Thursday, April 25, 2024

UPDATED: Recruits shine for U.S. and Sweden in World U18 openers; Celebrini Draft Diary; Big bucks for Vlasic

 


Cole Eiserman scored a hattrick to pace Team USA to a 9-0 rout of Slovakia in the team’s opening game at the IIHF World U18 championships in Espoo, Finland. Cole Hutson, returning from missing several games due to an injury, opened the scoring with an unassisted tally on the rush. He also assisted on a goal, was +3 and logged a team-high 20:07 TOI. Kamil Bednarik assisted on three goals including two of Eiserman’s scores.

Eiserman now has 52 goals this season as well as 121 for his career, which is five shy of Cole Caufield’s record of 126.

With his two points, Hutson has 40 this season. His two-year total of 108 is just three behind JD Forest’s NTDP record for defensemen of 111. Forest played three seasons at the NTDP.

● USA Hockey recap , video highlights

● IIHF.com recap

●The Daily Face recap of top performers (including Eiserman and Hutson)

In another preliminary round game, Canada defeated Sweden, 6-3, with 2024 recruit Alexander Zetterberg pacing Sweden’s attack. The 5’8” right wing set up Sweden’s first goal with a beautiful no-look pass in the first period. After Canada took a 4-1 lead, Zetterberg scored twice in the middle period to narrow the margin. First goal was at even strength and the second with the a 4-on-3 power play.

The Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis wrote:

#26 Alexander Zetterberg C: Zetterberg was all over the ice and contributed for all three of Swedens’ goals. He notched two himself and picked up an assist on Melvin Fernstrom’s first goal of the tournament. Zetterberg was named Sweden’s player of the game. The 17-year-old won both of his faceoffs and registered five shots on goal in a losing effort. Zetterberg’s offensive creativity was a big factor for Sweden, as it typically has been this year.
● IIHF.com recap

● Hockey Canada recap

► Next up for Team USA is Norway on Saturday (10:30 ET on NHL Network). Sweden plays Kazakhstan, also on Saturday.

 Macklin Celebrini - Men's Ice Hockey ...

►NHL.com has posted Macklin Celebrini's latest draft diary reflecting on the Frozen Four, the Hobey Baker Award and the future.   

With regard to next season, we didn't win anything at BU as a team this year so there's definitely some unfinished business that would drive that decision in that way. But I haven't really decided which way I'm going to go yet, and I'm going to have to wait to make that decision later. 

Looking back

►There are four Terriers among the first 15 players named to the US National Team that will compete in the IIHF World Championships set for Czechia next month. Forwards Joel Farabee, Brady Tkachuk and Trevor Zegras and defenseman Alex Vlasic will skate for the squad with John Hynes serving as head coach.

After a strong first full-season with the Blackhawks, Vlasic has signed a six-year extension worth $27.6 million.

“Alex made enormous strides this year and proved he is a legitimate top-four defenseman in the NHL,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson. “In his first full season in the NHL, Alex established himself as an important piece of our young core, and we’re excited to have him with us for the next six years.”

Blackhawks Coach Luke Richardson told The Athletic:

“It was incredible from day one what he accomplished this year,” Richardson said of Vlasic after the season. “Being in a top pairing role with Seth, I think they really complement each other well. And with their range and with their reach, I think they really defended well. But both of them, at times, can get up the ice and add into the offense.”

● ESPN report

● The Athletic report (subscription)

►NHL.com reports on Charlie Coyle's career season for the Bruins with a new training regimen contributing to his success. 

►Former Terrier head coach David Quinn has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the San Jose Sharks. He previously had served as head coach of the New York Rangers.

"After going through our end of the season process of internal meetings and evaluating where our team is at and where we want our group to go, we have made the difficult decision to make a change at the head coach position,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said. “David is a good coach and an even better person. I would like to personally thank him for his hard work over these past two seasons. He and his staff did an admirable job under some difficult circumstances, and I sincerely appreciate how they handled the situation.”

● NHL.com report

►Ty Gallagher, who entered the transfer portal following the season, has committed to Colorado College

 

 

 

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