Rangers NCAA prospects report: Ty Henricks scores twice for Western Michigan
Ty Henricks (2023 sixth-round, 183rd overall) headlined a group of six Rangers prospects in NCAA action with a strong weekend for Western Michigan. The sophomore forward scored two goals Saturday, after adding an assist Friday, when the defending national champion Broncos swept Miami by scores of 5-2 and 6-2 in NCHC play.
Henricks earned First Star of the Game honors Saturday. He’s third on Western Michigan with five goals and 10 points through 12 games. Western Michigan improved to 7-5-0 overall and climbed one spot to eighth in the USCHO.com poll and seventh in the USA Hockey Poll. The Broncos visit Omaha for a pair of games against the Mavericks this weekend.
Michigan State remains the No. 1 team in the nation, after the Spartans picked up a pair of victories over Notre Dame. Defenseman Sean Barnhill had a plus-1 rating in a 4-1 win Friday and was plus-2 Saturday night in a 3-1 final. Barnhill remains a key shutdown defender for Michigan State, who’s on a nine-game winning streak. The Spartans continue Big Ten play against Wisconsin at home this weekend.
It was a quiet weekend for freshman forward Malcolm Spence, who he recorded two shots on goal, but no points during Michigan’s 7-1 victory Friday night at Penn State. Spence also took a minor penalty for hooking in the second period. The Wolverines lost 4-2 in the rematch Saturday. Spence had a plus-1 rating, but did not record a shot on goal. Michigan sits at second in the polls with an 11-3-0 overall record and hosts rival Ohio State at home this Friday and Saturday.
Rangers defensemen prospects finding score sheet more often in NCAA play this season
EJ Emery – photo courtesy Alan Selavka
2023 top pick EJ Emery earned his second assist of the season in a 5-2 win for North Dakota over Arizona State. Following a freshman campaign when he recorded one Points (assist), it is encouraging to see Emery adding a bit of offense to his game, and not at the expense of his strong defensive play. Emery had a two-goal outing earlier this season and has four points in 11 games.
The sophomore defenseman had one shot on goal and a plus-1 rating Friday. The Fighting Hawks fell in the second game of the series against the Sun Devils by a 4-2 final. Emery had two shots on goal and a plus-1 rating, along with a minor penalty for holding in the first period. North Dakota remained sixth in the polls with an 8-4-0 overall record. They play an exhibition game against the U.S. Under-18 Team Friday at Ralph Engelsted Arena in Grand Forks.
Boston College is beginning to right the ship following a slow start, improving to 6-4-1 overall. They had a pair of victories over the UMass Minutemen in Hockey East action last weekend. Junior defenseman Drew Fortescue scored his third goal of the season Friday night in a 7-3 victory. With the Eagles trailing 2-1 in the second period, Fortescue’s low wrist shot from the left circle found its way through traffic and under the pad of the UMass goaltender to tie the score.
Fortescue added a pair of assists Saturday in a 4-0 shutout victory, improving his season totals to three goals and five assists for eight points through 11 games. Boston College has now won their past four games. The Eagles rose three spots to 15th in the USCHO poll, and gained one spot to 15th in the USA Hockey poll. Greg Brown’s squad looks to continue the winning streak at home against Maine this weekend.
The struggles continued for Minnesota when they were defeated by Long Island Friday night 6-2. Senior captain Brody Lamb had three shots on goal and one blocked shot in the loss. Lamb sparked the Golden Gophers on Saturday to a series split, recording five shots on goal in a 6-3 victory. Lamb assisted on the first goal of the game, coming at 6:38 of the first period when Minnesota was on the power play. He found the back of the net later on in the period at the 15:57 mark. Lamb shifted over to his off wing and rifled a one-timer from the left dot for his seventh goal of the season.
Lamb’s five shots on goal were the second most among all skaters, with another three blocked shots and one faceoff win. Minnesota is 5-8-1 and continues conference play hosting a pair against Penn State this weekend.
Swedish defender Rasmus Larsson was scratched from the Robert Morris lineup when the Colonials dropped both games against RIT by scores of 2-1 and 3-2. It is unclear if the sophomore transfer is being held out due to injury. Larsson last suited up Nov. 7 against Long Island. He does not have any points in three games played so far this season. Robert Morris is 2-7-1 ahead of a pair of games this weekend at Lindenwood.
