NY Rangers Prospects: Weekend Warriors On Ice
By Marvin Azrak
Dive into the performances of
New York Rangers’ college prospects. Noah Laba’s scoring spree, Gabe Perrault’s prowess, and Brody Lamb’s clutch moments.
Alright, let’s dive into the weekend action with the New York Rangers’ college prospects, who continue to turn heads.
Laba Lights Up, Perreault Prevails, and Gophers’ Glory: Rangers’ College Prospects Shine Bright:
Noah Laba, their fourth-round pick from 2022, is on a heater. Playing for the Colorado College Tigers, he scored six goals and dished out five assists in just two games against the Miami University RedHawks. Laba has six goals and eleven points in just nine games, earning him the title of National Collegiate Hockey Conference Forward of the Week. With an eye on center depth since the Filip Chytil injury, the Rangers undoubtedly like what they see.
Now, Gabe Perreault, New York’s 2023 first-round pick, 23rd overall, kept the momentum going. He racked up two assists against the Maine Black Bears. He now has thirteen apples and fifteen points for the season.
No wonder he snagged the “Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week” title again. He’s been sensational and is the driving force on a lethal line that includes San Jose Sharks prospect and 2023 fifth overall pick Will Smith and Washington Capitals prospect and eighth overall pick Ryan Leanord.
His teammate and fellow Blueshirts 2023 prospect, Drew Fortescue, had a mixed weekend. He was scoreless on Friday but made his presence felt with one blocked shot. Unfortunately, Boston College suffered a 4-2 defeat, but Fortescue recovered on Saturday. In a 3-2 shootout win, he recorded an assist during the game and showcased his skills with a goal in the shootout. Despite the team’s drop in the rankings from one to four, the defenseman remains a solid contributor, adding depth to the Eagles lineup.
Hank Kempf, the defensive maestro for tenth-ranked Cornell, had a bit of a rollercoaster weekend. They notched a shootout win over Dartmouth, but unfortunately, Harvard handed them their first loss. Yet, Kempf’s defensive game was on point, with two blocks and two shots on goal. His shootout stops proved valuable, too, securing a win.
Victor Mancini, the fifth-round pick from 2022, played a crucial role in the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks’ victories. Two shots on goal in a 3-2 win against the LIU Sharks and more defensive hustle in the 5-4 victory – Mancini’s making his presence felt.
In the state of hockey, Brody Lamb is holding it down at right wing for the sixth-ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. He had a goal and two assists against the tenth-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines, then another goal the next day. He also has a knack for the clutch, scoring the game-winner with 3:23 remaining, lifting the Gophers to a 4-3 win on Friday.
The team also played to a 2-2 draw through regulation and overtime on Saturday, courtesy of Lamb. His game-tying tally, with 18:01 left in the third period, helped Minnesota salvage a point in the shootout loss. Lamb was stellar at the dot, going five for seven over the weekend. He has six goals and ten points for the 5-3-2 Gophers.
In the Hockey East, Hugo Ollas, the netminder for Merrimack College Warriors, stood tall with 26 saves in their 6-3 victory against the UConn Huskies. He has a .910 save percentage with a 2.36 goals-against average.
Ryan Greene, Quinn Hutson, and Lane Hutson lit the lamp, propelling eighth-ranked Boston University to a thrilling 3-2 comeback victory against UMass Lowell. Yet that was just the beginning of the Terriers’ weekend spectacle.
Following the wave of his stellar performance, Lane Hutson escalated things on Saturday with a hat trick and four-point night, contributing to a resounding 6-1 victory. Adding to the spectacle, Macklin Celebrini, the projected top pick in the 2024 NHL draft, had four assists on Saturday. Celebrini’s stellar performance earned him a tie for the NCAA lead with 18 points, boasting an impressive eight goals and ten assists.
Not to be outdone, Sam Stevens and Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson continued the scoring frenzy. Lane has found the back of the net in the last four games. He leads all NCAA defensemen with eight goals, sharing the team lead with Celebrini.
And let’s not forget Jaroslav Chmelar for the Providence College Friars. Scoring his fifth goal in eleven games against the Northeastern Huskies, Chmelar’s physicality and scoring touch are playing a significant role in the Friars’ 8-1-2 start to the season.
The Rangers’ college prospects are making. Keep an eye on these rising stars!