Capitals College Credits: Ryan Leonard Continues Impressive Campaign, Brent Johnson’s Scoring Increases



A weekend filled with rivalries and intense action; this past weekend showed how fun college hockey is. From sellout crowds to tight games and some upsets to boot, it was another strong week in the NCAA and especially for the Washington Capitals’ collegiate prospects. 

 Here is how each of them fared this past weekend.

Ryan Leonard, RW, 2023 1st RD, No. 1 Boston College Eagles (18-4-1, 9-3-1)

Capitals Prospect Ryan Leonard Name Hockey East Rookie Of The Week Following Three-Point Weekend

The Battle of Comm. Ave lived up to its hype this past weekend. However, Boston College ended up earning the sweep over Boston University and took command of first place in Hockey East.

In Game 1, the physicality between these two historic rivals was evident right from the drop of the puck. But this year’s series had an extra edge to it because it was the first time ever that these two teams would face off as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.

After getting through the first 20 minutes scoreless, Leonard would ultimately end up getting the first goal of the game sending a sellout Conte Forum into a frenzy. A perfect wrist shot from the far circle beat Terriers goaltender Mathieu Caron to the glove side. It was also Leonard’s 13th goal of the season.

 The Eagles were not done, however. The freshman line once again, to make it 2-0 BC, converted but this time it was Gabe Perreault on a two-on-one with Will Smith. However, the play would not have happened if Leonard chipped the puck to Smith along the boards. He took a big hit to make a play and earned the secondary helper on the goal.

Boston College took the series-opener 4-1. Along with his two points, the rookie winger had five shots on goal on eight attempts.

 The scene shifted to Agganis Arena the following night with the Terriers seeking revenge in front of a sea of red. However, they fell into a familiar hole as the Eagles took a 2-0 midway through the first period. But they would storm back with two unanswered goals, igniting the BU faithful.

With the momentum in the home team’s favor, the Eagles finally got a break and Leonard was a huge reason for it. He hunted after a loose puck and did a spin-around pass to Cutter Gauthier and he zipped it through the five-hole of Caron giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead. Leonard was also seen taunting the BU crowd after the goal. 

Smith extended the lead to 4-2 and the Eagles would complete the sweep with a 4-3 victory. Leonard did take a minor penalty for tripping and had two shots on goal.

Boston University vs Boston College | NCAA College Hockey | Highlights – January 27, 2024

These two rivals will meet once again next week in the Beanpot quarterfinals at TD Garden on Feb. 5. But before that, the Eagles will take on the UMass Lowell River Hawks on Feb. 2 on the road.

David Gucciardi, LD, 2022 7th RD, No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (17-6-3, 11-3-2)

The Spartans had to face some adversity this past weekend against Minnesota. While Michigan State is still one of the deadliest teams in college hockey, it seems like things are trending in a small downward trajectory for the green and white.

In Game 1, the Gophers got the 1-0 lead just 1:28 into the game and extended their lead to 2-0 thanks to Oliver Moore. Gucciardi tried sending a long stretch pass from his own zone, but it was picked off by Jimmy Snuggerud in the neutral zone. 

However, the Spartans stormed back with three unanswered goals and ended up getting a 3-2 win, with the game-winner coming with just four seconds left in regulation. Gucciardi had the secondary assist on Griffin Jurecki’s early third period marker.

Along with having an assist, which was his sixth of the year, Gucciardi had two shots on goal on seven attempts.

Michigan State vs Minnesota | What a Comeback | NCAA College Hockey | Highlights – January 26, 2024

Game 2 was the same story for Michigan State. A slow start resulted in Minnesota taking a 3-0 lead. The Spartans would get one back, but the Gophers would respond with two unanswered goals. Gucciardi was on the ice for Moore’s second goal of the game, as he could not prevent Snuggerud from making a play.

Michigan State fell by a final score of 5-1. Gucciardi finished the game with a plus/minus rating of -1 and had a team-leading six shots on goal.

Michigan State vs Minnesota | NCAA College Hockey | Highlights – January 27, 2024

The Spartans will travel to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Feb. 2-3. Michigan State is still first in the Big Ten with 37 points and is seventh in the PairWise.

Chase Clark, G, 2021 6th RD, Sacred Heart Pioneers (11-14-2, 11-7-1)

Clark has not been the same goaltender since the turn of the calendar year. It appears that he has been battling an injury and might be playing through it. He had missed Sacred Heart’s last series against Holy Cross but would get the start against the UConn Huskies. The Pioneers took part in the Connecticut Ice Tournament, which consisted of UConn, the Yale Bulldogs and the Quinnipiac Bobcats.

However, just 2:35 into the contest, this happened. 

Sacred Heart would tie the game, but the floodgates opened quickly after that. Clark was not getting a lot of help from his defense and the next two goals were far from his fault, as he was crashed into by his own teammates and left out to dry.

However, the Huskies made it 4-2 and this goal is one that the sophomore netminder certainly wants back. 

The struggles for Clark would get worse as UConn took a 5-2 lead. Clark was very aggressive coming out of his net on this play and could not get back to the post.

Clark’s night was done after 40 minutes and only made eight saves on the night. Sacred Heart fell to a final score of 6-2.

He did not play against Yale and the Pioneers fell to the Bulldogs 3-2. Sacred Heart has dropped four out of its last five contests and are now in second place in Atlantic Hockey, trailing first place RIT by three points. 

The Pioneers will look to rebound in their own barn when they take on the AIC Yellow Jackets on Feb. 2-3. 

Ryan Chesley, RD, 2022 2nd RD, No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers (15-7-4, 8-5-3)

Chesley and the Gophers are starting to heat up and find their identity once again. Following its split against the No. 8 Michigan State Spartans, the Gophers have now won six out of their last eight contests.

It was an excellent start in the series-opener for Chesley’s squad, as Minnesota got out to 2-0 lead. However, the Spartans would battle back with three unanswered goals and would steal three points. Chesley was a minus-1 on the night and had two shots on goal on two attempts. He was on the ice for Daniel Russel’s buzzer beater to give the Spartans the win. 

Michigan State vs Minnesota | What a Comeback | NCAA College Hockey | Highlights – January 26, 2024

Game 2 was a much different story for the Gophers as they did not take their foot off the gas. Minnesota took the series-finale by a 5-1 score and Chesley was once again a minus-1 and had two shots on goal.

Michigan State vs Minnesota | NCAA College Hockey | Highlights – January 27, 2024

The Gophers will travel to Madison to take on the No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers on Feb. 2-3. Minnesota sits in third place in the Big Ten and is ninth in the PairWise.

Brent Johnson, RD, 2021 3rd RD, Ohio State Buckeyes (9-11-4, 1-11-2)

Ohio State showed some fight in its series against Penn State, but the Buckeyes were swept for the second consecutive weekend and have dropped five straight games. Johnson has struggled on the defensive side of the puck but had a very good weekend offensively.

The Buckeyes got off to a very good start with a 1-0 lead and they continued to be strong on the walls and the forecheck. However, the Nittany Lions responded with three unanswered goals, two of which came on the man-advantage. Johnson and the rest of the Ohio State penalty killers were caught puck watching a bit on Aiden Fink’s goal which made it 3-1 Nittany Lions.

Despite being on the ice for all four Penn State markers, Johnson looked very good with his skating and playmaking ability. He had the secondary assist on Thomas Weis’s goal to make it a one-goal game. But Ohio State fell just short of making a comeback and fell 4-3.

Johnson finished the game with one shot on goal on four attempts. 

Ohio State at Penn State | Highlights | Big Ten Hockey | Jan. 26, 2024

In the series-finale, Penn State got off to a 3-0 lead in front of a raucous crowd at Pegula Ice Arena, but the Buckeyes stormed back with two power-play goals, and eventually tied the game. Johnson had the primary assist on William Smith’s tally which got the comeback started. It was a perfect saucer pass over the Penn State defender and right on the tape of Smith.

However, the Buckeyes had a difficult time beating Penn State goaltender Liam Souliere and the Nittany Lions eventually capitalized late in regulation to take a 4-3 lead. Johnson was screening Ohio State goaltender Kristoffer Eberly, and the puck may have redirected off his body.


Johnson finished the evening with one shot on goal and led the team with four blocks.

Top Shots and Goals | Ohio State at Penn State | Big Ten Hockey | 1/27/24

The Buckeyes are still dead last in the Big Ten with just seven points and are 32nd in the PairWise. Ohio State will have a four-game homestand, starting off with a battle with the No. 12 Michigan Wolverines on Feb. 2-3.

Joaquim Lemay, LD, 2021 4th RD, No. 20 Omaha Mavericks (12-9-3, 5-7-2)

The offensive struggles continued for Lemay as he extended his point drought to 11 games. The Mavericks had a wild weekend against the No. 16 St. Cloud Huskies. It was a defense optional game in the series-opener. The Huskies got out to a 2-0 lead, and it was back-and-forth action from there. Lemay was on the ice for Adam Ingram’s power-play goal.

More goals happened and it would be too much to do a play-by-play of each one. The Mavericks took Game 1 of the series in a thrilling 7-6 overtime victory. Watch the highlights below if you like defense optional hockey.

Lemay finished the game with just one shot on goal.

 1-26-24 Omaha at St. Cloud State Highlights

Game 2 was a less eventful contest. It turned out to be a 1-1 tie, but the Mavericks earned the extra point in the shootout, making it a huge four point weekend for Omaha. 

 1-27-24 Omaha at St. Cloud State Highlights

Lemay finished the game with just two shots on goal. The Mavericks are still on the bubble of the PairWise ranking 19th and are still seventh in the NCHC with 15 points. Omaha will take on the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Feb. 2-3.

Other College Hockey Scores

  • No. 12 Michigan splits with No. 4 Wisconsin (5-1W, 6-5OTL)
  • No. 10 Providence sweeps UMass-Lowell (7-2W, 4-3OTW)
  • No. 2 North Dakota sweeps No. 5 Denver (5-2W, 4-2W)
  • Northeastern sweeps Merrimack (5-3W, 4-1W)
  • Vermont splits with No. 18 UNH (2-1W, 6-3L)
  • Robert Morris splits with AIC (2-0W, 5-2L)
  • Alaska Fairbanks sweeps LIU (7-3W, 3-1W)
  • No. 14 Colorado College sweeps No. 15 Western Michigan (2-1OTW, 2-1OTW)
  • Minnesota-Duluth sweeps Miami (OH) (6-2W, 3-2OTW)
  • Dartmouth falls 4-3OT to Colgate, but ties with No. 13 Cornell 2-2, winning in a shootout.
  • St. Lawrence splits with Clarkson (4-1L, 2-1W)
  • Northern Michigan ties and win with Minnesota State (2-2SOW, 4-0W)
  • Lake Superior State splits with Michigan Tech (3-1W, 1-0L)
  • No. 19 RIT sweeps Bentley (3-0W, 2-1OTW)
  • Union defeats RPI 5-3
  • Ferris State sweeps Augustana (5-2W, 4-3OTW)

https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/


By Jacob Cheris





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