While the madness on the hardwood reaches its second weekend, the madness of the ice is just getting underway when the puck drops on Thursday. Sixteen of the nation’s best teams will battle it out on the ice for a spot in this year’s Frozen Four. All over the ice in every game, there will be future NHL stars and players trying to cement their name in their program’s history books. These four players are game-changers who will be key to their team’s success in their hopes to win a national championship.
James Hagens, Center, Boston College
A projected top-five pick in the upcoming NHL draft, Hagens hasn’t lit up the college level like many of the other top picks before him, but the NCAA Tournament might be time for Hagens to have his coming out party. Hagens has still averaged a point per game with 35 points in 35 games playing on the Eagles top line alongside Ryan Leonard (Capitals Draft Pick) and Gabe Perrault (Rangers Draft Pick), as well as putting up nine points in seven games in the World Junior Championship for the United States. Hagens’ smooth skating is what sets him apart from the rest of the players of this tournament, his ability to blow by defenders and set up his playmaking abilities from there is a reason why he will be a top pick in this year’s draft. Standing 5’11” and weighing 176 lbs Hagens does a great job of not getting pushed around and is strong on the puck. He has all the tools of a future NHL superstar, and hopefully, this tournament will allow him to show his potential as the top-seeded Eagles look to win a national championship.
Trey Augustine, Goalie, Michigan State
The backstopper for the number two seed and the Big Ten Champions, Augustine is a proven winner. A two-time gold medalist with the United States at the World Juniors, Augustine’s sophomore campaign has been spectacular. Putting up a .927 save percentage, with a 2.01 GAA, Augustine finished the season with a 19-6-4 record; this was good enough to have Augustine named as a finalist for the Richter Award given to the nation’s top goalie. Drafted in the second round of 2023 by the Detroit Red Wings, Augustine is not the biggest goalie but what he lacks in height he makes up with great fundamentals and technical ability. Being in the right positioning on almost every shot, it takes as close to a perfect shot, tip, or screen to get the puck past the Spartans netminder. Augustine will look to continue this magical season as the second-seeded Spartans take on Cornell on Thursday night in Toldeo.
Zeev Buium, Defenseman, Denver
The twelfth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild has been the best offensive-defenseman in college hockey over the past two years and looks to continue his dominance in what will probably be his last season in college hockey. The sophomore out of southern California has been electrifying since he stepped on the ice for the Pioneers; his great skating ability allows him to lead the rush up the ice and allows him to control the game in both the offensive and defensive zone. Buium’s skating ability allows him to skate with any forwards, and his quick change of direction allows him to stay positioned well creating turnovers and creating rush opportunities for the Pioneers. His puck-handling abilities are on another level as he calmly controls the puck and can set up his teammates which he has done many times this season. Buium has the ceiling of being a Quinn Hughes type of player in the future, but for now, he is focused on one last ride with the Pioneers as they look to win back-to-back national championships.
Aiden Fink, Winger, Penn State
Fink has been one of the most underrated superstars in the entire nation, leading the Nittany Lions to the NCAA tournament after a disappointing year for the program last year. As a freshman, Fink averaged a point per game, but as a sophomore, Fink has taken off scoring 52 points in 37 games to lead the Nittany Lions and third in all of the NCAA. A seventh-round pick by the Nashville Predators in 2023, Fink has proven all of the teams that passed up on him wrong as he has dominated college hockey putting up over 20 goals and assists showing a balance of scoring and passing. Although not being the biggest guy at 5’10”, 161 lbs., he can do almost anything on the ice. It seems as if he is always making the right play even if they are not the plays showing up on the scoresheet, he can carry the puck on the rush, receive the pass on the rush, or get in the puck in deep and chase. Fink is the key to the success of the Nittany Lions and look for him to light up the scoreboard Friday night in the Allentown Regional.
Lenny Talks Sports 