The first Devils prospect to 20 goals this season is David Rozsival. Let’s talk about him.
First to 20 Goals
After a slow start, winger David Rozsival has been explosive in the past thirty or so games, totaling 20 goals and 11 assists in 44 contests this season. It’s been a serious rise up the ranks for Rozsival. Chosen by the Devils in the 6th round in 2025, the 18-year-old has been productive for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.
Interestingly, Nestor Quixtan of Sportskeeda wrote an article in June highlighting
five sleeper picks of the 2025 NHL draft. The Devils have two players on his list, Gustav Hillstrom and David Rozsival.
Much has been written about Gustav Hillstrom’s rise this year and his dominance for the Brynas IF U20 team, as well as his troubles finding ice time for the stacked-at-center big club in the SHL. Rozsival is an interesting case. A hard-forechecker with decent skating skills, Rozsival is a prototypical bottom six winger. This season has been a big step for both Hillstrom and Rozsival in their offensive games. Time will tell, but it’s not hard to imagine Hillstrom and Rozsival making up 2/3rds of a bottom six line some day in the future.
Comets Win Two of Three
On Saturday night, Goaltender Jakub Malek played brilliantly on Saturday against Laval, but the Utica netminder would lose the game in a shootout 2-1, stopping 20 of 21 shots in the contest. Defenseman Calen Addison scored the lone goal for Utica, his 3rd, assisted by Kyle Criscuolo and Brian Halonen.
Sunday would prove to be better. Nico Daws shut the door, defeating Laval in the revenge game 3-1, stopping 29 of 30. The offense was lead by winger Angus Crookshank and center Kyle Criscuolo with a goal and assist each. Prospects Shane LaChance, Topias Vilen, and Matyas Melovosky each put up an assist. Mike Hardman scored the insurance tally, his sixth of the season. All goals were scored on the power play.
Friday yielded a similarly good result, a 2-1 win for Utica. Ethan Edwards opened the scoring in the 3rd period with his ninth of the season, assisted by Topias Vilen and Cam Squires. Red hot Marc McLaughlin scored the game-winner, his 3rd in his third game back. Brian Halonen and Calen Addison got the assists. Nico Daws earned the win, stopping 16 of 17 in a strong team-defensive effort.
Here’s a look at the Edwards blast.
Overall, it was a great weekend for Utica’s two netminders.
Your Take
I’ll leave you with this moment of zen featuring Georgian figure skaters doing a Mortal Kombat routine at the Olympics. The whole video is worth your time for the nostalgia alone.
Lastly, a big congratulations to USA Hockey for winning gold for the first time since I was still in the crib. Where I grew up, hockey was a bit of a fringe sport, not really gaining traction until I was in high school when guys like Mike Modano were hitting their prime. It’s amazing how far the program has come since then and our very own Jack Hughes is the international face of it. It’s awesome. So, if your first impulse upon reading this is to post some political talking point you’ve regurgitated from whatever your preferred propaganda source may be, please don’t be a jerk and go outside and touch grass instead — or snow — or ice, or whatever.
“But, James,” you say. “My political take is super smart. I swear.”
I promise you. It’s not. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on. New and interesting political takes are roughly 1 in 187 billion. That’s either science or something I completely made up. Either way, yours are probably not the one. To be fair, neither are mine. That’s why I post about hockey, not politics.
“What about (insert rant here that has nothing to do with hockey)?”
Sorry strawman. Still terrible.
“You don’t understand,” you wail. “Aliens are eating my brain! I must speak up!”
That explains a lot, but still no. Also, you should probably get that looked at.
Look, I know I’m just a writer who’s not supposed to have an opinion, but comments are supposed to be on topic for a reason. Some people have been waiting for this moment in USA hockey for 46 years. Let them enjoy the win. There hasn’t been a lot of winning in Devilsland this season. It’s nice to celebrate something for a change. No one likes the guy who crashes the party when everyone is having fun, pees in the punch bowl, then kicks your puppy. Don’t be that guy.
