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BC Eagles Thump Vermont For Jacob Fowler’s 23rd Win Of The Year

By Tyler Major-Mcnicol |
Boston College v Massachusetts-Lowell
Boston College v Massachusetts-Lowell / Richard T Gagnon/GettyImages
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The Montreal Canadiens stocked the goaltending cupboard at the 2023 draft, but Jacob Fowler has established himself as the leader of the pack. 

His Boston College Eagles made light work of the University of Vermont Catamounts during a 7-1 victory on Friday night. Fowler was brilliant once again, winning his league-leading 23rd win of the season. The freshman was nearly perfect, minus the lone blemish where he swiped at the puck but came up short. 

Fowler just keeps on winning, and while the Spittin Chiclet’s crew heralded him as the next Dominik Hasek, he is carving his own path. Behind a potent offence featuring the likes of Will Smith, Cutter Gauthier, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, Fowler has consistently been the Eagles' best player. 

There’s no surprise that Fowler sits atop the wins column in the NCAA, he is a battler and never stops competing until the final whistle. He continues to carry around a chip on his shoulder, because of the USHL and CHL passing over him during his draft year. It has fueled him to be the backbone of one of college hockey’s top teams.

Despite just being drafted, Fowler has done nothing short of impress the Habs’ brass. And considering that Samuel Montembeault is signed and Jakub Dobes is mixing it up in the AHL, he won’t be rushed. That’s not even considering Cayden Primeau, and Jake Allen, although it seems more of a when not an if for him to be dealt.

Professional hockey is a different animal than the college ranks, but scoffing at what Fowler has done would discredit the work of the young goaltender. I would guess that he will play, at minimum, an additional year with the Eagles. After that, if he does turn pro, it would be best for him to get some seasoning down in Laval. 

Montembeault is perfectly capable of carrying the torch until then, and his experience through the rebuild will make him an ideal mentor for his likely predecessor. And like Fowler, Montembeault has faced adversity, if you remember the Florida Panthers placed him on waivers. In a hockey hotbed like Montreal, being battle-tested before hitting the Bell Centre ice can only help Fowler’s cause. 

It’s difficult not to pull for a guy that has been through what Fowler has. And seeing how he conducts himself, glimpses of some of the NHL’s best emerge. He doesn’t rely just on athleticism but on his strong positioning and veteran-like poise.

When his arrival is upon us, the benefits of being patient and handling his development the right way could provide the backbone for some deep Stanley Cup playoff runs in the future. 

BU Terriers Hobey Baker Duo Make Light Work Of Connecticut

Boston University v Merrimack
Boston University v Merrimack / Richard T Gagnon/GettyImages

Montreal Canadiens top prospect Lane Hutson and 2024 projected first overall selection Macklin Celebrini fueled a dominant performance against the University of Connecticut Huskies

Hutson and Celebrini are both destined to become Hobey Baker finalists, an honour for college hockey’s best player, and they were feeling it on Friday night. The Terriers dynamic duo lit up Connecticut en route to a 6-1 trouncing of the Huskies. Hutson did his work on the power play, earning two assists for his effort.

Meanwhile, Celebrini put up 2-2-4 totals, linking up with Hutson on the power play with a beautiful one-timer. Celebrini also opened the scoring and assisted on the 2-0 goal, which stood as the eventual game-winner. The way he conducts himself and keeps producing is incredible. 

With the Canadiens' likelihood of a bottom-five finish increasing game-by-game, the idea of a Hutson-Celebrini duo rears its head. While not likely, unless the draft lottery gods are kind, it would be a huge boost for the Habs offence. Hutson to Celebrini and/or Juraj Slafkovsky, oh man, that would be fun. 

Wherever Celebrini gets drafted to play, it’s only a matter of time before he brings his brilliance to NHL ice. He truly is the total package, and although he might not be on Connor Bedard’s level, he isn’t going to be a slouch. What he has been able to do in his freshman season of college hockey, is nothing short of incredible. 

The skills are elite, but the processor and incredibly big brain for the game are what makes him such a polarizing prospect. There have been Sidney Crosby comparisons, in terms of preparation, style and burning desire to be the best. 

Lining him up with Hutson’s defence pair just came so naturally. Now the chemistry they have formed can’t be stopped by NCAA competition. The Terriers have been dominant - Celebrini and Hutson - deserve a ton of recognition for that fact. 

With 25 games left to play, Kent Hughes has a big decision ahead of him - finding somebody to join Slafkovsky on the right side or in the bumper position to receive one-timer feeds from Hutson. 

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