Each season, we try to keep you up to date on the Kings prospects throughout the handful of leagues they compete in all across the globe. This year, look for a renewed interest in the college ranks, primarily because the organization’s top selection at last year’s NHL Draft – center Alex Turcotte – is expected to get plenty of TV time on national cable stations.
With the college hockey schedule kicking off in earnest this weekend, LA has prospects at four schools considered to be among the 25 best in the country.
A little moving around in this week's college hockey rankings (coming off a light schedule with the "real" opening weekend kicking off in a few days)…
Kings prospects included here:
7. St. Cloud (Hrenak)
13. Penn State (Hults)
16. Wisconsin (Turcotte)
N/R UMass Lowell (Lee) https://t.co/e24EgHUiS2— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) October 8, 2019
Turcotte and his Wisconsin Badgers will be at top-10 ranked Boston College this Friday at 4pm PST, for a game that will be televised on NESN-Plus (DirecTV 628-1, Dish 9573). After posting losing seasons four of the last five years, coach Tony Granato’s team is believed to be much improved this time out, with a roster that includes three first rounders: Turcotte, Cole Caufield (MTL 2019), and defenseman K’Andre Miller (NYR 2018).
Wearing No. 15, Turcotte will line up at center on the Badgers top line, flanked by Caufield and Linus Weisbacch (BUF 2017 selection).
Boston College has plenty of their own star power, including three first round picks from 2019: Matthew Boldy (MIN), Spencer Knight (FLA) and Alex Newhook (COL).
In total, the contest will feature 24 NHL draft picks, 15 USNTDP players, the 2019 AJHL and BCHL MVPs, and a projected 2020 NHL first rounder (Dylan Holloway).
If that’s not enough, Wisconsin also has Brock Caufield (Cole’s brother, who came to LA Kings Dev Camp this past summer) and Dominick Mersch (little bro to former Kings prospect, Michael Mersch).
There will be a free stream of the game available here.
For live game coverage, follow along with Todd Milewski @ToddMilewski.
At the opposite end of the Draft spectrum, the Kings seventh round selection – their last of 2019 – forward Andre Lee and his UMass Lowell RiverHawks will also be on TV this Friday. Their game against No. 1 ranked Minnesota Duluth is set to air on FSN North at 5pm PST (DirecTV 668, Dish 436).
Last weekend, Lee scored his first NCAA goal.
LA Kings prospect @Andrelee71 with his first NCAA goal in a 5-1 @RiverHawkHockey win today pic.twitter.com/IigzjDPfhE
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) October 6, 2019
At Development Camp in June, Lee had a strong showing skating alongside a few dozen of the Kings top prospects. He also has an interesting backstory, growing up in Sweden and then playing last year in the USHL before heading off to college. Standing 6-foot-4, he looks to have some pretty smooth hands, especially around the goal crease. We’ll be keeping a close eye on him as the season develops.
Photo: Rick Lam / Wisconsin Badgers
RELATED CONTENT:
Development Camp: Chatting it Up with LA Kings Prospects on Day 1
Hear from @Turcotte__71@Tobiasbjornfot@Arthur_Kaliyev @samuelfagemo @Andrelee71 and more
READ https://t.co/xbpfyqNskl pic.twitter.com/PNk7dwo7hf
— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) June 26, 2019
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