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Terriers ranked #3
The first of the major preseason polls is out. The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll ranks defending national champion BU third, behind Miami and Denver and ahead of early season opponents Michigan and Notre Dame. The Terriers, however, received the second most first place votes, 12, just one behind Denver’s 13. Full poll.

Right wing Alex Chiasson (photo), drafted in the second round of the 2009 draft by Dallas, is featured in an ESPN.com story about freshman athletes adjusting to college. The Quebec native, who played in Des Moines and Lake Placid the past two seasons, discusses his transition to campus life and his comfort level with teammates who won college hockey’s top prize last year:

“The juniors and seniors take care of us kind of like parents. They're great examples for us."

Looking ahead
2011 recruit Cason Hohmann scored his first USHL goal as the Cedar Rapids Roughriders won the USHL Fall Classic.

2010 recruit Charlie Coyle’s 6-point performance for the South Shore Kings earned him the EJHL Award for top rookie in the season’s first week. In Sunday’s Junior Bruins Shootout, he had a hand in five of the Kings six goals (1-4-5), bringing his totals to 5-10-15 in 5 games, tops in the EJHL.

Looking back
Former BU Associate Head Coach David Quinn, who assumed the top job for the AHL Lake Erie Monsters this past summer, earned his first pro coaching victory on Saturday, a 2-1 win against Rochester. The Monsters’ first goal was a one-timer by former Terrier Kevin Schaeffer, who had been signed by the ECHL Charlotte Checkers, but was invited to the Lake Erie camp. The game-winner was scored by former BC captain Brock Bradford.

Chris Bourque has earned a spot on the Washington Caps' opening game roster. Bourque, who had 73 points for AHL affiliate Hershey last season and made eight starts for the Caps, clinched his roster spot scoring a goal in Washington’s 4-3 win against the Rangers on Sunday. The Caps open the season in Boston on Thursday night.

2006-07 All-American goalie John Curry will begin his third pro season with AHL Wilkes Barre-Scranton after being assigned by the Penguins. He’ll find a familiar face in the Baby Pens’ defense corps, Brian Strait, who is in his rookie season. John Hynes, the former NTDP head coach is also in Wilkes Barre as an assistant coach.

David Vander Gulik was assigned by the Flames to its new AHL affiliate, the Abbottsford Heat where had a goal (video) and two assists in the team’s exhibition opener on Saturday, a 5-2 win against Manitoba. Vandy, who appeared in six NHL games with the Flames last season, scored his second goal the next night as the Heat completed a sweep of the Moose, 6-4, and earned first-star honors.