Some talents are well known in New England college hockey.
By now, people know UMass' talented defensive duo of Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro, a scorer like Yale’s Joe Snively, or this year’s freshman class that includes studs like Boston College’s Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) and Providence’s Jay O’Brien (Hingham, Mass.).
But the start of a new season allows for some new performers to shine through. Some have proven themselves in years past, while others came into their freshmen seasons with fanfare.
Here are 10 players skating in the region that are “in the spotlight” following strong performances in the early going. Of the 10, five are from New England.
Charlie Barrow
Holy Cross | Jr. | D | Belmont, Mass.
Barrow scored just once during each of his first two seasons in Worcester, but the former Belmont Hill captain doubled his career total, lighting the lamp in the Crusaders’ recent road contests against St. Lawrence and Clarkson.
A member of the BCHL All-Rookie team while with the Coquitlam Express, Barrow hadn't registered points in back-to-back games since February of his freshman season.
Blake Christensen
AIC | Jr. | F | Coral Springs, Fla.
Christensen posted team-leading point totals as a freshman and sophomore. The Yellow Jackets have a ton of experience on their side this year, including this third-year contributor who has three goals and six points through five games.
Christensen has tallied in each of the last three contests, including both ends of last week’s series with Bentley, over which AIC took three of four points.
Ace Cowans
Vermont | Soph. | F | Beverly, Mass.
Cowans didn't dress once after Dec. 29 last season, despite recording four points through his first 12 collegiate games. This year, he’s skated as the 13th forward in both Catamount contests.
He made his presence known with primary helpers on Derek Lodermeier and Joey Cipollone’s goals in a 3-2 loss at Quinnipiac on Oct. 13. Scoring depth will be crucial for the Catamounts, who lost leading scorer Ross Colton two years early.
David Farrance
Boston University | Soph. | D | Victor, N.Y.
Losing captain Brandon Hickey to graduation and junior Chad Krys (Ridgefield, Conn.) to injury over the last few weeks has opened up holes on the BU defense. But Farrance is making the most of his extra ice time.
The Nashville Predators' draft pick has earned the top-pair assignment alongside Dante Fabbro and recorded four points, assisting on two of the Terriers’ three goals in each game at Minnesota State. He leads BU in points (4).
Tyler Irvine
Merrimack | Jr. | F | Livonia, Mich.
Irvine has five points through Merrimack’s first five games, already putting him halfway to matching the career-high of 10 he set as a freshman.
He scored the lone goal in the Warriors’ 1-0 win at Bentley two weeks ago, which served as Scott Borek’s first win as Merrimack’s head coach. The responsible winger has played in all but one game over his three collegiate years.
Mike Lee
Sacred Heart | Sr. | D | Hamden, Conn.
Lee returned to the Nutmeg State after starting his collegiate career at the University of Vermont and has skated in each of the Pioneers’ games so far this season, which have come against Hockey East opponents Northeastern and Providence.
The former Penticton Vees (BCHL) standout scored a shorthanded goal in his Oct. 12 debut, then assisted on Northeastern transfer Jason Cotton’s goal last Saturday night against the Friars.
Fille Lindberg
UMass | Fr. | G | Espoo, Finland
Matt Murray carried a bulk of the goaltending load on an improved UMass team a year ago, but Greg Carvel has scooped up another outstanding rookie in Lindberg. The Finish product has split crease duties through two weekends.
Lindberg has allowed just three goals over two games, the first of which was a 20-save victory against RPI. He held then-No. 1 Ohio State scoreless for more than two periods and finished last Saturday’s loss with 36 saves on 38 shots.
Liam Pecararo
Northeastern | Sr. | F | Canton, Mass.
Pecararo began his Hockey East career at Maine and hasn’t missed a beat, despite not playing in a college game since 2015. Upon leaving Maine, he spent a year with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) before matriculating to Northeastern.
The left winger leads the Huskies with six points through four games, including goals in two of the last three against Sacred Heart and Union. He’s already established a consistent combination with productive freshman Tyler Madden and redshirt senior Brandon Hawkins.
Keith Petruzzelli
Quinnipiac | Soph. | G | Wilbraham, Mass.
Petruzzelli started in each of Quinnipiac’s first three victories ― all against Hockey East opponents ― after playing 11 times throughout his rookie campaign.
The former USPHL Most Valuable Player has needed to make just 54 saves, thanks to the stingy defense in front of him allowing just 19.33 shots per game. Twenty-one stops came in his first shutout as a Bobcat last Friday against Boston College.
Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup
Maine | Fr. | F | Charlottenlund, Denmark
The Black Bears have skated just four freshmen through their first four games, but Schmidt-Svejstrup’s four points matches juniors Chase Pearson and Mitchell Fossier for the team lead.
The vital member of 2017-18 Clark Cup champion Fargo Force (USHL) has not missed a beat in starting his collegiate career, scoring goals against St. Lawrence and Minnesota Duluth. Schmidt-Svejstrup also represented Denmark at the 2018 World Juniors Championships.
