With various leagues around the globe already well into their respective seasons, the NCAA is often overlooked thanks to its later-than-most opening date. Yet, nearly a month after the European and Canadian Hockey League, college hockey is almost upon us, and most schools are gearing up for their first games this weekend.

After the graduation of Ty Mueller and the loss of rights from Jacob Truscott, Jack Malone, and Matthew Thiessen, the Vancouver Canucks have just seven representatives to keep tabs on in the NCAA this season: Tom Willander, Aku Koskenvuo, Jackson Dorrington, Aiden Celebrini, Daimon Gardner, Matthew Perkins, and Jackson Kunz.

Here’s a quick primer on each prospect and their upcoming games.

The Boston University Terriers will open their season this Saturday, October 5, against Holy Cross. Like last year, the Canucks have two prospects on the roster, both of whom are expected to enjoy increased roles.

The Canucks’ 2023 first-round pick Tom Willander is expected to play a pivotal role this season. With Lane Hutson joining the Montreal Canadiens, the learner’s permit has been lifted, and the keys to the BU defence now lie solely with Willander.

Known for his aggressive play, active stick, and high-pedigreed skating ability, Willander finished his freshman year fourth among NCAA defenders with a solid plus-28 rating in 38 games. With an already polished defensive game, all eyes will be focused on his offensive skills and whether he can elevate that side of his game. Whether it’s his decision-making or puck handling in general, there is work to be done should he aim to live up to the hype that currently surrounds his name.

Of course, forming an offensive touch is not the be-all and end-all of his future potential. After all, blossoming into a sturdy and mobile shutdown defender remains firmly on the table. Yet, if he can polish his game with the puck, his stock could reach new heights. Canucks fans can expect him to be on the radar for pro conversations come the Spring. On top of that, a spot on Team Sweden’s World Junior team is a lock.

Meanwhile, Aiden Celebrini had a quieter freshman season, playing primarily as a seventh defenceman on BU’s corps. This year, he’ll be looking to carve out a more permanent spot on BU’s blue line, especially with only three right-shot defenders on the roster. He’ll likely see third-pair and penalty-kill duties but should aim to improve on his one-goal, six-point performance from last season.

As a sixth-round pick, the road is much longer for Celebrini, and there’s a strong chance he’ll return for a third year after this.

After a disappointing six-point freshman year at Clarkson University, Daimon Gardner hit the NCAA summer portal to transfer to St. Cloud State, a team with higher expectations and hopefully a more defined role for him.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 200 pounds, Gardner offers tons of intrigue, but last year’s debut was slightly underwhelming. The hope is that a move to a stronger program can squeeze out further potential, and he can work toward establishing his name within the Canucks system.

St. Cloud will play an exhibition match on Saturday, October 5, and officially open their season against St. Thomas the following day (October 6).

Matthew Perkins will kick off his sophomore campaign with the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday, October 5, against Bemidji State.

Perkins played all over the lineup as a freshman, contributing 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 35 games. This year, he’ll look to build on that foundation. Perkins stood out at Canucks Development Camp this summer, showing off his never-quit motor and underrated playmaking abilities. Of course, he’s still considered a longshot prospect, but he should be given a good look by his Bulldogs this year.

We’ll have to wait longer for Aku Koskenvuo to hit the ice. Harvard doesn’t open its season until Saturday, October 19, with an exhibition against BU, followed by the official season opener against Dartmouth on November 1.

This season, Koskenvuo is expected to take over as Harvard’s starting goaltender after sharing the crease for the past two years. Despite pedestrian “on paper” numbers last year, Koskenvuo’s play was often better than the stats indicated, and he finished with a .910 save percentage and two shutouts over 17 starts. He was often the Crimson’s top performer in the games he did start, and if he can duplicate that play and combine it with volume in games, we could be looking at pro conversations in a few months.

Jackson Dorrington and Northeastern will play an exhibition game against Quinnipiac on Sunday, October 6, before their season officially kicks off against Stonehill the following weekend.

Dorrington, who made significant strides last season, is expected to take on an even bigger role this year and will serve as an alternate captain for the Huskies. Dorrington posted a career-high 12 points last season and averaged 21 minutes per game, serving as one of the team’s go-to defenders. Although known for his defensive acumen, he can hit the highlight reel from time to time.

In a “Northeastern Hockey Blog” article, head coach Jerry Keefe had some glowing comments regarding the Canucks’ prospect.

“The strides he [Dorrington] made from freshman year to end of sophomore year were tremendous for me. And now even seeing him early in practice, he just looks like a really confident player, he looks like a man out there. After losing Hunter McDonald, Jackson Dorrington is going to step into that type of role and he’s ready for it, no question. He has a quiet confidence to him, but he’s a guy who has made tremendous strides and I am excited for him this year.”

Jackson Kunz will wear an “A” for North Dakota this season, taking on a leadership role for the Fighting Hawks. Coming off a career-best season in which he recorded 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) in 37 games, Kunz has established himself as a key piece of North Dakota’s power play, using his size – 6-foot-3, 227 pounds – to create traffic in front of the net.

He’ll suit up in an exhibition against Augustana on Saturday, October 5, before North Dakota opens the season against Providence on October 12. This season will be crucial for Kunz, as his rights with the Canucks expire next summer.

The NCAA season is shaping up to be an exciting one for the Canucks’ prospect pool. With Tom Willander, Jackson Dorrington, Jackson Kunz and Aku Koskenvuo all on the radars for pro promotions, we will certainly have no shortage of storylines to keep tabs on.