Photo: Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
The Capitals’ six prospects playing at the collegiate level for the 2022-23 season include Ryan Chesley, David Gucciardi, Brent Johnson, Joaquim Lemay, Mitchell Gibson, and Chase Clark. Gibson and Clark are goaltenders while the other four are defensemen.
Here is the February mid-month update on the Capitals’ college prospects.
Ryan Chesley — Defenseman
Chesley was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry draft with the 37th pick overall. He is currently a freshman at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Photo: Arizona Sun Devils Hockey
Going into February, the Minnesota Golden Gophers were 20-7-1 overall and 14-3-1 within the Big Ten Conference.
The Gophers did not play any games during the first weekend of February and did not have any games until the weekend of February 10 and February 11 when they traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to play the Wisconsin Badgers. They won the first game 4-1 but lost the second game 3-1. The Golden Gophers were hoping to clinch the Big 10 title but due their loss on February 11, that was not to be. Chesley was kept off the scoresheet in both games.
At one point in the game on February 12, it looked like Chesley had the secondary assist on a goal that would have tied the game at 2-2, but Wisconsin challenged, and the goal was ultimately disallowed.
🚨 #GOPHERS GOAL 🚨
The fourth line comes up big! @connor_kurth finishes off a play started by @JohnMittelstadt and @ryanchesley_ to tie the game!
2-2 pic.twitter.com/E9FmHYVJfI
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) February 12, 2023
Minnesota next goes on the road to play Penn State at University Park, PA on February 17 and 18. After that, they return home to play Ohio State at home on February 24 and 25, which ends their regular season.
Chesley will not be able to play in any of those upcoming games due to an upper body injury he sustained during the game of February 11. Gophers head coach Bob Motzko indicated that Faber could return to the lineup sooner, but Chesley would not play until March, at the earliest. “[Chesley] will come back in the playoffs sometime. Brock, we’re going week-to-week. Injuries are part of sports. They happen, you’ve just got to roll on.”
Until his recent injury, Chesley had played in all 30 of the Gopher’s games, scoring two goals and five assists. He has taken 45 shots on goal and blocked 44 shots. He played on the third defensive pairing during February.
The Gophers are now 21-8-1 overall and 15-4-1 within the Big Ten Conference. Minnesota was rated #2 in the USCHO Division 1 Men’s Poll on February 13.
Click here for the Golden Gophers schedule.
David Gucciardi — Defenseman
Gucciardi was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with the 213th pick overall. He is a sophomore playing for the Michigan State Spartans.
Photo: Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images
Going into February, the Michigan State Spartans were 13-13-2 overall and 7-9-2 within the Big Ten Conference.
The Spartans faced Notre Dame on February 3 and February 4, winning both games. They won 3-0 on February 3 and completed the sweep by winning 3-2 on February 4. It was the Spartans’ first sweep of Notre Dame in 17 years.
It was a very productive weekend for Gucciardi, as well as for his team. On February 3, he had the secondary assist for the team’s third goal, an empty net goal, which took place at 19:08 during third period.
ND 0, MSU 3 | 19:08 (3) | Muller with the empty netter from the neutral zone to give him a three-point night.
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
On February 4, Gucciardi scored the team’s third goal at 4:00 on a power play. He scored by launching a powerful one-timer from the left point. The goal held up as the game winner. It was his first goal since October.
ND 2, MSU 3 | 4:00 (3) | David Gucciardi on an absolute ROCKET from the left point. MSU has three shots on the power play. Davidson and Middendorf each with their second assists of the night on the play.
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 4, 2023
The Spartans faced the Michigan Wolverines on February 10 and 11 in two different arenas and it was a rough weekend for them. They lost on February 10 at the Munn Ice Arena by a 4-2 score and followed that up by losing 4-3 in Overtime in the very last minute in Little Caesars’ arena. Gucciardi had no goals or assists in either game. On February 11, he took a tripping penalty at 8:02 during the third period but the Spartans were able to kill it off.
The Spartans next face the Wisconsin Badgers at Madison Wisconsin on Feb 17 and 18 which finishes up their regular season.
For the season, Gucciardi has played in 30 of the team’s 32 games. He has scored three goals and recorded five assists. He has 68 shots on goals and has blocked 35 shots. During February, he has played on the third defense pairing.
The Spartans are now 15-15-2 overall and 9-11-2 in the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans were rated #17 in the USCHO Division 1 Men’s Poll on February 13. Click here for the Michigan State Spartans’ schedule.
Brent Johnson – Defenseman
Brent Johnson was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He is a sophomore at North Dakota.
Going into February, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks were 12-11-4 overall and 6-8-2 in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
The Fighting Hawks were idle for the first weekend in February and their next games took place on February 10 and 11 when they played Denver University on the road and lost both games, 5-3 and 5-2. Johnson appeared in neither game.
They next play St. Cloud State at home on the weekend of February 17 and 18. After that, they play Colorado College on the road for February 24 and 25. They end their regular season on March 3 and 4 against the Omaha Mavericks and Capitals prospect Joaquim “Jo” Lemay.
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks are 12-13-4 overall and 6-10-2 within their conference (Big Ten). Click here for the Fighting Hawks schedule.
For the season, Johnson has played in 13 games, has scored one goal and five assists, made 13 shots on goal, blocked 8, and is +3. He had not played since December 3 and only one game since November 19.
Joaquim Lemay – Defenseman
Lemay was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft with the 119th pick overall. He is a freshman at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. One of his teammates is Jakub Pivonka, the son of former Capital, Michal Pivonka.
Going into February, the Omaha Mavericks were 14-10-2 overall and 9-5-1 within the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). They were idle the weekend of February 3 and 4. They played their next games against Colorado College on February 10 and 11, winning the first 3-2 in Overtime and playing to a 2-2 tie, even after Overtime. Lemay was kept off the scoresheet in both games.
The Mavericks next face Miami of Ohio on the road on February 17 and 18. After that, they play St Cloud State at home on February 24 and 25. They close out their regular season on March 3 and 4 against the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on the road.
The University of Omaha Mavericks are 15-10-3 overall and 10-6-1 within their conference (National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Mavericks were rated #15 in the USCHO Division 1 Men’s Poll on February 13. The Mavericks schedule can be found here.
Lemay has played in 23 of the team’s 26 games, has scored one goal and recorded eight assists. He had 27 shots on goal and has blocked 15 shots. Scott Wheeler ranked him as #13 among Capitals prospects.
Mitchell Gibson – Goaltender
Gibson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft with the 124th pick overall. He is a senior at Harvard University.
Photo: Harvard University
Going into February, the Harvard Crimson were 15-5-1 overall and 13-3-0 in their conference, the ECAC. Gibson had a record of 5-2-1.
Harvard played #2 ranked Quinnipiac on February 3 and lost 3-0. Gibson made 22 saves in 24 chances. Quinnipiac scored their third goal in an empty net situation after Gibson was pulled in favor of an extra attacker.
On Monday February 6, they faced Boston College in the semi-finals of the Beanpot Bowl and beat them 4-3 in overtime. Gibson made 45 saves out of 48 chances to earn the win. Harvard had blown a two-goal lead during the last 4:14 of regulation but they pulled off the win in overtime.
On February 10, they played Dartmouth College on the road and won 6-3. Gibson made 16 saves in 19 chances.
On Monday February 13, they played Northeastern in the Finals of the Beanpot Bowl and fell 3-2 in the shootout. Gibson made several great saves during the game. The Beanpot Finals was a game where several members of the team were unable to play due to injury.
HE DID IT AGAIN
GIBBBBBYYYYYYYYY
WHAT A SAVE ON THE BREAKAWAY #GoCrimson | #OneCrimson pic.twitter.com/Dg66rWsVkO
— Harvard Men’s Hockey (@HarvardMHockey) February 14, 2023
Gibson currently has a record of 11-5-2. He has made 475 saves and has given up 42 goals for a save percentage of .919 (tied for 16th in NCAA). His goals against average is 2.29 (20th in the NCAA).
On February 15, the Hockey Commissioners Association named Mitchell Gibson (Harvard) and Yaniv Perets (Quinnipiac) semifinalists for the 2023 Mike Richter Award, annually given to the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA Division I men’s college hockey.
Gibson and Perets Named Richter Award Semifinalists (ecachockey.com)
The Harvard Crimson’s remaining schedule includes Union College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, St Laurence University, and Clarkson University before concluding their regular season.
Harvard is now 17-6-2 overall and 14-4-0 in their conference, the ECAC. The Harvard Crimson were rated #9 in the USCHO Division 1 Men’s Poll on February 13. The Crimson schedule can be found here.
Chase Clark – Goaltender
Clark was drafted in the sixth round (#183 overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He is a freshman at Quinnipiac University.
Going into February, the Quinnipiac Bobcats were 18-1-3 overall and 12-0-0 within their conference, the ECAC.
The Bobcats beat Harvard University and Mitchell Gibson 3-0. Clark did not get into that game at all.
On February 10, they beat Clarkson University on the road 3-0. The next day they beat St. Lawrence 5-0 in another road game. Clark did not get into either game.
During the remainder of February, the Bobcats’ future opponents include Yale, Brown, Union, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Quinnipiac is now 24-3-3 overall and 16-2-0 within their conference, the ECAC. The Quinnipiac schedule can be found here. Quinnipiac was rated #1 in the USCHO Division 1 Men’s Poll on February 13.
By Diane Doyle
From a pure hockey standpoint I wonder if they would have been better off playing in juniors? Not getting enough games.
It’s a good question. I’ve noticed a recent shift in the Capitals draft strategy, with more focus on the college ranks. We have the most prospects in the college ranks right now, compared to recent years.
Part of it is due to the excellent work done by Danny Brooks, who knows the college game/players. Where they develop best is another question, which I feel is not that easy to answer.
I don’t know that you are ever going to get a complete answer. I think it really comes down to the individual as much as to the college, coach, system, conference, or position. Hopefully, they are not ending up like some college basketball stars graduating and still reading at a third grade level. If they study well and pursue productive majors, they might end up in the pro ranks feeling more secure. On the other hand, if college is just Animal House, then it’s a waste of early years.
I have read young player after player in the ECHL or AHL talking about the big adjustment of their life outside of the rink and team — living on their own, getting settled, often learning the language. The articles make me believe that to many life in the pros is as hard as or maybe harder than work in the pros. Which system would prepare them the best?
Johnson losing playing time to younger players (freshmen) is not a good sign.
Johnson losing playing time to anyone is not a good sign, given no games played since December.