Photo Courtesy of @TheBuHockeyBlog
Chad Krys, Ryan Shea, and Beau Starrett shine in recent college hockey games
If the Chicago Blackhawks want to legitimately compete for another Stanley Cup in the near future, they’ll have to get a hand from some of their young talent in their farm system. Drafting the right players is one thing, but developing them is another. The Blackhawks believe in the College Hockey system and hopefully it pays dividends soon.
A big factor in how the Blackhawks develop their players involves the Alex DeBrincat strategy. In the past, coach Joel Quenneville has been very reluctant to play young players, and rarely rookies. But this season, 19-year-old Alex DeBrincat made the team out of camp and has stayed at the NHL level. The Blackhawks have recently been in a funk and one of the few bright spots has been DeBrincat’s productivity despite playing on lower lines.
If the Blackhawks continue to develop younger players at the NHL level, it may mean more ice time later in the year potentially for Dylan Sikura and others set to move on from the college level. It’s a shame that Teuvo Teravainen had to ride the bus to and from Rockford when he didn’t really belong there, but it’s good the Blackhawks are finally realizing top six players need top six minutes and not have to “do their time” as 3rd line grinders.
Updates on Blackhawks NCAA Prospects
Meet @PennStateMHKY‘s next star forward: Pennsylvania’s own, Evan Barratt https://t.co/KEtMaaJFlZ pic.twitter.com/P82ThMtBXO
— The Daily Collegian (@DailyCollegian) November 9, 2017
Evan Barratt – Penn State University – 2017 3rd Round Pick
Current Stats: 7GP, 2A
Next Opponent: @ Arizona State
After a couple close losses at Notre Dame, Barratt and the Nittany Lions look to rebound against a struggling Arizona State team this weekend. Barratt has yet to find the back of the net, but this might be his best opportunity yet. According to a recent article from The Daily Colliegan, Penn State and head coach Guy Gadowsky are very high on Barratt who consider him one of the team’s top prospects.
Liam Coughlin – University of Vermont – 2014 5th Round Pick (EDM)
Current Stats: 9GP, 1G
Next Opponent: @ Northeastern
Badgers men’s hockey: Cooperative development for defensemen Peter Tischke, Josh Ess https://t.co/akSiOyy2As pic.twitter.com/nvXMHy41mh
— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) October 17, 2017
Josh Ess – University of Wisconsin – 2017 7th Round Pick
Current Stats: 13GP, 1A
Next Opponent: Michigan
Photo Courtesy of ECACHockey.com
Parker Foo – Union College – 2017 5th Round Pick
Current Stats: 13GP, 1G, 1A
Next Opponent: University of North Dakota 11/24-25
Photo Courtesy of InsideHockey.com
Dennis Gilbert – University of Notre Dame – 2015 3rd Round Pick
Current Stats: 11GP, 1G, 2A
Next Opponent: @ Rensselaer
Photo Courtesy of USCHO.com
Blake Hillman – University of Denver – 2016 6th Round Pick
Current Stats: 10GP, 2G, 1A
Next Opponent: University of North Dakota
Chad Krys’ goal vs. Providence college for @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/nHGQdxKR2Q
— BU Athletics (@BUAthletics) November 6, 2017
Chad Krys – Boston University – 2016 2nd Round Pick
Current Stats: 12GP, 2G, 6A
Next Opponent: @ Maine
It’s been a couple weeks since Krys single-handedly put away Providence, but he has since added another helper to his stats last weekend versus the University of New Hampshire. This weekend Boston University is on the road playing the University of Maine, a team that is just 3-5 on the season.
Jake Massie – University of Vermont – 2015 6th Round Pick (CAR)
Current Stats: 11GP, 2A
Next Opponent: @ Northeastern
Ian Mitchell leads NCAA freshmen with 7 power play points #DU1NATION pic.twitter.com/hXtbiSSeTt
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) November 12, 2017
Ian Mitchell – University of Denver – 2017 2nd Round Pick
Current Stats: 10GP, 8A
Next Opponent: University of North Dakota
Mitchell has had a great start to the season with eight assists, seven of them coming on the powerplay. For being just a freshman, he has embraced his role as powerplay QB and is known to be very communicative with his teammates. With senior defenseman Adam Plant out of the lineup this weekend against North Dakota, a lot of responsibility will fall to Mitchell and fellow Blackhawks prospect Blake Hillman.
Photo Courtesy of PucksAndRecreation.com
Fredrik Olofsson – University of Nebraska-Omaha – 2014 4th Round Pick
Current Stats: 8GP, 1G, 4A
Next Opponent: @ Western Michigan
Photo Courtesy of The Star Tribune
Jack Ramsey – University of Minnesota – 2011 7th Round Pick
Current Stats: 12GP, 1G, 2A
Next Opponent: Harvard
Jake Ryczek – Providence College – 2016 7th Round Pick
Current Stats: 2GP, 0P
Next Opponent: Merrimack
#HE: Northeastern LHD Ryan Shea (CHI 4th/2015) is an absolute stud. He always offered pure offensive skill but his reads and game below the circles are excellent. Only a sophomore but he looks NHL ready to me.
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) November 11, 2017
Photo Courtesy of The Boston Globe
Ryan Shea – Northeastern University – 2015 4th Round Pick
Current Stats: 10GP, 8A
Next Opponent: Vermont, Boston College
Shea was an absolute monster for Northeastern in the series against Boston University. He tallied three assists then and added another last week in the game against UMass-Lowell. Shea didn’t make much noise during prospect camp but if he continues to produce close to a point-per-game pace, he’ll begin to turn some heads.
Photo Courtesy of The Huntington News
Dylan Sikura – Northeastern University – 2014 6th Round Pick
Current Stats: 8GP, 6G, 8A
Next Opponent: Vermont, Boston College
Sikura wasn’t in the Northeastern lineup last weekend because he was one of the college players selected for the Team Canada roster for the Olympics. Last weekend was the Karjala Cup that was held in Finland that Sikura participated in.
Photo Courtesy of NBCSports.com
Beau Starrett – Cornell University – 2014 3rd Round Pick
Current Stats: 6GP, 5A
Next Opponent: St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Niagra (Tuesday)
Starrett’s Big Red are rolling with a current record of 6-0. Starrett’s game-tying assist against Harvard was huge and ultimately led to the Big Red’s biggest win of the season thus far.