Game Day: Red Hot Hockey IV--BU vs. Cornell

BU and Cornell will convene tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York for the fourth edition of Red Hot Hockey, a bi-annual tradition begun in 2007 by Cornell coach Mike Schafer and then Terrier coach Jack Parker. Game time is 8 pm. 

The 14th ranked Big Red come in on a four-game winning streak, including a 2-1 win against Yale. Their offense is led by Brian Ferlin and Joel Lowery, each with 13 points. Veteran goalie Andy Iles has yet to surrender more than three goals in a game this year for defensive-minded Cornell.

Defensemen Ahti Oksanen and Garrett Noonan continue to lead BU is scoring with eleven points each followed by Matt Lane and Robbie Baillargeon with ten apiece. Sophomore Matt O'Connor, coming off a strong performance in the two North Dakota games that earned him Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week honors, will make his fourth consecutive start in the Terrier goal.

Head Coach David Quinn, who was an assistant to Parker for RHH 1 in 2007, told the Daily Free Press:

“[The rivalry] really originated with the great teams of [former Cornell coach] Ned Harkness and [former BU coach] Jack Kelley. It is two of the premier college hockey programs in the country year in and year out. Both teams have such a strong alumni based in New York City. It’s kind of like our bowl game.”

●GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, NBC Sports Radio Webcast, Terrier TV Webcast (subscription)

Boston Hockey Blog in-game blog

●Daily Free Press preview

●USCHO picks and predictions; This Week in Hockey East

●College Hockey News Tale of the Tape
●SB Nation game preview

●Hockey East Online weekend preview

●Boston Globe Hockey East report

► Check out this photo of the Terriers skating in New York's Central Park this morning with Hockey in Harlem.

Looking back

SFgate.com looks at the longtime friendship between former Terrier Matt Nieto of the Sharks and Emerson Etem of the Ducks. The pair, who met as three-year olds learning roller hockey, are part of a group of six from Southern California--all around the same age--who have reached the NHL. An on-ice reunion in the NHL for Nieto and Etem will have to wait a bit as both were recently assigned to AHL clubs. 

Sahir Gill scored a goal and an assist in Wheeling’s 4-2 win against Elmira in ECHL action. Gill has a 3-10-13 line in 12 games, 2^nd best for the Nailers, and he’s tied for 2^nd in plus/minus with +9. Recap and video highlights

IBUH #8; Terriers head to Gotham

Episode 8 of Inside BU Hockey features Bernie Corbett’s interviews with Head Coach David Quinn, freshman forward Kevin Duane, who has power play goals in two of the past three games, and Hall of Fame Coach Jack Kelley (photo).

Kelley, who had been an All East defenseman, team MVP in 1952, and an anchor on defense for BU’s 1950 and 1951 NCAA tournament teams, assumed the Terrier head coaching job in 1962 and quickly restored BU to college hockey prominence. He led BU to the Final Four in 1966 and 1967 and then to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1971 and 1972, the only time this has been achieved by an Eastern school. Kelley went on to coach the New England Whalers to the initial WHA Avco Cup Championship and later served as president of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

►The Terriers leave for New York after practice today for Saturday’s Red Hot Hockey IV at Madison Square Garden. As part of its weekend in the Big Apple, the Terriers will take time out to participate with the Ice Hockey in Harlem program.

►Ithaca.com previews Saturday’s game

Looking ahead

2014 recruit Chase Phelps and 2016 recruit Clayton Keller, along with their Shattuck St. Mary’s teammates are spending the holiday week in Sweden, where the Sabres are playing a series of games against U20 teams.

● Shattuck at practice in Sweden (video)

Turkey Day Linkorama

Co-Captain Garrett Noonan’s power play goal in Saturday’s 3-3 tie against North Dakota was selected as one of the Hockey East “moves of the week.”

 

The Cranston (RI) Herald talked with hometown product David Quinn about the winding path from local youth hockey standout to Terrier head coach.

BU Today previews Saturday night’s Red Hot Hockey matchup with Cornell at Madison Square Garden. Two seasons ago in RHH3 before a sold out MSG crowd, the Terriers edged the Big Red in overtime, 2-1, on a crafty deflection by junior Ross Gaudet. 

Terrier co-captain Pat MacGregor talks about the challenge of meeting Cornell in the fourth edition of Red Hot Hockey. (Video)

Looking ahead

2015 recruit Maxim Letunov scored his ninth goal of the season and 2014 recruit JJ Piccinich assisted on two scores for Youngstown but the Phantoms dropped a 4-3 OT decision to Indiana. In 21 games Piccinich has 19 points while Letunov has 18.

2015 recruit Charlie McAvoy scored a third-period power play goal, then assisted on another, but the NTDP U17s' rally came up short, with Team USA losing to Fargo, 5-4. The former NJ Rockets standout defenseman has three goals in the past six games.

Looking back

Former Terriers Alex Chiasson and Nick Bonino each scored their seventh goal of the season in the Dallas Stars’ 6-3 win against Anaheim. Bonino’s second-period goal (video) gave Anaheim a 2-1 lead, but the Stars roared back in the third, with Chiasson closing the scoring with an empty-netter.

Bonino has received a 3 year contract extension for a reported $4.7 million. The former Terrier captain tweeted: “Excited, thankful and happy to sign an extension with the Ducks! Couldn't think of a better team and place to spend these next few years!”  With a 7-9-16 line in 27 games, Bonino is just two points away from equaling his career high.

Congratulations to former Terrier standout Terry Meagher, now in his 31^st year behind the Bowdoin College bench, who has become the sixth Division 3 coach to reach 500 career wins. Meagher rang up 142 points (74g, 68a) as BU’s top right wing during Jack Parker’s first three seasons as BU’s coach. During his senior year, he was voted ECAC Tournament Most Valuable Player and the team's most valuable player after leading the team in scoring, while also earning the University's distinguished scholar-athlete award. Terry played in three Frozen Fours and was followed to BU by brothers Rick Meagher and Tony Meagher.

O'Connor earns Hockey East honors

Sophomore goalie Matt O’Connor, who stopped 92 of 96 North Dakota shots in the two-game weekend series, earned Hockey East’s Defensive Player of the Week honors. Named to the weekly list of top performers were Matt Lane, co-captain Garrett Noonan, Danny O’Regan and Nick Roberto.

The fourth renewal of Red Hot Hockey between the Terriers and Cornell, set for Saturday night, Nov. 30, at newly refurbished Madison Square Garden, is reportedly a sellout and also will be available on the Terrier TV pay-per-view service. Details. Freshman right wing Kevin Duane explained (video) what he’s looking forward to on Saturday.

A BU grad and a Cornell grad, got together this year to co-sponsor a Cup named after two legendary hockey coaches: Boston University’s Jack Kelley and Cornell’s Ned Harkness. They agreed that the Cup’s permanent name would be determined by the outcome of the game on November 30, 2013. If BU wins, it’s the “Kelley-Harkness Cup.”  If Cornell wins, it’s the “Harkness-Kelley Cup.”

Looking ahead

2015 recruit Charlie McAvoy scored his second goal of the season in the NTDP U17s’ 5-2 loss to Tri City.

Looking back

Sharks’ site “Blades of Teal” examines the path that led Matt Nieto from the NTDP program to BU and now to the NHL.

Rick DiPietro, whose career has been detoured multiple times by injury, is attempting a comeback in the AHL with Charlotte. The New York Times checked in with the former BU netminder to discuss his progress.  Last night, DiPietro was on the short end of a 4-3 loss to Rockford, who got on the board first on an Adam Clendening goal.

Sahir Gill assisted on two goals as ECHL Wheeling doubled up Cincinnati, 4-2. The Nailers, coached by former Terrier Clark Donatelli, now are tied for the Atlantic Division lead.

Women’s Team

Senior goalie Kerrin Sperry was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week following 29-save efforts against both Harvard and New Hampshire. Sarah Lefort, Rebecca Russo and Kayla Tutino all made the weekly top performers’ list.

With their record now at 11-3-1, Terriers remained at #9 in the USCHO poll.

Terriers have received a commitment for 2014 from standout goalie Erin O’Neill from Minnetonka, Minn., and Hopkins High School. Both O’Neill and a fellow 2014 recruit, blueliner Toni Ann Miano, were members of the U.S. National Under 18 squad that battled Canada in a three-game series last summer.