SPRINGFIELD – Drafted college hockey players have the unique ability to jump to the professional ranks days after their college team’s season ends. Cale Makar did it in 2019, joining the Colorado Avalanche during the Stanley Cup Playoffs immediately following UMass hockey’s first ever trip to the Frozen Four.

The Minutemen have had their fair share of drafted players make the leap to pro hockey in recent years, but none have done so as property of the in-state NHL squad in the Boston Bruins… until this season.

Dans Locmelis, a 2022 fourth-round pick of the Bruins, put pen to paper on April 1, three days after the Minutemen’s 2024-25 season came to a close in the NCAA tournament in the loss to Western Michigan. Locmelis forwent his final two years of eligibility at UMass and began his pro journey with the AHL’s Providence Bruins on April 4.

“It’s been exciting. Definitely a different environment, guys have been super nice, so I’m enjoying it,” Locmelis said after the P-Bruins’ 1-0 overtime win over the Springfield Thunderbirds in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday.

Enjoying it might be a bit of an understatement as the Latvian forward has stepped in and flexed his offensive capabilities from the start. Locmelis tallied 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in six of the team’s final seven regular season games. In 40 games with the Minutemen this past winter, the 6-foot, 177-pounder had 33 points.

“Dans has been real good for us,” P-Bruins assistant coach Trent Whitfield said. “He runs our first power play. He’s done a great job since he’s come in. He’s produced.”

A tell-tale sign that a young player has earned the trust of his coaching staff, at any level, is power play time. Against the Thunderbirds, Locmelis was part of the five-man crew that jumped over the boards first for both of the P-Bruins’ power plays. Although unsuccessful on the man-advantage on Friday, Locmelis played on a line with Vinnie Lettieri and Matt Poitras — two guys with NHL experience — and helped generate some of the P-Bruins’ best looks during the first half of the contest.

“It’s been awesome, especially Vinnie, he’s a great guy,” Locmelis said on his experience so far with his current linemates. “Also [Poitras] too, he’s playing so good so it’s a pleasure playing with those guys.”

What made Locmelis so effective at UMass was his 200-foot game. His production undoubtedly took a step forward as a sophomore this past year, but so did his play in the defensive zone. Locmelis rarely made any glaring mistakes, rather, the left-shot skater used his high hockey-IQ to complete subtle, yet impactful plays. As far as that style of play goes at the college level, it goes even further at the pro level.

“He’s really smart,” Whitfield said. “He can get around the ice, he makes plays and he’s shown the ability to score. He’s going to be a very good player in this league and I think he’s going to have a chance to play down the road. We’ll work him in when we can and keep him here as long as we can.”

Most players feel the pace of play is much quicker going from college to pro hockey, but Locmelis mentioned he felt prepared in that aspect.

“I wouldn’t say the speed is that much faster, but guys are just older and smarter and might be more physical,” Locmelis said.

Locmelis became the second former Minuteman to don the Black and Gold this season, since former UMass captain Jake Gaudet was traded to the P-Bruins in early March from the Cleveland Monsters.

“He’s been super nice to me,” Locmelis said on Gaudet. “He texted me before I came here and he’s helped me a lot so it’s nice to have him.” 

Gaudet is currently out of the P-Bruins lineup due to an injury.

Locmelis cited that playoff intensity from the opposition has ramped up to a whole new level.

“I would say it’s more physical in the playoffs,” Locmelis said. “I just have to stick to my game and keep rolling.”

Locmelis and the rest of his new teammates rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the series against Thunderbirds and won Sunday’s decisive Game 3, 5-1, to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Locmelis notched an assist in the rubber match on Sunday in Providence, and the Bruins will next play the Charlotte Checkers in a best-of-five series.