Rangers NCAA prospects report: Malcolm Spence has 5-point weekend
Malcolm Spence made quite the first impression in his NCAA hockey debut last weekend. The New York Rangers top pick (second round; No. 43 overall) in this year’s NHL Draft recorded five points for the University of Michigan in his first two collegiate games.
Spence started with a goal and two assists, when Michigan steamrolled Mercyhurst 11-1 in non-conference action Friday night.
The freshman forward skated at left wing on the second line for Michigan along with Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage and Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Nick Moldenhauer. Spence earned the primary assist — and first NCAA point — on the Wolverine’s fifth goal of the game, coming at 7:47 of the second period. Spence skated up left wing on the counter attack, drawing the Mercyhurst goaltender to his side, before making the heads up pass to Hage for the goal.
At 14:54 of the third period, Spence set up Aidan Park for a power-play goal, Michigan’s 10th score of the game. The Wolverines worked possession down low, and Spence slid the puck across the crease for his second assist of the night.
He later scored his first NCAA goal at 18:40, Michigan’s last of the game. Alone at the back post, Spence stuffed a loose puck into the open net, after a pass from Hage.
Michigan completed the weekend sweep over Mercyhurst with a 7-0 victory Saturday. Spence added another goal and assist in the contest. At 12:34 of the third period, Spence picked up a rebound in front, and tucked the puck into the net for a power-play goal.
Spence, who scored 32 goals and totaled 73 points in 65 games last season with Erie of the OHL, added a secondary assist on Matthew Mania’s goal coming at 19:17 to complete his five-point weekend.
Michigan rose three spots to ninth in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll and climbed up to seventh in the USA Hockey NCAA Division I Men’s Poll. The Wolverines travel to Rhode Island this weekend for games Friday and Saturday against Providence College.
Related: Rangers NCAA prospects preview: Ty Henricks eyes championship repeat
Rangers prospect Drew Fortescue scores first goal in two seasons for Boston College
After failing to score a goal his entire sophomore season, defenseman Drew Fortescue wasted no time finding the back of the net for Boston College last weekend. Fortescue opened his junior season with a goal at 4:31 of the third period, though BC still lost 4-3 to Quinnipiac. Fortescue received a pass from Andre Gasseau at the point, and fired a shot through the Quinnipiac defense and past goaltender Dylan Silverstein to make it a one-goal game.
The Eagles failed to score the equalizer and Fortescue finished the game with one goal on one shot, one blocked shot and a minus-1 rating. Boston College dropped to 11th in the USCHO.com poll with the loss and 10th in the USA Hockey poll. The Eagles travel to Minnesota for games Thursday and Friday against the Golden Gophers.
As for Minnesota, they split a weekend series against Michigan Tech, winning 6-3 on Friday, before falling 5-3 Saturday. Senior captain Brody Lamb started at right wing on the second line, and recorded a goal and assist, three shots on goal, two blocked shots, and a plus-1 rating in the first game. Lamb broke a 3-3 tie at 4:13 of the third period and scored the eventual game-winner, picking up a loose puck along the boards in the offensive zone and firing a shot from the slot past the Huskies goaltender. He also assisted on an empty-net goal at 17:59 to seal the victory.
Lamb opened the scoring Saturday at 1:30 of the first period off a 2-on-1 rush. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Michigan Tech responded with four unanswered goals, pacing an upset victory. Lamb finished the game with one goal on one shot, one blocked shot, and was a minus-1. Minnesota fell to 12th in both the USCHO.com poll and USA Hockey poll. The Golden Gophers look to rebound at home Thursday night against Boston College.
Sophomore Ty Henricks recorded an assist and had four penalty minutes for the defending national champion Western Michigan Broncos, when they defeated the U.S. National Team Development Program 7-0 in exhibition play Saturday. Henricks was credited with the primary assist on Western Michigan’s final goal of the game at 10:07 of the third period, on the power play.
Henricks was called for slashing in the second period, and a minor penalty for cross-checking in the third. He was bumped up to the third line for Western Michigan to begin his second season. The Broncos remain first in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls, and host their regular-season opener Thursday night at Lawson Arena against Ferris State University.
Michigan State moved up one spot to second in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls following a 4-0 exhibition win over Windsor. Freshman defenseman Sean Barnhill was on the right side of the third pairing for the Spartans, registering three shots on goal and a plus-1 rating. Michigan State begin the regular season with a non-conference matchup against New Hampshire on Thursday.
EJ Emery, New York’s first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in 2024, was not in the lineup for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during a 7-0 exhibition win over Manitoba last weekend. According to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, the sophomore defenseman is day to day with an unspecified injury. North Dakota climbed one spot to 10th in the USCHO.com poll and is 11th in the USA Hockey Poll. The Fighting Hawks begin the regular season Friday night at home against St. Thomas.
Swedish defenseman Rasmus Larsson debuted with Robert Morris University, when the Colonials skated to preseason victories over Bowling Green University and Waterloo. The fifth-round selection in 2023 is the first NHL draft pick in program history for Robert Morris. He transferred from Northern Michigan University, where he had three goals as a freshman. Robert Morris’ next game is October 16th against Michigan.
