Canada Blanks Italy at 2026 Men's Worlds

Macklin Celebrini (Boston University) scored two goals and set up another, and Dylan Holloway (Wisconsin) notched a goal and an assist as Canada continued its international success with a 6-0 victory over Italy at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland today. Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) stopped 19 shots for the shutout.

Canada opened this year's Worlds with a 5-3 victory over Sweden on Friday. Porter Martone (Michigan State) had two assists for the Canadians in that contest, and now has three assists so far over two games. Canada will next face Denmark on Monday.

NCAA Alumni Among Early NHL Stat Leaders

Former NCAA players were among the league leaders in several statistical categories as the National Hockey League completed its first week of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign that began on Jan. 13.

Vancouver forward Brock Boeser (North Dakota) and Phil Kessel (Minnesota) were among those players tied for the overall NHL goal-scoring lead with four goals each. Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry (Michigan State) and Buffalo forward Jack Eichel (Boston University) were one point off the league pace with six points each so far this season, with Eichel leading all NHL skaters with six assists. 

Petry led all NHL blueliners in scoring, with his his six points coming on two goals and four assists. Right behind him in defensive scoring was Vancouver's Quinn Hughes (Michigan) with five assists, tops among league defensemen. 

In net, Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) of Minnesota and Casey DeSmith (New Hampshire) of Pittsburgh were tied for the league lead with two wins each. Philadelphia goaltender Brian Elliott (Wisconsin) was third in the NHL with a 1.31 goals-against average, and second with a .964 save percentage so far this season.

NCAA Players Shine in 2020 Stanley Cup Start

Some notes on several former NCAA players from the qualifying round/round robin portion of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs contested in Edmonton and Toronto that began this month:

- Chicago captain Jonathan Toews (North Dakota) had four goals and seven points in four games in the Blackhawks' qualifying round victory over Edmonton.

- Quinn Hughes (Michigan) recorded five assists and six points for Vancouver as the Canucks outlasted Minnesota in four contests.

- Cam Atkinson scored twice and set up three other goals for Columbus as the Bluejackets rebounded to overcome Toronto in five games, the only series in the qualifying round that went the distance.

- Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) registered three victories in goal, and also posted a 1.51 goals-against average and a shutout for Calgary as the Flames eliminated Winnipeg in four games.

- Kevin Hayes (Boston College) assisted on all four Philadelphia goals in a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay that clinched the first seed in the Eastern Conference for the Flyers.

The NHL's usual Stanley Cup round of 16 began on Tuesday. Four series will be played in each city (Edmonton and Toronto), with each series a best-of-seven affair.

NHL, NCAA and Hockey East Make Summer Moves

 

Things have certainly been changing for college hockey so far this year.

In addition to new recruiting rules and an upcoming new conference, the biggest alteration to date is that Joe Bertagna (Harvard) will be stepping down as commissioner of Hockey East after the 2019-20 season, following 23 years at the helm of one of NCAA Division I hockey's top leagues. The conference has won six NCAA men's titles under his watch, four of those by Boston College, with the most recent national crown coming from Providence in 2015. A former goaltender at Harvard, Bertagna previously worked in administration for the ECAC before taking over Hockey East.

Several former NCAA players have also been on the move in the NHL following the conclusion of the 2018-19 campaign in June, including one who played his last year of college this season. Here's a sampling of those moves, through trades or free agency:

- Phil Kessel (Minnesota) from Pittsburgh to Arizona
- Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) from San Jose to Dallas
- Jacob Trouba (Michigan) from Winnipeg to the New York Rangers
- Jimmy Vesey (Harvard) from the New York Rangers to Buffalo
- Dakota Joshua (Ohio State) from Toronto to St. Louis
- Alex Kerfoot (Harvard) from Colorado to Toronto
- Gustav Nyquist (Maine) from San Jose to Columbus
- Anthony Stolarz (Omaha) from Edmonton to Anaheim
- Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) from Philadelphia to Calgary
- Steven Santini (Boston College) from New Jersey to Nashville

Among NHL free agents who re-signed with their original clubs, Anders Lee (Notre Dame) inked a seven-year, $49 million deal to remain as captain of the New York Islanders.

Talbot Wins First Game as Flyers' Eighth Goalie

Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) helped make NHL history on Friday night in New Jersey. He became the eighth netminder to play a game this season for the Philadelphia Flyers, setting a new league single-team standard, and made 30 saves in his Flyers debut as his new team defeated the host Devils, 6-3.

Talbot, 31, was acquired by Philadelphia last month from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha). The former UAH netminder had posted a record of 137-110-24 and a 2.59 goals-against average in 284 career NHL regular-season appearances with the New York Rangers and the Oilers prior to the trade.

A native of Caledonia, Ont., Talbot turned pro in 2009-10 as a free agent with Hartford (AHL), where he played for most of the next three seasons. He played three years at UAH (2007-2010), where he went 15-44-6 in 70 games with a 3.03 GAA and also helped the Chargers to the 2010 NCAA Tournament his final collegiate campaign.

Former NCAA Netminders Traded in NHL

Two former NCAA netminders were traded for each other on Friday, with Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) going to the Philadelphia Flyers and Anthony Stolarz (Nebraska-Omaha) heading to the 
Edmonton Oilers in turn.

Talbot, 31, has posted a record of 137-110-24 and a 2.59 goals-against average in 284 career NHL regular-season appearances with the New York Rangers and the Oilers, from 2013 to the present. A native of Caledonia, Ont., he turned pro in 2009-10 as a free agent with Hartford (AHL), where he played for most of the next three seasons. He played three years at UAH (2007-2010), where he went 15-44-6 in 70 games with a 3.03 GAA and helped the Chargers to the 2010 NCAA Tournament his final collegiate campaign.

Stolarz, 25, has played a career-high 12 NHL contests so far this season, going 4-3-3 with one shutout for Philadelphia. In 19 career NHL contests, all with the Flyers, he has gone 6-4-4 with a 2.86 GAA. A native of Edison, N.J., and a second-round draft choice of Philadelphia in 2012, he played eight NCAA games with UNO in 2012-13, winning twice with the Mavericks, before joining London (OHL), where he won 38 games over two major junior seasons before turning pro with Lehigh Valley (AHL) in 2014-15.

Devils Roll in 2018-19 Opener

Kyle Palmieri (Notre Dame) and Travis Zajac (North Dakota) scored two goals apiece as the New Jersey Devils opened their 2018-19 NHL campaign with a 5-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at the 2018 NHL Global Series in Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday.

Miles Wood (Boston College) set up two goals for the Devils, who got 17 saves from Keith Kinkaid (Union). Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) made 22 stops for Edmonton. The victory marked New Jersey’s third win in its last five season openers, and also makes the Devils  21-9-6 overall in season-opening contests.

And Then There Were Four ...

Drake Caggiula (North Dakota) scored the game-opening goal and Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) made 26 saves, but the Edmonton Oilers' first Stanley Cup Playoff run in 11 years came to a close with a 2-1 loss in Game 7 at Anaheim on Wednesday. Andrew Cogliano (Michigan) scored one of the two goals for the Ducks, who advance to the NHL conference finals for the second time in three years.

In Washington, Bryan Rust (Notre Dame) broke a scoreless tie in the second period as the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated the Washington Capitals, 2-0, in Game 7 Wednesday. Jake Guentzel (Nebraska-Omaha) and Justin Schultz (Wisconsin) had assists on the night for the defending champion Pens, who had lost the previous two games of the series.

Anaheim will now meet the Nashville Predators in the Western Conference Final beginning Friday in California, while Pittsburgh will host the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference Final starting Saturday in Pennsylvania.

Round Two of NHL Playoffs Starts Tonight

The second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight, with eight teams remaining in the hunt.

Three of the top scorers so far in the NHL postseason were college-trained. Phil Kessel (Minnesota) is third overall with two goals and six assists for eight points for the Pittsburgh Penguins, while T. J. Oshie (North Dakota) is fifth with 3-4—7 points in six outings with the Washington Capitals. Jake Guentzel (Omaha) has posted 5-1—6 totals in six games with the Penguins as a rookie, and leads all NHl players in playoff goals so far this spring.

Among defensemen, Kevin Bieksa (Bowling Green) has four assists in four appearances with Anaheim, while in goal Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) led the Edmonton Oilers to their first playoff victory in 10 seasons with a 4-2 record (2.03, .927) and two shutouts in the first round against San Jose.

The Western Conference gets underway Wednesday, with Nashville visiting St. Louis and Edmonton dropping in on Anaheim. On Thursday, it's the Eastern Conference's turn to get going, as Ottawa will host the New York Rangers while Washington will entertain Pittsburgh.

NCAA Players Prominent in Start to NHL Playoffs

Former NCAA players made their mark during the first two days of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On Wednesday, Tanner Glass (Dartmouth) backhanded home the game-winning goal for the New York Rangers in a 2-0 victory at Montreal, while rookie Frank Vatrano (UMass Lowell) tied the game for the Boston Bruins in an eventual 2-1 overtime win at Ottawa. Bryan Rust (Notre Dame), Phil Kessel (Minnesota) and Nick Bonino (Boston University) accounted for the Pittsburgh Penguins' goals in a 3-1 win over Columbus.

In Minnesota, Zach Parise (North Dakota) tied the game late for the host Wild, but Jaden Schwartz (Colorado College) set up the game-winner in OT to lift the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 triumph. In Edmonton, Paul Martin (Minnesota) scored the tying goal and Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) assisted on the overtime winner as the San Jose Sharks came back for a 3-2 win over the Oilers, who got 41 saves from Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville).

On Thursday, James van Riemdsyk (New Hampshire) set up the first goal of the postseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the host Washington Capitals escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory, with T. J. Oshie (North Dakota) and Kevin Shattenkirk (Boston University) drawing assists on the evening. In Anaheim, Kevin Bieksa (Bowling Green) set up the tying goal and Patrick Eaves (Boston College) assisted on the winner as the Ducks edged the Calgary Flames, 3-2, despite 38 saves by Brian Elliott (Wisconsin).

Devils Edge Rangers, 5-4, Behind Two NCAA Netminders

Keith Kincaid (Union) and Scott Clemmensen (Boston College) teamed up to record a combined 20 saves as the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers, 5-4, in the 2014 NHL preseason opener for both teams at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

Kinkaid picked up the win in relief, making 12 saves on 14 shots, after starter Clemmensen recorded eight stops on 10 attempts. Michael Ryder scored twice and Adam Henrique notched the game-winning goal with 51.7 seconds remaining in regulation for New Jersey, which has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs the last two seasons.

Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) took the loss in relief with 16 saves on 19 shots for New York, and also picked up an assist. The Rangers, who won the Eastern Conference last season, got goals from Carl Hagelin (Michigan), Ryan Malone (St. Cloud) and Chris Kreider (Boston College).

Bourque Hat Trick Brings Habs Back Against Rangers

It almost looked an NCAA all-star game last night in Montreal.  

Rene Bourque (Wisconsin) tallied a hat trick to power the host Canadiens to a 7-4 victory over the New York Rangers and keep the Habs' season alive. Max Pacioretty (Michigan) had a goal and an assist for Montreal, which staved off elimination for the third time in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Derek Stepan (Wisconsin) scored two goals and Chris Kreider (Boston College) notched a goal and three assists for the Rangers, who fought back from a 4-1 deficit to briefly tie the game at 4-4 before Bourque's second goal put the Canadiens back ahead for good. New York still leads the best of-seven Eastern Conference final, three games to two, with Game 6 to be played Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Cam Talbot (Alabama-Huntsville) took the loss in net for New York, surrendering Bourque's last two goals after coming on in relief in the second period. Talbot finished with six saves on eight shots in just his second career NHL playoff appearance.

Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin) collected two assists for the Rangers, both in the six-goal second period, while Brian Gionta (Boston College) and Thomas Vanek (Minnesota) had one assist each for Montreal.