Two New York Rangers prospects stood out this week but for differing reasons. Sophomore forward Gabe Perreault of Boston College and senior defenseman Hank Kempf of Cornell were key players in helping their teams both earn two wins each.
Perrault is starting his second year at Boston College with even better performances than he did as a freshman. Prior to this weekend games at No. 10 St. Cloud State, Perreault was 2-5-7 and on a four-point scoring streak.
It is now a six-game scoring streak thanks to Perreault scoring three goals in the two games with two of the goals proving to be game winners. Friday evening. Perreault and his teammates were on the road against St. Cloud State in a non-conference affair.
With his team already up 1-0 after the first period and on the power play, Perreault scored his third goal of the season with a laser of a shot that handcuffed the St. State Cloud goalie. The shot just went under the crossbar that he made the shot look so easy that anyone could have scored.
Hagens ➡️ Powell ➡️ Perreault pic.twitter.com/SgQcFPxwo4
— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) November 2, 2024
This did give Boston College a 2-0 lead at 5:22 of the second period. Perreault would add a second goal with an empty net goal that made it a 4-1 Boston College win as Perreault improved to 4-5-9 after five games.
Saturday evening, same two teams hooked up to face it other yet again and Boston College won again only this time it was just 2-1. Perreault would break open a 1-1 tie with a nice third period goal that even had the St. Cloud TV announcers raving about it.
In this one, Perreault was already in the offensive zone when St. Cloud turned the puck over and Perreault wound up at the front of the net with the puck. "Mr. Dangle," as Perreault is called at his school, freezes the St. Cloud goalie and just tucked in behind him.
What a goal from Perreault 😲 pic.twitter.com/6V9dPzUpl2
— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) November 3, 2024
It was his five goal of the season. Perreault is 5-5-10 after just six games. Last season it took Perreault 17 games to score his fifth goal of the season.
This season, Perreault has done it in just five games. And the best part of Gabe Perreault's effort has been his willingness to lead his team with his play. If Perreault continues at this pace then, he is going to be become one of the favorites to win the Hobey Baker, given annually to the best College hockey player.
Editors note: Gabe Perreault was named Hockey East Co-Player of the Week on Monday
On the other side of the coin is Kempf of Cornell Big Red as the senior defenseman from Wilmette, Il. He only recorded one assist but it was his defensive play that really stood out. Kempf and Cornell were finally making their 2024-25 season debuts, and the eighth seeded team was taking on 2024 first round pick E.J. Emery and his No. 7 North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Kempf is a stay-at-home defenseman who is in many ways like Dan Girardi used to be for the Rangers, a "no-fear" shot blocker — last season he recorded 57 blocks in 26 games.
During one stretch on Friday night, Kempf was on the ice for 1:59 of a 2:00 penalty kill for his team. The Rangers 2021 seventh-round draft pick, Kempf has made a huge stride in improving his overall play the last two seasons.
Two years ago, Kempf was a terrible skater and wasn't even close to being considered as a legit prospect. But now a good senior season where he shows some offense just might earn him that entry level contract.