PROSPECTS: Five Blackhawks Prospects in 2021 NCAA Hockey Tournament

As the Blackhawks battle down the stretch for a playoff spot, it's already tournament season for five prospects as the NCAA men's hockey championship begins play on Friday.
The 16-team tournament opens with four regionals this weekend, the winner of each advancing to the Frozen Four in two weeks in Pittsburgh.
Here's who to keep an eye on in the opening rounds:

Alex Vlasic, Drew Commesso and Jake Wise - Boston University

Chicago's largest representation in the tournament comes with the Boston University Terriers, a No. 3 seed in the Albany Regional that will open against St. Cloud State on Saturday (5:30 p.m. CT - ESPNews).
Vlasic, a second-round pick in 2019, was the second-leading scorer among defensemen during his sophomore season, posting eight points (3G, 5A) in 15 games. Commesso, Chicago's second-round pick in 2020, started nine of BU's 15 games and appeared in a 10th with a 6-2-1 record overall, a 2.68 goals against average and a .924 save percentage. Wise, a 2018 third-rounder, skated in four games with one assist.

Wyatt Kaiser - Minnesota Duluth

Minnesota Duluth advanced to the second round in the Fargo Regional after their opening opponent, Michigan, was forced to withdraw on Friday due to COVID-19 protocols. The Bulldogs will face the winner of North Dakota and American International on Saturday night (5:30 p.m. CT - ESPNU).
Kaiser, Chicago's second third-round pick in last October's draft, posted 10 assists while appearing in all 26 games during his freshman season with the Bulldogs, earning an honorable mention when the All-NCHC teams were announced earlier this month.

Joshua Ess - Wisconsin

The No. 4 national ranked Badgers kick off the tournament with the opening game on Friday against Bemidji State in the Bridgeport Regional (12 p.m. CT - ESPN2).
Ess, a senior defenseman taken in the seventh round of the 2017 draft, appeared in 30 games for Wisconsin this season, posted seven points (2G, 5A) on the year, including an assist in the Big Ten championship loss to Minnesota 10 days ago.

Landon Slaggert - Notre Dame

The standout freshman and Notre Dame were set to open the tournament on Saturday in the Albany Regional against Boston College, but were forced from the competition
due to COVID-19 protocols
and saw their season end abrubtly on Thursday.
Slaggert, the Blackhawks' first third-round pick in last October's draft, posted 22 points (8G, 14A) in 25 games in his first season in South Bend, finshing the season with points in seven straight games.