Thursday, April 23, 2026

Portal additions solidify defense; Lawrence and Knowling shine at World U18s

 Image  Jax Wismer - Stats, Contract, Salary & More  

Terriers dipped into the transfer portal twice on Thursday to add a pair of veteran D1 defensemen to the 2026-27 roster. Both Adam Barrone (Lake Superior) and Jax Wismer (Vermont) are sophomores with two season of eligibility remaining and will bring experience and toughness to BU's blueline corps.

As of Thursday Morning, Barone was College Puck NXT's top ranked uncommitted player in the portal while Wismer was ninth.  

Barone, a 6'1" 209 lb. right-shot, who will turn 22 next week,  played in all 36 LSSU games last season, emerging as the Lakers' top scoring defenseman with a 4-15-19 scoring line, 24 penalty minutes and 27 blocked shots. Prior to his freshman year, he played for the BCHL Trail Smoke Eaters and led their defensemen with 33 points in 53 games (8G,25A). In 2021, he was a first-round pick (#6 overall) by Sudbury in the OHL Priority draft) but elected to play in the BCHL. Previously the Sault St. Marie, Ont., native was a point producer for the OJHL Coburg Cougars and in 2022, he helped Canada East claim Silver in the World Junior A Championship (U-19).  

Barone ties it up in the 2nd. Even going into the third!    

●  Elite Prospects Page 

● First collegiate goal (video) 

Wismer, who turned 21 last month, is a 6'0", 179 lb., left-shot from Newmarket, Ont. Last season he was on the Catamounts top defensive pairing most of the season with standout Philip Tournqvist, posting a 2-5-7 scoring line with 27 blocks and just two minor penalties. As a freshman, he had two goals and 13 assists in 34 games. Prior to UVM, he spent two seasons in the BCHL with Alberni Valley, ringing up 7-27-34 line in 43 games in 2023-24.  Previously, he skated for St. Andrews College. 

Jax Wismer - Men's Ice Hockey - University of Vermont Athletics 

● Wismer interview with Vermont Sports Information Director Owen Gund (Note: Gund is a BU grad whose resume includes WTBU Sports and College Hockey News. He also assisted Bernie Corbett on BU Hockey broadcasts.)

● Elite Prospects Page 

Last week we reported that recently committed Niagara IceDogs defenseman Blake Barnes, would be in the 2026 class. Correction: Barnes will arrive in 2027 along with fellow defensemen Luke Schairer and Freddy Meyer V.

So where do these moves leave the D corps? The rebuild is nearly complete with these seven names: seniors Aiden Celebrini and Mick Frechette; juniors Barone and Wismer; sophomores Charlie Trethewey and Carter Amico; and freshman Haoxi Wang. 

One more spot to fill and several internet posts indicate it will be Xavier Villeneuve, a 5'1l" 162 lb., LD, who plays "in the style of Lane Hutson" according to one draft analyst. A projected first round pick in June's NHL Entry Draft, Villeneuve's season continues in the QMJHL Playoffs. We'll keep watching to see if the pundits are correct.

IIHF U18 World Championships 

Tynan Lawrence scored his first goal of the tournament and a was a play driver throughout Canada's 6-0 win against Latvia. He was named Canada's Player of the Game. Lawrence had scored a a hat trick in Canada's pre-tournament win against Czeckia. Next up for Canada is Norway on Saturday.      

Brady Knowling stopped 23 of 26 shot in Team USA's 3-2 overtime loss to Czechia on Wednesday, earning U.S. Player of the Game honors.  Three other BU recruits, Jamie Glance, Carter Meyer and Schairer had strong games for Team USA, who next play Denmark Friday at 10 AM ET on NHL Network.

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Monday, April 20, 2026

Catching up: Defense in flux; U18 Worlds set to begin

 


Two more Terrier defensemen have found new homes through the transfer portal: one expected and the other, a surprise to Terrier fans. Freshman Kyle Kim, who saw very limited action on defense and as a extra forward, is headed to the ECAC’s Colgate Red Raiders.

Sascha Boumedienne, a 2025 first-round draft pick by Winnipeg, has transferred to Ohio State. After a strong second half of his freshman season followed by a record-setting performance at the World U18s, the Swedish blueliner had a challenging sophomore season.

With the earlier transfer of Malte Vass to New Hampshire and pro signings of Cole Hutson and Gavin McCarthy, BU now expects just three blueline returnees on next season’s squad: seniors Aiden Celebrini and Mick Frechette and sophomore Charlie Trethewey.

A pair of Ds from the Niagara IceDogs, San Jose draft pick Haoxi Wang and Blake Barnes, will be coming aboard, while it’s anticipated that Carter Amico, who split last season between BU and USHL Muskegon will return to Comm Ave. That still leaves two slots still to be filled. Stay tuned.  

2026 IIHF World U18 Championships ... 

John McNelis, who entered the portal last week, has signed on with UMass.. 

IIHF U18 World Championships

Tynan Lawrence scored a hat trick and added an assist to power Canada past Czechia, 6-2, in a pre-tournament game at the IIHF U18 World Championships in Slovakia. Lawrence also tallied a goal in an earlier 5-2 win over Sweden.  Canada's first preliminary round game is on Wednesday against host team Slovakia.

2027 recruit Jamie Glance scored a goal and added three assists in Team USA’s 7-3 win over Finland in a pre-tournament match at the U18 World Championships in Slovakia.

Glance, who led the NTDP in goals with 21 and tied for the points lead with 46, also had four points in Team USA’s earlier exhibition win, a 10-0 rout of Norway. 2027 recruit Carter Meyer had a goal and an assist in the blowout win.

Team USA, which also includes Schairer and Knowling, begins preliminary round play on Wednesday against Czechia. The game will air on the NHL Network at 10 a.m ET. Full broadcast schedule. 

Looking ahead

NHL Central Scouting issued its final 2026 draft rankings, which included eight Terriers, seven skaters and one goalie.

Among North American skaters: #6 Caleb Malhotra, #7 Lawrence, #19 Egor Shilov, #45 Luke Schairer, #63 Rian Chudzinski and #105 Braidy Wassilyn. Brady Knowling is the #1 ranked North American goalie.

Malhotra and Chudzinski both continue their respective playoff series. Malhotra had 13 points in eight games to help Brantford sweep its first two playoff rounds. Chudzinski had nine points in eight games for Moncton, which also swept two playoff series

Shilov, whose Victoriaville team was eliminated in the first playoff round, was named the QMJHL’s Rookie of the Year after leading all first-year players with 82 points (32G,50A). He also was a finalist for the Michael Bossy Trophy for the league’s top professional prospect. 

 

2027 recruit James Scantlebury has been named to the USHL All-Rookie First Team. The Montreal native, a 5-⭐️prospect who is a finalist for the league’s Rookie of the Year Award, had 39 points for the Chicago Steel. 

Looking back 

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are under way with eight Terriers looking to put their name on the Stanley Cup: Jack Eichel (Vegas), Clayton Keller (Utah), Jake Oettinger (Dallas), Charlie McAvoy (Boston), Lane Hutson (Montreal), Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa), Trevor Zegras (Philadelphia) and Jordan Greenway (Buffalo).

Hutson assisted on the overtime game-winner in the Canadian's 4-3 win over Tampa Bay in their opening game of their playoff series. He finished the regular season with 78 points (12G,66A), fourth best among NHL defensemen. He was +36.

With a goal and two assists in his final game of the season, Macklin Celebrini established a new season points record for the San Jose franchise. His 115 points (45G, 70A) pushed past the 114 mark of Sharks' legend Joe Thornton--who also has been housing Celebrini for his first two seasons.  

Image  

In the Panthers final game of the season, and 8-1 win, Wilmer Skoog assisted on a pair goals, gaining his first NHL points. He skated for Florida in their final three games.  

 

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