Image [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0ec0ed23-18fd-44fa-ab22-60425dbf1d24.jpeg] Last Sunday afternoon, the NCAA revealed the bracket of 16 teams that will play for the College Hockey National Championship. Of the 16 teams that made it, 4 of them have prospects that belong to the Chicago Blackhawks organization [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news/blackhawks-are-well-represented-in-ncaa-tournament#:~:text=Seven%20Chicago%20Blackhawks%20prospects%20will,will%20take%20on%20Ohio%20State.]. Seven total Chicago drafted players are on those four teams. Going into the tournament, which begins on Thursday, there is a lot to learn about the players who will represent the Hawks. Each of them has a diverse set of skills that could lead to them being in the NHL one day. Here are the seven Chicago Blackhawks in the tournament and a little bit about them: John Mustard - Providence Providence forward John Mustard was a third-round pick (67th overall) by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft out of the Waterloo Blackhawks organization. Mustard's freshman season saw him play a depth role in Providence. He was good at it and had a role on a team that made it this far. Mustard scored seven goals and had 13 assists for 20 points in 36 games played. His ceiling in the NHL is probably a middle-six forward who can provide what a team needs in terms of depth. There is a long way for him to go in his college career, however, before anyone can accurately assess what he may become. Connor Kelly - Providence Connor Kelly, a defenseman at Providence, was drafted in the seventh round (204th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. He is a steady defensive defenseman who has sacrificed offense in college to defend. In 2024-25, Kelly has one goal and three assists for four points in 36 games played. If Providence wants to win, they must get good play out of Kelly as he will matchup against some high-end offensive talent. Taige Harding - Providence Taige Harding, like Connor Kelly, is more of a defensive defenseman on Providence. He was also drafted in the 2021 NHL Draft, but he went in the third round (91st overall). Harding has put up better numbers in 2024-25 as he has 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points. If he can bring a little bit of offense and continue to defend well, Providence may have a chance with some of these elder skaters. Aidan Thompson - Denver In Aidan Thompson's third season at Denver, he has taken some huge steps. He has had some big tournament moments in the past. That includes winning the National Championship in 2024. Now, wearing an "A", Thompson has shown leadership both on and off the ice for Denver. He put up a massive season in 2024-25. Thompson enters the tournament with 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points. The 2022 third-round (90th overall) pick has developed into a really strong player. Will he be a center or wing in the NHL? That remains to be seen (assuming he makes it one day). Right now, his biggest task is leading Denver to a second straight title. Ryan Greene - Boston University Ryan Greene has developed very nicely. He was a second-round pick (57th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. Since attending Boston University, his leadership skills have developed rather quickly as he is now the captain of that program. Greene is not an offensive star, but he plays the game the right way. That will go a long way for him as he attempts to become an NHL regular in the coming years. Green currently has 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points in 36 games played. When he gets to the pro game, his hard-working style should be perfect for the bottom-six. There will be some seasoning needed in the AHL, but the NHL is a real possibility for him. He's surrounded by talent at B.U., so we'll see if they're able to reach the Frozen Four. Oliver Moore - Minnesota Oliver Moore is a former first-round pick (19th overall) from the 2023 NHL Draft. He hasn't put up the offensive numbers at Minnesota that anyone was hoping for, but he did score 12 goals and have 20 assists for 32 points in 37 games played. Moore's biggest asset is his speed. He is one of the fastest and best skaters in the organization. That will give him a shot to be a regular in the NHL on its own. If he can use his speed to create chances for himself and teammates, he'll be even more valuable. Winning seems to follow Moore around, too. Not only is Minnesota one of the best teams in this tournament, but Moore has won back-to-back Gold Medals at the World Junior Championships with Team USA. He has participated in some massive games. The Blackhawks will enjoy his speed whenever he arrives, but gaining experience in these big games coming up will be great for his development. Sam Rinzel - Minnesota The most exciting prospect that the Blackhawks have in this tournament is Sam Rinzel of Minnesota. The young defenseman was a first-round pick (25th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was a great prospect coming out of the Waterloo Blackhawks organization, but nobody expected the hype around him to match that of some other top defensemen in the organization by now. Rinzel could step into the Blackhawks' lineup the game after Minnesota is done, whenever that may be. The young blue-liner defends well and he can make plays in the offensive zone. He had 10 goals and 21 assists for 31 points in 39 games played so far this year. If Rinzel continues to play like this in the tournament, the Golden Gophers have a chance. The Blackhawks certainly have some outstanding prospects in the organization. The NCAA is about to showcase seven great ones. Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/] team site to stay updated on the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/latest-newshttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/game-dayhttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/game-day] coverage, player features [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/playershttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks/players], and more.
