A forward for 2012

According to Chris Heisenberg’s recruiting site, BU has added a third forward to its 2012 recruit class. Mike Moran, a 6-1, 200, left-shot, was captain at The Taft School last season, leading the Rhinos in goals with 13 and co-leading in scoring with 23 points. A Marshfield, Mass., native who is a nephew of Terrier Associate Head Coach Mike Bavis, Moran will spend this season in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees. He’s the second 2012 recruit playing in the BCHL this year. Marc Hetnik, Jr., is a blueliner for the Vernon Vipers.

►Earlier this summer when the first of the predictions of the top teams for 2011-12 were published, both Inside College Hockey and The College Hockey Blog foresaw a #7 ranking for the Terriers. Now, College Hockey News has posted its projections with BU slotted at a heady #2 behind Miami University.

Looking ahead
Terrier 2013 recruit Matt Grzelcyk, a defenseman on the NTDP U18s received a strong assessment on the United States of Hockey blog, written by former USA Hockey communications director Rick Peters.

Some might look at Grzelcyk’s size and write him off as a legitimate defensive prospect. To do that would be foolish. Despite coming in at 5-9, 168, Grzelcyk’s ability on the ice will turn more than a few heads this year.

His poise with the puck in all zones separates him from some of his fellow 1994s. Not only does he have poise, but also skills. His puck skills might be unrivaled on this blue line. I was told by someone who watches Grzelcyk regularly that there’s a whole bunch we haven’t even seen from his bag of tricks.

If he can build more strength to go along with his solid skating and puck-moving abilities, he’s going to be a player rising up draft boards rapidly. Skill may just outweigh size in this instance. Grzelyck is committed to Boston University. Terrier fans familiar with Adam Clendening’s game might get a little overexcited when they see what Grzelyck can do.

Looking back
Keith Tkachuk will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on December 12 in Chicago. He’ll become the eighth Terrier inducted, joining 1956 & 1960 Olympian Dick Rodenheiser, former BU head coach Jack Kelley, 1980 Olympians Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan and Dave Silk, and Tony Amonte.

Women’s team
In a preseason poll of Hockey East coaches, the Terriers were picked to finish first in the conference. BU earned six of eight first place votes with BC, picked for second, receiving the other two. Head coach Brian Durocher previewed the season in Hockey East’s first teleconference of the season.

In USCHO’s first national poll, the Terriers are ranked second behind Wisconsin, the team that beat BU in last Spring’s NCAA title game.