The NCAA Division I hockey tournament got underway Friday. Hockey junkies will note that Jon Quick, the goalie who made 33 saves in Massachusetts’ 1-0 overtime victory over Clarkson, is a Kings prospect. And so is Jeff Zatkoff, who made 43 saves for Miami (Ohio) in a 2-1 victory over New Hampshire.

The future of young goalies is famously difficult to predict, but privately, Kings management is thrilled with Quick’s progress. He was taken by the Kings in the third round of the 2005 draft, back when Dave Taylor and Al Murray were calling the shots, but the new management team likes what it sees. And Zatkoff, taken in the third round last year, has made huge strides this season as well. With Quick, Zatkoff and Jonathan Bernier in the fold, the Kings should have a bright future in goal…right?

Of particular interest to Kings fans will be tonight’s game between Michigan and North Dakota. That’s because as soon as Michigan is eliminated, Jack Johnson will be free to sign a NHL contract. Some hope remains that Johnson will be in a Kings uniform before the end of this season, but that will depend on two things: how soon Michigan is eliminated and how well contract negotiations go. There’s a salary cap, of course, but there are bonuses that need to be negotiated.

The first round of the NCAA tournament wasn’t kind to the Kings’ communications staff. Stephanie Krauss (New Hampshire) and budding radio star Mike Kalinowski (St. Cloud State) watched their teams bow out in the first round.

Finally, there’s a story in the Boston Globe about Kings prospect Brian Boyle, who has shifted to playing defense for Boston College.