Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield finishes NCAA regular season in style
Caufield #Caufield
Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield scored two goals Saturday afternoon to lead the University of Wisconsin to a 2-1 win over Michigan State, clinching the regular-season championship in the NCAA Big Ten Conference.
The Badgers finish the regular season with an overall record of 19-8-1, including 17-6-1 in the Big Ten for their first conference championship in 21 years.
Caufield finishes the season with 25-21-46 totals in 28 games after scoring 18 goals in his last 15 games. He leads the NCAA in goals and points.
The Canadiens selected the 5-foot-7, 165-pound right-winger in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft after he had scored 72 goals in 64 games with the USA Hockey National Development Team Program’s U-18 squad, breaking the team’s single-season record of 55 set by Auston Matthews, now with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Caufield’s 126 goals in 123 career games with the U-18 team broke the previous record of 104 set by Phil Kessel, now with the Arizona Coyotes.
As a freshman last season at Wisconsin, Caufield had 19-17-36 totals in 36 games.
Video: Week 7 roundup of the NHL’s North Division (cbc.ca)
Week 7 roundup of the NHL’s North Division
SHARE
SHARE
TWEET
SHARE
Click to expand
UP NEXT
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin said last month that he expects the 20-year-old Caufield to turn pro after his college season ends. The NCAA’s final Frozen Four tournament is slated for April 8-10 in Pittsburgh. Caufield could join the Canadiens or the AHL’s Laval Rocket after Wisconsin’s season ends.
“First of all, it’s going to depend where we’re at at the deadline whenever he’s done,” Bergevin said last month, noting the April 12 NHL trade deadline and the fact the salary cap could also come into play. “There’s also the 14 days (COVID-19) quarantine.
“He has progressed a lot in the last year, but it’s too early to tell you exactly what the plans are,” the GM added. “But expect him to turn pro after this year. Now, where can he play once the season’s over? That remains to be seen.”
scowan@postmedia.com
twitter.com/StuCowan1