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The Daily Free Press talked with freshman blueliner Ahti Oksanen about adapting to the North American style of play and improving his approach to defense to complement his offensive instincts.

While BU’s schedule for next season has not yet been released, we’re learning some of the early season dates. Terriers will open the season on October 11 against UMass, then host Holy Cross the next night. The second weekend, October 18 and 19 will bring home games against Rensselaer and Wisconsin, which now calls the Big Ten Conference its home. North Dakota visits Agganis Arena on November 22 and 23 for a pair of games and the Terrier will be at New York’s Madison Square Garden on November 30 to play Cornell in Red Hot Hockey IV.  

Son of Medford returns
Former Terrier forward and NHLer Shawn Bates has taken the reins as head coach of the Medford, Mass., High School program, where he played prior to coming to BU and remains the school's all-time leading scorer with 103 goals and 139 assists. Two years ago, Bates donated a scoreboard for Medford's LaConte Rink and previously established a fund for $1,000 scholarships given annually to Medford hockey and baseball players.

At BU, Bates played in the Final Four each of his four season, winning an NCAA championship in 1995. A dynamic speedster, he scored 73 goals and 70 assists in 160 games, with a career best 50 points in 1995-96.

As a pro, he played 465 NHL games with the Bruins and Islanders, scoring 198 points, before finishing his career
● Bates overtime playoff penalty shot goal
           

Looking back

EIght former Terriers will be in action as the Stanley Cup playoffs get underway: Nick Bonino (Anaheim), Charlie Coyle (Minnesota), Matt Gilroy (Rangers), Eric Gryba (Ottawa), Jay Pandolfo (Boston) ,Tom Poti (Washington), Kevin Shattenkirk (St. Louis) and Brian Strait (Islanders).

Eight other former Terriers played in NHL games this season Adrian Aucoin (Columbus), Chris Bourque (Boston), Alex Chiasson (Dallas), Rick DiPietro (Islanders), David Van der Gulik (Colorado), Ryan Whitney (Edmonton),Colin Wilson (Nashville), Brandon Yip (Nashville). Of the 271 college players in the NHL this past season, 16 had played for BU.

Bonino scored his first career playoff goal to get the Ducks on the board in their 3-1 win against Detroit. 

● ESPN feature on Bonino

● Road To The Pros feature on Bonino

Shattenkirk assisted on St. Louis’ first goal in a 2-1 overtime win against Detroit. Shattenkirk drew a double-minor penalty in overtime, but the Blues scored shorthanded for the win.

 

Chiasson scored the third-period game-winner for Texas in its 2-0 win over Milwaukee. It was his first game back with the AHL affiliate after scored six goals in seven games with Dallas. Chiasson had been returned to the AHL Texas Stars to compete in the Calder Cup playoffs. Texas leads the best-of-five series two games to one.

Women’s Team

The 2013-14 Terriers will be led by Louise Warren who was named captain at the team’s awards banquet this past Sunday. Warren, who also was a co-winner with Isabel Menard of the Friends of Hockey Unsung Hero Award, score 15 goals and 19 assists this past season and had a hand in 10 game-winning goals.

Marie Philip Poulin repeated as the team’s Most Valuable Player. Jill Cardella won the Caroline Bourdreau Spirit Award, Shannon Stoneburgh was tabbed for the Most Improved Player. The Academic Honors Award went to Alissa Fromkin and Meghan Riggs received the Strength & Conditioning Award. Kaleigh Fratkin will join the leadership team as assistant captain next season.