but they fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes.  Mitchell finished the season with two goals and 28 assists.

This summer, Mitchell has been training hard for the 2018-19 season and his work is showing.  He impressed at Blackhawks prospect camp this summer and then played in the World Juniors showcase for Team Canada in Kamloops British Columbia alongside 2018 1st round pick Nicolas Beadin.  There is a very strong possibility Mitchell could sign with the Blackhawks after his sophomore season, but it’s safe to say his development is right on track.

The post Ranking the Chicago Blackhawks’ Top Five NCAA Prospects appeared first on The Rink.

It was a pretty fun year following the NCAA prospects throughout the 2017-18 season.  I got to meet a lot of them and can say that the Blackhawks have a knack for drafting high character young men.  Now one year removed from the 2017 prospect camp, I’m excited to see what these kids can do together and what they’ve improved on over the past year.

I think the key with all of these guys is that there is opportunity for everybody.  Each player is one year older now, and whether they’re moving on to the pros or getting more responsibility in college, their games have evolved.

Thanks everybody for following along with my updates and we will have more for you including a Draft recap of all the new college committed players that come into the Hawks system.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick 

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL), @BarrattEvan

Stats:  32GP, 11G, 7A

Barratt had a slow start getting used to college hockey production wise, but he really finished the season strong.  The Nittany Lions won five games in a row towards the end of the season including four-consecutive home games against the University of Minnesota which Barratt played a big role in.  In the Frozen Four tournament, the Nittany Lions had a tough draw with the University of Denver, but there is no doubt they be back soon.

Barratt showed a lot of promise on special teams scoring six powerplay goals this season.  With a year of college hockey under his belt, Barratt seems to be on the right track especially playing in Penn State’s high-octane offense.  The Daily Collegian believes Barratt can take over as the face of Penn State Men’s Hockey.

Final Grade:  B

Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL), @Liam_Coughlin7

Stats:  34GP, 6G, 10A

Liam Coughlin showed a lot of maturity this season, even though Vermont had a down year.  As a player that had previously produced around 12 points, Coughlin seemed to make every one of his 16 points count this season.  Although his first half was quiet, he scored 11 of his 16 points in his final 13 games including a hat-trick against UMass-Lowell.

Coughlin will return to Vermont for his senior season, but hopefully not before he attends Blackhawks prosepct camp.  His size is intriguing along with flashes of playmaking ability.  It will be interesting what he brings this year in front of the ‘Hawks front office team.

Final Grade:  B-

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), @JoshuaEss

Current Stats:  33GP, 2G, 2A

If you just look at Ess’ point production from this past year, you would probably assume he didn’t have a good season.  But if you look closer and consider a couple of other external factors, the Lakeville Minnesota product had a positive freshman year at Wisconsin.  The Frozen Four consisted of four BigTen schools in Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan.  These were all teams Ess went up against regularly, yet he still maintained a plus/minus of +10.

Ess’ only had 34 shots on goal this season, but that’s characteristic of many freshman who chose to defer to older teammates to earn their respect.  Ess will enter his sophomore season with more responsibility and experience, and his defensive unit will get a huge boost from freshman K’Andre Miller from the US Development program.  Ess should play a bigger role next season and beyond.

Final Grade:  B-

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL), @pfoo22

Current Stats:  33GP, 1G, 5A

The ECAC was no cakewalk this year to play in with Clarkson, Cornell, and Harvard, but Union hung in there and finished 2nd in the standings.  Parker Foo surprisingly only scored one goal, but there have to be more coming in his second year at Union.  Foo’s minutes were limited yet he still managed to put almost 60 shots on net his season.  He will have to add more aggressiveness and confidence to his repertoire, along with his already great speed.

Final Grade:  C

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL), @Dennis_Gilbert8

Current Stats:  39GP, 4G, 6A

Gilbert had another great season on the back-end with Notre Dame.  After going to the Frozen Four in 2017, the Fighting Irish were thought to take a big step back with the loss of Anders Bjork and Cal Petersen, but they did the opposite.  They were one of the nations top teams all year with a great defense.

At 6’2 200lbs., Gilbert may be just what the Blackhawks need.  He plays a safe, but physical game.  Defensemen don’t need to be flashy, they just need to be plugged in and soak up valuable minutes without being heard.  Gilbert could be this and more.

Final Grade:  A

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), @Blake_Hillman8

Current Stats:  41GP, 3G, 9A

We got to see a little of what defenseman Blake Hillman has to offer when he spent the final two weeks with the Blackhawks.  He played in four NHL games and had one goal that was an absolute bomb set up by Nick Schmaltz on the rush.

What I know about Hillman is that he has the tools to get a great defenseman, and hopefully he can get some quality experience in the pros to enhance those skills.  He has great hands and can skate very well.  One thing that he had trouble with in college was his shot selection and situational awareness.  Some may call it “gripping the stick too hard,” but he really wanted to consistently make plays for the Pioneers.  He can be a high risk/high reward type player, but I believe IceHogs head coach Jeremy Colliton can get a lot out of this kid and hopefully get him to the next level.

Final Grade:  B+

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  36GP, 7G, 20A

Chad Krys has the skills and ability to be a serious game-changer at the pro level, considering he’s already doing it in college.  Krys had five multi-point games this season, and it’s unlikely to not see his name on the Boston Terriers’ score sheet.  Krys will return for his junior year at BU and will be a leader for the Terriers.  As he continues to develop mentally and physically, this is a player Blackhawks’ fans should keep their eye on.  There are a lot of defensive prospects in the system, but very few players the Hawks need more to work out than Krys.

Final Grade:  A

Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers, @JakeMassie3

Current Stats:  2936, 2G, 5A

Jake Massie had a similar freshman year as Josh Ess did at Wisconsin.  His point production wasn’t much, but Massie had much less help on offense in a very tough Hockey East Conference.  Vermont had a hard time scoring and ended up losing 20 games last season.  Despite the poor season for Vermont, Massie finished the season with a plus/minus of -2 while he gained a lot of experience in his first year of college hockey.  Let’s see how he responds in his sophomore season.

Final Grade:  C+

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), @IanMitch15

Current Stats:  41GP, 2G, 28A

Could a young hockey player ask to be put in a better situation than what Ian Mitchell fell into at Denver?  He played his first year of college hockey under the 2017 coach of the year, in front of the goalie of the year, and with an already established defensive unit.  Yet Mitchell still excelled in his own way.  Going into the season, Mitchell was known for his offensive game, but vowed to focus more on defense and whatever he was asked to do by head coach Jim Montgomery.

Mitchell was given the keys to a Cadillac of a powerplay at Denver featuring now-NHL players Troy Terry, Dylan Gambrell, and Henrik Borgstrom.  He thrived quarterbacking and facilitating from the point, and also became much more aggressive in the second half of the season.  Mitchell will be leaned on heavily next season with the loss of Blake Hillman and Tariq Hammond, but his character matches that of a vocal leader.  His development and confidence took a huge leap this season under Montgomery.

Final Grade:  A

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL), @FreddyOlofsson

Current Stats:  33GP, 6G, 14A

Olofsson had a good start to the year, but didn’t have any points in his final five games.  It’s possible he was dealing with an injury or it was just tough matchups with Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota.  As a player that switched over from wing to center this season, Olofsson handled the added responsibility well.  He distributed the puck fluidly, looked stronger on his skates, and grew his two-way game.  He also won a lot of puck battles in the corners for Omaha.  Returning for his senior season, Olofsson should show a lot of progress on the ice and as a leader.

Final Grade:  B-

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL), @Ramsey_16

Current Stats:  38GP, 4G, 6A

Ramsey is a player that if he plays his cards right, he can make his way to Chicago.  Some people write him off because of his point production, but the Blackhawks need this kind of player.  Chicago has often been criticized for being a perimeter team and for not having enough players willing to get their hands dirty.  Ramsey is this guy.

At 6’3 200 pounds, Ramsey can throw his weight around if he wants.  And with former St. Cloud State Huskies head coach Bob Motzko coaching the Gophers next season, Ramsey will hopefully embrace his physical style.  Ramsey is due for a big season next year.

Final Grade:  C

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, MA – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), @RyanShea2

Current Stats:  38GP, 1G, 16A

Ryan Shea is also due for a big test next season.  With some big scorers like Adam Gaudette and Dylan Sikura leaving for the NHL, Shea will have a lot more responsibility as an upper-classman.  He has so far proven he is a durable and reliable defenseman who can set up his team mates well.  But in a Blackhawks system that’s full of budding defensemen, he may want to take his time like Sikura did to develop in college and come out when he’s 100% ready.

Final Grade:  B-

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL), @Dsikky11

Current Stats:  35GP, 22G, 32A 

Sikura had a Hobey Baker-like season, even though his linemate Adam Gaudette came home with the hardware.  It was clear that he excelled in every area of the college game and that he is ready for a new challenge.  Blackhawks fans could finally breathe knowing he signed his entry-level contract and hopefully that’s not the last contract he signs in Chicago.

In five games playing with the Blackhawks, we saw that he could definitely keep up with the pace.  He even collected three points in those five games.  But like any other college kid, he’ll need to put on some weight this summer and come into training camp aggressive.  There are a lot of young players with their eyes on spots in Chicago, especially guys who have done their time in Rockford.  But Mr. DeBrincat showed us that making the team as a rookie isn’t impossible.

Final Grade:  A

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL), @Beau_Dangles

Current Stats:  32GP, 3G, 7A

Starrett will return to Cornell for his senior season, but he has to come out of it with an identity.  Because of his size, he’s assumed to play big but I’m not sure that’s his style right now.  His point production in college has been low, even though I remember him skating and passing pretty well for a big guy.  I’m not sure why he isn’t having success when the Big Red is, but something has to change.  The Blackhawks used a 2nd round pick on Graham Knott and a 3rd on Starrett but the returns have been limited.

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects: Final Grades appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks continue to bolster their roster depth with the additions of Northeastern forward Dylan Sikura and Denver defenseman Blake Hillman.  Both players signed two-year entry-level contracts and will most likely see time in the final games of the Blackhawks season.  We have already seen top prospect and newcomer Victor Ejdsell called up to the Blackhawks and have noticed good things so far.  This theme of testing young players at the pro level is new for the Blackhawks, but needed to happen eventually.

Dennis Gilbert

Sikura and Hillman are great additions to the team, but could there be more?  The answer is most likely yes.  One player that comes to mind is Notre Dame’s Dennis Gilbert.  Gilbert is a defensive defenseman for the Fighting Irish who has been a very durable player in his three years in South Bend.  He has played between 37 and 40 games each year for the Irish and has always had a positive plus/minus.

FINAL!
2-1 Notre Dame defeats Providence and advances to the #FrozenFour !
Back-to-back appearances for the Irish #Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert will also make his 2nd appearance in the National Semi-finals#NCAAHockey #CawlidgeHawkey

— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) March 25, 2018

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Notre Dame is currently in the Frozen Four and depending on their success, Gilbert may or may not suit up for the Blackhawks this season.  He could also return for his senior season if he feels like he could use more development.  But at this point, his success and experience at the collegiate level would suggest that he is ready for the pros.

Fredrik Olofsson

It was recently reported by Scott Powers of The Athletic that Olofsson will not be turning pro and will return to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for his senior season.  He would’ve been a great addition to the Blackhawks system, but his development at Omaha will also be beneficial.  He recently changed over from wing to center so it’s possible he felt he could use another year to adjust.

Honorable Mentions

A couple of other names that you can throw out there are Cornell’s Beau Starrett, Minnesota’s Jack Ramsey, and even possibly Boston University’s Chad Krys.  But I anticipate all these players return to their collegiate teams next season.  Gilbert is the only prospect I believe is on the bubble when it comes to signing.

This upcoming draft will be very important when it comes to the prospect pool.  With two picks in the first round and a shot at a top three pick, the Blackhawks could really make up some lost ground when it comes to prospects.  Yes they have a couple nice pieces from last year’s draft but those guys aren’t nearly ready for the NHL.  Adding a Dahlin, Svechnikov, or Tkachuk could catapult the Hawks into a faster rebuild than many anticipate.  But even if they select 7th overall as they are currently projected, that player will hopefully impact the team in the near future.

The post Chicago Blackhawks: Could More College Prospects Be Added to the Mix? appeared first on The Rink.

The Blackhawks have taken a step back at the NHL level, but their prospect pool is filling out nicely

With the amount of recent success the Chicago Blackhawks have had the last decade, there hasn’t been many high profile prospects coming up the system to be excited about.  The-Rink’s Jeff Osborn did a great job evaluating some of the draft picks the Blackhawks have made that shows an overall lack of development, especially on the back end.  But as the window closes on a great run of cup chasing seasons, the focus has become retooling a team that got old overnight.

The Blackhawks media and their fans have a tendency to get over-excited about the next big thing which will have to change in the coming years.  Players like 2017 1st round pick Henri Jokiharju will need all the time he needs to get his game adjusted to the pro level, and not thrown to the wolves because the Hawks need a defenseman.  But he isn’t the only player making strides.

The Blackhawks have done a fantastic job facilitating players up and down the ranks between Chicago, Rockford, and Indy this season.  I’ve harped on the lack of this kind of movement for a while and was happy to see players getting rewarded for their success.  Players like Matthew Highmore and Carl Dahlstrom had great seasons in the AHL, then got rewarded with NHL ice time.  We haven’t seen this in the past with guys like Ville Pokka or Mark McNeil who were players that hit a wall when it came to development.

On the flip side, John Hayden came down to Rockford to refine his game and get some valuable minutes in more key situations.  Matt Iacopelli did the same when he had a short stint in Indy.  Both players seemed to find value in the experience and were both productive.

As the NCAA season comes to a close, there are a few players that could sign pro and add to the competition in Rockford and Indy.  Whether top prospect Dylan Sikura signs or not, there will still be more depth added to this organization this summer.  And with the draft around the corner, the Blackhawks will finally be able to restock what has been sent away the last few seasons at the trade deadline.

If you look at the primary team needs for the Blackhawks, they need goaltending, centermen, and defenseman.  With Graham Knott getting his first full year of pro hockey under his belt, you have to hope he makes big strides next year.  He’s a big center that has some playmaking ability, but he hasn’t gotten comfortable at the AHL level just yet.  The Hawks have a handful of defenseman that could potentially be NHL players like Luc Snuggerud, Blake Hillman, and Chad Krys.  But assume to see all of them competing for spots next year in Rockford.  As for goaltending, free agent signing Colin Delia moved up the system pretty quickly and will probably be Rockford #1 starter next season.  They have a couple of other prospects but it’s foggy who will back up Corey Crawford next season.  The Hawks will most likely go to free agency to fill that void.

Overall, the Blackhawks look like they reevaluated their prospect pool and how they have to move going forward.  It will be interesting to see if and when they turn this roster over.  Who stays and who goes will also be a sign of the times.  Either way, this dreadful season is almost over and we can look forward to an offseason of growth.

The post Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Pool Making Positive Strides appeared first on The Rink.

Ian Mitchell and Blake Hillman attempt to defend Denver University’s 2017 National Championship, but have a tough test ahead. The Blackhawks prospects trying to unseat Hillman, Mitchell, and the rest of the Pioneers squad are Chad Krys of Boston University (Hockey East Champions), Ryan Shea and Dylan Sikura of Northeastern University, Dennis Gilbert of the University of Notre Dame (Big Ten Champions), Beau Starrett of Cornell University, and Evan Barratt of Penn State University.

Eight Blackhawks Prospects Vying For NCAA Championship

The Frozen Four tournament begins on March 23 with the Regional semi-finals on March 23 and 24 and the Regional finals on March 24 and 25. The Regional final winners advance to the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 5 with the National Championship taking place on April 7 at the Xcel Energy Center.

WEST REGION

No Blackhawks representation in the West Region, which has top-overall seed St. Cloud State take on Air Force and Minnesota-Duluth squaring off against Minnesota State.

EAST REGION

In the East Region, #2 overall seed Notre Dame takes on Michigan Tech, while Providence faces Clarkson. Big Ten champions Notre Dame and Dennis Gilbert look to advance to back-to-back Frozen Four’s after falling to eventual National Champion Denver last year in Chicago. This year marks Notre Dame’s 10th NCAA Tournament appearance as they look for their fourth Frozen Four.

NORTHEAST REGION

Things get really interesting in the tournament’s Northeast Region as Beau Starrett and #3 overall seed Cornell take on Chad Krys and Boston University in the Regional semi-final. Also, in the Midwest Region is the University of Michigan taking on Ryan Shea and Dylan Sikura of Northeastern University.

For Starrett and Cornell, this is the 21st NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and their first back-to-back appearances since 2009 and 2010. Cornell has eight Frozen Four appearances in school history, but has not made the National Semi-Finals since 2003.

As for Krys and the Boston Terriers, this is the 36th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and their fourth trip in a row. Last season, Boston fell an overtime goal short of the Frozen Four as they lost to eventual National Runner-Up Minnesota-Duluth. Boston is attempting to reach their 23rd Frozen Four, with their last appearance coming in 2015.

Northeastern will be looking for their second Frozen Four appearance in school history with their sixth bid in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies have never won an NCAA Hockey National Championship with their only Frozen Four appearance coming in 1982. A lot of Blackhawks eyes will be on Northeastern as Sikura has become one of the most sought-after NCAA players over the last two seasons. Chicago drafted Sikura in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

MIDWEST REGION

Finally in the Midwest Region, the winner of #4 overall seed Ohio State and Princeton will face the winner of Evan Barratt and Penn State University versus defending National Champions Blake Hillman, Ian Mitchell, and the Denver Pioneers.

For Penn State, a program that joined the NCAA in the 2012-13 season, this marks the second NCAA tournament appearance in back-to-back years. Last season ended for the Nittany Lions at the hands of Denver University in the Regional Final. No doubt that Penn State will be looking for revenge, but it won’t be easy against a stacked Pioneers squad. Denver is making it’s 29th NCAA Tournament appearance and have made the tournament 11 years in a row dating back to the 2008 tournament. A powerhouse in NCAA hockey over the last decade and change, Denver has 16 Frozen Four appearances program history with back-to-back appearances in 2016 and 2017, winning their 8th National Championship last year in Chicago, defeating Minnesota-Duluth.

Another team that a lot of the Blackhawks community will be paying attention to as Pioneers freshman defenseman Ian Mitchell has garnered a lot of praise as a top-end defensive prospect. The Blackhawks drafted Mitchell in the second round of last year’s NHL Entry Draft and was named to the NCHC Conference All-Tournament team as Denver defeated St. Cloud State.

How To Watch

Here is the full TV Schedule for the NCAA Frozen Four Tournament from USCHO.com:

East Regional

At Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, Conn., March 23-24

• Friday: Notre Dame vs. Michigan Tech, 3 p.m., ESPN2

• Friday: Providence vs. Clarkson, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

• Saturday: Friday winners, 6 p.m., ESPNU

West Regional

At Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls, S.D., March 23-24

• Friday: St. Cloud State vs. Air Force, 4 p.m., ESPNU

• Friday: Minnesota State vs. Minnesota Duluth, 7:30 p.m., ESPN3

• Saturday: Friday winners, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Northeast Regional

At DCU Center, Worcester, Mass., March 24-25

• Saturday: Cornell vs. Boston University, 1 p.m., ESPNews

• Saturday: Michigan vs. Northeastern, 4:30 p.m., ESPNews

• Sunday: Saturday winners, 4 p.m., ESPN2

Midwest Regional

At PPL Center, Allentown, Pa., March 24-25

• Saturday: Ohio State vs. Princeton, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU

• Saturday: Denver vs. Penn State, 7 p.m., ESPN3

• Sunday: Saturday winners, 6:30 p.m., ESPNU

Frozen Four

At Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn., April 5-7

• Thursday, April 5: West Regional winner vs. Midwest Regional winner, 6 or 9:30 p.m., ESPN2; Northeast Regional winner vs. East Regional winner, 6 or 9:30 p.m., ESPN2

• Saturday, April 7: Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2

The post Eight Blackhawks Prospects Earn Bids To NCAA Frozen Four Tournament appeared first on The Rink.

In the NHL, players always fear the team that barely makes it in because they are “playing with house money.”  There isn’t a more fun position to be in than going out there and playing some fun hockey knowing you aren’t supposed to be there.  We saw the LA Kings run the table when the did this, and even as recent as the Nashville Predators.  Although we can’t see it, momentum is something all hockey players feel out there on the ice.

As March Madness is upon us in college sports, one Big Ten hockey club has found some magic recently.  Two weeks ago, Penn State hosted the University of Minnesota, a storied college hockey program, in their last series of the regular season .  If they won, they would have the right to host Minnesota again the next week to start the Big Ten Tournament.  And that’s exactly what happened.  Penn State beat the University of Minnesota four straight games at home scoring a minimum of five goals each game.  And boy was the atmosphere electric.

Check out the highlights from Saturday night’s 6-5 victory over Minnesota as we sweep the Gophers to advance to next Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament Semifinals at No. 1 Notre Dame!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/aNgsVt9LbM

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) March 4, 2018

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In those four games, Blackhawks prospect Evan Barratt had five points with four goals and an assist.  Below is a video of a goal where he gets a clean shot on net and follows it up with a nice backhand rebound goal.

Evan Barratt. Again. That’s Barratt’s second of the game, third of the weekend and fourth in the past four games against Minnesota. PSU leads 6-5. pic.twitter.com/FLG00A5A0j

— Patrick Burns (@PatrickBurns_) March 4, 2018

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Barratt also got under the skin of some of the Gopher players, most notably New York Rangers prospect Ryan Lindgren.  Barratt used the crowd’s energy to lay out some punishing hits as well.

Here it is folks: Evan Barratt making the crybaby face at Ryan Lindgren during last night’s game. pic.twitter.com/tUqrhcmxCI

— Patrick Burns (@PatrickBurns_) February 25, 2018

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This Saturday, Barratt and the Nittany Lions travel South Bend to take on the No. 1 Fighting Irish.  This game is one of the best matchups in college hockey with the winner advancing to the championship game against the winner of No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Michigan. The game will be shown on ESPNU at 5:30 Eastern Time.

Penn State is known for putting a ton of shots on net while Notre Dame gives up a good amount in front of their goaltender Cale Morris.  As described by Brad Schlossman from the Grand Forks Herald on the College Hockey Today Podcast, this could be a bad matchup for Notre Dame despite their successful season.

Evan Barratt will be matching up with fellow Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert who may be defending Barratt on a shift or two.  This one-game semifinal should make for a great Big Ten showdown, especially for Blackhawks fans.

The post Chicago Blackhawks’ Evan Barratt and Penn State Can Pull Upset at Notre Dame appeared first on The Rink.

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference released its All-Rookie team for the 2017-18 season this afternoon which included Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell.  Mitchell was drafted in the second round of last year’s draft and has been playing his freshman year in college hockey with the Denver Pioneers.  Here’s what the NCHC had to say about Mitchell:

“Also on the All-Rookie Team blue line is Mitchell, who racked up 16 points, including 14 assists, in 24 conference games. Ten of his 14 helpers came on the power play, while the Chicago Blackhawks draft pick blocked 36 shots, fired 40 shots on goal and ended with a +8 plus/minus.”

Your 2017-18 #NCHCHockey All-Rookie Team

: https://t.co/WwfVsotKzf pic.twitter.com/7sAFG6c4ta

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) March 6, 2018

In 34 games played, Mitchell has two goals and 20 assists, 10 coming on the power play.  He has been a big part of the first unit with top prospects Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Gambrell, and Troy Terry.  Mitchell replaced senior Will Butcher who won the Hobey Baker Award last season and now plays with the New Jersey Devils.

The Pioneers begin the NCHC playoffs this weekend as they take on the Colorado College Tigers in a best of three series at Magness Arena.  The Pioneers are ranked No. 4 in the USCHO poll.

The post Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Ian Mitchell Named to NCHC All-Rookie Team appeared first on The Rink.

For the first time in a while, the Chicago Blackhawks were sellers at the trade deadline.  They sent forward Ryan Hartman to the Nashville Predators and received a 2018 1st and 4th round pick as well as Swedish prospect Victor Ejdsell.  After a disappointing season, the Blackhawks realize that age has suddenly caught up with them and that they need to get back to building their team through the draft.

The 2018 NHL draft is considered to be very deep with good prospects including generational defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.  It’s possible the Hawks could land a lottery pick to select him, Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov, or Czech winger Filip Zadia.  But if the season ended today, the Hawks would be selecting 8th and 29th overall, probably putting them out of reach of the top three players mentioned and Boston University’s Brady Tkachuk.

There are however a few college hockey or college hockey-bound players Blackhawks fans should be aware of.  Let’s take a look and preview some of the names you should be familiar with.

Photo courtesy of The Athletic.com

Quinn Hughes – LD – 5’9 170lbs – Michigan

The Blackhawks drafted two defenseman last year in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2017 draft when they took Henri Jokiharju and Ian Mitchell, but you can never have enough defenseen.  Quinn Hughes is an Orlando Florida native that played his junior hockey with the US National Development Team under 17 & 18 teams.  He currently plays for the University of Michigan Wolverines.

Hughes is a smaller defenseman at 5’9 but his strengths in skating and vision make up for his size.  He has the ability to create his own rush and make space for forwards to cut to the net.  In his highlights, you see flashes of Duncan Keith in his own end.  By that I mean that he is patient with the puck and finds openings in the opposing defense to weave through on the rush.  This is a player that is very active on the back-end and could help on the power play unit where the Blackhawks are ranked near the bottom of the league.

Hughes is projected to be drafted around pick six so the Blackhawks would be fortune if he fell to them at eight.  Although this player isn’t intimidating in his own end, he is the kind of puck-moving defensemen the Blackhawks coaching staff dreams about having.

Oliver Wahlstrom – C/RW – 6’1 200lbs – Harvard

Similar to how Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin or ‘D-Boss’ would like to not be known anymore for his famous YouTube videos he made as a kid, Oliver Wahlstrom is going through something similar.  As a kid, Wahlstrom became internet-famous when he performed a trick-shot at a Boston Bruins game when he was 9 years old.  Since then, he has become one of the best US-born prospects in the country.

Wahlsrom is playing for the US development program and currently has 17 goals and 11 assists in 17 games.  He is described as a pure goal-scorer that is extremely strong on his skates.  His ability to find seams from anywhere on the ice and score creatively makes him a player anybody would want on their team.  Wahlstrom has committed to play for Harvard University next season.

K’Andre Miller – LD – 6’3 195lbs – Wisconsin

Miller is the kind of defenseman the Blackhawks don’t have too much of.  He’s a big, physical defenseman who can skate very well.  Miller switched from forward to defense a couple seasons ago but has adjusted well.  He isn’t known for his offense but he can put a lot of power behind one-timer shots from the point.  He currently has four goals and nine assists with the US Development team and has committed to the University of Wisconsin for next season.

To be brutally honest, this has the St. Louis Blues or Nashville Predators pick all over it, but maybe he could fit into the Blackhawks system.  If he can form his game into something similar to Brent Seabrook’s, he could find a niche.  Especially if he’s responsible in his own end.  In an article from USAhockey.com, Miller talks about how he loves playing defense because of how he can start and get into rushes.  He would get a lot of those opportunities in this system in Chicago.

Mattias Samuelsson – LD – 6’3 205lbs – Western Michigan

Samuelsson is another big defenseman not known for his scoring but for his defensive responsibility.  He is committed to Western Michigan University that is in the NCHC, one of the most competitive conferences in college hockey.  Samuelsson has the potential to be a top four NHL player but could use improvement with his skating.  This season he has two goals and six assists in 14 games with the US Developement program.

In his stats this year, you notice a positive +/- of 12 but a large number of penalty minutes with 48.  The Blackhawks get frustrated with young players who commit penalties that make their team short-handed, but if Samuelsson can walk the line between playing hard and foolish, he’d make a great addition to the Hawks prospect pool.

Thanks for checking out our early draft preview.  The-Rink.com will have plenty more analysis on the Draft as it gets closer.

The post Early Chicago Blackhawks Draft Preview: 1st Round NCAA Impact Players appeared first on The Rink.

As the Blackhawks continue to add more youth to their roster, defenseman Chad Krys will be an important prospect to watch

The Blackhawks have been pretty happy recently with their 2016 2nd round draft selection Alex DeBrincat.  As a rookie, DeBrincat is tied with Patrick Kane for the team lead in goals with 22.  DeBrincat had great numbers in juniors, but nobody saw the undersized forward having this much of an impact in his rookie season.

But DeBrincat wasn’t the only selection the Blackhawks made in the 2016 Draft.  Selected 45 overall, defenseman Chad Krys has been having himself a fine sophomore season at Boston University.  Krys has already surpassed the 11 points he scored last year and has 22 on the year so far with six goals and 16 assists.

Krys will be an important prospect to watch this summer and beyond considering how active prospects have been this year.  In the past, several players at the AHL level never got a chance at the pro level but that seems to be changing.  There have been a lot of transactions between the Indy Fuel, Rockford Ice Hogs, and the Chicago Blackhawks to keep prospects moving and more importantly developing.  Krys will be completing his second year with Boston University and could sign pro this summer.

The-Rink got a chance to talk to Matt Dresens who covers the team with  The BU Hockey Blog.  Dresens spoke on Krys’ sophomore season, his character, and his overall development.

Interview with Matt Dresens of The BU Hockey Blog

Chad Krys is having a solid sophomore season so far with 22 points in 28 games.  How would you assess his second season with the Terriers?

He looks far more confident than he did a year a go. He knows when to assert himself on the rush, but also has the poise and wherewithal to get back when he needs to.  On the power play, a lot of the set up goes through him at the point.  Again, he just seems to be much more confident in his game this year.

What makes Krys a special player and what kind of development have you seen from him in 2018?

His ability to generate offense off the rush and push the pace. Quinn has talked alone about “playing with a pace” this year, and he has been at the forefront of that all year. The two-goal game against Providence early in the season said all you need to know in regards to his skill set. He scored on a give an go with Patrick Harper. Moments later, Krys once again intercepted a pass and this time did all the work himself, streaking through the bottom of the slot, left to right, before pushing a backhand past Hawkey’s reach at the 8:55 mark.

Chad Krys’ goal vs. Providence college for @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/nHGQdxKR2Q

— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 6, 2017

Krys recently missed a few games from an injury.  How serious was it and how much was he missed by BU?

It was an upper-body injury suffered at ASU. It kept him out a few games, but BU didn’t lose a game when we was out. They have a ton of talent on the back end, but I think where his absence was most felt was on the power play.

@TerrierHockey Chad Krys is out tonight after suffering an upper body injury in last night’s game! We are all wishing him a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/3mcosqEgqQ

— Ice Time Hockey SW (@icetimesw) January 28, 2018

Do you think Krys could sign pro next season?

Could I see it happening?  Yes.  Will he? I don’t think so.  I think the model for college kids, especially on defense, is to stay for three years. I just look at guys BU has had in recent years and they usually stay for three. Kevin Shattenkirk is the best example. Could he have gone after his sophomore year?  Absolutely, but I think that extra year really helped this development. In addition, the Blackhawks don’t look like they are going to make the playoffs, so I don’t really see the rush from their standpoint. Yes, Charlie McAvoy made the jump and performed better than anyone expected with Boston in the playoffs, but the Bruins had an immediate need for a guy like Charlie. I just don’t see it with Chad. I really do think he comes back next year, and will probably wear the ‘A’ on his sweater.

What kind of reputation has Krys earned for himself with his team, the University, and the fans?

From all accounts, he’s a great kid. I’m not in the locker room every day though, so I really can’t say anymore. From a fans perspective, he’s a fun player to watch night in and night out.

You can read Matt’s blog at here and can follow him on Twitter at @TheBUHockeyBlog

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospect Report: Chad Krys appeared first on The Rink.

Dylan Sikura continues to shine, helping Northeastern win their first Bean Pot since 1988

As the college hockey season wraps up, teams are ramping up their momentum heading into playoff time.  One of the Blackhawks top prospects, Dylan Sikura, has been dominant all season and hasn’t slowed down.  With two assists in the championship game of the Beat Pot in Boston last week, Sikura helped his Northeastern Huskies win the tournament for the first time since 1988.  The tournament has been extremely competitive the last several years considering the top-end talent that plays college hockey in the Boston area.

As Blackhawks fans watch their team wither away this season, there will be a lot more attention drawn to the prospect pool and that starts with Sikura.  Will he sign a John Hayden type deal or will he walk on the Blackhawks?  We’re all hoping for the former but as his achievements continue to pile on this season, his decision is becoming less obvious.

This weekend has a great slate of college hockey games featured by a few special matchups featuring Blackhawks prospects.  Starting in the Big Ten, Michigan visits Notre Dame in a series that should be entertaining.  The Irish have been one of the best teams this year and probably the biggest surprise.  This series will feature Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert and potential 2018 1st round pick Quinn Hughes of the Wolverines.

Moving to the ECAC, Boston University visits the University of Connecticut.  Chad Krys is finally getting back into the lineup after an injury kept him out a few weeks.  He did participate in the Bean Pot Tournament.  Northeastern is at Vermont where Dylan Sikura and Ryan Shea will line up against Liam Coughlin of Vermont who has been red hot of late.

And lastly, the NCHC features two matchups that should be interesting.  The first is Denver at Colorado College which I will be covering.  This is the last two games between the two rivals this season and the winner of the series will win the Gold Pan Trophy.  The teams tied both games in their first series.  The last series to keep an eye on is North Dakota at Omaha.  There is a lot of firepower in the series including forward Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson.

As the end of the Blackhawks season approaches, I will be putting out more draft previews of NCAA prospects so stay tuned.

I hope everybody has a great weekend!

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick 

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL), @BarrattEvan

Current Stats:  24GP, 7G, 6A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan State

We all we got. We all we need. #FlyEagleFly

— Evan Barratt (@BarrattEvan) February 4, 2018

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Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL), @Liam_Coughlin7

Current Stats:  27GP, 6G, 7A

Next Opponent:  Northeastern

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), @JoshuaEss

Current Stats:  33GP, 2G, 2A

Next Opponent:  Bye Week

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL), @pfoo22

Current Stats:  29GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Quinnipiac, @ Princeton

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL), @Dennis_Gilbert8

Current Stats:  29GP, 3G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Michigan, @ Michigan

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), @Blake_Hillman8

Current Stats:  28GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  @ Colorado College, Colorado College

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  26GP, 5G, 15A

Next Opponent:  @ Connecticut, @ Merrimack

Interviewed Blackhawks prospect Chad Krys this afternoon for an upcoming story. He said he’ll return to game action tonight after missing recent games with a shoulder injury.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 9, 2018

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Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers, @JakeMassie3

Current Stats:  29GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent: Northeastern

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), @IanMitch15

Current Stats:  28GP, 2G, 20A

Next Opponent:  @ Colorado College, Colorado College

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL), @FreddyOlofsson

Current Stats:  28GP, 6G, 14A

Next Opponent:  North Dakota

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL), @Ramsey_16

Current Stats:  32GP, 3G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Ohio State

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, MA – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), @RyanShea2

Current Stats:  30GP, 1G, 12A

Next Opponent:  @ Vermont

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL), @Dsikky11

Current Stats:  27GP, 14G, 27A 

Next Opponent:  Vermont

Dylan Sikura sets up Northeastern’s second goal in the Beanpot final pic.twitter.com/CecPTA0KoY

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 13, 2018

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Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL), @Beau_Dangles

Current Stats:  24GP, 1G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Brown, Yale

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Weekend Roundup: Feb 16-17 appeared first on The Rink.

Every couple weeks or so this article is posted with the intent of informing fans about the Chicago Blackhawks prospects who are playing college hockey.  I also post a weekend recap on Twitter every week showing which players scored points.  But this week, almost every prospect we cover for this report spread awareness about mental health using the #BellLetsTalk hashtag.

This movement spread awareness around the world for a day and raised money for programs that help those struggling with mental issues.  It’s so important that we all take a step back sometimes and embrace important issues like these and dedicate time to make people know they have resources to find help.

One of the biggest promoters of #BellLetsTalk is Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach, Mike Babcock, defines ‘the measure of a man’ in support of #BellLetsTalk Day tomorrow.

Join the conversation. pic.twitter.com/77t9KjyRRW

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 30, 2018

Thanks to you, Bell will donate $6,919,199.75 to help support mental health initiatives: https://t.co/qga03vwHUI #BellLetsTalk

— Bell Let’s Talk (@Bell_LetsTalk) February 1, 2018

Thanks again for reading and enjoy the latest updates on your Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects!

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Freshman Evan Barratt is given an opportunity alongside Chase Berger and Andrew Sturtz. His line with Alex Limoges and Lima Folkes has been tremendous this evening.

— Onward Sports (@OnwardStSports) January 27, 2018

Last year Penn State led the nation in faceoff percentage. Right now Nate Sucese and freshman Evan Barratt are leading the team.

— Penn State CommRadio (@PSUCommRadio) January 16, 2018

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick 

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL), @BarrattEvan

Current Stats:  22GP, 7G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Notre Dame

Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL), @Liam_Coughlin7

Current Stats:  23GP, 5G, 3A

Next Opponent:  Providence

Coughlin had a breakout weekend two weeks again against UMass-Lowell where he scored four goals in two games, including a hat trick in Friday’s game.  He was the Hockey-East Player of the Week.

Josh Ess ties it at 2 midway through the 3rd period. This is a big weekend for Wisconsin. Nice crowd in Madison #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/2aBZmuVjqC

— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) January 27, 2018

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL), @JoshuaEss

Current Stats:  29GP, 2G, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL), @pfoo22

Current Stats:  27GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Cornell, @ Colgate

Congrats to junior defenseman Dennis Gilbert, who is skating in his 100th career game! pic.twitter.com/tnIRaH7DEF

— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) January 21, 2018

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL), @Dennis_Gilbert8

Current Stats:  25GP, 3G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Penn State

Today’s Birthdays ?

Michael Davies
Blake Hillman

Wayne Gretzky pic.twitter.com/aNcLYlgVWG

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 26, 2018

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), @Blake_Hillman8

Current Stats:  26GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Minnesota-Duluth

@TerrierHockey Chad Krys is out tonight after suffering an upper body injury in last night’s game! We are all wishing him a speedy recovery! pic.twitter.com/3mcosqEgqQ

— Ice Time Hockey SW (@icetimesw) January 28, 2018

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  24GP, 5G, 14A

Next Opponent:  @Umass, Harvard(Mon)

WATCH: Jake Massie wires a slap shot over the glove of Tyler Wall for his first collegiate goal! #VCats pic.twitter.com/Xw5Qm9fwp0

— UVM Men’s Hockey (@UVMmhockey) January 20, 2018

Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers, @JakeMassie3

Current Stats:  25GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Providence

If you want to see 2 of the best young defensemen in @NCAAIceHockey check out Scott Perunovich of @UMDMensHockey & Ian Mitchell of @DU_Hockey Friday night at 9EST on @CBSSportsNet @TheNCHC
?????

— ben holden (@benholdenpxp) January 30, 2018

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), @IanMitch15

Current Stats:  26GP, 2G, 19A

Next Opponent:  Minnesota-Duluth

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL), @FreddyOlofsson

Current Stats:  26GP, 6G, 12A

Next Opponent:  @ St. Cloud State

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL), @Ramsey_16

Current Stats:  30GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Off Week

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, Ma – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL), @RyanShea2

Current Stats:  26GP, 1G, 11A

Next Opponent:  New Hampshire, Boston College

Head into the weekend by casting your daily vote for our Hobey candidates at https://t.co/sNekppX1V1! | #GoNU

• #Canucks prospect Adam Gaudette
• #Blackhawks prospect Dylan Sikura pic.twitter.com/dO8Ab7Kfe8

— Northeastern MHKY (@GoNUmhockey) January 26, 2018

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL), @Dsikky11

Current Stats:  23GP, 13G, 22A 

Next Opponent:  New Hampshire, Boston College

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL), @Beau_Dangles

Current Stats:  20GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Union, Rensselaer

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Help Raise $7M For #BellLetsTalk appeared first on The Rink.

The-Rink.com caught up with Blackhawks prospect Fredrik Olofsson this weekend when his Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks took on the Denver Pioneers

DENVER–  Although it wasn’t the most impressive performance by the Omaha Mavericks this weekend against the Denver Pioneers, forward Fredrik Olofsson still showed the promise of a smart two-way forward.  Before the Denver series, the Chicago Blackhawks prospect tallied five goals and twelve assists in 22 games as a junior at Omaha.  In his last eight games, Olofsson has been a point-per-game player.

Nice feed by @FreddyOlofsson but the play gets broken up #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Zm92jcnzGN

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) January 20, 2018

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A 4th round pick of the ‘Hawks in 2014, Olofsson has played his college hockey in the NCHC which is considered one of the toughest divisions in college hockey.  In 91 career games he has 24 goals and 34 assists.

.@FreddyOlofsson with some nice moves down low and creates a chance for @OmahaHKY #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/d7AA7F5jBT

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) January 20, 2018

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In the series this weekend against Denver, you can tell that Olofsson has refined his game to be much more poised.  He uses his 6-2 frame to protect the puck well, especially below the goal line.  His skating up the middle of the ice shows his great speed, vision, and a knack for making the smart play.  Now that he plays a lot more of the center position, Olofsson has a lot more ice to cover and defensive responsibility.  A positive is that his passing looked pretty good in this series that created some good chances for the Mavericks.

Here is our interview with Fredrik on his series against Denver and his progress so far this year.

#Blackhawks prospect @FreddyOlofsson on a tough series against @DU_Hockey and his progress this season. Just pretend I didn’t hold my phone upside-down ?‍ pic.twitter.com/YJD6COAy8B

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) January 21, 2018

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You can follow Fredrik on Twitter at @FreddyOlofsson

The post Blackhawks Prospect Report: Fredrik Olofsson appeared first on The Rink.

For the last decade or so, the Chicago Blackhawks have been cup chasing.  The Stanley Cup “window” has been wide open for the star-studded Hawks, but this season depth and age has finally caught with them.

Sitting in last place in the Central Division and with Corey Crawford’s health a major concern, there is a serious possibility that Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman cuts his losses and sells some expiring contracts at the trade deadline.  This is following last season where the ‘Hawks were bounced from the playoffs in the first round for the second consecutive season and deemed “unacceptable” by Bowman.

So how does this affect the Blackhawks farm system?  Hopefully it continues to grow because the cupboard has been bare the last few season.  With Alex DeBrincat making the Blackhawks out of camp and the possibility of Dylan Sikura joining the team later this season, the ‘Hawks still need more top end talent to fill out their prospect pool.

The Blackhawks currently don’t have their 2nd and 4th round picks in this years draft because of previous trades so Bowman may want to get back into those rounds with deadline trades.  And if the Blackhawks put Corey Crawford on LTIR, they will have significant cap space to help a team out by taking on a bad contract for the rest of the year.  It’s a scary thought to think the Blackhawks are using a method that bottom-feeders like the Coyotes or Hurricanes have used in the past, but if it means moving up in the draft then so be it.

With hard decisions to make this next month, Blackhawks fans will soon know their fate and it’s leaning towards the harsh reality of having better luck next year.  I think Chicago fans know by now to “trust the process.”

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt — who was in the penalty box on the OSU PPG — responds on the PP just minutes later, making it 3-1 Penn State. pic.twitter.com/AmtDt8HZ97

— Patrick Burns (@PatrickBurns_) January 13, 2018

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Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  18GP, 7G, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan

Barratt is coming off a three-point game against Ohio State last Saturday and is finding his stride after a slow start to the season.  Penn State plays a tough opponent when they travel to Michigan this weekend which should make for an exciting series.

WATCH: Christian Evers wires a wrist shot past Ryan Wischow to bring the #VCats within a goal! Assists from Liam Coughlin and Jarrid Privitera pic.twitter.com/WIkhq2oQP6

— UVM Men’s Hockey (@UVMmhockey) January 14, 2018

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Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 1G, 3A

Next Opponent:  UMass-Lowell

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)

Current Stats:  21GP, 1G,2A

Next Opponent:  @ Notre Dame

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Current Stats:  24GP, 1G, 3A

Next Opponent:  @ Yale / Brown

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  21GP, 3G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Wisconsin

The Bauer #NCHCHockey Defenseman of the Week for week 12:@DU_Hockey Jr. Blake Hillman #DU1NATION?‍?

Career-high-tying 3? in 4-3 loss Fri. | Also career-high 7 SOG and +3 Fri. | 5 SOG, 2 blocks & helped PK go 3-3 in win Sat.

?: https://t.co/QdKub9dx5G pic.twitter.com/o8pFsLYkjI

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) January 9, 2018

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Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  Nebraska-Omaha

In their last series against Miami University, Hillman tallied three assists in one game and was a plus four.  Hillman said he wanted to be more offensively productive this season, but wanted to focus on defense to help him generate those chances.  With just eight points in 22 games, Hillman and the Pioneers will start to become more aggressive in the second half.

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 5G, 14A

Next Opponent:  @ Merrimack, Merrimack

Krys is having an outstanding season with 19 points in 22 games.  This weekend Boston University takes on Merrimack in a home-and-home so look for Krys to continue producing.  It should be interesting to see if he’s physically ready to go pro at the end of his sophomore season but it could be a possibility.

One change in UVM lineup, D Jake Massey (day-to-day) injured; Fr D Brian Kelly inn; otherwise same as in Friday’s 2-2 tie@UVMmhockey @UMassHockey@bfp_news #HEA

— Ted Ryan (@TedRyanVT) January 13, 2018

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Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers

Current Stats:  21GP, 3A

Next Opponent:  UMass-Lowell

? Happy Birthday, @IanMitch15 ? pic.twitter.com/wet6eii9NH

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 18, 2018

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Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 1G, 14A

Next Opponent: Nebraska-Omaha

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, Colorado – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots Right – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 5G, 12A

Next Opponent:  Denver

Olofsson and the Omaha Mavericks travel to Denver to take on the No. 5 Pioneers this weekend.  Here is a review of the series, and also a great story of Olofsson by Pucks and Recreation.

Pretty sure Ramsey copied this from Cowboy Dwayne from D2: The Mighty Ducks.

Either way it counts! #Gophers pic.twitter.com/9rAIj0mhZt

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 18, 2018

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Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Current Stats:  26GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan State

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, Ma – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Current Stats:  22GP, 1G, 10A

Next Opponent:  @ UMass, UMass

.@GoNUmhockey forwards Adam Gaudette & Dylan Sikura nominated for prestigious @HobeyBakerAward. #GoNU https://t.co/12WDH7JPrj

— Northeastern U. (@Northeastern) January 17, 2018

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Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 12G, 18A 

Next Opponent:  @ UMass, UMass

Sikura continues his tear in NCAA hockey scoring 8 points in his last 4 games.  Blackhawks shouldn’t assume he is going to come in and save the team, but there sure is a lot to be excited about.

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Colgate, @ Colgate

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Weekend Roundup: Jan 19-20 appeared first on The Rink.

As the first half of the college hockey season comes to a close, Blackhawks prospects in the NCAA are finishing up strong.  Northeastern University forward Dylan Sikura had a four-point performance last week and he continues to shine as one of the ‘Hawks top prospects.  On the blue line, Notre Dame’s Dennis Gilbert got on the scoresheet with a couple goals, while Boston University’s Chad Krys continues to be a point machine for the Terriers.

There has been a lot of debate recently about the Blackhawks and what they will do at this year’s trade deadline.  GM Stan Bowman will most likely stand pat and make it seem like Dylan Sikura is his big trade deadline acquisition, but that’s not guaranteed.  It seems like Sikura has interest in signing with the Blackhawks, but should he be a finalist or win the Hobey Baker Award there might be a possibility he hits the free agency market.

But let’s assume he signs with Chicago.  The question becomes where does he fit in?  He’s a small winger at 165 pounds and probably can’t play a bottom six role effectively in the NHL.  He has great vision and playmaking skill which has enabled him to finish well, but it’s debatable if that can translate to the NHL level.

From what I saw at prospect camp over the summer, Sikura’s hockey IQ is through the roof and he can simply make plays.  Other players were raving about his skill level and enjoyed playing with him.  Some players just have a knack for playing hockey despite any physical attributes that may discount their abilities, much like Alex DeBrincat’s situation.

It sure will be interesting to see where Sikura ends up and if he gets some NHL ice time.  Whether the Blackhawks decide to keep the playoff window open or continue on with the youth movement, hopefully Dylan Sikura is a 100% a part of it going forward.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Evan Barratt – C – Freshman at Penn State University – ‘17 3rd Rd Pick

Bristol, PA – 6’0″ – 187lbs – Shoots Left – U.S. National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  14GP, 4G, 4A

Next Opponent:  Wisconsin 1/5-1/6

Liam Coughlin – C – Junior at University of Vermont – ’14 5th Rd Pick (EDM)

South Boston, MA – 6’2″ – 201lbs – Shoots Left – Vernon Vipers (USHL)

Current Stats:  14GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  St. Lawrence 12/29, Harvard 12/30

Josh Ess – RD – Freshman at the University of Wisconsin – ’17 7th Rd Pick

Lakeville, MN – 5’11” – 188lbs – Shoots Left – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)

Current Stats:  21GP, 1G,1A

Next Opponent:  @ Penn State 1/5-1/6

Parker Foo – LW – Freshman at Union College – ’17 5th Rd Pick

Edmonton, Alberta – 6’1″ – 190lbs – Shoots Left – Brooks Bandits (AJHL)

Current Stats:  18GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  @ University of Nebraska-Omaha 12/29-12/30

Dennis Gilbert w/ the shorty!

Irish take a 2-1 lead after Gilbert goes high blocker on Hayton for his 2nd of the year pic.twitter.com/jF4vEnpEPp

— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) December 10, 2017

Dennis Gilbert – LD – Junior at the University of Notre Dame – ’15 3rd Rd Pick

Williamsville, NY – 6’2″ – 200lbs – Shoots Left – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 3G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan 1/5, Michigan 1/7

Gilbert scored two goals and an assist last weekend contributing to Notre Dame’s 13th win in a row.  They are the hottest team in college hockey and don’t show any signs of slowing down.

Blake Hillman – LD – Junior at the University of Denver – ’16 6th Rd Pick

Elk River, MN – 6’1″ – 182lbs – Shoots Left – Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 2G, 1A

Next Opponent:  Dartmouth

Chad Krys – LD – Sophomore at Boston University – ’16 2nd Rd Pick

Ridgefield, CT – 6’0″ – 185lbs – Shoots Left – US National Development Team (USHL)

Current Stats:  19GP, 5G, 13A

Next Opponent:  US U18 Development Team 1/5, Maine 1/6

Krys had another good weekend scoring a goal and three assists.  He did block a shot during the UMass-Lowell series which sounded like it was painful but returned to finish the game.

Chad Krys has to be helped off the ice on one leg… and returns to the game and SCORES two minute later.

— 86to97to13 (@86to97to13) December 10, 2017

Jake Massie – LD – Freshman at the University of Vermont – ’15 6th Rd Pick (CAR)

Saint-Lazare, Quebec – 6’2″ – 177lbs – Shoots Left – Omaha Lancers

Current Stats:  17GP, 3A

Next Opponent:  St. Lawrence 12/29, Harvard 12/30

Blackhawks prospect Ian Mitchell is tied for 25th among college defensemen with 12 points. He scored his first college goal last night. He has one goal and 11 assists in 15 games as a freshman at Denver.

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) December 9, 2017

Ian Mitchell – RD – Freshman at the University of Denver – ’17 2nd Rd Pick

Calahoo, Alberta – 5’11” – 173lbs – Shoots Right – Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 11A

Next Opponent:  Dartmouth

Mitchell scored his first NCAA goal last weekend against Colorado College on a nice wrap-around.  Denver faces a 2-7-1 Dartmouth team that hasn’t won a game on the road yet this season.  Mitchell will have plenty more offensive zone opportunities to continue producing from the point.

Fredrik Olofsson –  C – Junior at University of Nebraska-Omaha – ’14 4th Rd Pick

Broomfield, CO – 6’2″ – 204lbs – Shoots R – Chicago Steel (USHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 2G, 10A

Next Opponent:  Union 12/29-12/30

Jack Ramsey – RW – Junior at the University of Minnesota – ’11 7th Rd Pick

Chanhassen, MN – 6’3″ – 201lbs – Shoots Right – Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Current Stats:  20GP, 1G, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Army 12/29-12/30

WATCH: Jake Ryczek blasts home his first career goal. Freshman Bailey Conger also tallies his first career point on the play. pic.twitter.com/uKpOPIrnl0

— PC Men’s Hockey (@FriarsHockey) December 9, 2017

Jake Ryczek – LD – Freshman at Providence College – ’16 7th Rd Pick

Ludlow, MA – 5’10 – 179lbs – Shoots Right – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

Current Stats:  5GP, 1G

Next Opponent: Arizona State 12/29

After being out several games battling mono, Ryczek finally scored his first NCAA goal with Providence last Friday.  Hopefully he’s back to 100% and will have a strong 2nd half of the season.

Ryan Shea – LD – Sophomore at Northeastern University – ’15 4th Rd Pick

Milton, MA – 6’1″ – 180lbs – Shoots Left – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 9A

Next Opponent:  @ Merrimack 12/16

Also a 4 point game for Dylan Sikura (CHI) vs. BC. Sikura now has 22 points in 14 NCAA games this season. @ByScottPowers

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) December 10, 2017

Dylan Sikura – LW – Senior at Northeastern University – ’14 6th Rd Pick

Aurora, Ontario – 6’0″ – 166lbs – Shoots Left – Aurora Tigers (OJHL)

Current Stats:  14GP, 9G, 13A 

Next Opponent: Merrimack, @ Merrimack 12/16

Sikura had a four point night last week against Boston College scoring two goals and two assists.  The line of Sikura, Gaudette, and Stevens has been one of the best in college hockey.  With a weak Hockey East this year, Northeastern could end up at the top of the Conference by season’s end.

Beau Starrett – C – Junior at Cornell University – 2014 3rd Rd Pick

Bellingham, MA – 6’5′ – 222lbs – Shoots Left – South Shore Kings (USPHL)

Current Stats:  11GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  Canisus 12/30

The post Chicago Blackhawks NCAA Prospects Weekend Roundup: Dec 15-16 appeared first on The Rink.

It wasn’t clear how Notre Dame would return this season after their defeat in the Frozen Four in 2017 and losing captains Cal Petersen and Anders Bjork to the NHL.  But 20 games into the season, the Fighting Irish are back.

Lead by captain Jake Evans and standout defenseman Jordan Gross, the Irish have strung together 13 straight wins including a sweep of the Wisconsin Badgers this past weekend.  Their record of 16-3-1 should put them in the top three ranked teams in college hockey in the USCHO poll come Monday.

One of the strong qualities of the Irish is their defense which includes Blackhawks prospect Dennis Gilbert.  Selected 91st overall in the 3rd round by the Blackhawks in 2015, Gilbert has spent the last two seasons in South Bend.

At 6’2 220lbs., Gilbert is a stay-at-home defenseman known for his physicality and defense, a kind of player the Blackhawks don’t have a lot of.  On the year Gilbert has three goals, four assists, and is a +14.  Three of his points came this weekend against Wisconsin.

? Dennis Gilbert’s shorthanded snipe! pic.twitter.com/ddxvz18KC6

— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) December 10, 2017

Gilbert is currently in his junior year at Notre Dame and could sign pro with the Blackhawks after this season depending on his development and readiness.  The ‘Hawks and IceHogs have a lot of young defenseman competing for spots in the NHL, but many are smaller and of the puck-moving style.  Even Henri Jokiharju and Ian Mitchell who were drafted in 2017 are more offensively minded defenseman.  Should he end up on the Blackhawks someday, he may have big shoes to fill is he choses to continue wearing the #4, previously worn by fan-favorite Niklas Hjalmarsson.

Whether Gilbert decides to stay at Notre Dame for his senior year or sign an entry-level contract with the Blackhawks, he’s getting some valuable experience at the college level competing against top programs like the University of Minnesota and the University of Denver.  Should his Fighting Irish make it back to the Frozen Four this year, he’ll do his best to make sure the results are different this time.

Gilbert and the Fighting Irish will be taking on the Wisconsin Badgers on January 21st at the United Center if you wanted to see him play in person.  You can buy tickets here.

You can also follow Dennis on Twitter at @Dennis_Gilbert8

The post Blackhawks Prospect Dennis Gilbert Excelling With Red-Hot Fighting Irish appeared first on The Rink.

Blackhawks Prospect Evan Barratt broke out with a couple of big games against Arizona State

It’s been interesting following the Blackhawks college prospects to say the least.  There are the obvious top players and the late-round picks, but it seems like different players take turns having great weeks.  Dylan Sikura started the season off hot and recently came down to earth while freshman Evan Barratt only recently found his scoring touch.

With the World Juniors tournament approaching, several of the Chicago Blackhawks in college hockey and other leagues will be participating putting prospects on full display.  With the NHL not sending players to the Olympics anymore, I imagine the World Juniors will be the next best thing.

Lastly, I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the latest updates to your Chicago Blackhawks NCAA prospects.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

ICYMI: It was a weekend of firsts in the desert as Penn State earned it’s first sweep of the season and @sternschein21, @BarrattEvan, @brettmurrayy & @DerianHamilton all registered their first career goals! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/9HTXVGJMAg

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 19, 2017

Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  11GP, 4G, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Ohio State

Barratt broke out the last two weekends scoring four goals in four games, three of which came on the powerplay.  He had a pair of goals against both Arizona State and Michigan State.  The video below shows Barratt’s great backhand rebound-goal against ASU that contributed to a 7-0 win.

Here’s a look at the Evan Barratt goal to give the Lions the 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/ImXwI6zN9U

— Black Shoe Diaries (@BSDtweet) November 18, 2017

Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)

Current Stats:  12GP, 1G

Next Opponent:  @ Maine

Wisconsin up 2-0 after 1. Defenseman Josh Ess (CHI) scored his first collegiate goal, while Max Zimmer (CAR) has the other. These two teams can get up and go.

— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) November 18, 2017

Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  17GP, 1G,1A

Next Opponent:  @ Minnesota

Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick

Current Stats:  15GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  Brown, Yale 

JUST ANNOUNCED: The @NDHockey vs. @BadgerMHockey game skates into Chicago on January 21, 2018!

?ON SALE: 11/17 (10 AM)
?INFO: https://t.co/poAEaqwQlD pic.twitter.com/CzHRwSB3iU

— United Center (@UnitedCenter) November 13, 2017

Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  15GP, 1G, 3A 

Next Opponent:  @ Michigan State

Gilbert’s Fighting Irish may be the hottest team in college hockey right now.  Winners of nine in a row, the Irish have earned themselves the #4 overall ranking in the USCHO poll.  It was also announced the Fighting Irish will return to the United Center January 21st to play the University of Wisconsin.

Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 2G, 1A 

Next Opponent:  University of Minnesota-Duluth

Chad Krys’ goal vs. Cornell 11-25 pic.twitter.com/DFISBK8afB

— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 27, 2017

Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  15GP, 3G, 10A

Next Opponent:  @ Boston College, Boston College

Krys is on an absolute tear the last few games.  He has a goal and four assists in his last two games and is third on the team in scoring with 13 points.  At almost a point-per-game rate, Krys is showing a lot of offensive upside.

Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)

Current Stats:  14GP, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Maine

.@IanMitch15 with ANOTHER powerplay assist on the @troyterry1997 goal. @DU_Hockey up 3-1 w/ 11min to go in the 3rd on @UNDmhockey #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/M84lZHylJx

— Aaron Goldschmidt (@lateinthegoldie) November 19, 2017

Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 11A

Next Opponent:  University of Minnesota-Duluth

Mitchell is currently on a seven game point-streak scoring nine points during that time.  He’s playing on the best powerplay unit in college hockey at Denver who convert over 30% of their opportunities.  Mitchell is definitely making the best of his situation playing with top players at Denver and learning a lot from it.

- Zach Jordan (1 G, 1 A)
- Fredrik Olofsson (0 G, 2 A)
- Evan Weninger (Stopped 25 of 26 shots)

— Omaha Hockey (@OmahaHKY) November 26, 2017

Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 2G, 7A

Next Opponent:  St. Cloud State

Olofsson continues to have a good season and has scored four points in the last four games.  Nebraska-Omaha has a tough test this weekend when they host #2 St. Cloud State.

Wrapping things up this week, @Ramsey_16 and the #Gophers are back on the 3M Arena at Mariucci ice Friday just after 7pm. pic.twitter.com/ox8oD5zwJT

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 29, 2017

Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  16GP, 1G, 2A

Next Opponent:  Wisconsin

Word is @FriarsHockey freshman Jake Ryczek (mononucleosis) not on trip to Belfast

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) November 20, 2017

Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 0P

Next Opponent: @ New Hampshire

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  13GP, 1G, 8A

Next Opponent:  Merrimack, @ Merrimack

Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  11GP, 7G, 9A 

Next Opponent: Merrimack, @ Merrimack

Take a look at @Beau_Dangles‘ first goal of the year to get his team on the board first at MSG. pic.twitter.com/p53EXgXpvt

— Cornell Sun Sports (@DailySunSports) November 26, 2017

Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  9GP, 1G, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Miami

READ NEXT:  ICEHOGS LOOK FOR BOUNCE BACK WEEKEND

The post Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA Prospects Roundup: Dec 1-2 appeared first on The Rink.

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks came back from a 0-3 deficit and defeated the University of Denver Pioneers 5-4 Friday night

DENVER, CO– On Friday night at Magness Arena in Denver, it was hard to tell who was the home team because both Denver and North Dakota’s fans were so loud.  Such is life when the No. 3 college hockey team takes on the No. 1.  Much like Denver’s battle with St. Cloud State last weekend, the start to this series lived up to the hype.

Denver jumped ahead 2-0 after the first period with goals from Jake Durflinger and Jarid Lukosevicius, then they scored a short handed goal by Logan O’Connor to make it 3-0 in the second period.  The Pioneers were playing well defensively against a pesky North Dakota forward group.  But before the end of the second, Tanner Jalliet let in a couple of goals to Zach Yon and Joel Janatuinen and suddenly North Dakota was back in it.

? Bullseye!

Colton Poolman goes bardown to tie the game and complete a 3-goal comeback for @UNDmhockey at @DU_Hockey. #NCHCHockey pic.twitter.com/BH9hp18XGv

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) November 18, 2017

A few minutes into the third period, the Pioneers got caught in a bad change and defenseman Colton Poolman made them pay with a great wrist shot past Tanner Jalliet.  Christian Wolanin scored shortly after giving the Hawks the lead.  Troy Terry tied the game up for the Pioneers halfway through the third, but Johnny Simonson scored the go-ahead goal for North Dakota in the final minutes of the game to knock off the No. 1 ranked Denver Pioneers.

The-Rink caught up with North Dakota netminder and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Peter Thome after the game.

Interview with the University of North Dakota’s Peter Thome

It sure felt like No. 3 vs No. 1 out there, didn’t it?

Yeah, you could just tell it was a heavyweight bout.  They came out swinging.  I thought we did a pretty good job of weathering the storm with just two goals after they came out with 21 shots in the first period.  Even in the second when they went up 3-0 I think there was no panic from us.  The boys really rallied and we just fought.  It was an ugly road-win against the best team in the nation, but we’ll take it.

What did your team tell you after being down 2-0 in the first period?

We were obviously not happy in the locker room, but we don’t panic.  We’ve been a group that teams can’t seem to put down all year.  Even when we’re behind we’re level-headed and just playing our game.  Eventually bounces come and we get back in the game.  So there’s really no panic in our locker room, even when we’re down two or three goals like tonight.

What’s made you so successful playing in Cam Johnson‘s absence, and what have you learned from him?

First things first, the team has been great in front of me.  They’ve done a really good job of limiting grade-A chances in front and clearing rebounds.  And Cam’s been great.  I texted him yesterday because I thought the lighting (at Magness Arena) was a little weird.  I asked him if he ever had any trouble with it.  He texted me back saying, “yeah it is a little weird, but you won’t notice it during the game.”  That’s just one example of stuff he’s been doing for me.  He’s been great even in practice.  If I get beat on a play, he would come over and tell me things he notices.  Obviously he’s a guy that when he speaks, you listen because he’s such a great goalie.

Any reason why North Dakota is a slow-starting team?

I don’t know if I have an answer for you.  Obviously we’re playing urgent hockey in the third, but like I said before it’s urgent but we’re not panicking.  We’re not gripping the stick too hard or thinking we have to score.  We trust our abilities because we’ve got a team that’s got some unbelievable players.  No matter what the score is, we will find a way to come back.

What’s the game plan for tomorrow?

Come out strong.  Hopefully this time we can try to get a lead and go from there.

The post North Dakota Netminder Peter Thome Will Take An ‘Ugly Road Win’ vs No. 1 Denver appeared first on The Rink.

Chad Krys, Ryan Shea, and Beau Starrett shine in recent college hockey games

If the Chicago Blackhawks want to legitimately compete for another Stanley Cup in the near future, they’ll have to get a hand from some of their young talent in their farm system.  Drafting the right players is one thing, but developing them is another.  The Blackhawks believe in the College Hockey system and hopefully it pays dividends soon.

A big factor in how the Blackhawks develop their players involves the Alex DeBrincat strategy.  In the past, coach Joel Quenneville has been very reluctant to play young players, and rarely rookies.  But this season, 19-year-old Alex DeBrincat made the team out of camp and has stayed at the NHL level.  The Blackhawks have recently been in a funk and one of the few bright spots has been DeBrincat’s productivity despite playing on lower lines.

If the Blackhawks continue to develop younger players at the NHL level, it may mean more ice time later in the year potentially for Dylan Sikura and others set to move on from the college level.  It’s a shame that Teuvo Teravainen had to ride the bus to and from Rockford when he didn’t really belong there, but it’s good the Blackhawks are finally realizing top six players need top six minutes and not have to “do their time” as 3rd line grinders.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

Meet @PennStateMHKY‘s next star forward: Pennsylvania’s own, Evan Barratt https://t.co/KEtMaaJFlZ pic.twitter.com/P82ThMtBXO

— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) November 9, 2017

Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Arizona State

After a couple close losses at Notre Dame, Barratt and the Nittany Lions look to rebound against a struggling Arizona State team this weekend.  Barratt has yet to find the back of the net, but this might be his best opportunity yet.  According to a recent article from The Daily Colliegan, Penn State and head coach Guy Gadowsky are very high on Barratt who consider him one of the team’s top prospects.

Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)

Current Stats:  9GP, 1G

Next Opponent:  @ Northeastern

Badgers men’s hockey: Cooperative development for defensemen Peter Tischke, Josh Ess https://t.co/akSiOyy2As pic.twitter.com/nvXMHy41mh

— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) October 17, 2017

Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  13GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  Michigan

Photo Courtesy of ECACHockey.com

Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick

Current Stats:  13GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent: University of North Dakota 11/24-25

Photo Courtesy of InsideHockey.com

Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  11GP, 1G, 2A 

Next Opponent:  @ Rensselaer

Photo Courtesy of USCHO.com

Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  10GP, 2G, 1A 

Next Opponent:  University of North Dakota

Chad Krys’ goal vs. Providence college for @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/nHGQdxKR2Q

— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 6, 2017

Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 2G, 6A

Next Opponent:  @ Maine

It’s been a couple weeks since Krys single-handedly put away Providence, but he has since added another helper to his stats last weekend versus the University of New Hampshire.  This weekend Boston University is on the road playing the University of Maine, a team that is just 3-5 on the season.

Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)

Current Stats:  11GP, 2A

Next Opponent:  @ Northeastern

Ian Mitchell leads NCAA freshmen with 7 power play points #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/hXtbiSSeTt

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 12, 2017

Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  10GP, 8A

Next Opponent:  University of North Dakota

Mitchell has had a great start to the season with eight assists, seven of them coming on the powerplay.  For being just a freshman, he has embraced his role as powerplay QB and is known to be very communicative with his teammates.  With senior defenseman Adam Plant out of the lineup this weekend against North Dakota, a lot of responsibility will fall to Mitchell and fellow Blackhawks prospect Blake Hillman.

Photo Courtesy of PucksAndRecreation.com

Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Western Michigan

Photo Courtesy of The Star Tribune

Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  12GP, 1G, 2A

Next Opponent:  Harvard

Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 0P

Next Opponent: Merrimack

#HE: Northeastern LHD Ryan Shea (CHI 4th/2015) is an absolute stud. He always offered pure offensive skill but his reads and game below the circles are excellent. Only a sophomore but he looks NHL ready to me.

— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) November 11, 2017

Photo Courtesy of The Boston Globe

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  10GP, 8A

Next Opponent:  Vermont, Boston College

Shea was an absolute monster for Northeastern in the series against Boston University.  He tallied three assists then and added another last week in the game against UMass-Lowell.  Shea didn’t make much noise during prospect camp but if he continues to produce close to a point-per-game pace, he’ll begin to turn some heads.

Photo Courtesy of The Huntington News

Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 6G, 8A     
Next Opponent:  Vermont, Boston College

Sikura wasn’t in the Northeastern lineup last weekend because he was one of the college players selected for the Team Canada roster for the Olympics.  Last weekend was the Karjala Cup that was held in Finland that Sikura participated in.

Photo Courtesy of NBCSports.com

Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 5A
Next Opponent:  St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Niagra (Tuesday)

Starrett’s Big Red are rolling with a current record of 6-0.  Starrett’s game-tying assist against Harvard was huge and ultimately led to the Big Red’s biggest win of the season thus far.

READ NEXT:  BLACKHAWKS-RANGERS:  THE OTHER TEAM SHOWED UP

The post Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA Prospects Roundup: Nov 16-17 appeared first on The Rink.

The road to professional hockey is unique to every young player.  Some have been on a track of attending the best amateur hockey schools all of their lives and others become late bloomers who develop somewhere along the line.  Regardless of who you are or where you came from, the road is difficult and taxing on these young men and their families.

Ian Mitchell is a defenseman for the University of Denver Pioneers and his road too is unique.  Ian is from Calahoo Alberta, population 197.  Hockey is in his blood.  His uncle, Roy Mitchell, was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1989 and played pro hockey for 12 seasons.  His father, Bill, also played and coached Ian and his brother Sean growing up in Calahoo.

As teenagers, some hockey players choose to leave home to pursue their careers in junior leagues across North America.  Mitchell was drafted to the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League and the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey league.  Ultimately, Mitchell decided to play his bantam hockey with the Spruce Grove Saints, just 30 minutes from his home in Calahoo.

Because of the opportunity to continue his education and play hockey for a prestigious program like the University of Denver, Mitchell decided to go the college route and hasn’t looked back.  With eight points in ten games, he’s thriving on the top-ranked college hockey team in the country.  And to top it off, he was drafted to the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Ian Mitchell leads NCAA freshmen with 7 power play points #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/hXtbiSSeTt

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 12, 2017

The-Rink had the opportunity to speak with Ian’s father Bill to talk hockey, family, and also get the scouting report on Ian’s younger brother Sean.

Interview with Bill Mitchell

What’s it like being a hockey dad and watching your son Ian be so successful at a young age?

Bill Mitchell:  Because my brother and I grew up playing the game, it was just natural that my kids followed in our footsteps.  It’s pretty special in a sense that I’ve been able to teach them both skating.  I was their power-skating instructor for many years so I’ve taught them that.  It’s been fun following them through their whole process as they go.  

What’s it like being the coaches son, Sean?  More pressure or less pressure?

Sean Mitchell:  Maybe a bit of both.  If you do well you’re rewarded, but if you mess up you have to come to the bench and try not to make eye contact.  Just get in line (laughs).

Montgomery on Ian Mitchell:

“He’s a coaches dream. He’s prepared every day and he wants to get better. He has a great compete level”

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 26, 2017

What was it like coaching Ian?

Bill Mitchell:  Where we were in the little town of Calahoo, there’s about 200 people that live there.  I ended up going out there so we moved there. There weren’t a lot of coaches and the team had only 24 kids.  It was also hard having so much diversity on the team.  There were some kids that could hardly skate where Ian was and it was tough to get them progression.  A lot of kids nowadays are going to these specialty schools.  Families are paying a lot of money but I’m a firm believer in just getting on the ice and getting your skills developed.  When you’re young, get your feet, get your hands, and get your head up.  So yeah it’s paid off.  Both of these guys are pretty good at that, they’re smart players.  

Talk about how passionate hockey fans are in Spruce Grove.

Bill Mitchell:  Well that team in that area is a Junior-A team that has had a lot of success the last 15 years.  We support the team.  It’s quite a bit different than coming to a college game.  They’ll get maybe 800-900 fans max per game, but there’s a lot of different hockey there.  You can watch high-end Bantam, high-end Midget, Junior Tier-1, the University Golden Bears, and the Oilers.  There’s a lot of hockey to watch.  

What are your thoughts on the Edmonton Oilers and their recent slump?

It just hasn’t come together yet.  They’re having a tough time.  I think it’s going to start to show.  They won the last two games so hopefully it picks up.  That’s been our favorite team.

How did it feel the minute Ian was drafted and knowing the Mitchell name might be sewn on an original six jersey?

Well, it’s pretty exciting.  It’s funny because throughout the year, Darrell May (Blackhawks Scout) was always at Ian’s games.  He was always going to him after games and telling him, “You’re a Blackhawk.”  I had a pretty good feeling.  We knew he wasn’t going to be a first-rounder.  In all honestly, I think it was better to go below that because the eye isn’t on you all the time.  And it gives you an opportunity to develop.  But we were watching that number 57 spot and we thought OK.  But when the Blackhawks took Henri Jokiharju, we thought because he’s a right-handed puck-moving defenseman what are the chances they’re going to take Ian?  But when it happened it was pretty special.  Ian jumped sky high, he was so excited to go to that team. 

How hard was it for you watching Ian go off to college?

Bill Mitchell:  We actually had a unique situation.  He was drafted by the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL so he went down there and checked it out.  But with his academic prowess with school, we thought we should wait and see what happens.  We got lucky because Spruce Grove is 20 minutes from our house.  It’s been tough on all of us as a family because we’re very tight, but it was better than him moving at 16 to go to Brandon.  We like to come down to Denver as much as we can, but it’s not cheap to fly. 

Lastly, give us the scouting report on Ian’s younger brother Sean Mitchell.

Bill Mitchell:  He’s a heads-up hockey player.  He skates very well.  He needs to get more bulk and strength but when it comes to play-making he’s very good.  You might see him down the road, he’s got to keep working at it.

You can follow Ian and Bill on Twitter at @IanMitch15 and @Bill_Mitchell10

The post College Hockey Worth the Wait for Blackhawks’ Ian Mitchell and Family appeared first on The Rink.

DENVER, CO– 56 penalty minutes is a statistic that is a pretty clear indicator as to what kind of game the No. 3 Denver Pioneers and No. 1 St. Cloud State Huskies had Saturday night.  After a very close game Friday won by Denver 4-2, Saturday night’s game quickly got out of hand.  The Pioneers scored three goals in the 2nd period and two more in the 3rd to knock off the top-ranked Huskies.

The game included several hard hits, major penalties, and a heated skirmish at the end of the game when emotions boiled over for the Huskies.  After going 7-0-0 to start the season, the Huskies weren’t ready to hand the top ranking back to Denver after just one week.  Messages were sent and there is clearly some unfinished business between the two division rivals.  The next time St. Cloud and Denver meet is in St. Cloud February 23rd and 24th.

Before the season started, Denver was picked by most to be a heavy favorite to repeat as National Champions.  However, last weekend the Pioneers were swept by the Western Michigan Broncos in an unexpected series loss.  Denver quickly got back on track with these wins against St. Cloud, but they aren’t in the clear just yet.  Next weekend, the Pioneers host the University of North Dakota who was ranked No. 2 overall in last weeks USCHO poll.

? Redirection ?

Dylan Gambrell makes it 4-1 @DU_Hockey on the power play. #NCHCHockey pic.twitter.com/HMzT3ILW3S

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) November 12, 2017

After the game Saturday night, The-Rink caught up with Denver’s Dylan Gambrell, a San Jose Sharks prospect, who tallied a goal and an assist Saturday night.

Photo courtesy of NHL.com

Interview with Dylan Gambrell from the University of Denver

Talk about tonight’s win and what it means to beat top-ranked St. Cloud State a couple nights in a row.

Honestly it’s exciting when you have a chance to take on the #1 in your own building. I think we brought it yesterday and we improved tonight.  You can see that in the results.

Head coach Jim Montgomery talked on Friday about the Pioneer forwards needing to be more physical on the forecheck with St. Cloud.  How much did that contribute to tonight’s game plan?

I think it was huge.  When you take the body on Friday, it definitely takes a toll coming into Saturday.  We came out early and we we’re definitely more physical which led to our success this weekend.

We saw you use the spin-o-rama move on your breakaway.  When’s the last time you used that in a game?

(laughs) Uh… a long time.  I was trying to do something just to get to the net, but it almost worked out.

Adam Plant played a really strong game tonight.  Talk about his leadership role on the team, especially with captain Tariq Hammond out of the lineup. 

Adam’s great on the power-play, he’s really good at shooting through traffic, and is really good at finding the net.  Putting pucks on net clean is always useful for our team.

It got pretty heated at the end of the game.  What do you expect from St. Cloud State the next time Denver plays them?

They’re going to be ready, and we’re going to be ready for them.  They’re going to want to come back and get some redemption.  We have to be at our best because we know they’re going to bring theirs.  

What have you been working on this season as far as development that you and the Sharks talked about over the summer?

We talk a little bit, but development wise I’m just trying to do all the little things right.  Sharpen up my play in the offensive zone and neutral zone.  I want to do the little things right and just play hard.

NEXT:  ARE THE BLACKHAWKS THIS BAD?

The post NCAA: Dylan Gambrell Knows St. Cloud State Will Be Back For More After Sweep appeared first on The Rink.

When you’re a college hockey program in Minnesota, you generally don’t have to look too far to find your incoming freshman class.  The St. Cloud State Huskies are the top-ranked team in the country and the roster is full of elite NHL prospects and college players.  If you look up and down their lineup, most players hail from Minnesota, Canada, or Europe.  But not all.

Freshman Kevin Fitzgerald is from Hinsdale Illinois.  He played his AAA hockey with the Chicago Steel who he won the championship with in 2013.  Fitzgerald also played hockey at Hinsdale Central High School until he joined the North American Hockey League in 2014.  He played with the Topeka Roadrunners, Vermont Lumberjacks of the EHL, and most recently with the Aberdeen Wings.  Last year with the Wings, Fitzgerald was almost a point-per-game player.  In 60 games, Fitzgerald scored 22 goals and 37 assists.

This year, Fitzgerald is in his freshman year at St. Cloud State and his success at the NAHL level seems to be translating to the college game.  In seven games, Fitzgerald has two goals and three assists.  He currently plays on a line with Los Angeles Kings prospect Mikey Eyssimont and Montreal Candiens prospect Ryan Poehling.

#1 St. Cloud State men’s hockey drops 4-2 decision at #3 Denver https://t.co/xKWZoAYFhT

— SCSU HUSKIES (@SCSUHUSKIES) November 11, 2017

Friday night, the St. Cloud State Huskies fell to the University of Denver Pioneers 2-4 in a game featuring two of the country’s top college hockey teams.  The-Rink caught up with Fitzgerald after the game to talk about his experiences at college and his Illinois roots.

Photo courtesy of NAHL.com

Interview with Kevin Fitzgerald of the St. Cloud State Huskies

Talk about tonight’s game against the University of Denver and what adjustments you guys need to make for tomorrow night.

Denver is a good team obviously, but I feel like our start needs to be better.  We talked about it in the locker room.  We just have to come out with fire and make it hard for them.  We have to out-work them tomorrow.

What do you think has made the Huskies so successful this season considering this is just your first loss after going 7-0?

It’s definitely our leadership.  We’ve got guys showing new guys like myself, the freshmen, how to do things.  I also feel like our skill and our depth make us a threat when we work hard and create plays. 

How did you decide to play your college hockey at St. Cloud State and what has your experience been like so far?

First off, my experience has been unbelievable.  I knew it was going to be a great time when I committed here, but I could never imagine something like this.  The guys are incredible.  Everybody from the staff to the teachers.  St. Cloud State is a great place to be.  What attracted me to it was obviously their hockey program, it speaks for itself.  Also the tradition of the team having been so good for so long.  When I got the call from coach Motzko I was ecstatic.

Growing up in Illinois, you had success at the amateur level when you won a USHL championship with the Chicago Steel in 2013.  If a school like the University of Illinois or Northwestern University had a D1 hockey program, would you have considered it?  

I mean, yeah.  I know Nick Fabbrini really well, he’s the head coach at the University of Illinois.  He spoke to me about “feasibility reports” of adding a D1 team and it looks like it may be in the works.  It would be good for Chicago kids.  There a lot of hockey in Chicago and a lot of good players.  I feel like giving them a place to go would be really awesome.  I’ve known Nick for a while, he’s a good coach that loves the game.  I think that would be a good spot for kids.

Last question:  Bears/Packers on Sunday, who do you got?

C’mon, Bears.  Trubisky’s elite. 

NEXT:  SHAKE UP TIME FOR THE BLACKHAWKS?

The post NCAA: Away At College, Hinsdale-Native Kevin Fitzgerald Loving Every Minute of It appeared first on The Rink.

The Chicago Blackhawks’ College Hockey prospects are off to a great start this season led by Northeastern University’s Dylan Sikura

The Chicago Blackhawks have seen a lot of their stars come from the college hockey system including Duncan Keith (Michigan State), Jonathan Toews (North Dakota) and Patrick Sharp (Vermont).  But after the past two seasons of disappointing playoff losses, GM Stan Bowman has put a new focus on player development across the entire organization to help get their prospects ready for the pro level.

A fresh roster and new head coach Jeremy Colliton already has the Blackhawks AHL affiliate, The Rockford IceHogs, breathing new life.  And with the ‘Hawks struggling to find successors for their aging defenseman, Bowman used his first two picks in the 2017 NHL draft on defenseman.

Leading the pack of NCAA Blackhawks prospects are Northeastern University’s Dylan Sikura, Boston Universtiy’s Chad Krys, and University of Denver’s Ian Mitchell all who contribute to successful NCAA hockey programs.

Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects

The learning curve has been short for freshmen Alex Limoges and Evan Barratt. https://t.co/NCVGMU2Jgj pic.twitter.com/UDboV0fs5M

— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 31, 2017

Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  3GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  Mercyhurst

Barratt was held out of play for the first five games of the season with an upper-body injury.  Although his numbers aren’t impressive yet, reports are that he has been strong in the face-off circle and has established a solid 3rd line with freshman Alex Limoges and sophomore Liam Folkes.

Evan Barratt isn’t on the scoresheet but he’s been all over the place tonight through two periods.

— David Eckert (@davideckert98) October 28, 2017

Photo Courtesy of Brian Jenkins

Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)

Current Stats:  6GP, 1G

Next Opponent:  @ University of Connecticut

Badgers men’s hockey: Cooperative development for defensemen Peter Tischke, Josh Ess https://t.co/akSiOyy2As pic.twitter.com/nvXMHy41mh

— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) October 17, 2017

Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  9GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  University of North Dakota

Photo Courtesy of ECACHockey.com

Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick

Current Stats:  9GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent: @ St. Lawrence 11/3, @ Clarkson 11/4

Foo is in his freshman year at Union College and is trying to pave his own way without comparisons to his older brother and Union College standout Spencer Foo.  Parker showed a lot of speed and quickness over the summer at Blackhawks prospect camp and has high expectations at Union this year.  He has already earned praise from The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and ESPN’s John Buccigross.

Parker Foo is a real Fighter. He’s no Pretender. Times Like These you wonder if he would have liked to play with his brother.

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) October 13, 2017

Photo Courtesy of InsideHockey.com

Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 1G, 9 Blocked Shots

Next Opponent:  @ Ohio State

Gilbert is in for an intense series when his Fighting Irish(#10) take on the Buckeyes(#16) this weekend.  Gilbert is a former Chicago Steel product and played in the Frozen Four with Notre Dame last season.  He plays on a highly skilled defense led by senior Jordan Gross.

Photo Courtesy of USCHO.com

Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 2G, 19 SOG 

Next Opponent:  Western Michigan University

In an interview with Hillman from Blackhawk Up earlier this year, Hillman said he wanted to focus on defense this year and hopefully the offense will come.  So far, the Denver Pioneers are unbeaten and Hillman is finding his stride.  Hillman had the primary assist in an overtime goal against the Lake Superior State Lakers last month and had a nice goal against the Boston College Eagles last weekend.

Quick trigger from Denver’s Blake Hillman off the faceoff, all Woll can do is shrug. 3-0, 3:47 left in the second. pic.twitter.com/ujZ5VrQnz8

— Bradley Smart (@bradleysmart15) October 29, 2017

Photo Courtesy of ConcordMonitor.com

Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 5A, 30 SOG

Next Opponent:  Providence 11/3, Northeastern 11/4

Krys was probably the most impressive defensive player at Blackhawks Prospect Camp this summer.  His ability to skate and create space for his forwards is impressive for only being a sophomore at BU.  He has been extremely aggressive with 30 shots on goal already.  In an article from the Daily Free Press, Krys described his offseason preparation and physicality as goals for the 2017-18 season.

“It’s something that Coach Quinn’s really emphasized for me everyday, to take responsibility defensively, and try and be as physical as I can and be as hard to play against as I can.”

Defending 101: Protect Your Goalie – by @jakemassie3 of @UVMmhockey at @Friendship_Four pic.twitter.com/aCafyLXnU5

— Chris Ritchie (@DeeChris7) November 28, 2016

Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)

Current Stats:  7GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  @ University of Connecticut

Photo Courtesy of The Denver Post

Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 4A

Next Opponent:  Western Michigan University

There probably isn’t a better place for Blackhawks 2017 2nd round pick Ian Mitchell to develop than on the #1 ranked Denver Pioneers under Jim Montgomery.  Although Michell has had his fair share of defensive lapses, he continues to get better in his own end.  Montgomery has trusted Mitchell with being the quarterback of the power-play where he has excelled in taking over for former Pioneer Will Butcher.

Denver’s Ian Mitchell scored his first goal of the season from long range. Eagles trail, 2-0. pic.twitter.com/LvqQO6bzKu

— Bradley Smart (@bradleysmart15) October 28, 2017

Photo Courtesy of PucksAndRecreation.com

Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  6GP, 1G, 4A

Next Opponent:  @ Colorado College 11/10-11/11

Entering his second season with the Mavericks, Olofsson is off to a great start with five points in six games.  The Mavs are currently 3-2-1.  Olofsson had a solid freshman year scoring 11 goals and 13 assists.

Photo Courtesy of The Star Tribune

Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  8GP, 1G, 1A

Next Opponent:  Michigan State

Ramsey is a big kid at 6’3 185 pounds.  He played a scrappy game at prospect camp this summer and was rewarded for getting to the front of the net.  Although his stats have never been great, he plays a big leadership role on the Gophers.  Wish him a happy birthday on Twitter at @Ramsey_16

We find it hard to believe that @Ramsey_16 won’t have fun on his birthday! Have a great one, Jack! #Gophers pic.twitter.com/CMZw7332bF

— Minnesota M Hockey (@GopherHockey) November 2, 2017

Welcome to Friartown @jakeryczek1619 @FriarsHockey #gofriars #pcmih pic.twitter.com/gSJWBxhtBT

— Ken Jancef (@kenjancef) October 28, 2017

Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 0P

Next Opponent: @ Boston University

Photo Courtesy of The Boston Globe

Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 5A

Next Opponent:  @ Boston University

This weekend the Huskies go to Boston to take on the Terriers.  Ryan Shea has had a strong start to the season with five assists.  He’s also a plus six and has nine blocked shots.  The Blackhawks should keep a close eye on Shea considering they need stay at home defenders like Shea who are reliable in their own zone.

Photo Courtesy of The Huntington News

Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick

Current Stats:  7GP, 6G, 8A, 41 SOG      

Next Opponent:  Boston University

Sikura was recently ranked the #1 forward in college hockey by College Hockey News.  He and line-mate Adam Gaudette have been scoring machines for the Huskies.  Sikura is also being considered by Team Canada as a potential player for their Olympic team.  The Huskies will take on the Boston Terriers on Friday as fellow Blackhawks prospect Chad Krys will try to slow Sikura down.

A 14-point October has earned Dylan Sikura @hockey_east Player of the Month honors!

Read: https://t.co/ExOMUXz2zO#GoNU | #RedBlackOnePack pic.twitter.com/HUOqmWPzE3

— Northeastern MHKY (@GoNUmhockey) November 1, 2017

Photo Courtesy of NBCSports.com

Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick

Current Stats:  2GP, 1A

Next Opponent:  @ Quinnipiac 11/3, @ Princeton 11/4

Starrett is out this season to prove he can be the dominant force the Chicago Blackhawks saw when they drafted him in 2014.  AT 6’5 212 pounds, Starrett towered over other Blackhawks centers at prospect camp.  He can move pretty well up the ice for a big man too.  The Big Red are 2-0 and hopefully Starrett can produce more than the 14 points he scored last season.

Got a good shot of you taking draws pic.twitter.com/wMb8xuWKfF

— Blackhawk Up (@Blackhawk_Up) July 24, 2017

READ NEXT:  ICEHOGS CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY MORE THAN ON THE ICE

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