NTDP forward commits to BU

NTDP U18 forward Matthew Lane has committed to BU for next season and is the fifth forward in BU's 2012 recruit class. Lane is a 5-10, 178 lb., left-shot forward from Rochester, N.Y., described recently by U.S. Hockey Report as a playmaker whose strength is his speed.

"I was undecided for a while," the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Lane said. "I went on a visit to BU and fell in love with the campus. I knew right away that was where I wanted to be."

Last year, he had a 9-13-22 line for the U17s. After 17 games this season, he has 5-4-9, tied for fourth in scoring on the U18s. Prior to playing for USA Hockey, he skated for the Mississauga, Ont. Minor Reps, scoring 93 points in 72 games. He’d been a fifth round pick in the 2010 OHL draft.

At the recently completed Four Nations tournament in Switzerland, Lane scored goals in two of the three games, one unassisted. The United States of Hockey Web site, reviewing the tournament, posted:

Matthew Lane registered three points and has shown some marked offensive improvement from last season. He has nine points overall on the year. Lane plays with a bunch of energy.

An Amateur Hockey Report review from Jan. 2011:

Matthew is a tremendous skater: Agile and shows different gears that he can kick it in to. Is an energy / grinder type player with competent hands. Nothing too slick but shows flashes of creativity. Played an intense, down –low game with a hard-edged fore-check. Has a great deal of hockey sense and uses it on both sides of the puck. Not the most skilled player but gives it all he has every time he touches the ice.

● College Hockey Inc. report on Lane's verbal
● USA Hockey feature on Lane.
● NY Hockey Journal feature on Lane.
● NTDP Media Guide (Lane on pg. 42)

Lane and 2013 recruit Matt Grzelcyk will be at Agganis Arena on when the U18s play BU in an exhibition game on January 8.

► Episode Six of Inside BU Hockey is now available on the GoTerriers.com site and features Bernie Corbett’s interviews with Coach Jack Parker, junior wing Wade Megan and Jason Factor from BU's athletic development office.