Looking ahead

BU’s newest 2010 recruit Garrett Noonan (#3 in photo, credit Graeme Corbett), told the Vernon Morning Star, ““Growing up I’ve always wanted to play for BU, and in the Beanpot.” Commenting on the commitment from the Vipers’ left-shot defenseman, Coach Jack Parker said, “We’re excited to have him in our fold. The kid has figured out the game in all three zones, and not only does he understand his position, but he understands every position out there.”

BU's defense corps for 2010-11 now lines up with junior Dave Warsofsky, sophomores Max Nicastro, Sean Escobedo, Ben Rosen and Ryan Ruikka, and freshmen Adam Clendening, Patrick MacGregor and Noonan.

2010 recruit Charlie Coyle returned from the NHL combine in Toronto where he interviewed with 27 of 30 NHL teams and “finished in the top 10 in several categories during fitness training,” is expected to be a late first-round or early second round choice in the June draft.

The Newburyport News reports that BU has strong interest in power forward Derek Freeman, who led Newburyport H.S. to the Mass. Div. 2 title game this past season. Freeman, a senior who attended the BU Hockey Showcase last summer, will play a year or two of junior. Terrier Associate Head Coach Mike Bavis has arranged for the 6-3, 215 wing to try out in June with the USHL Cedar Rapids Roughriders where 2011 recruit Cason Hohmann just completed a successful rookie season.

Looking back
Chris Bourque is the Hershey Bears leading playoff scorers as the Washington Caps’ AHL affiliate enters the Calder Cup finals against Texas beginning this Thursday. Bourque has a 7-16-23 line in 15 post-season games after registering 70 points in 49 regular-season games. The Bears are seeking to repeat as AHL champs.

USHR reported that former BU All-American Shawn McEachern has left his position on the UMass-Lowell coaching staff to become head coach and athletic director at The Rivers School in Weston, Mass. A 14-year NHL veteran with 256 career goals, McEachern was a Hobey Baker finalist in 1991 when he scored 82 points to lead BU to the NCAA championshp game. He was inducted into the BU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.

McEachern told USHR: "I've always wanted to be a head coach, and, as I went around to different boarding schools while working as an assistant, I noticed that it was a good lifestyle the coaches at those schools were leading.

"In my time, when I was playing at Matignon, the Catholic Conference was big around here. Now, it's the preps with Nobles, Belmont Hill, etc. And at Rivers we're going to be competing in the same field. Everyone is Division 1 now. We want to win, and we want to be there at the end."

The Tampa Bay Lightning Web site looks back at the battle with cancer that cut short the pro career of John Cullen, BU’s all-time scoring leader with 241 points and a 1995 Hall of Fame inductee. Now fully recovered, Cullen reflects on his battle and the ups and downs since his playing days ended.