Northeastern is the most well represented school in New England Hockey Journal’s First Half All-Hockey East Team. The Huskies have three players who earned recognition: forwards Adam Gaudette and Dylan Sikura and defenseman Jeremy Davies.
Boston University forward Jordan Greenway, Providence defenseman Jacob Bryson and Maine goaltender Jeremy Swayman joined the three Northeastern players.
First Half All-Hockey East Team
Adam Gaudette
Northeastern, Jr., C, Shoots Right, Braintree, Mass., 6-1/184
Vancouver Canucks (2015 5th Round, 149th overall)
Gaudette leads Hockey East in goals, points, power play goals, power play points, and game-winning goals. He is averaging over three shots on goal per game and is a possession changer. On top of his scoring prowess, Gaudette competes his tail off every shift. He’ll be deep in the attacking zone forechecking and will be back to break u a play going the other way in a flash.
Dylan Sikura
Northeastern, Sr., LW, Shoots Left, Aurora, Ontario, 5-11/165
Chicago Blackhawks (2014 6th Round, 178th overall)
Sikura doesn’t have the pro upside that Gaudette has, but the Canadian Olympic hopeful is a fun player to watch at this level. His hands and edge work allows him to maneuver in small areas and make things happen with the puck on his stick. He’s averaging more shots on goal per game than any other player in the league.
Jordan Greenway
Boston University, Jr., C/LW, Shoots Left, Canton, N.Y., 6-5/230
Minnesota Wild (2015 2nd Round, 50th overall)
Greenway’s inability to produce more offensively is certainly frustrating, but there are signs that he’s finally starting to figure it out. The NTDP alum has four goals and five assists over his last six games which was one more point than he scored in the first 13 games of the season. Few players, if any, in college hockey can dominate a game physically the way Greenway can.
Jacob Bryson
Providence, Soph., D, Shoots Left, London, Ontario, 5-9/175
Buffalo Sabres (2017 4th Round, 99th overall)
Providence coach Nate Leaman wasn’t shy when suggesting Bryson was the best player for his team on more than one occasion during the first half. Bryson does an outstanding job of shoulder-checking, starting the breakout with his feet or with little dink passes. He can walk a blue line and get shots on net. He’s a game changer when it comes to retrieving pucks and keeping the puck on his team’s stick.
Jeremy Davies
Northeastern, Soph., D, Shoots Left, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, 5-11/188
New Jersey Devils (2016 7th Round, 192nd overall)
Davies has really emerged as a big time offensive defenseman in Hockey East. However, he’s also improved his play in his own zone. He’s a power play specialist and he can move the puck. He defends with his feet. His importance to the Huskies takes on an added significance with the abrupt departure of Garrett Cockerill.
Jeremy Swayman
Maine, Fr., G, Catches Left, Anchorage, Alaska, 6-2/183
Boston Bruins (2017 4th Round, 111th overall)
Swayman is 7-3-1 with a .927 save percentage. However, it’s even better than that when you consider his save percentage goes up to .937 over the last nine games. He’s the first Black Bear goaltender in a while who can consistently keep his team in games. His stock continues to soar, as evidenced by earning a spot on the U.S. National Junior Team for the World Juniors.
