Monday Linkorama—Catching Up

The release of INCH’s annual recruit class rankings found BU with the #2 group of freshman, just ahead of New Hampshire and just behind Wisconsin’s class, with its three NHL first round draft choices. Colin Wilson (photo) was rated the third best incoming forward, behind UW’s Kyle Turris and Wilson’s US NTDP U18 linemate, James VanRiemsdyk, a UNH recruit. Kevin Shattenkirk was the second ranked blueliner with Colby Cohen rated sixth.

Training with the stars

Jennifer Garner’s mention of BU hockey on the David Letterman Show last week caught the attention of The Boston Herald’s "Tracked Down column:"

The Kingdom” star Jennifer Garner grousing to late-night king David Letterman that Boston University’s hockey hunks refused to flirt with her when she trained with them last summer to get in shape for her flick (although one Terrier did ask if she knew Jessica Alba!)

Apparently, BU strength and conditioning guru Mike Boyle has one very nasty glare.

NTDP U-18 update

With his verbal commitment to BU for 2008 made, Vinny Saponari, the Terriers’ newest recruit for 2008, scored his first goal of the season for the NTDP U18 team. He added an assist and received the first star in a 7-2 win over Mahoning Valley. His teammate and fellow 2008 recruit David Warsofsky scored his third goal of the year in the game. Both were scoreless the next night when Mahoning Valley blanked the U18s, 1-0. Next weekend, the competition gets tougher, as Coach John Hynes’ U18s visit Orono for an exhibition game with Maine.


More Media Day comments: McCarthy readies for bigger role

During last week's Hockey East Media Day, The Lawrence Eagle talked with Coach Jack Parker about his plans for junior center John McCarthy:

Throughout his first two seasons with Boston University, Andover's John McCarthy has been primarily a fourth-line center. This season, head coach Jack Parker will look to the St. John's Prep grad for more offense, while still sticking to the things he does best." John will be given the opportunity to play in a lot more key offensive situations," Parker said. "We probably should have moved him up last year. He won't be just a penalty killer and fourth-line center like in the past. He is so good killing penalties though, we need to use him there, but he will get more offensive ice time, too."

Women’s hockey

BU’s opening game in the Nye Classic in Anchorage is still 11 days away, but Brian Durocher’s women’s varsity played its first game, beating Missasauga Jr. Chiefs, 6-2 at Walter Brown Arena. The Lady Terriers, now in their third season, were picked for fourth place in the Hockey East coaches poll. They open up next weekend in the Bauer Nike Women's Classic, meeting both North Dakota and Minnesota in St. Paul.