NY Rangers College Prospects: Gabe Perreault and Noah Laba stay hot
The NY Rangers top college prospects were once again in action this past weekend, and continuing to bring smiles to the organization that drafted them.
New York’s 2023 first-round pick, Gabe Perreault, has not let his foot off the gas with another point-filled set of games. However, we start off with another lesser known prospect that’s coming on as of late.
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NY Rangers College Prospects Update
Noah Laba, Center
Fourth round selection in 2022 by the New York Rangers, center Noah Laba became the first player for the Colorado College Tigers to score two goals in consecutive games since 2019 and score a shorthanded goal in back-to-back games since 2007. The Tigers traveled to Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio for a pair of games against the Miami University RedHawks. Those contests were the first game Colorado College has played outside their home state so far this season. The sophomore opened the scoring on Friday night, while on the penalty kill at 7:58 of the first period as he won a race for a loose puck in the defensive zone and skated down the length of the ice before putting a shot past the Miami goaltender from the bottom of the right circle.
Laba called for the puck from the left hashmark for his second goal of the night which also came in the first period at the 15:27 mark.
He would add two assists Friday, to finish with four points in the opening game of the series while going 6-14 on faceoffs in the 5-1 victory. The Tigers completed the series sweep on Saturday with a 4-1 win. Laba improved at the faceoff circle, going 11-16. He broke the scoring with 8:17 remaining in the first period as he fired a loose puck from the top of the left circle into the empty net to light the lamp again.
Noah scored his second shorthanded goal and fourth total of the weekend brought the score to 3-1 at 17:31 of the second period.
With six goals in nine games, Noah Laba is tied for the team lead in goals, while his five assists, and eleven points are both good for second overall. Colorado College improves to 7-3-0 on the season, and will take on Western Michigan this November 17th and 18th.
Gabe Perreault, Forward and Drew Fortescue, Defense
2023 New York Rangers first round pick Gabe Perreault continued his hot start with two assists on Friday night against the Maine Black Bears. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough, as the number one team in the nation fell 4-2. Teammate Drew Fortescue was scoreless with one blocked shot. Saturday saw Perreault record his second goal of the season as he rocketed the puck into the top corner on the short side.
The freshman would also have an assist in the 2-2 tie while also scoring during the shootout. His thirteen assists and fifteen points lead the team, while being tied for fifth nationally in points and tied for second in assists. Drew Fortescue would have one shot, one blocked shot, and was called for a hooking penalty.
Boston College is now 7-2-1 overall. The Eagles will host the University of Connecticut on Friday November 17th before traveling to Storrs, Connecticut to face the Huskies on Saturday, November 18th.
Hank Kempf, Defense and Zakary Karpa, Forward
Hank Kempf and the Cornell Big Red skated to a 2-2 tie against Dartmouth College on Friday night before winning the shootout. The junior defenseman was held scoreless with two blocks and two shots on goal. He would have one block and one shot on goal on Saturday night when fellow New York Rangers prospect Zakary Karpa and the Harvard Crimson handed Cornell their first loss of the season on Saturday. The sixth round pick of the New York Rangers in 2022 was 3-3 from the faceoff circle on Saturday, as he captained Harvard to their first victory of the year. The junior center was 8-19 on Friday night in a 2-2 tie against Colgate University. Harvard will be home against the UMass Minutemen on Friday, November 24th, before hosting the Boston College Eagles on Sunday, November 26th.
Victor Mancini, Defense
In honor of Veteran’s Day, The University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks wore special jerseys for Military Appreciation Night against the Long Island University Sharks on Friday. 2022 New York Rangers fifth round selection Victor Mancini had two shots on goal in the 3-2 victory, while the junior defender doubled his shot output on Saturday in a 5-4 win Saturday to go with two blocked shots. The Mavericks improved their record to 5-2-1 and will be in Denver to face the Pioneers on November 17th and 18th.
Brody Lamb, Forward
Sophomore Brody Lamb had a strong weekend for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring one goal and two assists against the University of Michigan Wolverines in a 4-3 win on Friday before adding another goal on Saturday in a 2-2 tie. His goal with 3:23 to play in regulation on Friday would end up being the game winner.
The New York Rangers 2021 4th round selection tied the game at 18:01 of the second period Saturday when his shot from the top of the right faceoff circle got through on the powerplay.
Though slotted at right wing on the third line, Lamb won one faceoff in the first game, while going 3-1 at the dot on Saturday. Lamb now has six goals and ten points on the season. The Golden Gophers record sits at 5-3-2 and the team will host Notre Dame at Mariucci Arena on November 17th and 18th.
Hugo Ollas, Goalie
In Hockey East action, Hugo Ollas backstopped the Merrimack College Warriors to a 6-3 victory against the UConn Huskies at Toscano Family Ice Forum on Friday night. The junior netminder made 26 saves to improve his record to 2-2-0 on the year with a .910 save percentage and 2.36 goals against average. Merrimack would lose at home on Saturday, however, to drop to 4-5-0 overall, and will look to rebound against University of Massachusetts Lowell on Wednesday, November 15th and Saturday, November 18th.
Jaroslav Chmelar, Forward
Jaroslav Chmelar picked up his fifth goal of the season Saturday against the Northeastern Huskies. The sophomore right wing used his size to out-battle his opponent in the offensive zone and get his name on the scoresheet after being moved up to the top line.
The fifth round selection of the New York Rangers in 2021 leads Providence College Friars in scoring with five goals in eleven games, while his eleven points are tied for first. The Friars are 8-1-2 on the season and will have a Teddy Bear Toss on Thursday, November 16th when the UMass Minutemen come to Schneider Arena.
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