Three Frozen Four Goalies Sign Pro Deals

Three of this year's NCAA Frozen Four starting goaltenders will not return to college hockey next season. Yaniv Perets (Quinnipiac), Erik Portillo (Michigan) and Drew Commesso (Boston University) all recently signed professional contracts, foregoing their remaining NCAA eligibility.

Perets, 23, a sophomore who backstopped Quinnipiac to its first-ever national title with a 3-2 overtime win over Minnesota on April 8, signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. A pro free agent from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., he led all NCAA Division I men's netminders with a 34-4-3 record in 41 games and a 1.49 goals-against average this season. He also tied for the national lead with 10 shutouts, and tied for second overall with a .931 save percentage. In two-plus seasons with the Bobcats, he finished 56-9-5 with 21 shutouts over 74 games.

Portillo, 22, a senior from Göteborg, Sweden, signed with the Los Angeles Kings, who had earlier acquired his rights from the Buffalo Sabres (2019 NHL Draft, 67th overall). He went 25-11-2 with a 3.00 GAA and .908 save percentage this year, in backstopping the Wolverines to their second consecutive Big Ten tournament title and Frozen Four semifinal appearance. In 87 career contests with Michigan, he posted a record of 60-22-3 with three shutouts.

Commesso, 22, a senior from Norwell, Mass., signed with the Chicago Blackhawks, who drafted him 46th overall in 2020. He led BU to both the Hockey East regular-season and tournament titles along with the Frozen Four this season, going 24-8-0 with a 2.46 GAA and .913 save percentage with two shutouts in 34 outings. In three seasons with the Terriers, he finished 43-22-4 with three shutouts in 73 contests.

The NCAA exodus continued this week among skaters, with sophomore forward Mackie Samoskevich (Michigan) signing with the Florida Panthers, who drafted him 24th overall in 2021. Samoskevich, 20, from Sandy Hook, Conn. was third on the Wolverines' scoring scroll this season with 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points in 39 games, and completed his college career with 30-42—72 points in 79 contests. 

Also signing with Florida was Mike Benning (Denver), a junior defenseman from St. Albert, Alberta, who recorded 31-52—83 points in 101 career games over three college campaigns. Drafted 95th overall by the Panthers in 2020, Benning, 20, notched 13-21—34 points in 39 games this year for the Pioneers, after helping DU win the 2022 national title by scoring the decisive goal in the NCAA championship game.

U.S. Men's Hockey Edges Germany at Beijing OIympics

The United States men's hockey team outlasted Germany by a 3-2 count on Sunday at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. The Americans thus finished round-robin pool play with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, and also finished first in Group A following earlier victories over host China and rival Canada.

After spotting Germany an early one-goal lead, the Americans responded with three consecutive scores from Steve Kampfer (Michigan) in the first period, Matt Knies (Minnesota) in the second stanza, and then Nathan Smith (Minnesota State) in the final frame to offset a late German goal in regulation for the victory. Smith became the first Florida native to ever score a goal in Olympic hockey, while U.S. goaltender Drew Commesso (Boston University) made 24 saves for his second win in as many career Olympic starts.

Team USA is scheduled to meet the winner of Germany and Slovakia in the quarterfinals, beginning on Feb. 16 at Beijing's National Indoor Stadium.

U.S. Women Advance, U.S. Men Win Olympic Opener

The U.S. women's ice hockey team is moving on at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. The U.S. men are just getting started in China.

The U.S. women overcame a one-goal deficit with four straight goals over the final two periods to oust the Czech Republic, 4-1, in a quarterfinal match Thursday night in Beijing. Maddie Rooney (Minnesota Duluth) needed to make just five saves for the Red, White and Blue, which got a goal and an assist apiece from Hillary Knight (Wisconsin), Kendall Coyne-Schofield (Northeastern) and Hannah Brandt (Minnesota). The semifinal opponent for the U.S. (4-1-0 overall) has yet to be determined.

The U.S. men opened its Games on Thursday morning with a 8-0 victory over host China. Sean Farrell (Harvard) led all American skaters with three goals and five points, while Drew Commesso (Boston University) made 29 saves in his Olympic debut. Team USA (1-0-0 overall) will now take on Canada tonight at 11 p.m. ET (USA Network).

Canada, U.S. Win 2022 WJC Openers

Both Canada and the United States got off to winning starts at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Alberta on Sunday.

Powered by a hat trick from defenseman Owen Power (Michigan), host Canada began matters with a 6-3 victory over the Czech Republic. The top draft choice in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Power scored two power-play goals, and is the first Canadian defenseman to ever score three goals in a single WJC contest. 

The U.S., the defending WJC champion, opened up the new tournament by edging Slovakia, 3-2. Matthew Knies (Minnesota), Matthew Samoskevic (Michigan) and Landon Slaggert (Notre Dame) scored goals for Team USA, while goaltender Drew Commesso (Boston University) finished with 23 saves.

The Americans will now take on Switzerland in Red Deer on Wednesday, while Canada will face off with Austria in Edmonton later that same day.

ADDENDUM: Team USA has forfeited its game to Switzerland, after two American players tested positive for COVID, which forced a mandatory team quarantine. According to IIHF.com, "the result of the game will be recorded as a 1-0 win for Switzerland by forfeit in accordance with the IIHF Rule Book." The U.S. is tentatively scheduled to play Sweden on Thursday.