The puck slides over the goal line in overtime after Fabian Lysell banked it off Hartford’s Connor Mackey (14). (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins continued their strong start last week, winning two out of three home games.
They beat the Hartford Wolf Pack in overtime, 3-2, on Wednesday and edged the Utica Comets, 3-2, in extra time on Saturday. On Sunday, the P-Bruins were beaten, 2-0, by an excellent Laval Rocket squad.
“They work extremely hard. We knew that was their identity,” coach Ryan Mougenel said after Sunday’s game.
“We didn’t have enough guys playing at their best. It’s going to happen from time to time, but I think it’s real important that when it’s not going, you’ve got to figure out a way to create.
“For us there’s a recipe for it. It’s playing north, it’s playing straight-line hockey, it’s letting our legs do the talking. I think a lot of us didn’t have our legs today,” he said.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Providence finished the weekend in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 12-2 record and 24 points They are one point behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who have played two more games than the P-Bruins. Providence’s .857 points percentage is second in the AHL.
— Dans Locmelis was a standout against Utica, potting a shorthanded goal in the first period and winning the game in overtime. He had a good game against Laval, too, though he was held without a point.
— Fabian Lysell banked the puck in off a Hartford defender for the winner against the Wolf Pack and dished to Locmelis for the GWG against Utica.
— Simon Zajicek’s .943 save percentage is first in the AHL. Michael DiPietro’s .932 is third.
— Night in, night out, Patrick Brown continues to be the team’s best player. He had a power-play goal and an assist against Hartford and he assisted on Riley Tufte’s goal against Utica.
— Joey Abate scored his first goal of the season against Hartford.
— Wednesday’s OT win wouldn’t have happened if Michael DiPietro hadn’t stopped Brennan Othmann on a clean breakaway shortly before Fabian Lysell’s GWG.
BAD
— The P-Bruins have had only 42 power-play opportunities. That is 29th in the league.
— Providence let a two-goal lead slip away against Utica. And they allowed Hartford to tie the game with 2:20 left in the third period.
— Rookie Loke Johansson’s turnover led to a goal for Hartford on Wednesday night.
A good team is capable of winning even when it doesn’t play all that well.
The Providence Bruins demonstrated that over the weekend. Even after being outplayed at times, they came home from Cleveland with a pair of one-goal victories.
On Friday night, the P-Bruins made a pair of first-period goals stand up in a 2-1 win over the Monsters. On Saturday afternoon, they tied the game in the third period and then won in overtime, 3-2.
As of Monday morning, Providence had a 10-1 record and a .909 points percentage, second-best in the league. They are in first place in the Atlantic Division and in the Eastern Conference.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Michael DiPietro stopped a career-high 42 shots in Friday’s win. He is 6-0 and his .929 save percentage is eighth in the AHL.
— Simon Zajicek improved to 4-1 after kicking out 28 of 30 shots in the victory on Saturday. His .943 save percentage is best in the AHL and his 1.60 goals-against average is second.
— Matt Poitras couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first goal of the season. He converted a picture-perfect pass from Georgii Merkulov from the edge of the blue paint on the power play in OT on Saturday.
— Providence had the puck for the entire 47 seconds of overtime on Saturday before Poitras scored.
— John Farinacci scored in both games in Cleveland, including the GWG on Friday. He has goals in three straight games. He picked the pocket of a Monsters player and fed Schmaltz for a goal on Saturday.
— Jake Schmaltz scored his first goal of the season – a shortie — and added an assist and was plus-two on Saturday.
— With the shots 16-4 in Cleveland’s favor in the first period on Friday, Dans Locmelis scored a shorthanded goal off a good setup from Patrick Brown at the end of a two-on-none rush.
— After being outshot 26-9 through two periods on Saturday, Providence outshot the Monsters 12-4 the rest of the way.
— Providence’s penalty kill was near the bottom of the league a couple of weeks ago, but has now moved up to 12th at 82.4 percent. They scored a shorthanded goal in both games in Cleveland.
— The season’s only a month old, but Joey Abate threw one of the best hits so far when he blew up Mikael Pyyhtia midway through the third period on Saturday.
— Billy Sweezey pounded out a win over Max McCue in a bout on Friday.
BAD
— There was no call on Roman Ahcan’s high hit that injured Victor Soderstrom on Friday.
— The P-Bruins were outshot 8-0 in the first eight minutes and 20-7 in the first half of Saturday’s game.
— Scheduling a 1 p.m. puck drop on Saturday following a 6 p.m. game on Friday isn’t conducive to good hockey.
UGLY
— Injured: Victor Soderstrom, Max Wanner, Ty Gallagher
Matthew Poitras drops the gloves with Charlotte’s Jack Devine on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
Nothing lasts forever. Especially winning streaks.
The Providence Bruins’ franchise-record seven-game winning streak to start the season bit the dust on Saturday night, but even so it was a good week for the team as they sandwiched wins against two of the Atlantic Division’s stronger teams around the one loss.
The week started on Wednesday night with a 3-1 road win against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins, who were unbeaten at 7-0 going into the game. Providence’s win streak went down in flames on Saturday in a lackluster 2-0 home loss to the Hershey Bears. The P-Bruins bounced back on Sunday at the AMP with a 5-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers.
“They’re a really good team. They’re really fast. Their forecheck is really heavy,” coach Ryan Mougenel said of Charlotte. “I thought the guys did a really good job of responding. I had to get on them a little bit in the first just because guys were trying hard and sometimes when you’re trying too hard you make some mistakes.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— With a record of 8-1 and 16 of a possible 18 points, Providence’s points percentage is an AHL-best .889.
— Riley Tufte scored a goal on Wednesday, then added two more plus an assist on Sunday. As of Monday morning, he was tied for the lead in points in the AHL with 14 (7 goals, 7 assists) in 9 games. His plus-12 is first in the league. “When he goes to the net, he’s a presence,” said Mougenel.
— Patrick Brown had two assists against the Penguins and a goal and an assist against the Checkers. He is in the top 10 in scoring with 5-7-12 in 9 games and is plus-10.
— Fabian Lysell scored a pretty goal on Sunday, using his speed to beat the defense and then finishing on the backhand. After hitting a bump against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lysell responded with two good games in a row.
— Matt Poitras had his first fighting major as a pro on Sunday, taking on Jack Devine in a quick bout. Late in the game Lysell was ready to throw down with Riese Gaber. “Potsy, I’m shocked that it’s his first one because he seems to be in the middle of a lot of stuff,” said Mougenel. “It’s good to get it out of the way. It’s not something I want to see Potsy or Fabian doing on a regular basis but it shows passion and it shows that they care and sometimes you’ve got to stick up for yourself. I’m a big believer in that and it’s good to see.”
— Colin Felix had a fight on Saturday, two assists on Sunday and continues to defend well. If there’s a scrum, odds are he’s in the middle of it. “I like everything about Colin. I like the person. I like the kid. I like that he’s got tons of gratitude. He wants to be here. He’s bounced up and down. He’s had not the easiest path in pro hockey and he’s always kind of found a way. I root for kids like that,” said Mougenel.
— After going five games without a point, Alex Steeves recorded two assists on Sunday.
— John Farinacci scored his first goal of the year on Sunday.
— Simon Zajicek continued his strong start, kicking out 27 of 28 shots and keeping the score close against Hershey. He has a .945 save percentage and 1.51 goals-against average.
— Michael DiPietro stopped 25 of 26 on Wednesday and 21 of 23 on Sunday. He is 5-0 with a .914 save percentage and 2.40 goals-against average.
— The P-Bruins have been shorthanded only 26 times in 9 games. That’s 27th in the league.
— Providence is tied for the league lead in goals with 36.
BAD
— Fabian Lysell’s turnover led to the only goal by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday. That was Lysell’s last shift in the game, as he was benched for the final 25-plus minutes. “Sometimes you’ve got to get their attention,” said Mougenel. “That’s all that was, just a little bit of a reset, get his game back on track.”
— John Farinacci and Victor Soderstrom combined for a turnover that led to Charlotte’s second goal on Sunday.
— The power play went 0 for 6 in the three games.
— Not for the first time, referee Morgan MacPhee made some head-scratching calls – against both teams – on Saturday.
UGLY
— It was after 3 a.m. on Thursday when the team bus arrived back at the AMP from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Frederic Brunet, left, Alex Steeves, center, and Fabian Lysell celebrate Lysell’s game-winning goal on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The good times continue to roll for the Providence Bruins.
They extended their franchise-record, season-opening undefeated streak to six with a pair of home wins over the weekend.
On Friday, the P-Bruins pulled out a 5-3 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds. On Sunday, they beat the Bridgeport Islanders for the third time this season, 4-1.
“There was a lot to like today,” coach Ryan Mougenel said after Sunday’s game. “When guys get put into the lineup like (Colin) Felix, who hadn’t played in two weeks and steps up, plays as hard as he did, there’s a lot to like in that.
“I like our competitiveness. It’s evident in practice. I think some of the guys are having success because of how hard they compete.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Riley Tufte had 1-3-4 and was plus-4 on Friday, then added a helper on Sunday. He is third in scoring in the AHL with 4-6-10 in six games. He has points in his last four games.
— Georgii Merkulov scored twice on Sunday. He’s fifth in the league in scoring with 4-5-9 in six games. He is now in second place on the all-time P-Bruins scoring list with 188 points.
— Patrick Brown scored two goals on Friday and had an assist on Sunday. He has 4-4-8 in six games, good for a tie for eighth in the AHL. He has points in five straight games.
— The power play is third in the league at 33.3 percent.
— After recording two assists on Friday, Brett Harrison scored his first of the year on Sunday.
— Matej Blumel earned two assists on Sunday. He is tied for eighth in the AHL with 2-6-8 in six games.
— Frederic Brunet and Riley Tufte are tied for the AHL lead with plus-nine.
— The Providence roster is completely healthy. That might not seem like a big deal only 15 days into the season, but players sidelined because of injuries is usually such a day-to-day reality that it is notable when no one is hurt.
— Fabian Lysell displayed an impressive burst of speed late in Friday’s game, sailing in on a breakaway and scoring the game-winner. After scoring at a rate of 12 to 13 percent in his first three years, he’s scoring at a rate of 30.8 percent so far this season.
— Providence goaltending was solid in both games. Mike DiPietro stopped 20 of 23 shots against Springfield. Simon Zajicek kicked out 23 of 24 against Bridgeport. Zajicek’s save percentage is .939.
— Providence poured a season-high 19 shots on the Springfield net in the second period on Friday.
BAD
— Providence squandered a 3-0 lead against Springfield.
— On the AHL TV on Flo Hockey stream on Friday night, the Kiss Cam was occupied showing a couple locking lips in the stands and missed Patrick Brown’s goal in the second period. Come on, guys, be better.
UGLY
— The penalty kill is 29th in the AHL at 70.6 percent. Springfield’s power play went two for two on Friday.
The puck slides into the net behind Hartford goalie Talyn Boyko after Providence’s Billy Sweezey (6) bulled his way to the net. It was Sweezey’s first goal of the year. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins have had some sluggish starts in recent years, but not this season.
They won both their games over the weekend, improving their record to 4-0.
The P-Bruins started with a 5-3 road victory over the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday night. At home on Saturday, they beat the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-2.
“I think we had a great camp,” coach Ryan Mougenel said of the fast start. “Everybody had a hand in it, from the (Joey) Abates to some of the guys that are even in Maine. It just started off on the right foot. The compete level was evident from day one.
“We’ve been talking about how important the start is. This is probably the first year we got off to the start we really wanted, playing good winning hockey early on. The goaltending’s been awesome.”
In both weekend games, Providence was able to grab the lead and extend it.
“We talked about creating doubt tonight and how important that is. The way you create doubt is by sticking to our structure. Offensive players are going to find ways to create ice and create space for each other and that’s what our offensive guys did. They made a lot of pretty special plays. I liked that we understood the momentum swings.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— The power play was on fire on Friday, clicking on three of six chances. It took Providence only five seconds to score on one of the power plays. After an offensive zone faceoff, all five Providence skaters touched the puck before Alex Steeves put it in the net. It went from Matt Poitras to Victor Soderstrom to Matej Blumel to Georgii Merkulov and then to Steeves. The PP has a 37.5 percent success rate, third-best in the AHL.
— Four of the top 10 scorers in the league are Bruins: Georgii Merkulov, Fabian Lysell, Alex Steeves and Matej Blumel.
— Riley Tufte scored twice and added an assist in Bridgeport, then chipped in with a goal and an assist against Hartford.
— Patrick Brown had a goal and an assist on Friday and two assists on Saturday.
— Georgii Merkulov recorded two assists against Bridgeport and a goal against Hartford. With 186 points, he is now tied for second all-time with Sergei Zholtok in points with the P-Bruins.
— Dans Locmelis, Jonathan Aspirot and Billy Sweezey scored their first goals of the season over the weekend.
— Blumel had two assists against the Islanders and one against the Wolf Pack.
— Mike DiPietro made 27 saves on 30 shots against Bridgeport. Simon Zajicek stopped 31 of 33 shots against Hartford.
— The P-Bruins are one of seven teams that has not lost a game.
BAD
— A turnover behind the net by Michael DiPietro handed Bridgeport a goal in the first period on Friday.
— The P-Bruins gave up two goals on the penalty kill against the Islanders. The PK is at 76.9 percent, which is 19th in the league.
Frederic Brunet is all smiles after his goal in Bridgeport (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins).
The Providence Bruins opened the 2025-26 season with a pair of wins, one on the road and one at home.
On Saturday night, they rallied from two goals down to beat the Bridgeport Islanders, 3-2, in Connecticut.
In the home opener on Sunday, the P-Bruins trailed, 3-2, before exploding for four straight goals on the way to a 6-3 victory in front of 9,093 fans.
“The guys stuck to their identify,” coach Ryan Mougenel said after Sunday’s game. “There were definitely moments where we were bending. We didn’t necessarily break. That’s to be expected early on in the season, kind of building in those habits that protect you. We did a good job of it.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— With a hat trick and a primary assist, Fabian Lysell played his best game ever in a Providence uniform on Sunday. All three of the goals were different. The first was on a breakaway; he went to the edge of the crease for the second; and the third came off the rush. He was plus-four for the day.
“It’s good to see Fabian watch a couple of pucks go in the net. For offensive guys it’s always good that they can see the puck go in and start building that confidence. It’s a big part of the game, obviously, feeling good and playing good,” said Mougenel.
“The big thing for us is we want guys’ games in a really good place when they go up. It’s not always necessarily the stat sheet. It’s the wall play, stick details. Those are the things that give you protection and longevity in the NHL and those are the habits we’re trying to build into a lot of our young players like Fabian. Sometimes it takes time.
“I liked that he shot the puck tonight. My favorite goal was the second goal. He went to the net and that’s what happens when you go to the net. He got rewarded.”
— Alex Steeves had a goal and three assists and was plus-four against Charlotte.
— Matt Poitras recorded four assists and was plus-four on Sunday.
— Georgii Merkulov was brilliant on Saturday with a goal and two helpers.
— Matej Blumel, doing what he does best, scored goals in both games.
— After a rough start, Simon Zajicek locked it down and stopped 23 shots in Saturday’s win. His best stop came with seven minutes left, a 10-bell save on Joey Larson that kept the score at 2-2. It was Zajicek’s first win in the American Hockey League.
— All three of Providence’s goals against the Islanders were of the highlight-reel variety
First, Merkulov showed off his quick, slick hands to score from close range. On the second goal, Merkulov started the play and then Victor Soderstrom made a perfect pass to Frederic Brunet, who buried it. In overtime, the puck went from Brunet to Merkulov to Blumel, who ripped home a one-timer for the win.
— They held Bridgeport to just one shot in the third period.
— Patrick Brown scored a goal and had seven shots on Sunday.
— Michael DiPietro stopped 34 shots against Charlotte.
— Good start for the power play, which went three of six on the weekend.
BAD
Providence allowed two goals in just under two minutes in the first period in Bridgeport. The D pairing of Jonathan Aspirot and Ty Gallagher was on for both goals.
— Hate to start the year dumping on a referee, but I have to call it like I see it: The holding penalty on Victor Soderstrom at the start of the second period in Bridgeport was not referee Chad Ingalls’ best moment.
— The P-Bruins allowed a goal with 32 seconds left in the first period.
UGLY
— Nothing ugly to report at this time. Check back next week.
Optimism leading into a Providence Bruins season is nothing new.
Most years that positive feeling proves to be justified.
The P-Bruins haven’t missed the playoffs since 2012, which was Bruce Cassidy’s first year as head coach. They have consistently delivered entertaining hockey with regular season wins outnumbering losses most years.
This season, however, the high hopes are higher than ever.
The P-Bruins head into their first weekend with the deepest roster, top to bottom, they’ve had in recent memory.
There’s a top goaltender, proven scorers and strong defense. All the ingredients for success are there.
You never know what you’re going to get in the six-and-a-half-month battle of attrition that is the AHL regular season, but Providence starts out with the makings of a very strong team.
From the net out, here’s how it looks.
GOALTENDING
The P-Bruins have gotten some of the best goaltending in the league in recent seasons.
Brandon Bussi is gone, but Michael DiPietro returns. He was the AHL’s goaltender of the year and a first-team All-Star last season.
The backup will be Simon Vajicek, a free agent signing from Czechia, who has looked good in the preseason, but is unproven on this side of the Atlantic.
“Goaltending has been a real strong suit and we’ve got Dipper back. I really like Simon. He’s got a tremendous upside,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
DEFENSE
There’s a good mix of experience and youth on D.
Mike Callahan, Billy Sweezey and Jonathan Aspirot are good, experienced defenders. Frederic Brunet is an up-and-coming two-way defenseman. Victor Soderstrom put up 37 points in 49 games and earned Defenseman of the Year honors in Sweden last year.
Loke Johansson is a first-year pro drafted in the sixth round in 2024.
Ty Gallagher, Jackson Edward, Max Wanner and Colin Felix will battle for ice time.
“I like our depth,” said Mougenel.
FORWARDS
The opening night lineup at forward is impressive.
“We have some offensive weapons, for sure. There’s guys that have had a lot of success at the American League level. I don’t know if in the past we’ve had gifted offensive players like we have up front,” said Mougenel.
At the top of the lineup, at least for the start of the season, are the two top goal-scorers in the AHL last season, Matej Blumel (39 goals) and Alex Steeves (36 goals). Blumel was a first-team All-Star; Steeves was a second teamer.
How it goes in Boston will likely determine if Blumel or Steeves will be around for the short term or the long term, but as long as they’re in Providence they should provide plenty of offensive punch.
Matthew Poitras put up 41 points in 40 AHL games last season. He’s determined to make his way back up to Boston sooner rather than later.
Georgii Merkulov, Providence’s top scorer the last three seasons, is back for a fourth year.
Patrick Brown had a strong camp in Boston. He’s a model captain.
“He does such a good job with all of our guys – teaching them how to be pros, how to act, how to train, how to live it every day,” said Mougenel.
First-rounder Fabian Lysell, in his fourth pro season, looks to rebound after a subpar year.
Riley Tufte, a consistent 20-goal scorer in the AHL, is back. Riley Duran and John Farinacci both got their first taste of the NHL last season. They are looking for more.
Dans Locmelis and Dalton Bancroft, both of whom finished last season with the P-Bruins after their college seasons were over, are expected to contribute offensively. Joey Abate will continue to provide energy and enthusiasm.
Other forwards in the mix are Brett Harrison, Jordan Schmaltz and Shawn Element.
INTANGIBLES
Providence has outstanding leadership, starting with Brown, Callahan and Sweezey.
“We’re very fortunate to have that around us. I don’t take that for granted,” Mougenel said.
Under Marco Sturm, Boston has made changes in their systems in the defensive zone and neutral zone. Providence will follow suit.
“We’re going to have a couple of tweaks in how we play. There’s going to be teaching moments in that for our D and for the coaches, too. We’re trying to paint a clear picture for our players,” said Mougenel.
“That’s going to be a little bit of a challenge but one that we welcome, too. We’ve played the same way for years. It was nice and refreshing to hear somebody else’s perspective on the game.”
MAINE MEN
Another potential change: It sounds like there could be more traffic this year between Providence and its ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners, who have a new coach in Rick Kowalsky.
“We’re going to use Maine as much as we can. They’re a big part of it. I don’t like young players sitting in the stands. I don’t think it does anything for anybody,” said Mougenel.
PREDICTION
With the current roster, there’s every reason to expect the P-Bruins to be in the hunt for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Jackson Edward (41) played 31 AHL games last season. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
BUFFALO – With their second and last game of the Prospects Challenge scheduled for Sunday at noon against the New Jersey Devils, the Boston Bruins rookies got a morning practice in on Saturday.
Here are three notes from the day.
EDWARD STAYING POSITIVE
There were times last season when it looked like Jackson Edward was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
In fact, he was.
As Jackson embarked on his rookie year with the Providence Bruins, his mother, Jennifer, was recovering from a brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke suffered in March 2024.
Jackson took responsibility for Jennifer, a single mother of three, and the management of her affairs as well as helping his younger sister and brother.
It was a lot for anyone to cope with, and a massive burden for a young man trying to make his way in pro hockey.
Thankfully, Jennifer’s situation has improved and, as a result, Jackson is in a noticeably better frame of mind heading into his second season.
“She’s doing good. She’s at home now. She’s got the care she needs. Everything is going well, managing it and pushing forward as best I can,” he said after the team practiced on Saturday morning.
“You can imagine (last season) was pretty hard, for sure. But stuff happens and you’ve just got to push through it the best you can. Stay positive and keep moving along.”
Jamie Langenbrunner, assistant general manager for player personnel, said the team did what it could to help Edward through last season.
“Once we learned everything that was going on we were able to properly be there for him and give him that space to deal with those things,” he said.
“On-ice performance is important and it’s what we evaluate, but we also have to take into account sometimes what else is going on in (a player’s) life.”
Edward was drafted in the seventh round from London of the OHL in 2022. After playing 31 games with Providence and seven with Maine in 2024-25, Edward will look to step up his game this season.
“Playing simple, simple touches, stick work, technical little stuff. Soon as I get that down, then it’s about building my game, stacking on top of that and putting in reps,” he said.
Finding consistency will be key, says Langenbrunner.
“Can he be a reliable guy in your lineup every night – competitive, good defender, move pucks efficiently. He’s going to be in a fight for playing time in camp.”
Playing defense is a challenge for young pros, Providence coach Ryan Mougenel says.
“You got away with some things in junior. You can’t get away with them in pro. The things Jackson needs to work on is valuing different parts of it. He’s a physical D and we say it all the time: Things change in that there are limited opportunities to put licks on guys. You don’t want to take that out of guys’ games, but to have success at the American League and NHL level, it’s about recognizing those opportunities when and where you can be physical.
“That’s what Jackson is figuring out. He’s put on some size, he’s put on some weight, he looks good. We’re expecting big things from him this year. Year One as a pro is always a huge learning curve and Year Two is where you put the rubber to the road.”
SIMPSON ‘WANTS TO BE A DAWG’
Cooper Simpson knows his way around the offensive zone. That much was clear in Friday’s Prospects Challenge opener against the Penguins.
After playing high school hockey in Minnesota last season, the 18-year-old third-round pick didn’t look the least bit out of place with the puck on his stick.
“It’s a cool experience, first off. I’m a young player, everyone is bigger, faster, stronger. You’ve just got to think the game fast. You get the puck, you don’t have space. You’ve just got to be involved in the game and figure it out,” Simpson said.
“I feel like the first period I settled in, tried to figure out what works and doesn’t work. Every guy is big so you’ve got to play physical, as well.”
Minnesota native Langenbrunner, who watched Simpson in high school, likes his vision and playmaking ability. “It’s good to see him looking pretty comfortable out there,” he said.
“I think there’s more layers to his game than maybe you would have thought. He plays with a little more grit than you would probably notice in high school, which makes sense when you play probably 35 minutes a night.”
Simpson will play for Youngstown in the USHL this year before enrolling at North Dakota.
Youngstown coach Ryan Ward is happy to have him.
“I expect Cooper to be one of the top players in the league,” he said. “Special mind, special talent. Wants to be a dawg.”
BIG D ON THE WAY
At 6-foot-3 and 214 pounds, sixth-round pick Loke Johansson plays a physical game.
The 19-year-old defenseman is expected to graduate from Moncton of the QMJHL to Providence this season.
“He’s going to be in a little bit of a similar situation to what Jackson (Edward) was last year, coming in into a lineup where he’s going to have to fight for games, especially early on, depending on health and all those things, but I think that’s also a good thing for those guys,” said Langenbrunner.
“They can get tons of practice time, they can get their work in. They don’t have to play every night to build in that consistency to their game. For him, adjusting to what’s it’s like to play three in three or three in five at the pace you’re going to have to be playing at in the American League, compared to junior, where you can take off shifts and you’re OK.
“In the American League, it usually ends up in your net when you’re taking off shifts as a young guy. That’s the way life works. He’s just got to learn that. First-year pro, good opportunity for him.”
Mougenel said the Bruins know what they have.
“He’s a player that we drafted and we know exactly what he is. Usually when you draft a player, you’re like, he could be this, he could be that. I think we know exactly what he’s going to be. He’s a big physical guy, has a real thirst to be physical.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Ryan Mougenel on defensemen
“We really want our D making plays and being more than a one option D. We talk a lot about the different types of defensemen. There’s guys that are one option D that play a long time in the NHL, say, like a Derek Forbort. There’s two option Ds and three option Ds. We want to keep developing. We don’t want to put our D in a box. We want guys to keep growing their game.”
BUFFALO – The Boston Bruins rookies opened the 2025 Prospects Challenge on Friday afternoon with a 2-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Trailing by a goal in the third period, Boston tied the game on a goal by free agent invite and Merrimack College commit Mavrick Lachance of Sherbrooke of the QMJHL
But the Pens scored the game-winner on a breakaway in the final minute.
Here is a hat trick of notes from the day.
ZAJICEK SHINES
Playing his first game in North America, Simon Zajicek was a bright light for the Bruins.
The 24-year-old goalie from Czechia stopped 30 of 32 shots and kept the score close.
“It was a pretty good game for me,” he said. “The guys blocked a lot of shots.”
In addition to some fine saves, Zajicek black-and-gold pads drew some positive comments.
Coincidentally, the team Zajicek played for last season, HC Litvinov, also has black and gold as its colors. He didn’t have to get new pads, he just stuck with the ones he was already wearing.
Asked about his style of play, he said, “Probably I’ve got good feet, I think. I can read the game.”
Zajicek signed with the Bruins as a free agent after going 15-13 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.12 goals-against average in the Czech league last season.
Jamie Langenbrunner, Bruins assistant general manager, player personnel, liked what he saw from Zajicek on Friday.
“He looked calm. He looked poised. He looked like a seasoned pro. He’s a guy that our goalie group said had some intrigue in him. We’re excited to see where it goes,” he said.
LITTLE GUY PLAYS BIG
Dylan Edwards was the shortest player on either team at 5-foot-8, but he didn’t play like it.
A free agent invite from Erie of the OHL, Edwards was around the puck all day.
After throwing a hard hit in the first period, Edwards was called on to fight by Quinn Beauchesne of the Penguins.
Edwards absorbed some punches in the bout, which he said was the third of his career, but he continued to seek out body checks at every opportunity.
“Right away after that hit, I knew someone was coming so I was prepared and ready to go,” he said. “Typically not my game, but I’m willing to do whatever I gotta do out there.”
Coach Ryan Mougenel was impressed.
“He’s trying to make some noise. I like that. There was a lot of good things that kid did,” he said.
The number of NCAA schools scouting the Prospects Challenge reached double figures on Saturday and some of the recruiters surely noticed Edwards, who turned 20 in July.
While his focus this season will be on helping Erie have a good season, Edwards said he has talked to NCAA schools and is open to the idea of playing college hockey down the road.
NEWEST BOURQUE
Like his famous father Ray and his brother Chris before him, Ryan Bourque is now a Bruin and he couldn’t be happier about it.
Bourque, the new assistant coach in Providence, was on the bench in Buffalo. He replaces Matt Thomas, who left the organization to take over as head coach at the Rochester Institute of Technology, his alma mater.
The opportunity with the Bruins “means the world to me. Growing up, it’s obviously an organization that (is) family. It’s a huge part of my life.
“My dad and my brother were part of the organization. I was the only missing link. To get the opportunity meant a lot and I had to jump on it,” he said.
Bourque, who coached Cushing Academy to a prep school championship last season, played for a number of coaches in his pro career.
He points to former Providence captain Brent Thompason, his coach in Bridgeport, as someone who had a lasting impact.
“His demeanor, his intensity, his compete. He’s really a guy that maybe you wouldn’t expect him to be as detailed as he was, but he was extremely detailed and passionate,” he said.
“He just always had his players’ backs. He really cared about the person before the player. That’s an important thing when it comes to pro hockey, especially.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Ryan Mougenel on Fraser Minten, who along with Brett Harrison and Riley Duran wore an “A” for the Bruins on Friday:
“The one thing about Fraser is he’s got a lot of pride. For a guy that’s played (25 NHL games) to play as hard as he did today says a lot about the character, the person. I liked his leadership. Did some things, didn’t do some things. It’s part of getting your game in a good place.”
Will Zellers scored 44 goals as a USHL rookie last season. (Photo courtesy of Green Bay Gamblers)
If anyone deserved a week or so away from the rink to relax and recharge after a long season, it was Will Zellers of the Green Bay Gamblers.
But Zellers didn’t grow into the player he is by taking time off.
Just a few days after his USHL season ended in mid-April, the 5-11, 170-pound winger was back on the ice working on his game and looking ahead to Boston Bruins development camp, starting on June 30.
“I’m not a big take-a-break guy. I like putting the work in and getting right after it,” said Zellers over the phone last week.
That drive to get better is paying off for the 19-year-old winger from Maple Grove, Minn., who will be a freshman at North Dakota in 2025-26.
Acquired by the Bruins from Colorado in March as part of the Charlie Coyle/Casey Mittelstadt trade, the speedy, skilled Zellers immediately upgraded Boston’s prospect pool.
Consider what Zellers, drafted in the third round by the Avs in 2023, accomplished as rookie last season:
*** He torched the USHL for a league-leading 44 goals in 52 games
*** He was named USHL Player of the Year, USHL Forward of the Year and was All-USHL First Team.
*** He earned USA Hockey’s Junior Player of the Year Award.
“His goal-scoring ability is the best I’ve ever been around and I played with Anders Lee here in Green Bay,” said Gamblers coach Patrick McCadden. “It’s uncanny the way he can score. He can just find the hole and put the puck there, It’s pretty special.
“I kept waiting for him to hit the wall and he just never did. It was incredible how he continued to score consistently over the course of the season.”
On March 7, Zellers was at his billet house preparing for a Gamblers game and watching the Minnesota state high school tournament with teammate Aidan Park when he got word from his adviser that a trade might be in the works.
“I thought he was talking about the USHL for a second. I was like, the trade deadline was done already,” Zellers said.
“I ended up getting a call from (Don Sweeney) a little bit after that.”
Zellers took the news in stride.
“I’ll always be grateful to Colorado. They made a lifelong dream come true for me. It’s every kid’s dream to get drafted. I also understand it’s a business. It’s about winning,” he said.
“To get traded to an Original Six team like Boston is pretty exciting, just knowing that they wanted me at this young of an age. It was pretty special to get that call and hear the excitement on their end that they wanted me that badly.”
Zellers is acquainted with Boston. He committed to Boston University in 2022 before switching to North Dakota a year later, and he played at the Bruins’ Warrior Arena several times while attending Shattuck St. Mary’s, the Minnesota prep school.
“I love the City of Boston. It’s great. The fans are very passionate and very driven. Boston checks all the boxes,” he said.
Zellers attended Colorado’s development camp last summer but stayed off the ice because of an injury.
He’s excited about Bruins camp.
“I’m looking forward to meeting a bunch of the other draft picks and other affiliated players. That’s one of the best parts about hockey, the relationships that you build. And I just want to kind of pick every coach’s brain. This will be a good learning opportunity for me,” he said.
Among others at the camp, Zellers knows fellow Minnesotan Beckett Hendrickson, drafted by the Bruins in the fourth round in 2023, and he played against Dean Letourneau, Boston’s first rounder a year ago, while at Shattuck.
“He’s an unreal player, a big kid with a lot of potential. It will be cool learning from those guys and hearing what they have to say about college hockey,” Zellers said.
A few days after development camp ends on July 3, Zellers will head to North Dakota to begin his freshman year. He’ll be taking an English class and a science class during the summer session.
“It’s great how they have you ease into college, the academic part of it. They give you every tool to be a great student,” Zellers said.
The UND hockey program is known, of course, for developing players who go on to NHL careers.
“They have one of the best track records in all of college hockey, putting guys through to the next level, all different types of players. They’ve had skill guys from Jonathan Toews all the way down to some grinders like Rocco Grimaldi or Drake Caggiula,” said Zellers.
“It doesn’t matter what type of player you are, they will give you every tool you need to get to the next level, which is ultimately the dream.”
There was a coaching change at North Dakota after last season as highly respected coach Brad Berry, who guided the Fighting Hawks to the NCAA championship in 2016, was replaced by longtime assistant Dane Jackson.
Zellers is on board with the new staff.
“I trust Jacks. He’s a great coach and an even better mentor off the ice. I went (to Grand Forks) a couple of weeks ago just to talk to the new coaches,” he said.
In Zellers, Jackson and his staff are getting a player who is self-aware and motivated to do what it takes to get better, according to McCadden.
“He’s very grounded, especially for a player of his caliber. It allowed me to coach him the way I needed to coach him. You get a lot of high-end players like that who think they know better. They don’t want to hear it, necessarily, when they’re not going well,” he said.
“That’s probably what stands out the most about Will, his coachability, in taking criticism in good faith. Getting better and understanding it’s not always perfect. I had the freedom with Will to be hard on him if I needed to be, not that it was a frequent occasion, but there were definitely a couple of times with him.
“That’s kind of a coach’s dream, when you have a player that is as talented as he is and when you need to get on him, you need to coach him, that he takes to coaching.”
His determination to keep improving is a subject that comes up often in conversation with Zellers.
“I wasn’t always the best player growing up. I mean, I could always score goals, make plays, but I was never on those top teams. I had a drive to become a better player, be a guy teams rely on and teams want,” Zellers said.
“Doing something every day to better myself is a big thing, whether it’s on the ice, working on my stride, or even on a Sunday night, I got no skate or anything, just shooting pucks. You’ll never be a perfect hockey player but chasing that perfection is the best part of it.”
One player that Zellers has paid a lot of attention to is North Dakota born Jackson Blake, who stepped into the Carolina Hurricanes’ lineup in 2024-25 after two outstanding seasons in Grand Forks.
“He has been a guy I’ve watched growing up, starting at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School. He was kind of the same build as me. Not the biggest guy. Five-eleven, maybe six foot, around 180 pounds. He’s been a player I’ve loved to watch and tried to pull parts of his game,” said Zellers.
All things considered, it would work out nicely for the Bruins if Zellers’ timeline to reach the NHL matches Blake’s.
“Will’s a special player. Special kid, too. He’s on the right track. Boston got a good one,” McCadden said.
The Bruins acquired Will Zellers from Colorado at the trade deadline. (Photo courtesy of Green Bay Gamblers)
Rinkside Rhode Island 