While the NHL and most leagues in North America have been on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, several leagues in Europe and a handful in North America have already opened play for the 2020-21 season.

Twenty of the Penguins’ prospects or minor leaguers have played this season, primarily in Europe. Here is a weekly look at their progress:

• On Friday, forward Chase Yoder recorded his first career NCAA points by scoring two goals for Providence in a 7-3 road win against Boston University.

Yoder, 18, was a sixth-round pick (No. 170 overall) in 2020 and has yet to sign with the Penguins.

• Elsewhere in the NCAA, forward Judd Caulfield recorded his first point of the season, an assist, during North Dakota’s 3-0 road win against Colorado College on Sunday.

Caulfield, 19, was a fifth-round pick of the Penguins in 2019 (No. 145 overall) and has yet to sign with the team.

• Goaltender Joel Blomqvist claimed a bronze medal with Finland in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Junior Championship tournament on Tuesday despite not playing in any games.

When his next game will be played is uncertain. Finland’s Mestis league has postponed games until February due to coronavirus concerns. Blomqvist and defenseman Antti Palojarvi are currently members of Hermes in that league.

The 18-year-old Blomqvist was the Penguins’ second-round pick (No. 52 overall) in 2020. Palojarvi was a sixth-round pick (No. 186 overall) in 2017. Neither player has yet signed with the team.

• After missing two games due to an undisclosed injury, defenseman Jesper Lindgren scored his first goal of the season for MODO, which defeated Vasby, 3-2, in Sweden’s HockeyAllSvensken on Wednesday.

Lindgren, 23, is entering the final year of a three-year entry-level contract. The Penguins acquired him in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs in August.

• Elsewhere in the HockeyAllsvensken, goaltender Calle Clang returned from participating in the World Junior Championship tournament for Sweden and jumped into net for Kristianstads IK on Wednesday. Making 23 saves on 26 shots, he lost on the road to BIK Karlskoga, 3-2.

On Thursday, Clang followed that up by making 27 saves on 29 shots in a 3-2 overtime road win against BIK Karlskoga.

Clang, 18, was third-round pick (No. 77 overall) by the Penguins in 2020 and has yet to sign with the team.

• In the Latvian Hockey Higher League, forward Raivis Ansons scored two goals and recorded an assist for HK Zemgale in a 6-0 road victory against HS Riga on Sunday.

• The 18-year-old Ansons was a fifth-round pick (No. 149 overall) in 2020 and has yet to sign with the Penguins.

• In Finland’s Liiga, forward Valtteri Puustinen recorded an assist for HPK in a 4-2 home loss to Pelicans on Friday. Goaltender Emil Larmi made 26 saves on 29 shots in the defeat.

Defenseman Niclas Almari recorded an even 20 minutes of ice time for Pelicans.

A seventh-round pick in 2019 (No. 203 overall), Puustinen, 21, has yet to sign with the Penguins. The undrafted Larmi, 24, is in the second year of a two-year entry-level contract with the Penguins.

Almari, 22, was a fifth-round pick (No. 151 overall) in 2016 and is entering the second year of a three-year entry-level contract with the Penguins.

Statistics

Forwards and defensemen

Goaltenders

*-Current team

(All figures are through Sunday.)

Follow the Penguins all season long.

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