Help for the D on the way?

As the Terriers approach a weekend pair of conference games—home and home with UMass—Coach Jack Parker indicated that junior defenseman Ryan Ruikka (photo) may rejoin the BU lineup after missing the first four games with a broken foot. On Inside Terrier Hockey he also told Bernie Corbett that reshirt freshman forward Yasin Cisse (concussion) is not yet ready for game action.

This week’s edition of Inside Terrier Hockey also has Corbett interviewing two former Terriers—L.A. Kings Director of Pro Scouting Steve Greeley and Friends of BU Hockey Chairman Paul Giandomenico, a sparkplug forward on BU’s 1971 and 1972 national champions.

● More in the injured Terriers from The Daily Free Press.
● WTBU Sports assesses trends after four game
● USCHO’s This Week in Hockey East
● UMass weekend preview

Looking back
This is alumni weekend at BU and among the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards will be former Terrier Travis Roy, a motivational speaker and activist who established the Travis Roy Foundation after suffering a paralyzing injury playing in his first hockey game as a BU freshman. Roy will receive the Young Alumni Award.

Former Terrier captain and Olympic gold medalist Jack O’Callahan will be inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on January 29. The Charlestown, Mass., native spent five seasons patrolling the Chiacgo Blackhawks’ blueline

Kevin Shattenkirk assisted on two Blues’ goals in a 3-0 win against Vancouver.

Syracuse Crunch forward Nick Bonino, scoring a goal and an assist, helped make it a miserable night for an ex-teammate, Zach Cohen, and former coach, David Quinn, as Syracuse crushed Lake Erie, 7-0.

Looking ahead
2013 recruits Brendan Collier (Malden Catholic) and Sam Kurker (St. John’s Prep) have been named to the Mass High School All-Star Team that is headed to the 2011 Bauer National Invitational Tournament in New Hope, Minn. Nov. 4-6.

Collier, Kurker, Dan O’Regan, and Kevin Duane all received B ratings in NHL Central Scouting’s latest listing of players to watch for the 2012 draft. 2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon also received a B rating in an earlier listing.

2012 recruit Mike Moran continues to wield a hot stick for the BCHL Victoria Grizzlies, scoring twice and adding three helpers in a 7-4 win against Cowichan on Wednesday. The Marshfield, Mass., native has 10 goals in 11 games since joining the Grizzlies early in the season and an 11-8-19 scoring line overall. Grizz Roar reports:

Mike Moran - Has nine points in his last two games showing how dominant and how key to the Grizzlies he is this season. Hard to knock of the puck, sees the ice well and can be a real difference maker.

Women’s team
The Terriers travel to Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend to take on defending national champion, Wisconsin for a pair. The Badgers beat BU, 4-1, in last year’s NCAA title game. Senior defenseman Tara Watchorn, recovered from a concussion, will return to the BU lineup, but injured senior forward Jennelle Kohanchuk is not expected to be available.

Wisconsin Coach Mark Johnson, an Olympic teammate of O’Callahan, discussed the weekend matchup.