Bruins Prospects, Olympic Action & a Jersey Rumor Heating Up in Boston
The Bruins have a lot going on right now, both overseas and back home. From Olympic ice in Milan to NCAA rinks across the U.S., Boston’s pipeline of talent is in action-and there’s even buzz about a potential jersey throwback that could have fans talking.
Let’s break it all down.
Bruins in Milan: Olympic Update
Eight Bruins players are currently in Milan for the Men’s Olympic Hockey Tournament, and the action is heating up. Three Bruins saw the ice in day two of the tournament, though none found their way onto the scoresheet. Jeremy Swayman suited up as the backup for Team USA, who cruised to a statement win over Latvia.
Charlie McAvoy logged 18:10 of ice time for Team USA, finishing with a plus-one rating and three shots on goal. His steady presence on the blue line helped anchor a dominant U.S. performance. On the other side, Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis registered one shot in 14:18 for Latvia in a tough loss.
Elsewhere in Milan, NHL stars showed up in a big way. Tim Stützle netted two goals for Germany in a 3-1 win over Denmark, with Leon Draisaitl adding the third.
Canada shut out Czechia 5-0, with Jordan Binnington turning away all 26 shots he faced. Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old phenom, opened the scoring for the Canadians.
Switzerland also blanked France 4-0, with Timo Meier lighting the lamp twice and JJ Moser adding another. David Pastrnak, meanwhile, had a quiet outing for Czechia-just one shot on goal and a minus-two rating in over 18 minutes of ice time.
The Olympic schedule continues to roll, with both men’s and women’s games filling the calendar. Team USA is back on the ice tomorrow, facing Denmark in a matchup that could further solidify their early dominance.
Prospects Watch: NCAA and Beyond
Back in North America, the Bruins’ prospect pool is hitting the ice in full force tonight. With NCAA hockey in full swing, here’s where Bruins fans can keep tabs on the future of the franchise:
- Boston College vs. Merrimack - Lawler Rink, North Andover, MA
- Boston University vs. UNH - Whittemore Center, Durham, NH
- Minnesota vs. Notre Dame - Compton Family Ice Arena, Notre Dame, IN
- Cornell vs. RPI - Houston Fieldhouse, Troy, NY
- Harvard vs. Brown - Meehan Auditorium, Providence, RI
- Western Michigan vs. Arizona State - Lawson Ice Arena, Kalamazoo, MI
- North Dakota vs. Miami Ohio - Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, ND
And it’s not just the college kids. Bruins prospects are also skating in international and junior leagues:
- SHL U20: HV71 vs. Frölunda - Frölundaborg, Göteborg, Sweden
- USHL: Youngstown vs. Muskegon - Covelli Centre, Youngstown, OH
It’s a packed Friday night for Bruins scouts and fans alike. Keep an eye on these matchups-some of these names could be skating at TD Garden before long.
Jersey Talk: Brown Is (Maybe) Back
Now for something a little different: the Bruins might be going brown again.
Rumors are swirling about a league-wide “Hometown Remix” jersey program set to launch next season, with all 32 NHL teams expected to debut alternate sweaters. For Boston, that could mean a return to their roots-specifically, a brown base jersey, something the team hasn’t worn regularly since the early 1930s.
Trademark filings have added fuel to the fire, though nothing’s been confirmed yet. The Bruins have only featured brown in their jersey design three times since the '30s, so a full return would be a deep nod to the franchise’s heritage.
They’re not alone in the jersey shuffle. The Devils are retiring their current black alternates and are expected to unveil a new black uniform as part of the Remix program.
The Flyers, meanwhile, are rumored to be pivoting from black to gray. Carolina’s also in the mix, potentially revisiting the gray look they used in the 2021 Reverse Retro campaign-a nod to their Hartford Whalers roots.
Looking Ahead: Olympic Schedule
Here’s what’s on tap in Milan:
Today’s Games (All times ET):
- 6:10 AM (Men): Italy 2, Slovakia 3
- 10:40 AM (Women): Czechia vs. Sweden - Quarterfinal
- 10:40 AM (Men): France vs. Czechia
- 3:10 PM (Men): Canada vs. Switzerland (Re-air at 12:30 AM Saturday on USA)
- 3:10 PM (Women): USA vs. Italy
Tomorrow’s Games:
- 6:10 AM (Men): Sweden vs.
Slovakia
- 6:10 AM (Men): Germany vs.
Latvia
- 10:40 AM (Women): Canada vs.
Germany - Quarterfinal
- 10:40 AM (Men): Finland vs.
Italy
- 3:10 PM (Men): Finland vs.
Switzerland - Quarterfinal
- 3:10 PM (Men): USA vs.
Denmark
Quick Hit: World Cup of Hockey on the Horizon
In other international news, the NHL is planning to bring back the World Cup of Hockey in 2028. One major decision still looms: whether Russia and Belarus will be allowed to participate.
That call will ultimately fall to the IIHF, not the NHL. Commissioner Gary Bettman emphasized that the league will follow the lead of the international community.
IIHF President Luc Tardif added that a return of those nations would signal a more stable global landscape.
Bottom Line:
From Olympic ice to NCAA rinks and a possible jersey throwback, the Bruins have their fingerprints all over the hockey world right now. Whether you're tracking prospects, watching the Olympics, or just hoping for a brown sweater revival, there’s plenty to keep Bruins fans locked in this weekend.