Priviteras and BU part ways

USHR and The Boston Hockey Blog report that Alexx Privitera will not return to BU for his junior season and that his younger brother, Jarrid, has elected to decommit from the 2013 recruit class.  Alexx had been suspended for the final 13 games of the season following several on-ice incidents, including kneeing a Harvard player during the Beanpot.  BHH indicated that Privitera had completed the Spring semester and is currently taking summer school courses at BU.

Jarrid Privitera, who spent the past season as a member of the USHL Clark Cup champion Dubuque Saints, where he scored 26 points in 56 games, was quoted by the Boston Hockey Blog as saying that leaving BU was his brother’s decision and  that “[decommitting] was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.  "I wish the BU hockey program the best of luck in the future."

●Boston Hockey Blog report & Privitera statements

Looking ahead

2014 recruit Jack Eichel who played for the USA Hockey NTDP U17 and U18 squads this past season will return to the USA Hockey program next season, ending speculation that he would sign with the QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads. Halifax has now forfeited its draft rights to the 6-1, right-shot center from Chelmsford, Mass.  Eichel, who had an 18-15-33 line in 37 games for the U17s and 10-8-18 in 22 games with the U18s, has been projected as an early first-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft.

Looking back

While speculation continues that former Terrier Steve Greeley will replace Mike Bavis on the BU coaching staff—as recently tweeted by USHR, another ex-BU forward has secured a Division 1 assistant coaching position. Joe Pereira, a member of the Terriers’ 2009 NCAA championship team and the captain of the 2010-11 BU squad, was picked to assist new UConn Coach Mike Cavanaugh, according to a report in the Hartford Courant.  Following his BU career that saw him score a team-high 15 goals as a senior in 2010-11, Pereira, a West Haven, Ct., native, played a handful of games in the AHL and spent a season in the ECHL, primarily with the South Carolina Stingray.

Former BU All-American Colin Wilson is recovering from off-season shoulder surgery according to The Tennessean. SB Nation’s report on the Predators called Wilson the team’s MVP in the first half of the season before his injury and gave his 7-12-19 in 25 games performance an “A” rating.  Here he demonstrates a power move to the net in a Predators’ win against Edmonton.

Hockeysfuture.com’s review of San Jose prospects ranked former Terrier Matt Nieto as the organization’s fastest skater and top left wing prospect.

Nieto has excellent four-step acceleration, and is usually first to the puck in most battles. Very few players at the college level could match his quickness, and even in his short stint with the Worcester Sharks there were times when he looked too fast to catch.

Nieto’s speed is one of his biggest assets, and he utilizes it well, even with the puck to generate scoring chances. The way he shoots in stride at such high speeds is reminiscent of Joe Sakic. This ability makes it very difficult for defenders and goaltenders alike, and will give him the ability at the pro level to be a scorer.

SB Nation’s Anaheim Ducks report card gave former BU standout Nick Bonino high marks and projects he’ll nail down the #2 center spot next season. Bonino’s season, shortened like Wilson’s due to an injury, was highlighted by a hattrick against defending Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles.