Friday, May 15, 2015
‘College Kids’ in IIHF Spotlight
Eichel & Co. among those leading U.S. into semifinals at World Championship.
The U.S. entry at the 2015 IIHF World Championship features a remarkable five current college players, a group that has caught the attention of the hockey world well beyond the NCAA.
Take, for example, the following from Russian forward Artemi Panarin after Russia’s quarterfinal win set up Saturday’s semifinal meeting with the U.S. (1 p.m. ET, NBCSN).
The U.S. ‘college kids’ consist of five who played NCAA hockey this year and 14 more who are alumni. Half of those alums are less than four years removed from their time on campus.
Boston University’s Jack Eichel – the youngest player at the World Championship – is the most noteworthy of the college kids. The Hobey Baker Award winner and likely No. 2 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft has excelled in the World Championship and seemingly improved each game. His 6 points in 8 games include an overtime goal that clinched first place in Group B for Team USA.
Other current NCAA players have excelled as well, with Mike Reilly (Minnesota) playing a key role on defense and Dylan Larkin (Michigan) and Jimmy Vesey (Harvard) making contributions up front. Neither Larkin nor Vesey has a goal in the tournament, but both have come very close and, like Eichel, appear to be improving every game.
“They’re playing big minutes in all situations and they’re doing a great job,” U.S. captain Matt Hendricks (St. Cloud State) told Julie Robenhymer in a sabres.com story. “Like I’ve said before, it’s a lot of fun playing with them. Their energy level at the rink is tremendous and their willingness to play the right way and wanting to learn has been great, but I also think they’ve kind of been thrown right into the fire here from Day One.
“There was no sticking your toes in the water, as we like to say. These young kids dove right in and have been playing great for us. Obviously, mistakes are made and there are learning experiences every night, but for the most part, they’ve all competed hard and that’s all you can ask for.”
Recent NCAA players are among the rest of the team leaders. Connor Hellebuyck, one year removed from UMass Lowell, is 6-0 in goal with a .944 save percentage. Brock Nelson, who was at North Dakota three years ago, leads the team in goals (6) and points (9) while skating alongside Eichel.
Historic matchup
A matchup of Russians and college kids, of course, brings back memories of the 1980 Olympics and the “Miracle on Ice.” But an American win Saturday would be no miracle, even with the addition of Alex Ovechkin to the Russian roster. The U.S. beat Russia, 4-2, in the preliminary round, with Eichel and Vesey each notching assists.
What’s more – sparked in large part by that 1980 team – NCAA hockey has become recognized as some of the best in the world. The influx of Russian players in the NHL throughout the 1990s has waned, while former NCAA players have increased. This season the NCAA procuded 286 NHLers, more than all of Europe.
The NCAA players on Team USA are no strangers to success, either. Three – Nick Bonino (Boston University), Justin Faulk (Minnesota Duluth) and Ben Smith (Boston College) – won NCAA titles during their time in school. Six more, including Eichel, Reilly, Nelson and Hellebuyck, played in a Frozen Four.
No wonder, then, that IIHF.com offered this thought about the Americans when posting its latest Power Rankings: