Rangers NCAA prospects report: Malcolm Spence helps Michigan remain No. 1
As the calendar turned to 2026, six New York Rangers prospects took to the ice with their respective collegiate teams for NCAA play and exhibition games this past weekend.
Malcolm Spence, New York’s top pick in 2025, helped the Michigan Wolverines hold off the U.S. National Under-18 Team on Saturday, by a score of 7-5 in an exhibition matchup. Spence stood out with three assists, though that’s not included in his season total.
The freshman forward had the primary assist on Michigan’s first and fourth goals, both coming in the first period. On what proved to be the game-winning sixth goal for the Wolverines, Spence was credited with a secondary assist.
Through 20 NCAA games with Michigan, Spence has seven goals, and five assists for 12 points.
Michigan begins the new year at the top of the USCHO.com and USA Hockey College Hockey Poll with a 16-4-0 record. The Wolverines host Notre Dame this coming weekend in Big Ten action.
The U.S. National Under-18 Team faced another NCAA opponent Sunday, when they lost to Michigan State 4-2 in an exhibition contest. Freshman defenseman Sean Barnhill had one shot on goal for the Spartans. The 6-foot-6 blueliner is still searching for his first NCAA goal, though he remains solid defensively and has a plus-9 rating on the season, with three assists through 18 games.
Michigan State climbed one spot in both polls this week. The Spartans are 14-4-0 and continue Big Ten conference play on the road this week against Ohio State.
Disappointing run for Rangers’ EJ Emery, Team USA at 2026 World Juniors
Rangers’ 2023 first-round pick EJ Emery was the seventh defenseman for Team USA on Friday when the hosts were eliminated by Finland in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Junior Championship. Emery played just five shifts for a total of 4:01 TOI in the 4-3 overtime loss. It was a disappointing end for Team USA, who were looking to win a third straight gold medal at the World Juniors. Emery did not record any points during the tournament and finished with a minus-1 rating, playing four of five games.
The sophomore defender returned to the North Dakota lineup Sunday, when the Fighting Hawks rolled over Mercyhurst 6-1 in non-conference play. Emery recorded four shots on goal with a minor penalty for roughing, skating on the second defensive pair.
North Dakota remained fourth in the polls with a 16-4-0 record. The Fighting Hawks continue NCHC play on the road against Colorado College this Friday.
Ty Henricks had a secondary assist for the Western Michigan Broncos in a 4-0 shutout win over Notre Dame on Friday in non-conference play. Henricks earned his assist on the Broncos second goal of the game.
The sophomore winger picked up another secondary assist on Saturday, when Western Michigan again shut out Notre Dame by the same 4-0 score. Henricks earned his assist just as he did on Friday evening on an Owen Michaels goal, this time coming in the second period to open the scoring for the Broncos.
The assist came just 1:38 into the period and was all the Broncos needed for their fifth straight win. Henricks needs just one more goal to ty his total of eight scored as a freshman. Through 20 games this season, the sophomore left wing has seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.
Western Michigan gained one spot and is sixth in the polls this week. The Broncos are 14-6-0 and continue NCHC play on the road against Denver on Friday.
Brody Lamb and the Minnesota Golden Gophers played to a 3-3 overtime tie against Bemidji State in an exhibition game last Friday. The two Minnesota schools skated in an exhibition game for the third time in four years. Lamb, a senior captain, had three shots on goal and two face-off wins with an even rating.
Minnesota is currently out of the Top 20 rankings with a record of 8-10-1. The Golden Gophers travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, this week for a pair of games against Penn State.
Rasmus Larsson returned to the Robert Morris lineup, when the Colonials dropped a 3-1 decision to Sacred Heart in Atlantic Conference play. Larsson was the seventh defenseman and saw his first action since Nov. 22.
It was just the sixth game that he played this season, and he is still looking for his first point since transferring from Norther Michigan. The Colonials are 4-12-2 and travel to RIT in Rochester, New York, for a pair of games this coming weekend.
Defenseman Drew Fortescue and Boston College return to the ice Friday, when they host Stonehill at Conte Forum. The Eagles are 11-6-1 and ranked 13th in the polls this week.
