Thursday delivered a rare double feature, with the NCAA tournament and CHL playoffs opening on the same night. It also delivered a huge night for seven New York Rangers prospects, who combined for five goals and eight assists. Two earned first‑star honors, one earned a second star, and another somehow missed the list despite a 1‑1‑2 line and four shots.
Battaglia, Aspinall and Flint (OHL)
The weekly ForeverBlueshirts debate focused on Nathan Aspinall as MVP, Artem Gonchar as the biggest surprise, and Liam Greentree as a future captain. Missing from that conversation was Jacob Battaglia, who made his own statement in Flint’s 8–1 win in Game 1 of their Western Conference series.
Battaglia earned first‑star honors with a dominant 2‑4‑6 performance as Flint overwhelmed the Owen Sound Attack. Flint also shook up its lines, moving Aspinall back to first‑line left wing and promoting Battaglia to second‑line center.
Flint cashed in early. Battaglia opened the scoring with a power‑play goal at 8:04, with Aspinall picking up the secondary assist.
🚨Jacob Battaglia
🍏Jimmy Lombardi
🍏Nathan Aspinall pic.twitter.com/Ep1GNK3ARn— x – Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) March 26, 2026
Aspinall struck next at 13:13, scoring another power‑play goal with Battaglia earning the secondary assist for a 2–0 lead. That goal stood as the winner.
🚨Nathan Aspinall
🍏Kevin He
🍏Jacob Battaglia pic.twitter.com/A28j5aA1kp— x – Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) March 26, 2026
Flint made it 3–0 at 15:17, again on the power play. Battaglia set up the goal with the primary assist, and Aspinall added the secondary.
🚨Jimmy Lombardi
🍏Jacob Battaglia
🍏Nathan Aspinall pic.twitter.com/IgKmWAcdSh— x – Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) March 26, 2026
Battaglia added another assist on Flint’s fourth goal late in the first as the Firebirds closed the period up 4–0. The second period stayed quiet until Battaglia scored his second of the night at 16:05, giving him five points on Flint’s first five goals.
🚨Jacob Battaglia
🍏Kevin He
🍏Chris Thibodeau pic.twitter.com/uIzKkfg3HD— x – Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) March 27, 2026
Aspinall added his fourth point in the third when he set up Flint’s sixth goal with a selfless feed that showed why he’s the Rangers’ prospect MVP.
🚨Darian Anderson
🍏Nathan Aspinall
🍏Jimmy Lombardi pic.twitter.com/llbm2XVnk3— x – Flint Firebirds (@FlintFirebirds) March 27, 2026
Battaglia capped his six‑point night with another power‑play goal at 13:27, Flint’s fourth of the game.
Battaglia has always been a playoff performer. Last year with Kingston, he posted 3‑13‑16 in 16 games with points in 15 of them.
Flint leads the series 1–0. Game 2 is Saturday in Flint.
Raoul Boilard and Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Raoul Boilard earned first‑star honors in Cape Breton’s 3–2 win over Newfoundland in Game 1 of their QMJHL series. He tied the game in the second period, attacking the slot and finishing a perfect feed from Eliot Litalien.
BOILARD BABYYYY@FloHockey | #DefendTheIsland pic.twitter.com/z9LNKvqj2Z
— Cape Breton Eagles (@CBEHockey) March 26, 2026
In the third, Boilard set up the winner with a pass to Caden Kelly, who drove the left side and scored at 10:52. That goal gave Cape Breton its first and only lead.
Boilard finished with 1‑1‑2, five shots, a +2, and a 10‑7 faceoff line as the Eagles stole home‑ice advantage. Game 2 is Friday in Newfoundland.
Liam Greentree and Windsor (OHL)
Liam Greentree deserved a star for his 1‑1‑2 night in Windsor’s 4–0 win over Guelph. His highlight‑reel third‑period goal was named the OHL @deltabingo Play of the Night.
Liam Greentree that was GROSS🫢
The #NYR prospect dangled before finishing one-handed to earn the @deltabingo_ Play of the Night!@SpitsHockey | #OHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/UxPDebIEgb
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 27, 2026
Greentree also earned a power‑play assist when Jakub Fibigr buried the rebound of his slapshot for Windsor’s third goal. Windsor cruised to a 1–0 series lead. Game 2 is Saturday in Windsor.
E.J. Emery and North Dakota (NCAA)
E.J. Emery recorded the lone assist on Cody Croal’s empty‑net goal as second‑ranked North Dakota held off Merrimack 3–0. Emery won’t get much credit, but his blocked shot created the chance. The puck bounced to Croal, who fired it into the empty net to seal the win.
North Dakota advances to face Quinnipiac on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Sean Barnhill and Michigan State (NCAA)
Freshman defenseman Sean Barnhill stayed in his usual third‑pair role as third‑ranked Michigan State edged No. 13 UConn 2–1 in the Worcester Regional. Barnhill had one shot in each of the first and third periods and played a steady, quiet game.
Michigan State meets Wisconsin on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Evan Passmore and Barrie (OHL)
Evan Passmore and the Barrie Colts handled Niagara 4–1 in Game 1 of their OHL series. Passmore was scoreless on three shots in a quiet outing.
Game 2 is Saturday in Barrie.
