Tate Pritchard has scored what proved to be the game-winners in both of the Sioux City Musketeers' games at the 2024 USHL Fall Classic and figures to be one of the most interesting re-entry players in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Just as he did on Wednesday, Tate Pritchard scored the Sioux City Musketeers' second goal of the game. And just like Wednesday, the tally proved to be the game-winner.
With the Musketeers on the penalty kill late in the second period on Thursday, Pritchard saw the Youngstown Phantoms turn the puck over in their own zone, and he took the opportunity to get out in front of the play.
Landen Gunderson carried the puck over the blueline before dishing a pass to a wide-open Pritchard, who carried the puck with a ton of speed the other way before scoring on a wrister.
At the time, the Musketeers were clinging to a 1-0 lead. Sioux City took a 2-0 lead into the locker room after the first 40 minutes and held on despite the Phantons closing the gap midway through the third period.
Pritchard, who recorded 29 points in 57 games for Sioux City last year, needed seven games to record his first two goals and was primarily limited to a bottom-six role on a deep Musketeers squad. Flash forward a season later, and the Minnesota State commit already has two goals while skating as the team's top right winger.
Pritchard also collected the primary helper on Giacomo Martino's goal just 34 seconds into the Musketeers' season-opener on Wednesday, giving him three points through his first two games.
The 19-year-old was omitted from Central Scouting's rankings in his first year as an NHL Draft-eligible player for the 2024 NHL Draft. However, he entered this season as one of the most intriguing re-entry candidates for next year's draft, given how well he performed down the stretch last year combined with his projected growth for the 2024-25 season.
Added, Pritchard, listed at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, has good size and plays with a ton of speed and skill. So far, so good for the young forward, who has helped guide the Sioux City Musketeers to a perfect 2-0 start to the season.