Monday, January 05, 2026

UPDATED Sascha & Sweden claim WJC Gold; 5-⭐️ Lawrence joins BU for second semester

 UPDATE: Sweden Wins!   

Sascha Boumedienne World Juniors gold medalist graphic featuring two photos of Sascha playing hockey for Sweden.   

A year ago, Cole Eiserman, Cole Hutson and Brandon Svoboda returned from the World Juniors with gold medals around their necks after helping Team USA repeat as champions. This year it's Sascha Boumedienne bringing home the gold medal.

The sophomore blueliner's sharp-angle blast in the third period was the game-winner--the golden goal--for Sweden in a 4-2 victory over Czechia in the championship game. Boumedienne's goal from the right face off circle gave Sweden a 3-0 lead. Czechia rallied for two late goals before Ivar Stenberg's empty-net tally sealed the win.  

Boumedienne finished the tournament with two goals and two assists. His gold medal makes it three consecutive years that a Terrier has won gold. Lane Hutson led the U.S. to the 2024 title.  Boumedienne's medal was the 38th won by a Terrier in WJC competition.    

     

The Athletic's assessment of Boumedienne at the WJC: 

Sascha Boumedienne (D, Winnipeg Jets): Got better as the tournament went on and big in big games. Showed some vision. PK’d well. Got open for his one-timer. Some mistakes, which come with his game, but still impacted it all over the ice. 

● GoTerriers.com Boumedienne Wins Gold at 2026 World Junior Championship  

● NHL.com Sweden wins gold medal for 1st time since 2012 

● IIHF.com Swedes win dramatic third gold 

● FloHockey.tv  Sweden Defeats Czechia 4-2 For First World Juniors Gold Since 2012; How Sweden Won World Junior Gold in 2026  

 

►►► UPDATE: ROSTER ADDITION

Five-⭐️recruit Tynan Lawrence, the top jewel in BU's 2026 recruit class and projected top five pick in the 2026 NHL Entry draft, will join the Terriers for second semester. Multiple media sources have reported the 6'0", 185 lb., Fredricton, New Brunswick natives' decision to leave USHL Muskegon for Commonwealth Avenue and the Boston Hockey Blog confirmed that Lawrence is enrolled at BU.  

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, who has projected Lawrence as Canada’s #2 center for next year’s WJCs (and has Caleb Malhotra as #3), posted:

Lawrence, one of the 2026 draft’s top prospects, has dealt with injuries in the first half but finishes with 17 points in 13 games with Muskegon. BU had a scholarship spot available and Lawrence was already academically accepted for next year. They need a boost, too. 

This is the second season in a row in which the Terriers have added a high-end prospect to the roster. Goalie Mikhail Yegorov joined the Terriers at the break a year ago and was a catalyst in the drive to the Frozen Four and national championship final. 

An "A-rated" skater on Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list, Lawrence has been recognized as the best center available for the 2026 draft. He was moved up to #1 on The Athletic's 2026 draft ranking despite missing 18 games due to a preseason injury. Cory Pronman's profile:

Lawrence is an excellent skater with a strong motor who brings a lot of pace and energy to his shifts. He's a very strong puck handler who creates chances on the move. He isn't an elite offensive threat due to having good, not great, vision, but he has the traits to be a great two-way play-driving No. 1 center in the NHL who can play in all situations. 

The move would appear to be a win-win for all parties. Terriers gain a talented 200-foot center who should slot in behind Sacha Boisvert and Kamil Bednarik, allowing Brandon Svoboda to remain at right wing where he's been very effective. Lawrence, with nothing left to prove in the USHL, will spend the remainder of his draft season at a considerably higher level playing against older and more experienced skaters. He is among the younger draft-eligible players and won't turn 18 until August 3. 

Like Macklin Celebrini and Cole Eiserman, Lawrence prepped at Shattuck St. Mary's. After a pair of high-scoring seasons there, he was tendered by Muskegon and joined the Lumberjacks for 2024-25. Lawrence had a 25-29-54 scoring line in 56 games, earning All-Rookie honors. He carried a red-hot second half into the playoffs and led Muskegon to the Clarke Cup title with 18 points (8G,10A) in 14 games. Lawrence was named playoff MVP.

Since his return to the Lumberjacks lineup, Lawrence, named team captain, has scored 10 goals and added seven assists in 13 games. This past Friday, he scored a goal in regulation and then connected in the shootout of a 3-2 win over Cedar Rapids.

● Boston Hockey Blog Tynan Lawrence joining BU Men's Hockey for second semester 

● FloHockey.tv Top Prospect Tynan Lawrence Joining BU For Rest of Season

● TSN Top Prospect Lawrence to join NCAA's Boston University for rest of the season 

● Lawrence Elite Prospects page 

Check back for more updates  

WJCs  

Sascha Boumedienne and Sweden will play for the World Junior Championship gold medal following a riveting 4-3 win over Finland in a shootout that went eight rounds. Sweden will face Czechia in an all-European final tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET. Czechia defeated Canada, 6-4 in an equally wild affair.

Boumedienne played a strong game for Sweden logging 28:24 TOI. He was on the ice for most of the 10 minute 3-on-3 overtime, including all two minutes of a penalty kill at the end of OT.

● IIHF Swedes shoot down Finns to make final; Skate goal gives Czechs wild win 

● FloHockey.tv Sweden Beats Finland In Shootout; Czechia Tops Canada In Semifinal   

● NHL.com World Junior Championship roundup 

SNL (Saturday Night Leftovers) 

Observations:

►Sacha Boisvert, who was limited to 12 games first semester due to lingering upper body injuries, scored twice on nine shots, providing a glimpse of what can be expected from him now that he's fully healthy. The Black Hawks' 2024 first-round draft pick had just two goals along with nine assists first semester. As a freshman at North Dakota, he scored 18 goals and had 32 points en route to earning NCHC Rookie of the Year honors. 

►Jack Harvey, who also netted a pair against SFU, has played his best hockey and been most productive during second semester the past two seasons, as Bernie Corbett pointed out on the broadcast. He skated on the top line with Boisvert and Owen McLaughlin and the unit showed good chemistry throughout the game.

►With three veteran defensemen away at tournaments, Aiden Celebrini was paired with Mick Frechette as the top blueline unit Saturday. Each had a strong defensive game and provided effective O-zone entries, as well. Frechette had his first multi-point game this season including a strong entry and slick pass to set up Brandon Svoboda's goal.  Celebrini led the team with three blocks.

Nick Roukounakis continues to do the little things--and big ones--that translate to success: strong zone entries, controlling the puck on cycles, doling out big hits. His five-foot pass to Ryder Ritchie set up the former Medicine Hat star for his first-period goal. 

►With only 11 forwards dressing for BU in the exhibition contest, freshman Kyle Kim, who recorded his first point as a Terrier, played both defense and forward effectively.

►All that said, Simon Fraser was clearly a notch well below the caliber of teams BU will face in Hockey East games, beginning Friday night in Amherst against the Minutemen. With the five key players returned from tournaments, Terriers will seek to build on the four wins out of the last five of first semester.

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BU’s eight goals was the most in an exhibition since an 8-2 win over the USNTDP U18s on October 6th, 2016 

Terriers will play three times in the next seven days, beginning with a home-and-home series with Massachusetts next weekend followed by a road game against Harvard on Monday, Jan. 12.

Entering the second half of the schedule, BU sits at #23 in the NPI (NCAA Percentage Index, which replaced PairWise), and has considerable ground to make up.  


Looking ahead

2026 recruit Egor Shilov’s 20th goal was the game-winner as Victoriaville defeated Chicoutimi, 5-1. The 6’1” center also assisted on two goals to increase his points total to 48, tied for first among rookies and tied for sixth overall in the QMJHL. Shilov, a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, has goals in each of his last six games.

Looking back

Lane Hutson scored the overtime game-winner, firing a shot past Jake Oettinger, to deliver a 4-3 win for Montreal over Dallas. Hutson, who also recorded his 35th assist, set a new career high in goals with seven. His 42 points are third best among NHL defensemen. Oettinger, named to the U.S. Olympic squad last Friday, stopped 25 shots for the Stars.  

Ryan Greene recorded his 11th assist in Chicago’s 3-2 overtime win against Vegas and was awarded the game's second star. With 15 points, he is tied for 15th among rookies.

Women's Team 

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Netminder Mari Pietersen's standout performance in the Friendship Series tournament has earned her Hockey East Player of the Week honors. The junior netminder saved 63 of 67 shots she faced for a .940 save percentage and was named Player of the Tournament for her efforts. In addition, she stopped all three attempts in the shootout win over Quinnipiac.

● GoTerriers.com Pietersen named Hockey East Player of the Week 

BU returns to Hockey East action Saturday with a road game at New Hampshire. Then on Tuesday, Jan. 13, they host Northeastern in the opening round of the Women's Beanpot Tournament.   

 

 

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