Catching up

Assigned to investigate the culture and climate of the men’s hockey team following two incidents last winter that led to the dismissal of two players and criminal charges, The Boston University Task Force reported serious concerns related to adherence to BU’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct and recommended a list of 14 corrective actions, many of which have already been implemented.

The Boston Globe obtained a copy of additional Task Force testimony, which had not been made available to the public because many of the incidents described had not been verified and also due to a desire to protect the identity of students.  The Globe coverage detailed the testimony in the non-public part of the report, stirring further controversy.

● Report from the Office of the President

● BU Today article on Task Force report

● Boston Globe coverage

● Daily Free Press coverage of Task Force report and Colby Cohen interview in response to Boston Globe article
● College Hockey News analysis

Closing the circle on the two players dismissed last season from the team and charged in Boston District Court, charges against Max Nicastro were dropped, while Corey Trivino pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to two years probation.

 

Some signs that the 2012-13 is not too far away?

► A number of media sources have begun posting previews of each Hockey East team: Northeastern’s WRBB Sports and The Beanpot Forum blog.

►Inside College Hockey’s annual A-Z player preview looks at BU sophomore right wing Evan Rodrigues.

►NBC Sports Network announced a 24-game college hockey schedule that will include at least three Terriers games: a home-and-home pair with BC on Nov. 30 and Dec.1 and a Feb. 15 visit to Maine. NBC Sports will also air the Hockey East semifinals and finals. CBS College Sports is expected to announce its schedule shortly.

► Hockey East will hold its annual Media Day on September 25 at TD Garden in Boston.

When Hockey East expands to twelve teams in 2013-14, a new playoff format that puts all teams into the post-season will begin. Details in Mike McMahon’s Mack Report.

Looking ahead

2014 recruit Jack Eichel scored twice for the NTDP U17s in their opening game, a 4-3 loss to Youngstown, where fellow 2014 recruit J.J. Piccinich has begun his USHL career. 2014 recruit Jonathan MacLeod is a defenseman with the U17s

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After Indiana’s first two games, 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon is the Ice’s leading scorer with three assists. The big center from Brewster, Mass., is Indiana’s top returning scorer, having posted a 14-34-48 line last season.

2013 recruit Jarrid Privitera scored a goal and an assist in Dubuque’s 5-3 exhibition game win against Cedar Rapids.

2013 recruit Kevin Duane, a 6-4 forward who scored 29 goals for The Brunswick School last season, is skating with the USHL Waterloo Blackhawks who traveled to Omsk, Russia, last month for the 2012 Junior Club World Cup. Duane described the experience following a team practice.

2013  Marc Hetnik, Jr., begins his second season with the Vernon Vipers and is expected to be a defensive anchor for the perennial BCHL contenders, who previously sent Justin Courtnall, Sahir Gill and Ryan Santana to BU.

2013 recruit Dalton MacAfee, who will be a senior at St. Sebastian’s this fall, also begins his second season with the Cape Cod Whalers U18s in the Mass Selects Midget League. Last Spring, the Whalers, whose roster also included current BU freshman Danny O’Regan and Corey Ronan, son of former Terrier Ed Ronan, and Mark Fidler and Harvard commit Trevor Fidler, sons of former BU standout Mark Fidler. The younger Ronan also is MacAfee’s teammate at St. Sebs.

Looking back

Kieran Millan, BU’s all-time winningest goalie, is competing for a roster spot with Colorado’s AHL affiliate, Lake Erie, so he’s sporting new colors. Padstracker talked with Millan about images on his elaborate new goalie helmet.

Just before the NHL lockout took effect, numerous players were assigned to the AHL by their NHL teams, including ex-Terriers Adam Clendening (Chicago), Colby Cohen and David Warsofsky (Boston), Max Nicastro (Detroit) and Alex Chiasson (Dallas), who has been working off-ice on his conditioning:

Women’s Team

The Terriers, who will be defending their 2012 Hockey East Championship, have been ranked sixth in USCHO’s Preseason Division 1 Women’s Hockey Poll.