Trio’s Husky production
If you want to see the college game’s version of Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, look no further than Northeastern’s stellar duo of junior center Adam Gaudette and senior right winger Dylan Sikura.
Braintree’s Gaudette was the national scoring leader after Saturday’s play, his 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) one ahead of Denver’s Henrik Borgstrom, while Sikura (14 goals, 20 assists) was part of a four-way tie for third.
Gaudette and Sikura have 197 points in 83 games played together; NU is 4725-11 in those games. While coach Jim Madigan split them up on Saturday night, following a Friday 3-0 loss at UMass, they were together on the power play and on some shifts in the third period of a 5-0 home thrashing of the Minutemen.
The third member of their triumvirate was largely responsible for that win. Senior captain Nolan Stevens had his second career hat trick as part of a four-point night that gave him 102 for his career. He became the 51st Northeastern player in triple digits, joining older brother John, (26-80-106 from 2013-17), Sikura (126) and Gaudette (118), among others.
“I think we’re going good right now. I think we’ve been together for about a month now. Me and Gaud played together all last year and most of the year before. We know each other and we know each other’s tendencies,” Sikura said. “Obviously, with Noles, he’s a big guy. He’s big down low. He’s skilled.
“Off ice, we’ve been roommates now for four years. Everything is clicking for us.”
Madigan proved an apt hockey chemist when he strung the trio together.
“They’re dynamic together,” Madigan said. “They work off each other well. Sikura is more cerebral, while Gaudette is more pressuring the puck and playing with a physical edge. They find each other. They are in their third season together. They came together when we went on that run to the Hockey East championship in 2015-16. Back then, we had the two Stevens and (Zach) AstonReese playing together and (Kevin) Roy was injured. It was the perfect fit ... they scored some big goals for us. They kind of gave us believability.”
Quiz of the week
Canada won gold at the recent world juniors, but had only one skater named to the tournament All-Star team. Who? Answer below.
Slap shots
Vermont junior forward Liam Coughlin of South Boston and Catholic Memorial notched his first career hat trick in a 6-3 win over UMass-Lowell on Saturday. The former Herald Dream Teamer was drafted by Edmonton in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL draft, but Chicago has since acquired his rights . . . .
Union senior forward Ryan Scarfo of North Chelmsford was big in wins against Yale and Brown, scoring once against the Bulldogs with an assist and tallying twice against the Bears. Scarfo has 15 goals and 12 assists . . . .
Merrimack junior forward Katelyn Rae is sizzling with 10 goals in the last six games. Rae paces the Warriors with 18 goals . . . .
Boston University senior Victoria Bach potted her fourth hat trick of the season in a 3-3 tie with NU and became the program record-holder with her 93rd career lamp-lighter, passing ex-Terrier and Canadian national team member Sarah Lefort . . . .
Boston College senior Toni Ann Miano had a pair of goals Saturday in a 2-1 win against Vermont to add to her career record for goals by an Eagles defensemen with 33. Senior goalie Katie Burt of Lynn posted win No. 113 and is one shy of the NCAA record held by Minnesota’s Noora Raty . . . .
Hat trick efforts turned in by Curry’s Zach White, Saint Anselm’s Jake Grade, Assumption senior captain Tommy Mahoney of Braintree, and former Marblehead High standout Brittany Smith for Sacred Heart. Holy Cross had two hats in the same game on Friday night, by Emily Lissner of Woburn and Katie MacCuaig . . . .
Rare scoreless tie Saturday between Salem State and Fitchburg State. Vikings goalie Jason Pucciarelli made 28 saves while the Falcons’ Kirby Saari had 47.
Quiz answer
UMass freshman defenseman Cale Makar.
Drop the puck!