Rangers 2023 top pick Gabe Perreault named Rookie of the Week
On Monday, New York Rangers 2023 1st Round Pick Gabe Perreault was named the Hockey East Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week following his two multiple point games against the Michigan State Spartans at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Through six games, the freshman leads the Boston College Eagles with six assists, and his seven points are tied for second amongst skaters. His +3 rating is tied for fourth best on the team. While he leads the team in assists, Perreault could easily have a few more as Spartans netminder Trey Augustine saved a couple of grade A chances on Will Smith after being set up by the Rangers’ prospect. Perreault will continue to accumulate points for Boston College the more power play time he receives, especially with standout sophomore Cutter Gauthier (2022 Philadelphia Flyers 5th overall).
Gabriel Perreault named Rookie of the Week
After setting the United States National Team Development Program record by scoring 53 goals and 79 assists for 132 point in 63 games, it is great to see Perreault’s offense prowess translate to the collegiate level.
The chemistry he has with fellow first round picks Will Smith (2023 San Jose Sharks 4th overall) and Ryan Leonard (2023 Washington Capitals 8th overall) has carried over to Chestnut Hill, as Head Coach Greg Brown has elected to keep their line intact to begin the season.
The trio will likely skate together for team USA in the upcoming 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships set to take place from Tuesday, December 26th through Friday, January 5th, 2024.
Fellow New York Rangers 2023 3rd Round Pick Drew Fortescue is also likely to be named to the American team looking to capture gold for the first time since Trevor Zegras and Cole Caufield led the team to victory in 2021. Perreault’s eighteen points in seven games at the Under 18 World Championships this spring were good enough for second overall in scoring at the tournament where the United States won gold, and were coached by current New York Rangers assistant Dan Muse.
Boston College also received 36 first-place votes to take over as the new Number One team in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll. The Eagles will begin their Hockey East schedule with a pair of games against UMass Lowell River Hawks.
Former Number One ranked team, the Minnesota Golden Gophers (featuring 2021 New York Rangers 4th Round Pick Brody Lamb) fell to Number Six after being swept by the new Number Five Wisconsin Badgers. Lamb has showcased he can play all three offensive positions, and will look to help Minnesota bounce back against rival Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs this Friday and Saturday.
Holding firm at Number Seven was the Providence College Friars. 2021 New York Rangers 5th Round selection, Jaroslav Chmelar is leading the Friars in scoring with four goals, and nine points through seven games. His six-game point streak was snapped following a 2-2 tie versus the Vermont Catamounts, where he was also stopped during the shootout by goaltender Gabe Carriere. Providence will travel to Durham, New Hampshire on Friday to take on the Wildcats before hosting at Schneider Arena on Saturday night.
Hockey East features six teams in the top twenty rankings this week, as joining Boston College and Providence College are Boston University Terriers at Number Nine, New Hampshire Wildcats at Number Fifteen, UMass Minutemen at Number Eighteen, and the Maine Black Bears at Number Twenty.
Another New York Rangers draft pick, 2021 7th Round selection Hank Kempf saw his Cornell Big Red climb up two spots at Number 10 in the polls while also receiving one first-place vote. The junior defenseman recorded his first point of the season, earning a primary assist on Cornell’s second goal of the game in a 3-0 victory over the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday. Not known for producing much offensively, Kempf was able to see his name on the scoresheet. Through 65 career NCAA games, he has one goal and ten assists.
The Big Red are a younger team on the blueline though, and Kempf will be relied upon for his defensive abilities this season, especially on the penalty kill. Cornell will take on the Yale University Bulldogs at Ingalls Rink in New Haven, Connecticut on Friday night before visiting Brown University in Providence Rhode Island on Saturday.
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