The Minnesota Wild’s 12th-overall pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft is off to an impressive start to his sophomore NCAA season. Edmonton Oilers’ fourth-round pick Carter Savoie has scored in his first three NCAA games of his career and the Oshawa Generals have loaned two players to Slovakia before the start of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) season.
Boldy off to Hot Start in NCAA
Wild prospect and Boston College winger Matt Boldy is off to a blistering start to his sophomore season in the NCAA. Drafted 12th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, he spent the 2019-20 season with Boston College amassing nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 34 games played during his freshman season. He was part of the team that won the Hockey East regular season champions and made the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
Boldy was a part of the historic 2018-19 United States National Team Development Program draft class that included Jack Hughes, Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield and Spencer Knight, among others.
Through four games played in his sophomore NCAA season, he has recorded three goals and five assists for eight points. The goal above is one of two he registered in BC’s 9-0 victory over Providence on Saturday. The Wild have two high-profile prospects on the way in Kirill Kaprizov and Marco Rossi, but Boldy is making a case to add his name to that list. He is expected to play for Team USA during the 2021 World Junior Championship (WJC) that begins on Dec. 25. He was not part of the team that finished off the podium during the 2020 WJC.
Savoie’s Excellent Debut For Denver
Oilers prospect and Denver University forward Savoie was tagged as a premier goal scorer after putting up 53 goals in 54 games last season for the Sherwood Park Crusaders in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). However, there were concerns if his offense would translate to a more difficult league in the NCAA. Clearly it hasn’t been an issue for the St. Albert, Alberta, native.
Through three games in his freshman NCAA season he has four goals and has scored in each game. He scored his first NCAA goal against Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 2, followed by two goals against North Dakota on Dec. 4. He then potted his fourth of the season in Denver’s 4-3 loss against St. Cloud State on Saturday.
After being selected by Edmonton during the draft, THW’s Peter Baracchini had this to say about Savoie’s fit with the team.
After selecting Dylan Holloway in the first round, the Oilers drafted another winger with a strong skill set and competitive edge that could play alongside their top two centres in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. While he needs to work on his defensive game and effort in his own zone, his speed and quick stick handling make him a great asset for the Oilers.
Drafted 100th overall by the Oilers in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Savoie’s dominance in the 2019-20 AJHL season was almost unmatched. His 53 goals led the entire league and was 10 more than the next highest skater. He also finished second in league scoring with 99 points, trailing only teammate Arjun Atwal who had 107 points. It’s no secret the Oilers are desperate to find some goal-scoring wingers to play with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. With Jesse Puljujarvi returning to the team and Savoie’s hot start, it looks like they may finally have their solution.
Generals Loan Two Players to Slovakia
Speaking of Oilers prospects, the Oshawa Generals have loaned the Oilers fifth-round pick from the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Ty Tullio, to MHK Liptovsky Mikulas of the Slovak Extraliga, Slovakia’s top men’s league. He is also joined by Montreal Canadiens’ fourth-round pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Allan McShane. Both players will be looking to get some extra playing time in before the OHL’s proposed start date in February. They are expected to rejoin the Generals in time to quarantine before the start of OHL training camp on Jan. 23.
During the 2019-20 season Tullio amassed 27 goals and 39 assists for 66 points in 62 games played while McShane registered 23 goals and 44 assists for 67 points in 62 games played. Both players are a big part of the Generals’ success and will team up with Nashville Predators prospect Philip Tomasino once the 2021 OHL season starts up.