Three Rising Sophomores Sign with NHL Clubs

Two All-America selections and one national champion have moved on from college hockey after just one season apiece, surrendering their remaining NCAA eligibility in doing so.

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), who claimed the Hobey Baker Memorial Award and was also an AHCA First Team All-America choice as a 17-year-old, has signed with the San Jose Sharks, who chose him first overall at last month's NHL Draft in Las Vegas after he turned 18. A native of Vancouver, Celebrini tallied 32 goals and 30 assists for 62 points last season to lead BU in scoring, while also earning Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Hockey East Player of the Year accolades. The six-foot, 190-pound center also helped BU to the Beanpot Tournament title game, the Hockey East championship game, and the NCAA Frozen Four while personally earning Hockey East First Team All-Star, Hockey East All-Rookie Team, and national rookie of the year recognition, among other tributes.

Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State) also decided to sign with an NHL club following being drafted last month, when he went second overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. A 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman from Zhlobin, Belarus, Levshunov recorded 9-26—35 points in 38 outings last season in helping MSU to its first Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, along with the Spartans' first NCAA tournament victory since 2008. He also earned AHCA Second Team All-America status, along with All-Big Ten First Team, All-Big Ten Freshman Team, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

Leaving for the NHL after winning this year's national title was Miko Matikka (Denver), who signed with the Utah Hockey Club that drafted him 67th overall in 2022 when the organization was still based in Arizona. A native of Helsinki, Finland, he registered 20-13—33 points in 43 appearances in helping DU to a record 10th NCAA championship. A 6-foot-3, 201-pound right wing, Matikka, 20, was a unanimous selection to the NCHC All-Rookie Team, and was also a four-time NCHC Rookie of the Week.

All three players signed standard three-year entry-level contracts with their respective NHL clubs, and all three also participated recently in development camps with those organizations.

Carrier Retires after 36 Seasons with Spartans

Wishing the best to my friend, Dave Carrier, Associate Head Athletic Trainer at Michigan State University, who retired on Tuesday after 36 years as the head athletic trainer for the MSU men's ice hockey team.

Dave was a part of two NCAA championship teams (1986, 2007) with the Spartans, with whom he worked more than 1,500 games in all. Among his many accolades were induction into both the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame.

He has also served as president of the Michigan Athletic Trainers Society, and was the athletic trainer for the U.S. men's hockey team at the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary, among a multitude of career assignments. He was named the recipient of the Jim Fullerton Award, as announced by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA), in 2016.

A U.S. Army veteran, Dave earned his bachelor's degree from Ferris State University and his master's degree from Central Michigan University. An avid golfer, he has also served as president of the Duck Lake Country Club in Albion, Mich., on several occasions.

Congrats on your retirement, Ace!

Princeton's Véronneau, Kuffner Earn 2018 All-America Accolades

Princeton University rising junior forwards and Ottawa natives Max Véronneau and Ryan Kuffner have been named as Second Team CCM/AHCA Hockey All-Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association, as announced over the weekend at the NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.

Véronneau (No. 15 in photo) finished second in the nation with 55 points, on 17 goals and 38 assists, in 2017-18, five points behind Hobey Baker Award winner Adam Gaudette of Northeastern. Véronneau also established a new Princeton single-season superlative for total points, while Kuffner (No. 21) set a new school standard with 29 goals. Kuffner also registered 23 assists and was tied for fourth in NCAA Division I with 52 points with former University of Denver forward Henrik Borgström.

Véronneau and Kuffner, who played junior hockey together with Gloucester (CCHL) before enrolling at Princeton, are both undrafted and expected to return to the Tigers in the fall for their senior seasons. Each also recorded his 100th career collegiate point in 2017-18.

Véronneau and Kuffner led the Tigers to a 19-13-4 overall mark, including Princeton's first ECAC Hockey championship since 2008 and its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2009. The Tigers won six straight playoff games to earn their league’s title, before ultimately bowing out with a 4-2 loss to Ohio State University in an NCAA Midwest regional semifinal.