Skating for Gold

                                                   

Team USA and Sweden will face off this afternoon (1:00 PM) in the gold-medal game of the IIHF World 18U Championship, a rematch of last year's title game won by the Swedes. BU recruits Cole Hutson and Tom Willander each played an important role in their teams' semifinal victories on Saturday.

  ●USA Hockey USA and Sweden Square Off in Gold Medal Game

2023 recruit Willander, ranked #16 on Central Scouting's International list, scored Sweden's first goal--answering a Team Canada tally by 2023 recruit Macklin Celebrini--and assisted on Sweden's fifth goal in a 7-2 victory. Both of his points came on power plays.

tw-align-center

Tom Willander’s point shot sneaks through and Sweden has tied the game! #2023NHLDraft

🔗: https://t.co/KlTdhIVWzT

pic.twitter.com/JLfK80BpwX

— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) April 29, 2023

Willander's game ended early when he took a major penalty for slashing at the end of the second period that also brought a game misconduct.  With a 3-5-8 scoring line in six games, the 6'1" right-shot defenseman is third in points by defensemen in the tournament.

Celebrini leads Canada in scoring with a 4-8-12 line, which is sixth best among all skaters. The 16-year-old center was named Canada's top player in the tournament in a vote of coaches prior to the medal round. He'll play against Slovakia this morning (9:00 ET) in the Bronze-medal game before returning the Chicago Steel in the USHL playoffs.

tw-align-center

Who else? Macklin Celebrini hammers a shot on the powerplay to give Canada a 1-0 lead! #2024NHLDraft

🔗: https://t.co/YQIL2xaRI2

pic.twitter.com/dsbhOlJa0s

— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) April 29, 2023

Hutson scored the game-winning goal and added an assist as Team USA dominated Slovakia, 7-1, to earn a berth in the gold-medal game. His goal in the opening frame was his first of the tournament and moved him past Cam York as the new record-holder for most points by a defenseman in a single NTDP season. With the assist in the second period, he now has 67 points.

His 11 points (1g-10a) leads all defensemen and his +13 rating ranks second within his position.

tw-align-center

🇺🇸 @ColeHutson_22 putting in WORK in front of the net.#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/qV5OgvHOFl

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 29, 2023

tw-align-center

King Cole 👑

Hutson takes the crown and now holds the record for most points scored by a defenseman in a single season 😎

Congrats, Hutty! pic.twitter.com/wbkSc4jPec

— USA Hockey’s NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) April 29, 2023

Looking ahead

2023 or 2024 recruit Michael LaStarza was the BCHL's second star of the week last week after after four goals in four games to lead Chilliwack past Nanaimo in a second-round playoff series.  He added his sixth post-season goal in the Chiefs' 9-5 loss to Alberni Valley. He has nine points in 13 games.

Looking back

tw-align-center

Jake Oettinger posted a .965 save percentage and a 1.00 GAA in the last three games of the series to backstop @DallasStars to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/NL8xOHgwBq

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) April 29, 2023

In the Stars' six playoff games this season, Jake Oettinger has a league-best .929 save percentage, along with a 2.01 GAA and one shutout.

 

Future Terriers shine at U18 Quarterfinals

Three BU recruits helped their teams advance to the semifinals of the IIHF 18U World Championships in Switzerland.

2023 recruit Macklin Celebrini powered Canada’s 7-3 victory over the host country with pair of goals and two assists. The 6’0” left-shot center from Vancouver leads all Team Canada skaters with 11 points (3G,8A) and is tied for fourth in the tournament.

tw-align-center

Macklin Celebrini opens the scoring for Canada!#U18MensWorldso pic.twitter.com/6qdPmzzTtW

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 27, 2023

tw-align-center

BU is going to be scary next year with Celebrini and Hutson together 👀@TSN_Sports x @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/7zhnXM8dFk

— EVERYTHING COLLEGE HOCKEY (@TeamECH) April 27, 2023

tw-align-center

Matthew Wood buries a pretty set up from Macklin Celebrini!#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/LiJWfmGblw

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 27, 2023

2024 recruit Cole Hutson assisted on a pair of goals in Team USA’s 4-1 win (stats & highlights) over Czechia. He leads all defensemen with nine points—all assists—and with a +11 rating. The two helpers boosted the left-shot blueliner’s season points total to 65, tying him with Cam York for the most points by an NTDP defenseman in a single season. Seven of the 13 defenseman on that list are Terriers, including Lane Hutson, Dom Fensore and Freddy Meyer.

2023 recruit Tom Willander assisted on two goals in Sweden’s 6-1 win (stats & highlights) against Latvia. For the 6’1” right-shot defenseman, it was his second multiple-point game of the tournament. He has a 2-4-6 scoring line and is second in points among Sweden’s defensemen.

All three were called out in DailyFaceoff.com’s Scouting Notebook of top prospects. 

In Saturday's semifinal match-ups, Team USA will face Slovakia (9:00 AM), while Canada takes on Sweden (1:00 PM). Games will air on NHL Network and TSN.

Landings

Another Terrier who entered the transfer portal has found a new home. Defenseman Lachlan Getz has committed to Michigan Tech. He made 16 starts this past season.

Looking back

Nick Bonino will be on the Team USA roster for the IIHF World Championships set for May 12-28 in Finland and Latvia. Sharks head coach David Quinn will be behind the bench for Team USA.  Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Tuch revealed that he and his younger brother, Luke Tuch, will be on the U.S. roster

tw-align-center

Jack Eichel tallied three goals and two assists in the @GoldenKnights’ series against Winnipeg to help Vegas become the first team to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/Q3lLVxKcwu

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) April 28, 2023