Prospect update: Ciccolini’s hot start and Lundkvist’s big weekend

New York Rangers prospect hockey is back with several NCAA leagues joining the European leagues

With more leagues joining the hockey fray, it’s time to take a look at all of the New York Rangers prospects who have been in action or who are just getting started.  We’ve been following the European leagues very closely, but now with the Big Ten and Hockey East starting their seasons, there are a lot of future Rangers out there.  We’ll start with the collegiate players.

Zac Jones (D) – 2019 3rd round – #68

Zac Jones is one of the many highly regarded Rangers defense prospects, now in his sophomore year at UMass.   Hockey East began their season on Friday and Zac Jones and the Minutemen played two games over the weekend, taking on the UConn Huskies.

UMass won its season opener over the Huskies 5-1 and Zac Jones got right to business, scoring the fourth UMass goal in the third period.   Jones took a third period tripping penalty and finished with an even plus/minus rating while getting four shots on goal.

On Saturday, the Minutemen blew a two goal lead and lost in a shootout to UConn.  Hockey East went to the shootout this season so this was the first shootout in Conference history.

Zac Jones notched his first assist on the season, getting the helper on Philip Lagunov’s even strength goal to put UMass up 2-0.   Jones had four shots on goal and finished even in plus/minus.  How highly is he regarded as an offensive weapon?   He took the fourth and final shootout attempt, with his shot stopped by Connecticut goalie Tomáš Vomáčka.

Jones is looking to do even better than he did last seaosn when he scored three goals and had 20 assists in 32 games as a freshman.

UMass had two games scheduled versus Vermont next weekend, but they have been postponed, due to the pandemic.

Eric Ciccolini (RW) – 2019 7th round – #205

Eric Ciccolini was a late pick in the 2019 draft and is starting his second year at Michigan.  So far this young season, the Wolverine has shown that he may be a late pick gem.  Michigan opened their season on November 14 against Arizona State with an 8-1 blowout win, but Ciccolini was not in the lineup.  In a rematch the next night, Michigan won again, shutting out Arizona State 3-0.  Ciccolini was in the lineup and scored the Wolverines’ second goal with five seconds left in the first period.   He finished the game with five shots on goal and a +1 rating.

Thursday  night, Michigan took on conference rival Wisconsin and won 5-2.  Ciccolini scored the game winning goal with four seconds left in the second period. It was an even strength goal and he finished with a +1 rating and three shots on goal.

Saturday night, Michigan won their fourth straight game, beating Wisconsin in overtime 2-1.  Ciccolini didn’t make the scoresheet, but finished with a +1 rating.

At any rate, Ciccolini is off to a hot start with two goals in his first three games.  That’s good for a tie for second in the Big Ten.  He has already topped his goal scoring output from last season when he had one goal and 11 assists in 26 games.

Michigan is back in action on Friday against Notre Dame.

Other collegiate players

Ranger prospects Riley Hughes of Northeastern University and Brett Berard of Providence are set to make their season debuts next weekend in Hockey East action.  Hughes is going into his sophomore season and Berard was a fifth round pick in this year’s draft.

Defenseman Simon Kjellberg, a sixth round pick in the 2018 draft, is in limbo.  He is playing for RPI and the ECAC just announced that they would not be playing this season.  There’s no word on whether he will look to play in Sweden or try to hook up with another team in North America.