/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63343483/IMG_0327.0.jpg)
It was an incredibly exciting weekend for Colorado Avalanche prospects in the NCAA regionals. I don’t think I breathed properly until the Northeast Regional Final ended. Also, there’s nothing after the Notre Dame section in this prospect report since everyone’s seasons have ended.
Ontario Hockey League
#17 - Brandon Saigeon (C)
Oshawa Generals (44-20-4)
Round 1 vs. Peterborough: won series 4-1
Oshawa advanced to the second round, taking their series against the Petes in five games. Saigeon went pointless in Game 4, but added a secondary assist in Game 5. He went quiet in those last two games after exploding for six points in the first three matches. Oshawa will take on the Niagara Ice Dogs in the second round of the OHL playoffs.
Western Hockey League
#21 - Nick Henry (RW) - ELIMINATED
Lethbridge Hurricanes (40-18-10)
Round 1 vs. Calgary: series lost 4-3
Let me just preface this by saying that this series was absolutely insane. 55 goals scored between two teams in seven games is nuts. Henry finished with six points in seven games, but went pointless in Game 7 as Lethbridge was eliminated.
Henry had two goals this week, in Games 5 and 6 — unfortunately, only one of those goals came with a video:
WE. ARE. STILL. HERE.
— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) March 31, 2019
Ohhhhhh, Henry
4-3 CGY#WHLPlayoffs #LETvsCGY #CaneTrain pic.twitter.com/Z1S4q2Ei4G
Nick Henry puts the @WHLHurricanes in front in the third! #LETvsCGY | #WHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MMRsQJdUKR
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 1, 2019
With that, Henry’s junior career comes to an end. Since he signed his ELC with the Avs last month, he’ll likely report to the AHL in the coming days.
NCAA
#16 - Cale Makar (D)
UMass Minutemen (26-8-0)
vs. Harvard: won 4-0
vs. Notre Dame: won 4-0
Makar is still being awarded other accolades:
ICYMI, the New England Hockey Writers Association awards had a very #NewMass flavor…
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) March 29, 2019
- Coach of the Year (@CoachCarvelUM)
- MVP & Best D-man (@Cmakar16)
- Best Forward (@ChaffeeMitchell)
All-⭐️ - Makar, Chaffee, @jpritch91
: https://t.co/5TcAYNxjmW#Flagship pic.twitter.com/POr4efGcBi
After last weekend it’s no surprise these two have picked up some weekly
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) April 2, 2019
▪️ @hockey_east co-Player OTW ➡️ @Cmakar16
▪️ @hockey_east Rookie OTW ➡️ Filip Lindberg
▪️ UMass Athlete OTW, presented by @umassfive ➡️ @Cmakar16
https://t.co/V2qPjVFgTR#NewMass | #Flagship pic.twitter.com/7JrF8fFh4K
Makar and the Minutemen emerged victorious on Saturday, booking their trip to the Frozen Four — their first in program history. He had a fantastic weekend, assisting on the game-sealing goal in the semi-final against Harvard:
Don't blink or you'll miss it!
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 29, 2019
Brett Boeing takes a beautiful feed from Cale Makar and goes stick side on the breakaway to get the Massachusetts faithful tasting a regional final appearance.
3rd Period | HAR 0 | UMASS 3#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/s9nXOczuBI
And made a really strong impact defensively, too:
Makar out of NOWHERE!!!!
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 29, 2019
2nd Period | HAR 0 | UMASS 0#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/COmS8Tt9fN
The next night against Notre Dame, he unleashed a bomb to once again put the game out of hand:
Makar
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 31, 2019
2nd Period | ND 0 | UMASS 3#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/kfWmBFhQ5n
He really needs to start using his one-timer more. It’s lethal.
"How do you describe your one-timer?"
— ♀️Lauren Kelly ♀️ (@laurkelly24) March 31, 2019
"Inconsistent?" *laughs*#HobeyNeedsMoreCale pic.twitter.com/Igxxm0pEyC
Makar was named to the Northeast Regional All-Tournament team and Most Outstanding Player:
ICYMI: @BrettBoeing22, @jleno09 , @Cmakar16 and Filip Lindberg were all named to the All-Tournament team following last night’s win.@Cmakar16 was also named Most Outstanding Player
— UMass Hockey (@UMassHockey) March 31, 2019
: https://t.co/O7ZAfTvmPo#NewMass | #Flagship #HobeyNeedsMoreCale pic.twitter.com/VyTa6GygtQ
Hobey Baker top 10 voting ended Sunday at midnight. Makar finished first in the fan vote at just over 40%. The Hobey Hat Trick (final three) will be announced tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that.
The Minutemen will head to the Frozen Four in Buffalo and take on the Denver Pioneers on April 11th.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/16000168/IMG_0328.jpg)
#15 - Shane Bowers (C) — ELIMINATED
Boston University Terriers (14-16-4)
Bowers signed an entry-level contract with the Avalanche last week and will play out the remainder of the season with the Colorado Eagles.
Please enjoy this video of Bowers in full gear, trying to stuff himself into a car:
Because the Colorado Eagles had an off-site practice, everyone just drove back to the arena in their gear.
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) April 1, 2019
So here’s Shane Bowers piling into the backseat of a teammate’s car. #Avs #EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/48rl3nBb2w
#26 - Cam Morrison (LW), #4 - Nick Leivermann (D), #2 - Nate Clurman (D) — ELIMINATED
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-13-3)
vs. Clarkson: won 3-2 (OT)
vs. UMass: lost 4-0
The Irish’s regional semi-final game against Clarkson was one of the most stressful games I have watched in a long time. Thankfully, Notre Dame came out on the right end of that one, thanks to noted clutch performer Cam Morrison:
CAM MORRISON IS THE HERO OF NOTRE DAME! #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/x8zTTDEE0O
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 30, 2019
Nate Clurman also made an impact in that game, forcing a turnover that led to the first Irish goal:
All tied up! Colin Theisen chips in the one-timer to tie it up for @NDHockey!
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 29, 2019
2nd Period | ND 1 | CU 1#NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/rWcHSPnSmD
Their win put them against UMass in the regional final. Notre Dame was attempting to qualify for their third straight Frozen Four, but were unfortunately shutout. It remains to be seen whether Morrison will return to Notre Dame for his senior season or turn pro with the Avalanche. Clurman and Nick Leivermann (who was a healty scratch during the playoffs) will likely return to the Irish in the fall.
#58 - Sampo Ranta (RW) - ELIMINATED
Minnesota Golden Gophers (14-15-4)
#25 - Denis Smirnov (RW) — ELIMINATED
Penn State Nittany Lions (19-13-2)
#40 - Tyler Weiss (LW) — ELIMINATED
Nebraska Omaha Mavericks (9-22-3)
Europe
#51 - Nikolai Kovalenko (RW) - ELIMINATED
KHL - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (40-16-6)
#2 - Danila Zhuravlyov (D) — ELIMINATED
VHL - Bars Kazan (27-22-7)
#19 - Gustav Olhaver (RW) — ELIMINATED
Allsvenskan (SWE) - Tingsryds AIF (19-25-8)