Vancouver Canucks Prospects Playoffs Watch Week 2
By David Joun
The future for the Vancouver Canucks looks bright. It looks even brighter than it did last week as all junior prospects enter their respective playoffs.
With the Vancouver Canucks starting to look like a team in a full rebuild, the importance of a strong prospects pool has never been bigger. Thankfully, all Canucks prospects seem to be doing just fine with many pleasant surprises along the way. Here is week two of the prospects watch playoffs style.
The NCAA
All three prospects are now entering the NCAA Regionals play that will determine what four teams will play in the Frozen Four Championships. The first round started on Friday with all three of the Canucks prospects in action.
After Thatcher Demko and his Boston College were ousted in the H-East competition last weekend by Adam Gaudette‘s Northeastern University, it was Brock Boeser‘s turn to end Gaudette’s hot streak. Adam Gaudette ends the season with 30 points in 40 games played and really led the charge for Northeastern’s return to the playoffs.
Boeser had three assists this past weekend, one in which his team settled for a third-place tie in the NCHC championships. Boeser extended his scoring streak 10 games on Friday, where he recorded two assists and his first playoff goal in eliminating Gaudette’s Northeastern University. Should the Canucks be concerned that Boeser took so long to record a goal in post-season play? All the goals seem to be going to Nick Schmaltz, his centreman, who is a Chicago Blackhawks property. Of course, it had to be a Canuck and a Blackhawk on the same line, right?
I don’t know who you were cheering for when Boeser and Gaudette went toe-to-toe on Friday, but Boeser’s team pulled through with the win. North Dakota will face Michigan on Saturday, who are favourites to win the championship.
Then there is Demko who will lead his BC Eagles into a rivalry game against Harvard University. Although he let in five goals in the loss to Gaudette’s team last week in the Hockey East Championship, he made this ridiculous save:
This Friday, Demko and the Boston College Eagles faced Harvard, and the Eagles have defeated their Beantown rivals 4-1. Demko made 32 saves on 33 shots for the win. Boston College will face Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, who defeated Boeser’s North Dakota team last week for the NCHC championship.
Terrific. Now, time for the WHL and the OHL!
Next: The WHL and the OHL