In the Pipeline: 3/26/2018

The Frozen Four is set with Notre Dame, Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan and Ohio State punching their tickets to Saint Paul. It will be three Big Ten teams and an NCHC team with Minnesota Duluth. Both Notre Dame and Ohio State are looking to win the programs first ever national championship. Michigan is looking to win its first title in 20 years while Minnesota-Duluth looks to win its first title since 2011 when the Frozen Four was also in Saint Paul. ECAC teams went 0-3 in the NCAA tournament but the conference is expected to be strong next year with a lot of talent returning to many of the top teams. Let's take a look at some how some of the Quinnipiac commits did over the past week with some of them expected to be in the Bobcats lineup this coming fall.

Ethan De Jong, right playing the puck (photo by James Doyle/Prince George Citizen)

BCHL commits

It was a very strong week for Ethan De Jong who had 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in four games played in helping to lead the Prince George Spruce Kings to a 4-3 series win over the Surrey Eagles. His performance in Game's 6 and 7 with Prince George trailing 3-2 in the best-of-seven series are what makes him a rising star. He had two goals an assist in each of the games rallying the team to a series win. In 14 playoff games he has 15 points (9 goals, 6 assists) tying him for third in the BCHL for playoff scoring.

The junior career of Desi Burgart has come to an end. His Surrey Eagles team fell 4-3 in the best-of-seven second round series to Prince George. This past week Burgart had one goal in two games played. He finished his playoffs with 11 points (10 goals, 1 assist) in 12 games played which followed a regular season in which he had 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) in 53 games played. His next stop is Hamden where will he will be part of the 2018-2019 incoming freshman class.

The 2017-2018 junior season has ended for T.J. Friedmann. His tell fell in the second round 4-1 to Powell River. He finished the playoffs with 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 9 games played but missed some time with a lower body injury. He has one more junior season before making the move to Hamden so its expected he will be returning to the Victoria Grizzlies next season. He finished a strong regular season with 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 58 games played.

Outside of Ethan De Jong, the only other BCHL commitment still in the playoffs is defenseman Nick Kent for the Wenatchee Wild. His team has already advanced to the third round of the playoffs.

William Fallstrom, right (photo by David Samson/The Forum)

USHL commits

William Fallstrom had a four point week for the Fargo Force in helping clinch a playoff spot. In three games played he had two goals and two assists. On the season in 52 games played, he has 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) with a plus 14 rating.

Wyatt Bongiovanni continues to be sidelined by an undisclosed injury for the Muskegon Lumberjacks.

Dom Fensore had two assists in three USHL games over the weekend. In 30 USHL games played, Fensore has 15 points (1 goal, 14 assists).

Justin Robbins went 1-1 with 6.94 goals against average and an .818 save percentage for the Chicago Steel. On the season, Robbins is 6-8-0-1 with a 4.08 goals against average and an .873 save percentage in 20 games played.

NAHL commits

Marcus Chorney picked up one assist in two games played for the Amarillo Bulls. On the season he had 24 points (5 goals, 19 assists) in 56 games played with a minus 6 rating.

NCDC commits

Daniel Winslow had two goals over the weekend in his teams playoffs series win over the Jr. Bruins. He had the game winning goal in the 3-2 win in Game 3 as the Jersey Hitmen will move on to the championship series against the Islanders Hockey Club.

Connor Tait has had a strong last four playoff games for the Jersey Hitmen. So far he has 3 goals and 1 assist including a game winning goal in Game 2 against the Jr. Bruins. He had a goal in Sunday's Game 3 clinching win as the Hitmen have moved to the NCDC finals against the Islanders Hockey Club.

Cameron Boudreau's season has come to an end with a 2-1 series loss to the Jersey Hitmen. He had two assists in three playoffs games over the weekend and finished with two assists in six playoff games. He will be playing another season of junior hockey with it being most likely for the Jr. Bruins.

AJHL commits

Matt Cassidy had one assist this past week for the Brooks Bandits who closed out their best-of-seven series with the Drumheller Dragons 4 games to 2. They now move on to play the south division top seed Okotoks Oilers. 

Steele Subaru celebrating its championship

Midget Commits

Jacob Quillan of the Steele Subaru Major Midgets had three assists in two games played helping his team win the Nova Scotia Major Midget Hockey League championship over Halifax McDonalds. In 15 playoff games this year, Quillan has 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists). Steele Subaru will now compete in the 2018 Major Midget Atlantics.

The following players are headed to USA Hockey Nationals that run from April 5-10 in various locations in the United States. Corey Clifton (NJ Avalanche U18), Ethan Phillips & PJ Fletcher (CCYHA U16), Victor Czerneckianair (CCYHA U15) & Jack Silich (Chicago Mission U14).

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