HOCKEY EAST HEADLINES

Boston College and Boston University ended the first half of the 2023-24 season as the number one and two ranked teams in the nation for the first time ever.

The Eagles took down No. 9 Providence in a thrilling 5-4 game that game down to the final seconds and was seen across North America on NESN, TSN2, and ESPN+. Oskar Jellvik scored twice in the span of 66 seconds late in the third period to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Eagles over the Friars.

Maine swept a two-game non-conference set against Bentley and Union, paced by three goals from freshman Josh Nadeau. The Black Bears currently sit third in the Pairwise, behind only Boston University and Quinnipiac.

Massachusetts saw an unprecendented offensive output from freshman Aydar Suniev, who erupted for six points (3g, 3a) in a weekend sweep of Alaska-Anchorage, including a five-point night (2g, 3a) in an 11-2 win on Friday, the most goals UMass has scored in the Divison I era.

Vermont earned a 4-1 victory over Union on Saturday, led by freshman defenseman Jack Malinski who scored his first career NCAA goal and set up the game-winning tally.

Northeastern took a 4-1 win over Brown on Saturday led by a hat trick from Alex Campbell.

HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Alex Campbell - Northeastern

Alex Campbell (Sr., F; Chateauguay, Que.) recorded his first hat trick of the season to lead Northeastern to a 4-1 win over Brown. The Huskies are now 3-0-0 when Campbell, who has at four multi-point games, tallies at least two goals on the year. He finished plus-two and recorded a team-high five shots on the night. He currently holds the Huskies longest-active point streak with seven points (6g, 1a) in his last four games.

PRO AMBITIONS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Aydar Suniev - Massachusetts

Aydar Suniev (Fr., F; Kazan, Russia) led UMass to a sweep of Alaska Anchorage with six points on three goals and three assists in the two-game set against the Seawolves. The freshman had a five-point game against UAA on Friday, helping the Minutemen set a record for most goals against a Division I opponent as the squad won 11-2. Suniev’s five points, which came on two goals and three assists, marked the most points by a UMass freshman in a single game in the program’s Division I era. He followed up with third goal of the weekend in Saturday’s 3-2 win, putting the Minutemen in front 2-1 with less than three minutes to play in regulation to finish plus-five on the weekend with a .250 shooting percentage and four blocks.

ARMY ROTC DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Jack Malinski - Vermont

Jack Malinski (Fr., D; Lakeville, Minn.) had a goal and assisted on the game-winning strike as he was named First Star of the Game in Vermont’s 4-1 win over Union Saturday night. Malinski’s tally was his first career goal.

STOP IT GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK

Victor Ostman - Maine

Victor Ostman (Gr., G; Danderyd, Sweden) led Hockey East with 51 saves in a 2-0-0 week, the only goaltender with two wins on the week. He posted a .944 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average. He made 22 saves against Union and 29 against Bentley.

HOCKEY EAST TOP PERFORMERS

Oskar Jellvik, BC (So., F; Taby, Sweden) Scored twice in the span of 66 seconds late in the third period to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Eagles over No. 9 Providence, 5-4, on Saturday at Kelley Rink in a game seen on NESN and TSN2. The goals were his eighth and ninth of the year, more than doubling his freshman year goal total. He registered five shots on goal in the victory to close the first semester

Gabe Perreault, BC (Fr., F; Hinsdale, Ill.) Registered a power-play goal and added a primary assist in a 5-4 win over No. 9 Providence on Saturday. He had four shots on goal and posted the ninth multi-point game of his rookie season. He has now collected a point in 14 of his last 15 games.

Cutter Gauthier, BC (So., F; Scottsdale, Ariz.) Scored a goal and added two assists for a three-point performance on Saturday in a 5-4 victory over No. 9 Providence. His goal tied the game at 3-3 in the third period and his second assist factored into Oskar Jellvik’s game-winning goal. He finished the afternoon with four shots on goal.

Josh Nadeau, Maine (Fr., F; St-François-de-Madawaska, N.B.) Scored three goals on the week, including a two-goal outing and the game-winning goal against Bentley to finish with a plus-two rating. He had seven shots on goal and one blocked shot.

Brandon Chabrier, Maine (So., D; Bayville, N.Y.) Led all Hockey East defenders with a plus-five rating while adding two assists, three shots on goal and one blocked shot in a sweep of Bentley and Union.

Scott Morrow, UMass (Jr., D; Darien, Conn.) Had a five-point weekend in UMass’ sweep of Alaska Anchorage with a power-play goal and four assists. He helped the Minutemen set a record for most goals against a Division I opponent as the squad won 11-2 on Friday, contributing a goal and two assists in that contest. He followed up with two helpers in Saturday’s 3-2 win. Morrow finished the first semester with 20 points in 16 games, becoming just the second defenseman in the program’s Division I era to do so, joining UMass Hall of Famer Thomas Poeck.

Filip Fornaa Svensson, UML (Gr., F; Linköping, Sweden) Scored the game-tying goal to force overtime and eventually a 2-2 tie against Holy Cross.

Sean Kilcullen, UML (Fr., D; Kensington, Md.) Dished out his first two career assists in an 0-1-1 weekend against Holy Cross. The first came on the game-tying, third-period goal that helped send it to overtime. He also added a blocked shot in game two.

Isac Jonsson, UML (Jr., D: Angelholm, Sweden) Helped limit Holy Cross’ scoring opportunities in a 2-2 tie by blocking a team-high three shots, before adding an assist in game two with a block.

Jak Vaarwerk, UML (Fr., F; Clarence, N.Y.) Scored his first career goal on Saturday in a 4-2 setback to Holy Cross.

Tyler Muszelik, UNH (So., G; Long Valley, N.J.) Posted his first shutout of the season in a 1-0 win over RPI. He made 20 saves for his second career shutout.

Cameron Whitehead, NU (Fr., G; Orleans, Ont.) Played all 60 minutes for the Huskies in a 4-1 win over Brown to finish with a .972 save percentage over the weekend. He made a total of 35 saves.