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