Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Wednesday Linkorama

Sophomore David Warsofsky, playing for Team USA in the World Junior Championships in Regina, has a pair of assists and is +6 after three games--all wins for the American squad. In last night's 12-1 thumping of Slovakia, however, his name was only the scoresheet for a double minor penalty. Team USA takes on Canada tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET in a game that is being televised by NHL Network. Warsofsky will miss BU's first game of the second semester, this Saturday against UMass at Agganis Arena.

BU hockey's first home, The Boston Arena, now Matthews Arena and home ice of Northeastern, is the subject of a feature in today's New York Times.

Hockey on Campus’s final edition for 2009 airs online tonight from 7 PM–10 PM ET, hosted by Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara. Featured are:
•Tournament reports:
-Great Lakes Invitational (final is Michigan State vs RPI)
-Florida College Classic (final is Colorado College vs Maine)
-UConn Hockey Classic (final is UMass-Amherst vs Bentley)
-Codfish Bowl (final is Suffolk vs UMass-Boston)

•The upcoming Women’s Easton Holiday Showcase featuring #1 Mercyhurst, St. Cloud St., Providence College and Minnesota State.

• A live report from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on the World Juniors with Canada and the US on a collision course, facing off Thursday evening in their final round-robin game before entering the Medal Rounds of the competition.

•Previews of upcoming New Year's Weekend tournaments such as:
-The Badger Classic (Yale, Ferris State, Merrimack & Wisconsin)
-The Denver Cup (St. Lawrence, BC, Nebraska-Omaha &Denver)
-The Ledyard Bank Classic (Northeastern, Holy Cross, UMass-Lowell & Dartmouth)
-The Catamount Cup (Alabama-Huntsville, Mercyhurst, Minnesota-Duluth & Vermont)
-The Dodge Holiday Classic (Northern Michigan, Clarkson, Bowling Green & Minnesota)
-The Shillelagh Tournament (Colgate, Niagara, North Dakota & Notre Dame)-The Times-Argus Invitational (Potsdam, Curry, New England & Norwich)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Yip hits...Yip scores!

Brandon Yip, playing his third NHL game for the Avalanche, notched his first goal and also dished out the kind of hits that made him a fan favorite at BU.





The British Columbia native scored the first goal of the game, which Colorado lost , 4-2, to Anaheim. Post-game interview. He's the third member of the 2009 national championshp team to reach the NHL and score his first NHL goal. The Rangers' Matt Gilroy's first came on Oct. 5 and was scored against the NHL's all-time winningest goalie, Martin Brodeur.


Nashville's Colin Wilson's first NHL goal came on Oct. 21 in TD Garden against the Bruins. (Video)

David Warsofsky is on the final roster of the U.S. Junior National Team that will compete in the World Junior Championships in Regina beginning Saturday. Max Nicastro, despite strong performances in Team USA’s two exhibition games, was among the final cuts made. NHL Network is televising all the games. Full details, including the roster and game schedule are at this USA Hockey link.

During the waning minutes of Red Hot Hockey II at Madison Square Garden, BU, trailing Cornell by a goal had a two-man advantage and pulled goalie Grant Rollheiser to create a 6-on-3 advantage. BU didn't score with the 2-to-1 manpower advantage, but did tie the game on Chris Connolly goal after the first Big Red penalty expired. Coach Jack Parker's post-game discussion of the tactic had led to discussion in hockey circles of using it earlier in the game, if the opportunity--and the need--presented itself. USCHO's Scott Weighart talked further with Parker and Denver coach George Gwozdecky, whose team faced that tactic in the 2004 national championship game against Maine.

Coach Parker was one of the nominees for the Boston Globe's "Bostonian of the Year" poll. Other nominees included the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Sox pitche Tim Wakefield, singer James Taylor and head of TARP oversight Elizabeth Warren.

Looking back
The Medford Transcript caught up with native son Keith Tkachuk to talk about his 18 season in the NHL. He is one of four Medford products along with Shawn Bates, David Sacco and current Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco, to play first at BU and then in the NHL.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Warsofsky and Nicastro continue on WJC roster.

David Warsofsky and Max Nicastro survived the first round of cuts from the Jr. National Team roster on Sunday, but Vinny Saponari was among those sent home. Warsofsky served as a co-captain of team USA in its 4-2 exhibition game win over North Dakota on Sunday. Nicastro made an impression dishing out some big hits.

Brandon Yip made the scoresheet in his NHL debut Saturday against Columbus, taking a minor penalty in the Avs 5-2 win. Yip had 6:39 in ice time and wore uniform #59.

Matt Gilroy was recalled to the Rangers from Hartford after five games with the Knights.

Looking ahead
Adam Clendening netted two goals to lead the U18s past Youngstown, 9-3 on Saturday night. He now has a 6-10-16 scoring line. Matt Nieto, who had a pair the previous evening against Cedar Rapids, registered two assisted, including one on Clendening’s second goal of the evening. Nieto leads the U18s with 12-14-26 in 29 games.

Fellow recruit Charlie Coyle, who joined the U18s briefly for the Four Nations’ Cup in Finland last month, is the subject a feature piece in New England Hockey Journal that focuses as much on his leadership qualities as the skills that should make him a high NHL draft choice in June. Coyle scored his 12th goal of the season against Bridgewater Saturday night as South Shore entered the break tied for the best record in the EJHL.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Yip makes NHL debut tonight



Brandon Yip, who bookended his Terrier career by scoring the gaming-winning goal in Hockey East championship game as a freshman, against BC, and again as a senior, against UMass Lowell, is going to the Big Show. The rugged winger from British Columbia was recalled by the Colorado Avs from their AHL affiliate in Lake Erie. Yip, who had a strong training camp for the Avs, had played just six games due to a broken hand, scoring two goals. The Denver Post reports he’ll be in tonight’s lineup on the fourth line when the Avs play at Columbus.

Yip will be playing for former Terrier standout Joe Sacco, who in his first season as head coach, has the Avs tied for first place with Calgary in the NHL’s Northwest Division. It won’t however be the first time a Terrier has coach another BU alum in the NHL. When Steve Stirling, captain of the 1971 National Championship team, began his tenure as head coach of the Islanders, his roster included three ex-Terriers, goalie Rick DiPietro, center Shawn Bates, and defenseman Adiran Aucoin.

In Grand Forks, Dave Warsofsky, Vinny Saponari and Max Nicastro began mini-camp for the U.S. Junior National Team which will compete in the World Junior Championships beginning next Saturday. The team plays an exhibition today against the University of North Dakota, which will be aired tomorrow at Noon E.T. on the NHL network. The final squad will be announced next Wednesday. WJC Media Guide. NHL Network will air sixteen games of the World Juniors. Click here for the schedule.

NHL Network also will air the two Sun Life Frozen Fenway games on January 8, when BU takes on BC and the women’s teams from New Hampshire and Northeastern match up. NESN also will televise the games.
Friday, Jan. 8--Northeastern vs. New Hampshire (women), 4 p.m. ET
Friday, Jan. 8--Boston College vs. Boston University. 7:30 p.m. ET

There was a long feature yesterday in one of our favorite hockey blogs (other than The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog), the the New York Times' "Morning Skate." It's about the BU-BC rivalry and the documentary film (The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue) recently aired. As always, the blog is punctuated with music videos, including the Standells' original "Dirty Water." Nicely done, except for 1) referring to BU simply as "Boston," 2) "Kelly" instead of "Kelley" for the two legendary coaches, and 3) reporting that Tim Kelleher was BC's goalie in 2008.

The first skate was held yesterday at the hockey rink at Fenway Park. Among the group of former Boston Bruin players on the ice was former BU All American Cleon Daskalakis.

USA Today has compiled a list of the top ten sports “breakouts” since 2000 and one of them is the career for Hobey Baker winner and former BU captain Matt Gilroy. The competition includes Tom Brady, A-Rod, Phil Mickelson and thoroughbred Funny Cide. You can vote for Matt at this link. Gilroy has four assists in the four games since he was sent to AHL/Hartford by the Rangers.

Looking back

Beginning with some key NHL goals by three members of the 1995 national championship team.
Chris Drury broke a 19-game goal-scoring drought with against the Islanders on Thursday in the Rangers 5-2 win. Video. Drury also tallied the Rangers’ first goal in today’s matinee matchup with the Flyers in snowy Philadelphia.

Jay Pandolfo’s goal broke a 2-2 tie in last night’s Devil’s 4-2 win against Ottawa, which marked Martin’s Brodeur’s breaking the all-time record for most appearances by a goalie. Pando, who earned the game’s 2nd star knocked in a goalmouth feed, beating former Wisconsin goalie Brian Elliott. (video)

Mike Grier’s sixth goal of the season earned first-star honors in Buffalo’s 5-2 win against Toronto (video)

Keith Tkachuk’s scored his seventh goal of the season in St. Louis’ 6-3 win against Tampa Bay.

Looking ahead
The NTDP U18s routed Cedar Rapids, 8-1, last night in USHL play and 2010 recruit Matt Nieto had a hand in half the goals. He scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season and added a pair of assists. Fellow recruit Adam Clendening added an assist. The four-point outburst made gave Nieto the scoring leadership on the the U18s with 24 points.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Odds and Ends

Terrier coach Jack Parker was out at Williams College Sunday night to observe 2010 recruits Matt Nieto and Adam Clendening in the NTDP U18s game against the Ephmen. Neither one disappointed as both scored for the U18s and Clendening added an assist in a 6-1 win. Nieto, with three goals in his past five games, has a 10-10-20 line while Clendening stands at 3-9-12

WTBU’s Tyler Murray is looking for some answers to BU’s disappointing first semester record.

This past Monday, Flyer forward--and former UNH standout--James van Riemsdyk invited his NTDP teammates, Colby Cohen and Kevin Shattenkirk to attend the Bruins-Flyers game at TD Garden. UNH Coach Dick Umile and several Wildcat players also were JVR's guests.

Tonight's edition of Hockey On Campus will feature a visit from former BU standout Tony Amonte, who was recently inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. The program, which airs from 7-9 p.m. online, will also include conversations with BC Coach Jerry York, College Hockey News editor Adam Wodon and Elliott Olshansky, discussing the Hobey Watch.

Looking back
Former Terrier standout Shawn Bates has returned from across the pond to sign on with the AHL Manchester Monarchs. After spending last season in Finland and beginning this season in Austria, the Melrose native finds himself much closer to home and immediately becomes the elder statesman on a young Monarchs club. A highlight of Bates' __ year NHL career was his game-winning goal on a penalty shot against Curtis Joseph in the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Matt Gilroy has three assists in three games since being sent down to Hartford. Reports from New York say the Rangers are looking for more physical play from the Hobey Baker Award winner.

Colin Wilson scored his first goal for the Milwaukee Admirals last Friday, having recently returned to the lineup following a groin injury. He began the season with Nashville where he had a goal and an assist in ten games prior to the injury. Two nights later, Wilson showed he could handle himself when the gloves are dropped in this confrontation with Toronto's Darryl Boyce.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

3rd period rally pushes Rensselaer past BU


BU’s first semester schedule ended on a down note as a 3-2 lead over Rensselaer after two periods turned into a 5-3 loss that included an empty-net goal for the Engineers. The Terriers scored twice shorthanded—by Captain Kevin Shattenkirk and Assistant Captain Nick Bonino—sandwiched around Zach Cohen’s (photo) team-leading sixth goal on a power play. Six consecutive BU penalties—including Eric Gryba’s ten-minute misconduct—led to five Rensselaer power plays in the second and early third periods. BU killed all five, but the effort left the Terriers “legless” according to Coach Jack Parker in the final ten minutes when the Engineers tied the score and then took the lead. BU outshot its guests 35-25, but lost the faceoff battle, 33-19.


• Comprehensive boxscore

• The Boston Hockey Blog recap and grading the Terriers

• Post-game comments: Parker and Shattenkirk
• WTBU: Post-game analysis and slideshow


Holy Toledo!
Mike Eruzione, co-captain of the 1976-77 Terriers and captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team, visited the new Lucas County Arena in Toledo, home of the ECHL Walleye and recalled his days playing for the Toledo Goaldiggers in the old IHL. BU 2nd team All-American Bryan Ewing currently plays for the Walleye.

Looking back
Peter Yetten, a defensemen on BU’s first NCAA championship team and later the head football coach at Bentley College for 18 seasons until he retired in 2008, was named 58th recipient of the George C. Carens Award on Thursday night at the New England Football Writers’ Captains and Awards Banquet. Yetten, a three-sport standout at BU, also was quarterback on BU’s 1969 Pasadena Bowl football team that featured future NFLers Bruce Taylor, Fred Barry and Pat Hughes.

Looking ahead
2010 recruit Charlie Coyle scored his 11th goal of the season in the South Shore Kings' 4-3 overtime win over the Jersey Hitmen. Coyle is third in the EJHL in scoring with 40 points in 25 games.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Game Day BU vs. Rensselaer

Terriers play their final game of first semester against the Engineers in a series that dates back to the 1952-53 season. Last year, BU dominated the Engineers, 6-2, in the opening round of the Denver Cup tournament as Jason Lawrence scored two power play goals and four other Terriers added singles.

Tonight’s game, which will feature the fifth annual Teddybear Toss for charity (details) during the second intermission, is being broadcast on NESN and will not be available on All Access.

• From GoTerriers.com: Game notes, Gametracker and WZZN Radio's Webcast.

• USCHO Weekly Hockey East Column

• Troy Record preview

WTBU: preview and five things to watch for

• The Boston Hockey Blog: Live blog

Looking back
He’s the answer to the trivia question, “What Terrier, other than Matt Gilroy, wore a uniform number above 40?” It was Jason Tapp, a netminder from 1998 to 2002. Tapp went on to a seven-year minor league and overseas career that included stops in The Netherlands, Quad City, Knoxville, Kalamazoo and Corpus Christi, where he was team MVP. Retired from the pro ranks, Tapp is a volunteer assistant coach at Union College working with the Dutchmen’s goalies.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Troubles for Terriers past, present and future


Former BU captain and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy was demoted by the Rangers to their AHL team in Hartford following Wednesday’s overtime loss against Chicago. Gilroy, who played in all of New York’s 30 games this season (4-2-6 +2), has struggled lately but one Rangers observer voiced disagreement with the move.

But it was a tougher week for a current Terrier and a future one.

The Daily Free Press, previewing tomorrow’s game against Rensselaer, reported that Joe Pereira, enjoying his best season at BU, underwent hernia surgery and isn’t expected back until the Jan. 8 game at Fenway Park vs. BC.

The news was much worse for 2010 recruit Yasin Cissé, (USHL Images photo ) who had been on fire for the Des Moines Bucs. In the Bucs’ most recent game he suffered a severed tendon when, according to U.S. Hockey Report, “he took an opponent’s skate blade on the ankle - right between the tongue and shinpad - during Saturday's loss to Cedar Rapids.” Cisse will miss the remainder of the USHL season. While a full recovery is expected, USHR noted, "It remains to be seen whether this will push back his entry to Boston University. Right now, he's a senior in high school."




Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Midweek Linkorama--UPDATED


The Daily Free Press looks at the on-ice evolution of fan favorite and assistant captain Eric Gryba, who will be the subject of our next Q&A.

When a national champion struggles the following season, the media notices. The New York Times and ESPN.com both examine BU’s problems finding a winning combination.

WTBU offers its weekly Hockey East power rankings.

Hockey On Campus will be streaming live from 7-10 p.m. ET tonight with hosts Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara speaking with a variety of guests from the college hockey world.


Looking ahead
Charlie Coyle, who received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting, was featured on the cover of the Greater Boston edition of the December ESPN RISE Magazine, which focuses on high school athletes. It traces his on-ice growth from his freshman year at Weymouth H.S. when his breakaway goal upset Malden Catholic in the state tournament to his current status as one of the EJHL's top scorers with the South Shore Kings.

Fellow 2010 recruit Matt Nieto is tied for the scoring lead on the NTDP U18s with 9 goals and 10 assists. He and BC recruit Bill Arnold have become a potent duo for the U18s who play at Union College on Friday. Teammate Adam Clendening, the lone defenseman in BU's 2010 recruit class, has a 2-8-10 line.


Sahir Gill’s hometown newspaper reports on his verbal commitment to BU.

The ScoutingReport, looking at potential NHL draft choices now in the USHL, posted a profile of Des Moines winger and 2010 recruit Yasin Cissé. According to the report, the 6-3, 208 Quebecois is “still growing into his frame.” The report goes on to call him a “disruptive forechecker” who “owns a powerful shot with a very quick release whether he was in open ice or traffic” and has “a knack for getting the puck on net.” Cisse currently has 13 goals in 18 games for the Bucs, tied for third best in the USHL.


Looking back
Prior to Saturday’s game against BC, the four Terriers who starred for the gold-medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic team --Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Jack O'Callahan and Dave Silk--were honored as that achievement approaches its 30th anniversary .


The Tennessean reports that Colin Wilson may be turning the corner from the injuries that have slowed his first preseason.


Now in his fourth ECHL season, former All Hockey East defenseman Bryan Miller leads the Alaska Aces blueliners in scoring with 12 points.



Since being traded from Charlotte to Gwinnett in the ECHL’s South Division, Jason Lawrence has two goals and an assist in five games.



Brian McGuirk has a 4-7-11 scoring line in 16 games with the Kalamazoo Wings while Gregg Johnson has six goals and eight assists in 24 games for the South Carolina Stingrays.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Third-period explosion sinks BU

Terriers scored first in last night’s matchup with BC, but BC owned the third period with three goals to take a 4-1 win at Agganis Arena. Nick Bonino scored BU’s only goal in the loss, which ended the 40-game streak in which BU had not been defeated when Bonino scored a goal or assist. BC’s John Muse turned away 30 shots to earn the game’s first star. With a 1-0 lead early in the second period, BU had a 5-on-3 power play but failed to capitalize.

• GoTerriers.com recap
• USCHO recap and slideshow
• Boston Herald recap
• The Boston Hockey Blog: Jack Parker post-game comments, Bonino and Eric Gryba post-game comments, grading the Terriers.
• WTBU recap and Parker post-game press conference (audio)
• Comprehensive boxscore
• Video highlights

Looking back
Rick DiPietro made his first rehab start for AHL Bridgeport, playing for 40 minutes against Springfield. After stopping all shots in the first period, he gave up three goals in the second in a 7-3 Bridgeport win.

Jay Pandolfo returned to the Devils lineup after a shoulder injury had sidelined him for six weeks and played a strong two-way game, contributing an assist in NJ’s 4-3 shootout win over Detroit.

Keith Tkachuk’s sixth goal of the seaon helped St. Louis to a 5-4 shootout win over the LA Kings.

Chris Bourque may be feeling like a ping-pong ball after being claimed by the Washington Caps from Pittsburgh. Just prior to the beginning of the season, the Pens had claimed Bourque on waivers from Washington which tried to send its YEAR DRAFT CHOICE to the AHL. Bourque finally made it to Hershey, by way of Pittsburgh.

Bill O’Neill, a blueliner on BU’s 1978 national championship team and the 28-year coach of Salem State has his team off to a strong start in Division 3 play with a 5-1-1 record including a 3-0 shutout of top-ranked St. Norbert’s in an early-season tournament. Dan Smolinsky, younger brother of BU 2009 grad Steve Smolinsky, is a freshman defenseman for the Vikings.

Looking ahead
• Another game, another goal for 2010 recruit Yasin Cissé, who notched his 12th goal of the season and an assist for Des Moines in the Bucs' 8-2 loss to Cedar Rapids.

Matt Nieto had a hand in both NTDP U18 goals during regulation--a power play goal and an assist--in a 3-2 shootout win over Tri-City in USHL play.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Game Day-- BU vs. BC

The week that began with the Wall Street Journal's front-page feature on the long rivalry between the Terriers and Eagles --and their coaches--concludes with the 247th renewal of college hockey's top rivalry. The Eagles visit Agganis tonight for a 7 p.m. start.

Coach Jack Parker has made several changes to his forward lines. Joe Pereira, whose shot off the crossbar nearly won last night's game in OT, rejoins Chris Connolly and Nick Bonino, but the unit now is BU's second line. The Zach Cohen-Corey Trivino-Vinny Saponari combo that delivered two goals last night moves up to become the first line. Luke Popko centers Andrew Glass and Alex Chiasson on the third line, while Ross Gaudett, who notched his third goal of the season against Vermont, centers Justin Courtnall and Victor Saponari. No changes on defense, while Kieran Millan gets the start in goal.

Video highlights of last night's 3-3 tie with Vermont

• Links to WWZN radio Webcast, Gametracker and All-Access video Webcast

Live blogging from The Boston Hockey Blog

Friday, December 04, 2009

Late goal →OT →Tie...again


The pattern is getting all-t00-familiar. Four times in a row BU has come back to tie a game up with a third-period goal. Three of the four ended as a tie after overtime. Only the thriller against Harvard became a win.

Tonight’s hero was Corey Trivino who banged home a rebound after Vinny Saponari clanged a post with just over five minutes in regulations to tie up the always-tough Catamounts at 3 apiece. The Terriers nearly duplicated the results of the Harvard game when Colby Cohen’s shot off the goalie hit iron with seconds left in the third period and again in overtime when Joe Pereira rang one off the crossbar.

Assistant captain Eric Gryba and sophomore Ross Gaudet (photo courtesy of WTBU) had the other goals for BU which rallied from 2-0 and then 3-1 deficits for the second consecutive game. Grant Rollheiser stop 21 of 24 shots, while UVM's Rob Madore made 37 saves.

Once again, BU outshot its opponent by a wide margin, but needed a rally to tie, leaving Coach Jack Parker less-than-pleased with his squad’s effort.

• Boston Hockey Blog recap, grades and slideshow
• GoTerriers.com recap
• WTBU recap
• USCHO recap
• Comprehensive boxscore
Parker: "We are not a hungry hockey team." (audio)

Looking ahead
In USHL action, three BU 2010 recruits found the back of the net.

Chicago winger Sahir Gill’s second power play goal of the game gave the Steel a 4-3 lead early in the final stanza, but Youngstown scored three times in the final 6 minutes for 6-4 win. Gill, who also had an assist, is Chicago’s top scorer with an 8-18-26 line and is fifth in the league in scoring.

Yasin Cissé continues to have a hot stick for Des Moines, also bagging a pair of goals and an assist in the Bucs' 5-1 win against Indiana. His 12 goals are tied four fourth best in the league.

Left wing Matt Nieto scored and unassisted goal in the second period to get the U18s on the board, but a late Omaha goal gave the Lancers a 3-2 win.



Tonight's lineup

The Boston Hockey Blog is live-blogging from Agganis once again.

Tonight’s lines, defense pairings and starting goalie

Connolly-Bonino-Chiasson
Z.Cohen-Trivino-Saponari
Glass-Megan-Pereira
Gaudet-Popko-Gilroy

C.Cohen-Shattenkirk
Warsofsky-Gryba
Escobedo-Nicastro

Rollheiser

Gameday—The Cats came back


BU enters a crucial weekend, if it is to get back into the conference race, with four points on the line in two home games. First up is Vermont, BU’s opponent in last year’s Frozen Four semifinal. A year ago, the Catamounts also became first team in 16 years to sweep at weekend series at BU.

Saturday night, BU and BC continue their rivalry with the 247th renewal of The Battle of Comm. Ave . It’ll be the first of four games with Eagles this season including the Jan. 8 outdoor tilt at Fenway Park.
With the exception of defenseman Ryan Ruikka, the Terriers are at full strength. Coach Jack Parker is expected to keep freshman Alex Chiasson on the Terriers’ top line with Chris Connolly and Nick Bonino, a move he had made during last weekend’s tie with Cornell.

Earlier this week, the Hockey East coaches held a media teleconference. For Jack Parker's comments click for pdf or audio. More coaches' comments.

Sophomore David Warsofsky (photo), who earlier in the week made Hockey East’s top performers list for his efforts against Harvard and Cornell and was invited to U.S. Junior National team camp, made The Hockey News’ Hot List.

• College Hockey News' Tale of the Tape comparison
• USCHO’s weekly Hockey East column and Vermont seaon preview
• New England Hockey Journal’s weekly Hockey East column

Looking back
Carl Corazzini, captain of the 200-01 Terriers, who began the season with the AHL Peoria Riverman, has been added to the roster of the Pelicans in the Finnish SM league.

Mike Grier scored a goal and an assist in the Sabres' 6-2 thrashing of Montreal last night.

2006-07 captain Sean Sullivan had been missing the scoresheet after Phoenix returned him to the AHL San Antonio but last night Sully registered three assists in the Rampage’s 6-3 win over Houston.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

From Comm. Ave. to Wall Street

The nearly 50-year rivalry between BU’s Jack Parker and BC’s Jerry York, well-known throughout the college hockey world, took a step up to the national news level with today’s Wall Street Journal feature article writtten by BU alumnus Neil E. Boudette. His front-page article, which also quotes Nick Bonino and Bernie Corbett, provides some new ammunition for fans who contend that college sports’ best rivalry is BU-BC hockey—and not Ohio State-Michigan football or Duke-North Carolina basketball.

► Continuing the local rivlary theme, internet radio program Hockey On Campus returns to its regular day and time tonight (7 p.m. ET) with guests including Matt Fults, producer of the BU-BC video, "The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue." Also Minnesota-Duluth Coach Scott Sandelin and Norwich Coach Mike McShane.

► Three current Terriers—sophomores Vinny Saponari and David Warsofsky and freshman Max Nicastro—have been named to the 29-man pre-tournament training camp roster for the U.S. Junior National Team beginning December 17 in Grand Forks. The squad will be pared to 22 for the World Junior Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan, later in the month. Forty-three Terriers have played in the WJCs since 1981. The first was goalie Cleon Daskalakis, while Colin Wilson and Kevin Shattenkirk skated for the 2009 U.S. team. Jack Parker (1996) and John Hynes (2008) have coached Team U.S.A. in the WJCs.

► WTBU has posted its weekly Hockey East Power Rankings. The Terrier, now ranked 9th, will have a chance to move up this weekend with a pair of home games against Vermont and BC.

► CHN’s Avash Kalra looks at whether the past two games will turn the Terriers’ season around.

► An Ithaca Journal follow-up on the BU-Cornell game has Warsofsky commenting on his dustup with Cornell's Sean Whitney, his former teammate at Cushing Prep.

Looking back
Tony Amonte, a member of the 1989 and 1990 WJC teams, was inducted in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame at a dinner in Boston last night. Following his two seasons as a Terrier, climaxed by reaching the national championship game in 1991, the Hingham native accumulated exactly 900 points (416 goals and 484 assists) in a 16 year pro career. •USA Hockey news release. •Video Q&A with Amonte.

Brandon Yip’s pro debut with the AHL Lake Erie Monsters was delayed nearly two months by a broken hand, but the former Hockey East Rookie of the Year made the most of his first start, scoring in the Monsters’ 6-2 win over Grand Rapids last night. Interview (scroll down for video interview)

Ryan Whitney, whose brother Sean scored Cornell’s first goal in Saturday’s Red Hot Hockey matchup, registered his third goal of the season for Anaheim, beating former UMass goalie Jon Quick, but the Ducks fell, 4-3, to the Kings. Whitney played in the 2002 and 2003 WJCs.

Rick DiPietro, recovering from hip and knee problems, return to the ice Saturday in Bridgeport as he makes a rehab start in goal for the Islanders’ AHL club, the Sound Tigers, against Springfield. DiPietro played for Team USA in the 2000 and 2001 WJCs.
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