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Chicago Blackhawks’ NCAA Prospects Showing Promise

By Mario Tirabassi

Nov 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville watches his team take on the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeat the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville watches his team take on the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks defeat the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks fans celebrate during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Chicago won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

Blackhawks Prospects: National Collegiate Hockey Conference

  • Blake Hillman – SO – D, University of Denver
    • 2016 sixth-round pick (173rd overall)
    • Hillman is entering his sophomore season at Denver University after an impressive freshman year in which he tallied 11 points and skated in 39 games. At 6-1 and weighing 190 pounds, Hillman possess the size to be a successful NHL defender and his puck moving abilities are what drew Chicago to him. Sharpening his skills as a sophomore will be important to see what Hillman can make of his raw talent.

    • Matt Iacopelli

    – SO – RW, Western Michigan

    2014 third-round pick (83rd overall)

    Iacopelli had big expectations put on him in his freshman season at Western Michigan and failed to reach them after a seven-point season in 27 games played. As a “late-bloomer,” Iacopelli’s standards are different those of from the usual NCAA prospect. At 22-years-old and entering his sophomore season, he has already surpassed last season’s point total. With 10 points, including nine goals, Iacopelli is showing his scoring touch is back. He has the size to succeed at the next level, but lacks the speed and skating ability of a typical top-six forward, so Iacopelli will need to continue on the scoring rate he is on to fulfill his potential.

    More from Blackhawk Up

  • Anthony Louis – SR – C, Miami (Ohio) University
    • 2013 sixth-round pick (181st overall)
    • Louis is an Illinois native and in his career with the Redhawks has skated in 109 games and tallied 87 points heading into his senior season. Through the first nine games of this season, Louis has notched 11 points with seven goals and four assists. Louis looks to be an undersized scorer who uses his skating and quickness to create his own space, but his lack of size could be too much to overcome at the NHL level.
  • Fredrik Olofsson – SO – LW, University of Nebraska-Omaha
    • 2014 fourth-round pick (98th Ooerall)
    • Another Chicago Steel alum, Olofsson is coming off an impressive first year at Nebraska-Omaha, where he tallied 17 points in 34 games. Olofsson’s potential is high as his combination of size, skating and finishing ability could make him a very good mid-line forward at the NHL level. Through the first seven games as a sophomore, Olofsson has three points.
  • Luc Snuggerud – JR – D, University of Nebraska-Omaha
    • 2014 fifth-round pick (141st overall)
    • Also playing at Nebraska-Omaha, Snuggerud is an offensive-minded defenseman who can create his own offensive space with his exceptional skating. Snuggerud is still a work in progress defensively and would benefit from filling out physically to survive in the NHL. Through two seasons with Nebraska-Omaha, he has tallied 34 points in 74 games and as a junior has five points through the first eight games of the year.
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