It’s the opening round of the NCAA Division 1 ECAC Hockey playoffs and RPI Engineers are paying a visit for a three-game slate vs. Harvard University Crimson, a team they shut out 1-0 on their last make-up date.
Well, in this away game, the team from Troy, NY jumps out to a 3-zip lead, extending late into the 3rd period, as the home team pulls their goalie, and scores at the 16:18 mark.
They pull him again and put in another at 18:02, then with 15 seconds left in the game are jamming around the net and freshman Matt Coronato(19) comes up with the puck to put it across the line for the tie.
At the 2:00 minute point of overtime, senior Jack Donato(10) is in the right spot to redirect the shot from the point for the 4-3 game-winner, and 1-game lead.
Pittsburgh Penguins jump quickly to sign Princeton University Tigers‘ graduating senior right wing Corey Andonovski(27) to a 2-year NHL entry level contract.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. had solid scoring as a senior and sophomore, but didn’t play as a junior due to COVID.
An Uxbridge, ON native, he played one BCHL season for Chilliwack Chiefs with 16 goals and 22 assists.
He was very strong at school attending St. Andrew’s College.
The 22-year old will report to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to start his pro career.
In the first round of Hockey East playoffs, University Of Maine Black Bears were given the chore of facing off against the hottest team of the conference, Merrimack College Warriors.
The score stayed close through the first with the home team only going up by 1 at the end of 20, but by the opening of the 2nd, goals started coming and it was over only a few minutes in with freshman Matt Copponi(21) scoring the game-winner.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Billy Sweezey(6) takes a decent first year playing through a pandemic mess for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring no goals but 4 assists in 22 AHL games with a +2 rating to a new league deal with rival Cleveland Monsters.
The sturdy 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a point-getter, except as a junior and senior at Noble & Greenough School USHS-Prep, when he walked away with 20 & 18 assists.
He had an almost opposite one year in USHL juniors with Chicago Steel, scoring 3 goals but only getting one assist.
The Hanson, MA native only scored 3 goals through 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs and on a couple of occasions flirted with 10 assists (9 as a sophomore and 8 senior).
A more stay-at-home style d-man, the 25-year old could become a valuable + player on his new club.
His 4 goals and 6 assists with a +6 rating in 45 games has earned the sturdy d-man a 2-year NHL entry level deal with parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets through 2024.
RPI Engineers‘ graduate defenseman Anthony Baxter(5) is definitely glad he added a year of eligibility to his schedule.
He posted a career high 10 assists and 12 points in a best 38 NCAA Division 1 games, en route to an ECAC Quarterfinal play.
The solid 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner came over after 4 years, 116 games for UMass-Lowell Riverhawks with a +21 rating.
He spent 3 years of juniors in the close to his home in Oakville, ON, OJHL, twice amassing 20+ assists.
The 24-year old would easily get some looks if he decides to go pro.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#99 overall) defenseman Jacob Bryson(18) is making himself at home in his career high 48th NHL game, scoring an exact from his rookie campaign, one goal and 8 assists.
The small 5’9″ 179 lbs. blue liner is set to become a restricted free agent and should likely settle on a multi-year deal to stay.
He put up solid numbers as a rookie with affiliate Rochester Americans, scoring 4 goals and 23 assists in 61 AHL games with a +8 rating.
The former 3-year Providence College Friars was twice a 20+ assist guy.
From London, ON, he is listed as having done one year in the USHS-Prep before heading to a season of USHL.
There’s little doubt the 24-year old has a lot to smile about.
Babson College Beavers won a bit of a back-and-forth battle with Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, where they were outpaced with the opening tally before jumping on three straight, then never letting up the lead to grab the 2022 D3 NEHC Championship 5-3.
Boston College Eagles, who have struggled some this college hockey year welcome #1 UMass Minutemen into Silvio Conte Forum for the first of two Hockey East fights for postseason position to end the regular season.
Despite dropping the opening mark, the home team stuck with their game and tied things up on sophomore Trevor Kuntar(15)‘s 9th near the end of the 2nd, then went ahead early in the 3rd on senior Jack McBain’s(11) 18th, which equaled all the goals he’d got in his 1st 3 years at school, for the 2-1 win.
Atlanta Gladiators‘ 2nd season, 5th year net minder Chris Nell(30) recently appeared in his 100th ECHL game.
Undrafted, he signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Rangers, fresh off 3 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons.
He spent most of his rookie season with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, but was also lent to 3 lower league teams.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. goalie played 39 games in the follow-up season in the E and even posted some outstanding stats over two appearances in the AHL with a .084 GAA and .973 SV%, but had maybe been already passed over at that point.
It would be little surprise to see the 27-year old, Green Bay, WI native to look outside the box next season for different hockey logistics.
University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ portal transfer from 3 years at Cornell University Big Red, senior defenseman Joe Leahy(5) has put up a career high 7 assists and 9 points in 24 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6’4″ 198 lbs. blue liner has always been a plus performer through college hockey and is a +3 on a team that doesn’t find themselves on the winning side of the tape as much as it wants to.
He played 4 seasons in junior hockey, going from a pair of strong showings in the GOJHL to 2 good runs in the BCHL before heading to school.
The 24-year old, Waterloo, ON native is definitely a good player to watch as he pushing towards graduation.
