College Hockey Update: Panthers Prospects Edition
By Pat McGrath
Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE
Hey what’s that you say? There is an NHL lockout going on?! I haven’t not noticed. I’ve been way too busy following this year’s super exciting college hockey season. I could care less about the players and owners squabbling over money, this college hockey stuff is way more exciting than the NHL ever was!
Okay so that may not be entirely true. I am aware of the lockout and I desperately want the NHL back. I miss watching the Panthers play, especially after last season which built up so much excitement for the future. The point is however, the NHL is not the end all be all of hockey. The league wants you to think it is but its not. That kind of thinking is what allows the league to be so selfish, canceling games and playing with the heartstrings of fans because they are confident the fans will come back. They are confident the fans will not find some other hockey alternative that satisfies their needs without all the ups and downs of a high school relationship. There are other ways to enjoy hockey this time of year, and while I will be on the front lines cheering when we get our NHL back, until that day, college hockey is an excellent alternative.
Every week or so I will be giving some updates on what has been going on throughout college hockey nation. I will put up important scores, the latest national polls and of course updates on how some Panther prospects have been doing; so without further ado, here we go.
Important Scores Friday Nov.23-Sunday Nov. 2: Source (uscho.com)
Friday November 23, 2012:
Minnesota Duluth def. 15 St. Cloud State: 2-1
2 New Hampshire tied Colorado College: 4-4 OT
13 Yale def. 5 Denver: 2-1 OT
8 North Dakota def. 6 Notre Dame: 2-1
Matt Cashore-US PRESSWIRE
3 Minnesota def. Vermont: 5-1
14 Nebraska Omaha def. Alabama Huntsville: 3-2
Saturday November 25, 2012:
1 Boston College def. 11 Dartmouth: 6-3
9 Boston University def. St. Lawrence: 4-0
13 Yale def. Colorado College: 6-5 OT
2 New Hampshire def. 5 Denver: 6-4
6 Notre Dame def. 8 NorthDakota: 5-2
7 Union def. Penn State: 2-0
3 Minnesota def. Vermont: 3-1
15 St. Cloud State def. Minnesota Duluth: 5-1
12 Cornell def. Michigan: 5-1
14 Nebraska Omaha def. Alabama Huntsville: 8-0
Sunday November 25, 2012:
7 Union def. Penn State: 4-1
USA Today Men’s Division 1 Poll:
Last weeks ranking in ()
1. Boston College (1): 10-1-0
Douglas Jones-US PRESSWIRE
2. University of New Hampshire (3): 9-1-2
3.Univeristy of Minnesota (4): 9-2-2
4. Miami University (5): 7-2-3
5. University of Denver (2): 9-3-0
6. University of Notre Dame (6): 9-4-0
7. Union College (8): 8-2-1
8. University of North Dakota (7): 6-4-2
9. Boston University (10): 7-4-0
10. Western Michigan University (9): 6-3-1
11. Dartmouth (11): 5-2-2
12. Cornell University (13): 4-3-2
13. Yale (NR): 5-2-1
14. University of Nebraska Omaha (14): 8-3-1
15. St. Cloud State University (12): 7-5-0
Source (uscho.com)
Panthers College Prospects Report:
It was a busy weekend for Panther prospects playing in the NCAA. 2010 first rounder Nick Bjugstad and Minnesota took down Vermont twice this weekend. Bjugstad tallied one goal and one assist in their 5-1 victory Friday evening. Fellow Panthers draft pick and teammate Kyle Rau netted one goal and one assist on Friday as well as adding an assist in Saturday’s 3-1 victory. Rau and Bjugstad were facing another Panther draft pick in Vermont left winger Connor Brickley who was help without any points in either game.
June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Michael Matheson is selected as the number twenty-three overall draft pick to the Florida Panthers in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE
Rau and Bjugstad are two or the more exciting prospects for the Florida Panthers. Many expected Bjugstad to go pro prior to this year. He decided to stay at the University of Minnesota for his junior year, a decision that is looking better and better with the lockout extending into the month of December. Rau and Bjugstad are second and third on the team in points, respectively. Rau has 6 goals and 7 assists for a total of 13 points while Bjugstad has 7 goals and 4 assists for 11 points. (Source uscho.com)
While Rau and Bjugstad enjoyed strong weekends, University of Denver goaltender Sam Brittain struggled as he mad 25 saves while facing 31 shots and allowing 6 goals in Denver’s 6-4 loss to New Hampshire. Taken in the fourth round of the 2010 draft, Brittain now has a record of 4-2-0 for the Pioneers.
The Panthers took defenseman Mike Matheson with their first pick, the 23rd in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Matheson is enjoying a strong freshman season for the Boston College Eagles and while he did not get on the scoresheet in the Eagles 6-3 win over Dartmouth, he did finish at +1 for the game. Matheson and the Eagles will be facing their crosstown rivals Boston University Friday November 30th in what is sure to be an exciting game. (Source uscho.com)