Kurker departs; Central Scouting ranks five BU recruits

Sophomore forward Sam Kurker has left the program and is expected to join a junior team. The 6-3 right wing from St. John’s Prep had just one point this season and struggled to be effective at the Division One level. Last month, the Indiana Ice had added Kurker to its player roster

● Boston Hockey Blog report

Danny O’Regan, who had three assists in the games against Dartmouth and Maine, earned a spot on Hockey East’s weekly top performer list.

Looking ahead

Maxim Letunove (left), J.J. Piccinich (right)

NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for North American skaters includes five Terrier recruits: NTDP U18 defenseman Johnathan MacLeod (44), Youngstown center Maxim Letunov (68). Austin Prep right wing Bobo Carpenter (146), Shattuck Prep left wing Chase Phelps (162) and Youngstown right wing J.J. Piccinich (164).

● Youngstown Phantoms report

The Warren, Ohio, Tribune talked with Youngstown coach Anthony Noreen about Piccinich’s development into one of the USHL’s top scoring forwards and the league’s leading power play marksman.

"A big part of it is he goes out and he's willing to get to the areas where you might have to take a stick, you might have to take a punch in the face, you might have to take a body, but if you get to that area, you're more likely to score a goal"

2014 recruit Jack Eichel scored on a wrap-around in the NTDP U18s’ 5-2 loss to UMass. It was his team-best 21^st score. The center from Chelmsford, Mass., has a 15-game scoring streak in NTDP U18 games, with a 15-15-30 line over that span.

2015 (or 2014) recruit AJ Greer scored a pair of goals in Kimball Union’s 9-0 win against Governor’s Academy in one of the final 2014 Frozen Fenway games.

OverTheBoards, recapping recent college commitments, comments on Greer:

A late 1996 birthdate, Greer is another of the numerous 2015 entry draft eligibles that makes 2015 already seem like a very high-end draft year for NCAA hopefuls. Greer brings a multi-faceted offensive game in a 6’3, 205 lb. frame, and while I don’t love player comparisons, over the course of the World Juniors fellow Quebec-area prospect Anthony Mantha (DET, 1st rd 2013), who uses size, speed, hockey sense and an uncanny ability to handle and fire the puck to catch the goalie in an unfortunate position, was reminiscent of Greer, as the younger has shades of the same offensive ability.

This summer, Greer was a stand-out at the Beantown Classic, second only to Dexter’s Ryan Donato (our #3 uncommitted prospect in the country), despite being youngest in the showcase. At the Flood-Marr, I was fortunate enough to catch the first game before Greer’s tournament was cut short with a (not serious) lower body injury. Within minutes of the opening tilt, in an otherwise emotion-lacking game, Greer had created two grade-A scoring chances, both of which were converted and presented KUA with an early 2-0 lead. His ability to use his excellent stick skills to create offense around the sheet is remarkable for such a big prospect and likely will serve him well moving forward.

Looking back

NBC Sports talked with Ducks’ coach Bruce Boudreau about Nick Bonino’s breakout season. The slick centerman has a 13-20-33 line in 48 games and is third in scoring for Anaheim.

Women’s Team

Sarah Lefort, who scored her nation-leading sixth game-winning goal, against Maine and freshman Maddie Elia, who tallied a goal and two assists in the 5-3 win, were named to Hockey East’s weekly list of top performers.

Terriers, with a 16-4-1 record, are ranked ninth in both the USCHO weekly poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

Daily Free Press recap of recent games.