By Nate Ewell
Lynch pin – Robert Morris carries a five-game unbeaten streak and 6-1-3 conference record to RIT this weekend, while senior leading scorer Zac Lynch (Pittsburgh, Pa./Bay State-EJHL) boasts one of the most incredible individual streaks in hockey. Lynch has shorthanded goals in four straight games – believed to be an NCAA record – and goals in seven of his last eight games. The local product, who grew up playing at RMU’s Island Sports Center, leads an impressive group of seniors who make up seven of the team’s top nine scorers.
Must Read/See/Hear Material
SI.com: Prospects and pals, Grzelcyk and Vesey make NHL wait
St. Cloud Times: Nevalainen grateful of college choice
The Lantern: OSU’s Girard inspired by late teammate
The Pipeline Show: Rand Pecknold
Rink Rap: A giant’s farewell to Boston
GoHolyCross.com: For his number one fan
USHL.com: Blackhawks find drafting success in USHL
Five More Storylines No One Should be Without
Brown’s breakthrough – Brown’s offense averaged 2.00 goals per game in November prior to last weekend’s trip to Northern Ireland, where the Bears put five on the board in back-to-back games. A breakthrough from freshman Tommy Marchin (Algonac, Mich./Muskegon-USHL) led the way, as the 6-foot-3, 200-pound power forward posted 4 goals and 2 assists. Marchin is the second Ivy League hockey player in his family; his sister, Taylor, is a junior defender at Yale.
Freshmen with Hat Tricks, 2015-16
Brock Boeser, North Dakota (VAN)
Max Letunov, Connecticut (ARI)
Tommy Marchin, Brown
Austin Plevy, Massachusetts
Tage Thompson, Connecticut
Top two at UNH – The nation’s top two scorers reside on New Hampshire’s top line, as sophomore Andrew Poturalski (Williamsville, N.Y./Cedar Rapids-USHL) and junior Tyler Kelleher (Longmeadow, Mass./U.S. NTDP) have combined for 48 points in 13 games. The duo developed chemistry down the stretch last season, when UNH finished on a 10-3-0 run. The Wildcats face Maine in a home-and-home rivalry series this weekend.
Most Points, Two Teammates
48 – Andrew Poturalski & Tyler Kelleher, UNH
42 – Drake Caggiula & Nick Schmaltz, UND
40 – Jake Guentzel & Austin Ortega, UNO
40 – Colin White & Ryan Fitzgerald, BC
39 – Zac Lynch & Greg Gibson, RMU
OSU’s offensive key – Ohio State has fired 40-plus shots on goal in five of its last six games as the Buckeye offense has begun to come alive in that time, led by junior captain Nick Schilkey (Marysville, Mich./Green Bay-USHL). Schilkey leads the team with 7 goals and has 11 points in the last 7 games as Big Ten conference play opens this weekend; Ohio State visits the defending conference champions, Minnesota, in its final two games before exam break.
Friday’s game is on FOX Sports North; Saturday’s is on ESPNEWS
Denver freshman turning heads – Some very impactful freshmen will be on the ice as No. 4 North Dakota hosts No. 9 Denver this weekend including first-round pick Brock Boeser (Burnsville, Minn./Waterloo-USHL/VAN) for UND. On the Pioneers’ top line is rookie Dylan Gambrell (Bonney Lake, Wash./Dubuque-USHL), who was passed over in last year’s draft but is getting some attention for 2016. Gambrell, who has spent most of the year alongside sophomore Danton Heinen (Langley, B.C./Surrey-BCHL/BOS), actually has one more point than Heinen on the year (11 to 10). Gambrell was listed on the NHL Central Scouting watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft released last week.
Saturday's game is on FOX College Sports
Still improving at MTU – Michigan Tech’s most improved player from a year ago appears to have taken another step as junior Tyler Heinonen (Delano, Minn./Chicago-USHL) captured the WCHA Offensive Player of the Month award with a 10-point November. Michigan Tech, which hosts Alaska Anchorage this weekend, is 9-4-0 despite having to replace a talented graduating class that included Heinonen’s cousin, Blake Pietila, who is now with the AHL’s Albany Devils. Heinonen has a five-game goal-scoring streak, including three game-winners, entering the weekend.
NHL/AHL Note of the Week
The Rookies of the Month for November in the NHL (Dylan Larkin, Michigan) and AHL (Brandon Montour, Massachusetts) both played NCAA hockey last season.
Fries at the Bottom of the Bag
Saturday, Dec. 5, is the busiest day of the 2015-16 season with 59 of 60 Division I schools in action (American International is idle) … Two Penguins draft picks – Minnesota State’s Teddy Blueger (Riga, Latvia/Shattuck St. Mary’s) and Omaha’s Jake Guentzel (Woodbury, Minn./Sioux City-USHL) – had five-point games Saturday, joining St. Cloud State’s Joey Benik (Andover, Minn./Penticton-BCHL) as the three five-point games this season … Air Force senior Chris Dylewski (Colorado Springs, Colo./Tampa Bay-EJHL) was presented the Spirit of the Springs award from Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers for his community service efforts … Tuesday night Bentley and AIC played a 1-0, penalty-free game, won by the Falcons on a first-period goal by Andrew Gladiuk (White Rock, B.C./Nanaimo-BCHL).