There were seven New York Rangers prospects in action on Friday night, and the surprise of the night came from the Rangers’ 2024 first-round pick E. J. Emery of North Dakota. The young blueliner only recorded one assist in 31 games last year, but scored twice, including the game-winning goal, to help eighth-ranked North Dakota knock off Brody Lamb and his 14th-ranked Minnesota 5-2 in non-conference play.
Emery, who missed North Dakota’s season opener due to injury, looked outstanding in his second game of the season. Emery, who started the game on the third defensive pairing, got his first career NCAA goal at 11:09 of the first period.
With his team trailing 2-1, Emery received a pass that he settled and fired a snapshot from the right faceoff circle that beat the Minnesota goalie through the five-hole.
The sophomore defenseman tied the game up, and it stayed that way until the third period, when Emery would score his second goal of the game. With his team controlling the puck in the offensive zone, a wide-open Emery snuck down the right side and fired a shot past the Minnesota goalie to give his team the lead for good.
Last season, Emery couldn’t get a shot on goal as he was just terrible offensively. But the player we saw Friday night was excellent as he went 2-0-2 on three shots with a +2, his first NCAA game-winning goal, and a minor for slashing.
In one game, Emery set new career highs in scoring by doubling his season totals from last year.
This was supposed to be a rivalry game between two long-time rivals, but North Dakota just dominated the second and third periods. They held Minnesota to just six shots total over the two periods as they improved to 3-0.
Brody Lamb was a non-factor for Minnesota as he was scoreless on two shots with a -2 and minors for slashing and hooking. The same two teams will play on Saturday night as they swap home ice for the game.
Drew Fortescue had a primary assist as his ninth-ranked Boston College Eagles had little trouble with RPI knocking them off 5-1 in non-conference play. Fortescue earned his first assist of the season on the Eagles’ fourth goal to improve his season totals to 2-1-3.
Ty Henricks picked up his first point of the season with a secondary assist as his second-ranked Western Michigan Broncos defeated UMass-Lowell 2-1 in non-conference play. Henricks got his assist on the Broncos’ first goal of the game.
Artem Gonchar had a primary assist on his Sudbury Wolves second goal as they rallied from down 2-0 to defeat the Soo Greyhounds 4-2 in OHL play. For Gonchar, it was his second straight game with an assist as he played a stronger game than he had been playing over his first six games.
Even better for Gonchar was this was his first OHL game which he wound up as a “plus” player as recording “minuses” in his first seven games.
Sean Barnhill was scoreless as his fourth-ranked Michigan Spartans upset top-ranked Boston University on their home ice in non-conference play. Barnhill was the third pair right side defender, as all he recorded was an interference minor.
Malcom Spence had a secondary assist as his third-ranked Michigan Wolverines blew out Robert Morris 10-2 in non-conference play. Spence had his assist on the Wolverines’ ninth goal. Spence is the leading scorer among Rangers prospects with a 3-4-7 mark in six games.
Raoul Boilard was scoreless as his Shawinigan Cataractes dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the Gatineau Olympiques in QMJHL play. Boilard was credited with just one shot on goal.
Did Not Play
Rasmus Larsson was a healthy scratch for his Robert Morris Colonials.
