Game Day--Terriers vs. Merrimack

The Merrimack Warriors, long the Hockey East doormat, are now anything but. The Terriers' opponent for a home-and-home pair this weekend, turned the corner last season and have continued their strong play this season with 2-2-2 record that includes a win over BC. After finishing six the in conference last season, Merrimack is ranked 18th in the INCH power rankings, led by last season's Hockey East Rookie-of-the-Year, Stephane Da Costa (3-5-8) and junior goalie Joe Canata (2.21, .936)

• USCHO's Dave Hendrickson analyzes the Warriors' emergence as a force to contend with in Hockey East.

Last season, BU won two of three regular season games and then two of three Hockey East quarter final games.

The Daily Free Press reports that Coach Jack Parker has shaken up the forward lines for tonight's game. Matt Nieto joins Charlie Coyle and Joe Pereira on the top line, with junior Chris Connoly joining classmate Corey Trivino and Alex Chiasson on the second line. Ross Gaudet (photo) moves up to the third line with Sahir Gill and Wade Megan. Ben Rosen, normally a defenseman, will center Andrew Glass and Ryan Santana. Kieran Millan starts in goal

• GoTerriers.com preview with links to game notes, game tracker, WZZN Radio Web cast, All-Access Web cast.

• College Hockey News' Tale of the Tape

• Hockey East Online weekend preview
• Fanhouse blogger Bruce Ciskie writes about the return to national prominence of BU and Notre Dame, two teams that fell far short of expectations last season .
• The Duluth News Tribune reports on the Connolly brothers- Jack and Chris—respectively of the top-ranked Terriers and second-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

• The Boston Hockey Blog's Hockey East power rankings and live in-game blogging

•WTBU Sports GameCenter (with live blog) and Hockey East power rankings.

• The Boston Herald traces how two seasons of injuries have not deterred redshirt sophomore Ryan Ruikka from nailing down a regular spot on BU's blueline.

• Eagle Tribune preview of home-and-home series with Merrimack

Looking ahead
With the World Junior A Challenge completing preliminary round play, International Scouting Services reported on five players to watch on each of the participating teams. BU 2011 recruit Cason Hohmann, the USHL/Cedar Rapids center playing for Team USA who combines a strong skillset and work ethic earned an impressive assessment:

dynamic player ... explosive offensive talent ... great
playmaking instincts ... excellent work ethic ... plays bigger than his size ... accurate wrist shot ... tremendous passer ... works hard in all three zones ... sees the ice well

In Wednesday’s second round game against Sweden, Hohmann scored a power play goal and added an assist in the U.S. Selects’s 5-1 win, which earned the Americans a berth in Saturday’s semifinal game. 2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored a goal for Canada East in its 6-2 first-round win over Sweden . Tonight, he assisted on the game-winner in a 4-3 win against Russia, sending Canada East to the semifinals.

Wednesday was national signing day and 2011 recruit Alexx Privitera of the Muskegon Lumberjacks was among those signing a national letter of intent.

Looking back

Former BU All-American defenseman Tom Poti scored his first goal of the season in the Caps' 6-3 win over Tampa Bay.

Mike Grier, who recently played his 1,000th NHL game, tied the Rangers-Sabres game with seconds left in the second period, but New York won, 3-2 in overtime, as Matt Gilroy returned to the Rangers' lineup. Chris Drury remains out of the lineup due to a hand injury.

Brandon Yip scored his 4th goal of the season in Colorado's 4-2 loss to Calgary. David Van der Gulik tore an MCL in his knee and will be out indefinitely. As a result, the Terrier quartet that has skated in recent Avalanche games is down to a trio. Avs lost two forwards in the game, so could Zach Cohen be a future call-up?

Women's team

The BU women's team, unbeaten in nine games since an opening night loss to North Dakota, take on Vermont for a pair of games at Walter Brown Arena Friday afternoon and again on Saturday. Once again, they'll be without the three players competing for the Canadian National Team in the Four Nations Tournament in Newfoundland. The Daily Free Press reported on Jennifer Wakefield's four assists in Canada's 8-1 cakewalk over Sweden.

• Daily Free Press preview of Vermont series.

• GoTerriers.com preview with game notes, game tracker, WTBU broadcast and video interview with Coach Brian Durocher.