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Vancouver Canucks Prospect Brock Boeser Unstoppable at UND

ByJanik Beichler|
Apr 7, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; North Dakota Fighting Hawks forward Brock Boeser (16) celebrates after they score an empty net goal against the Denver Pioneers during the third period at the semifinals of the 2016 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. North Dakota Fighting Hawks defeated the Denver Pioneers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; North Dakota Fighting Hawks forward Brock Boeser (16) celebrates after they score an empty net goal against the Denver Pioneers during the third period at the semifinals of the 2016 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. North Dakota Fighting Hawks defeated the Denver Pioneers 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Vancouver Canucks forward prospect Brock Boeser lost both his line mates from last season, but continues to impress.

In the 2015-16 season, Vancouver Canucks prospect winger Brock Boeser led the University of North Dakota with 27 goals and 60 points in 42 games. His line mates, Chicago Blackhawks centre Nick Schmaltz and Edmonton Oilers winger Drake Caggiula, made the jump to the NHL this year, and left Boeser behind.

Two games into the season, however, Boeser doesn’t seem to miss his old line mates one bit.

In a two-game sweep of Canisius College, Boeser shone on the right wing of the Colorado Avalanche’s 2016 10th-overall pick, Tyson Jost, and UND sophomore Shane Gersich, a 2014 fifth-rounder of the Washington Capitals.

Boeser, in his second season with the Fighting Hawks, recorded a goal and six assists. With that, he lifted his point-per-game average to 1.5. Since 1990, only one UND player recorded a higher average: Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise.

What stands out most about Boesers production is not the amount of points he is getting, though. As Canucks Nation expects to get a pure goal-scorer in Boeser next season, the sophomore is proving he can be a playmaker as well. He makes the players around him better, which is a terrific trait to have.

Gersich, a left-wing sophomore, had just nine goals and 11 points in 37 games last season. He started into this year with two goals and three points — over a point per game. The same goes for Jost, who had a goal and two assists.

The 2016 NCAA champions may have lost two thirds of their top line. But so far, it looks like the remaining third, along with Gersich and Jost, can handle the workload. Boeser came close to winning the NCAA scoring title last season, but it doesn’t seem to be a close race this time around.

Next: Canucks' Road to the Playoffs

Next up are the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game against RPI and back-to back match-ups against Bemidji State. If everything goes as expected, that’s three more wins for Boeser and Co.

Meanwhile, Vancouver Canucks fans might have to go through another rough NHL season. But knowing that Boeser is developing into a terrific offensive player is reason to be excited nonetheless.

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