The Friendship Four touched down in Belfast under new circumstances this week. Canadian Hockey League prospects are permitted to play in the NCAA for the first time from the start of next season and the new academic year, ruffling feathers across the hockey world by impacting the spread of college-age talent in North America and beyond.
Boston University, Merrimack College, Havard University, and the University of Notre Dame – this year’s Friendship Four participants – travelled across the Atlantic with star-studded rosters, including a handful of players destined for the NHL.
But there is a world of hockey away from North America’s fabled arenas – and the Friendship Four is designed to showcase that obscure part of the universe to its on-ice talent.
“Realistically, everyone isn’t going to make the NHL,” said Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo, “and there lots of other great opportunities to play professional around the world.”
The Elite League is a potential landing spot for the NCAA’s solid performers, with an ever-increasing number of collegiate hockey products graduating into the United Kingdom’s premier league.
Scott Conway, of Team GB and Belfast Giants fame, played for Providence College. Charli Curti, a standout performer for the Guildford Flames, spent four seasons at Yale University, before professionalising in the ECHL, Danish Metal Ligaen, and the Elite League.
It’s almost impossible to predict the course of a collegiate hockey player’s career – but let’s give it our best shot.
After the first day of action at the 2024 Friendship Four (which saw Boston and Notre Dame advance to the final), here are four players who could make the switch to the Elite League in the years ahead.
2024 Friendship Four to Elite League candidates:
Caden Cranston – Merrimack Collage (RW)
Deployed in all situations by the Merrimack Warriors, Caden Cranston impressed in a losing effort against the Boston University Terriers.
The 20-year-old forward, who fulfilled first-line right wing duties on Friday [29 November], is a strong skater, with the hockey sense to impact at both ends of the ice.
His effort on the penalty kill was imposing, opportunistically streaking clear of Boston’s defence to create a breakaway opportunity in the second period.
Friendship Four: Caden Cranston, Merrimack University (Image: Merrimack Athletics)
The Rochester-born forward continued to stand out as a special team contributor, when he provided the assist (a rebound-generating shot) on Merrimack’s first goal of the afternoon.
Cranston’s first season in the NCAA has been inauspicious, with three points (two goals, one assist) in eleven appearances before turning out in Belfast.
In 2022-23, he potted 86 points (30 goals, 56 assists) in the BCHL – another league of interest to Elite League recruiters.
Tristan Amonte – Boston University
Tristan Amonte scored twice en-route to victory over Merrimack, making the most of his fourth-line minutes alongside Alex Zetterberg (a highly-touted prospect for this season’s draft) and Brandon Svoboda (a pick of the San Jose Sharks).
The Amontes just love scoring goals in Belfast!
Ty lit the lamp twice in 2018 and Tristan does it for us today!
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/Cfes0QEYfA@hockey_east | @NESN | @espn pic.twitter.com/JuD96StwNA
— BU Men’s Hockey (@TerrierHockey) November 29, 2024
The 24-year-old, in his fourth and final season of collegiate eligibility, also had three points (one goal, two assists) on the season before landing in Belfast, but was a crucial performer in the Terriers’ bid to make the final.
“Europe’s awesome,” the Massachusetts-born forward said of his SSE Arena debut. “This is the first time I’ve been in Europe, but I’m loving my experience so far. For a lot of people [playing in Europe] is a great option, and it’s definitely I’d personally look into.”
Jaedon Kerr – University of Notre Dame
Jaedon Kerr made the importance of size and physicality exceptionally clear in Notre Dame’s frantic win over the Harvard Crimson.
The six-foot-four blueliner flattened two opponents early and never looked back, utilising his frame whenever the opportunity arose.
In addition to solid defensive play, the 21-year-old scored with a powerful shot through traffic in the middle frame, whipping the puck over the reach of Ben Charette following a face-off routine.
Friendship Four: Jaedon Kerr, Notre Dame (Image: Notre Dame Athletics)
Kerr will keep the puck – it was his first goal at this level.
While the Indiana-born defender still has several years of collegiate hockey to play, his profile matches that of a future Elite Leaguer (that’s if he doesn’t reach a higher standard in the meantime).
Lucas St. Louis – Harvard University
Whether it’s Jeremy Brodeur or Kevin Ekman-Larsson, the Elite League is well-acquainted with the brothers and sons of NHLers.
Lucas St. Louis, son of Tampa Bay Lightning hero and current Montreal Canadiens bench boss Martin St. Louis, is a stretch target for Elite League clubs – but he went undrafted last season and, well, stranger things have happened.
The 19-year-old is a deceptive defenceman who fakes just about every element of the game – shots, passes, dump-ins, turns. You name it, he’ll faint it.
St, Louis’ powers of trickery were on full display against Notre Dame, impressing on the top pair alongside Anaheim Ducks prospect (and Harvard captain) Ian Moore.
