As the title might allude to, Brock Boeser is enjoying an enormously successful season in the NCAA with North Dakota.

Earlier this week, I talked about how the Canucks may have a gap in their forward prospects at the AHL level. Something which the franchises investment in college prospects is likely responsible for. It’s hard to argue with the results, as Boeser is blowing expectations out of the way in his freshman season.

Best of all, as the season wanes Boeser progresses further ahead of his peers without any sign of slowing down.

Boeser is currently leading UND in goals and points while posting a noteworthy +26 rating through as many games. Put in the context of his peers, Boeser is tied for 22nd in points and 11th in goals per game in the NCAA. These numbers show very respectably especially given that Boeser is competing against players often one or two years his senior. Compared to other freshmen, though, Boeser is almost in a league of his own.

Amongst freshmen, Boeser is third in points per game (1.19) behind only Winnipeg Jets prospect, Kyle Connor, and Ottawa Senators prospect, Colin White; second in goals per game (0.69), third in power play goals (5), third in game-winning goals (3) and second in SOG per game (3.65). All of these hugely positive developments, but especially the shots on goal, given that you always want your goal-scorers to put pucks on net with volume.

Every single one of these stats would be even better were Boeser not limited by a slow start. After being held pointless in his first three NCAA games, Boeser potted his first career hat-trick on October 17th against Bemidji State. He followed this up with a point in the three games thereafter, before posting doughnuts for another three.

And that’s where Boeser’s struggles end. Period.

Since then, Boeser has points in fifteen of his last sixteen games – a stretch which includes a four-game stretch with a point in each and six games of the two-point variety. He has thirteen goals and eleven assists during this hot streak, which also includes both of the game-winning goals against Western Michigan State over the January 29th-30th weekend. A feat which is especially impressive, given that Boeser’s primary linemates, Nick Schmaltz and Drake Caggiula, have missed the last four games with injuries. The Canucks first round pick has three goals and three assists in those four games.

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An equally encouraging sign is the trust Boeser has earned from his coach, as he was out there protecting a one-goal lead in the final minute of UND’s January 29th game against WMS. To his credit, Boeser successfully defended the lead and even scored an empty net goal. Earlier in the year, that’s not an opportunity Boeser is afforded.

Boeser has been named the NCHC Rookie of the Week for four separate weeks this season and was named the Rookie of the Month for January.

Boeser did have a rather listless World Juniors in January but still showed that he had the ability to generate chances. Part of it was due to his role with the team and the talent above him. I would expect next year that he will have a larger role and be expected to lead the offence.

Let’s get back to the Burnsville, MN native’s time in the NCAA this season. Watching Boeser this year, you can clearly see that Brock shoots to score every time and has a hard and accurate shot. His ability to facilitate offence elsewhere though is also evident from time to time.

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#Canucks prospect Brock Boeser’s goal from tonight was a beaut. pic.twitter.com/7hdRzU2YLK — Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) January 30, 2016

The main draw is his shot, though…

#Canucks prospect Brock Boeser’s goal from tonight – just rips it past the WMU goalie. pic.twitter.com/JhOfIHFfAJ — Ryan Biech (@ryanbiech) January 31, 2016

As things currently stand, Boeser has 18 goals – good for third in UND history among freshmen. This is good company to keep, as he’s only behind TJ Oshie (24) and Jonathan Toews (22). For clarities sake, Toews was in his draft year and Oshie in his D+1 season. It’s worth noting that in the NCAA their playoff games count towards the “season” total, so Oshie played 44 games and Toews 42 when they set their mark. That means Boeser has appeared in 18 fewer than Oshie and 16 than Toews.

Put into the context of a per game basis, Boeser’s 0.69 GPG is leaps and bounds higher than Oshie’s 0.55 GPG or Toews’ 0.52 GPG. While unlikely, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Boeser could surpass his forebearers. UND has eight games left, after all. Then there are the playoffs, including regional, frozen four and if things go well, the NCAA Championships. This would put Boeser in elite company.

I suspect Boeser will return to UND next season. The Canucks would be wise to get him under contract some point therein and have him join their team down the road. Adding a big goal scorer like Boeser could do wonders for the Canucks. Even if Boeser returns for a third year, that’s hardly the end of the world. Boeser is in a great situation which is clearly doing wonders for his development.

So where does Boeser go from here?

Well, the best way to say it is, keep doing what you are doing Brock. Seems to be working.





