Day Two of the Friendship Four in Belfast showcased dozens of talented young players who could graduate from the NCAA to the Elite League in the coming years.
Boston University produced a sensational comeback in the final to pip the University of Notre Dame to the Belpot Trophy, with Edmonton Oilers prospect Shane Lachance lifting the Terriers to victory at the SSE Arena.
While Lachance, and his fellow National Hockey League draftees, will seek opportunities in North America’s major leagues, many of his teammates and rivals will turn to Europe for chances to play professionally after completing their studies.
Here are four student-athletes who could feature in the Elite League down the line.
NCAA Men’s Hockey in Belfast, Northern Ireland:
Merrimack College:
The Merrimack College Warriors return home with memories to last a lifetime, but no wins to show for their efforts.
“I take away the fact that we need to get better,” Scott Borek, in season-seven as Merrimack head coach, told britishicehockey.co.uk on Saturday [30 November], “but the trip itself was a huge win for us. The positive is that we probably grew as a team and as a programme, but we haven’t seen those results yet.
“From the hockey perspective, we played two very good teams and were in positions to win both games, but we shot ourselves in the foot too many times. That’s disappointing, for sure.”
While Borek’s disappointment is understandable, two Merrimack players stood out in Belfast – sophomore forward David Sacco and third-year defenceman Zach Bookman.
“David was very good,” Borek continued. “That line started out as our fourth and they scored three of our four goals this weekend, so I’m really happy for and with him. His linemates, Luke Weilandt and Ryan O’Connell, did a great job. It’s a positive from that perspective, but it’s about the scoreboard at the end of the day.”
Sacco, named player of the game twice (out of two), was sensational throughout the Friendship Four, scoring once versus the Terriers before notching a brace against the Harvard Crimson.
While the 22-year-old’s defensive instincts were noteworthy, it was his offensive contributions that separated him from his peers.
Sacco plays instinctively in the offensive zone, finding the right areas of the ice (namely, the low slot) to punch home loose pucks.
He also has flair.
Immediately before his second strike versus Harvard, he rattled the post with a baseball-style volley, before skating to the top of the crease and converting on the rebound.
GOAL!
David Sacco just can’t stop scoring, his third of the tournament!#GoMack pic.twitter.com/EIuV3jXpwr
— Merrimack Men’s Hockey (@Merrimack_MIH) November 30, 2024
“I was just going to the net,” Sacco said when asked about his audacious mid-air attempt. I saw the puck in the air, and swatted at it, but it didn’t go in. I realised that Harvard were out there for a while and couldn’t get the change, so I passed it up to Luke and he made a great play to get the puck on net. After the one-timer, it was chaos in front of the net and I was just trying to whack it in.”
Zach Bookman is another player to watch from Merrimack.
While officially listed at 5-foot-10, the 22-year-old defender punches above his weight and made numerous impressive physical plays in the Warriors’ defeat to Harvard.
With his netminder pulled and the net unprotected, he dove headfirst to prevent the Crimson from widening the margin of victory in the dying moments.
Bookman’s 50 points (nine goals, 41 assists, 82 appearances) through three seasons of play in the NCAA point to a player more than capable of excelling in Europe.
Harvard University:
Ben Charette had himself a tournament to remember in Belfast – not least because his NCAA debut came in relief on Saturday, with his first start and win coming the next day.
The 21-year-old was excellent throughout Sunday’s third-place playoff win over Merrimack, leaving the ice with a .939 save percentage on 33 shots.
NCAA Hockey| Ben Charette, Harvard University (Image: Crimson Athletics)
Charette was only beaten by two major deflections, the first of which was a harmless, hit-and-hope shot from the blueline that bounced off the stick blade of a defenceman and into the roof of the net.
Players are usually the best performance evaluators – and the Crimson bench rose to its feet and applauded Charette on four occasions on his first start.
In this case, the stick taps said it all.
After an impressive final season in the AJHL, which saw the Canadian netminder maintain a .925 save percentage through 34 appearances, Charette has a bright future ahead.
Boston University:
I wrote a foolish note halfway through the second period of Boston University’s comeback win over Notre Dame in the championship game.
Another fine save from Mathieu Caron, who is preventing this from being a cricket score win for Notre Dame.
It later turned out that the Canadian’s 28-save performance would ultimately win his team the title.
Caron’s best spell saw him turn seven shots aside in just three minutes of play, including a successful penalty-killing effort while Notre Dame were ahead and looking to reinforce their lead.
NCAA Hockey | Mathieu Caron, Boston University (Image: Terriers Athletics)
The 24-year-old netminder is in his first season with Boston, having spent the last three seasons producing standout performances for Brown University.
Charon’s worst statistical output in the NCAA came in his rookie year; when he suffered defeat more often than victory (4-16-4) and still maintained a crispy .911 save percentage.
University of Notre Dame:
There’s no shortage of talent on the Fighting Irish’s roster — but their final period capitulation in the championship game undermines their overall play at the Friendship Four.
While Ian Murphy (a 25-year-old centreman) warrants a spot on this list, his third period boarding penalty was a major turning point and momentum killer for Notre Dame.
Related: NCAA Hockey in Belfast – the Friendship Four is here to stay
