Five future Terriers hear their names called at NHL Entry Draft--UPDATED

Three incoming BU freshmen and two recruits expected to arrive in 2015 were selected on the second day of the NHL Entry Draft held in Philadelphia. BU's total of five picks tied BC for the most draft selections this year by an NCAA school.   Twenty players currently at or committed to Hockey East schools were drafted, the most of any NCAA D1 conference.

 The Terriers chosen were:
● Maxim Letunov (2015)  #52 overall by St. Louis
● Johnathan MacLeod (2014)  #57 by Tampa Bay 
● Brandon Hickey (2014) #64 by Calgary
● JJ Piccinich (2014) #103 by Toronto
● Liam Coughlin (2015) #130 by Edmonton

Letunov (left) and Piccinich (right), teammates on the Youngstown Phantoms last season, both were picked considerably higher than their Central Scouting rankings had suggested. Letunov, a 6-2 center from Moscow, had been ranked #87 among North American skaters, while Piccinich, who led the USHL in power play goals with 13, was ranked #135 on that list.

● SBNation-St.Louis profile of Letunov
● Youngstown Phantoms report
● NHL.com video interview: Piccinich
● LeafsNation profile of Piccinich
● LeafsTV interview: Piccinich
● Vindy.com report on Phantoms selected in draft

RD MacLeod, ranked #44 among North American skaters, was the 37th player from Canada or the US to come off the board. Before spending the past two seasons with the US NTDP, he skated for Kimball Union where he was paired with current Terrier Doyle Somerby.
● BoltsTV post-draft interview
● Tampa Bay Times report

NHL Scout on MacLeod "He closes gaps quickly and is tough to play against. He's a good, mobile skater . . . '' more -->
— Erik Erlendsson (@erlendssonTBO) June 28, 2014

Hickey, the first player drafted out of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, can look forward to returning to that province to play with Calgary. The 6-2 LD, who represented Canada in both the World Junior A Challenge and the World U17 tournament, brings strong skating skills and breakout ability. 
● Calgary Sun report
● SB Nation-Calgary report

Coughlin, after earning All-Scholastic honors while captaining Catholic Memorial HS in 2012-13, followed the footsteps of two other CM standouts--Garrett Noonan and Merrimack's Mike Collins--and spent last season in the BCHL with league power Vernon Vipers. The 6-3 left wing scored 45 points and became a fixture on the Vipers' power play. Vernon Morning Star Sports Editor Kevin Mitchell says Coughlin started the season slowly but,

"He bought in, started playing smarter and by Christmas, was a highly effective top-six forward used on the power play. By mid-January, NHL scouts were taking serious notes on Liam.The Terriers have recruited a beauty."

● Edmonton Journal report and video highlights

Liam Coughlin (Vernon Vipers), taken by the Edmonton Oilers, heading to Boston University next year, big power forward with a great shot.
— Jeff McCarthy (@McCarthyOTB) June 28, 2014

● GoTerriers.com draft recap
● Boston Hockey Blog draft recap
● OverTheBoards draft recap  
● Boston Herald draft recap
● HockeyEastOnline draft recap 

BU projects to have as many as three first-round picks in the 2015 draft: 2014 recruit Jack Eichel is a contender for the top overall spot; 2015 recruit Jordan Greenway (photo, NTDP U18s) has been ranked in the top 15; and 2014 recruit A.J. Greer's name is on some lists as a late first-rounder.

For BU's 2014 recruits, their college days begin tomorrow. Strength & Conditioning Anthony Morando tweeted: Frosh Arrive tomorrow. Workouts begin Monday #future #readytoroll Looking forward to it boys. 

►A pair of Terrier veterans, goalie Matt O'Connor (photo) and right wing Kevin Duane, are on the roster for New York Rangers development camp beginning June 30 and running through July 4 at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Tarrytown, N.Y.

Looking back
Former Terrier captain Nick Bonino talks about his trade to Vancouver, which came a week before his July 5 wedding to former BU women's hockey standout Lauren Cherewyk.

►Mike Grier, a Terrier All-American and member of the 1995 national championship team, will be an instructor at USA Hockey's Select 17 development camp in Amherst, N.Y., which began today. Grier discusses his post-playing days activities and how USA Hockey's American Development Model (ADM) aims to enhance the creativity of U.S. hockey players. 

►Another Terrier All-American, Tom Poti, who recently concluded a 14-year NHL career, talked with New England Hockey Journal about his decision to play at BU and his experiences as a Terrier, including reaching the 1997 national championship game. 

Terrier recruits await draft day--UPDATED

Six BU recruits were ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the entry draft which begins tomorrow in Philadelphia and continues on Saturday:  Johnathan MacLeod #44, Brandon Hickey #63, Maxim Letunov #87 (photo), Bobo Carpenter #119, JJ Piccinich #135, and Chase Phelps #163.

Draft articles and profiles:

● MacLeod: SBNation, TSN

● Hickey: SBNation,The Hockey News, CJHL Hockey
● Piccinich: SBNation
● Carpenter SBNation 

Looking ahead to the 2015 draft, The Boston Herald talked with incoming BU freshman Jack Eichel, projected to be one of the top three picks a year from now, and NTDP U18 coach Jon Gruden, who explains why.

►Earlier tonight, Eichel was interviewed on TSN’s Countdown Show with Bob McKenize.

On the Draft Countdown show you'll also meet the guy who'll battle Connor McDavid for #1 next year @Jack_Eichel11 pic.twitter.com/lnFv8TUv1B
— James Duthie (@tsnjamesduthie) June 26, 2014

2014 recruit Connor LaCouvee's hometown newspaper reports on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs goalie's commitment to BU.
 

A pair of 2016 Terrier recruits, defenseman Vas Kolias and power forward Johnny McDermott, (photo) will be teammates (Forrest team) at the USA Hockey Select 17 Player Development Camp in Amherst, N.Y., beginning June 30. Kolias, who played for Chicago Mission last season, had his USHL rights acquired by Youngstown and he’ll join 2015 recruit Maxim Letunov on the Phantoms next season. McDermott, an emerging star at The Westminster School last season, was selected by the Tri-City Storm in the recent USHL Futures Draft.

Looking back

Former BU All-American and 2009 Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy has signed on for next season with Atlant Moscow Oblast of the KHL.  Gilroy, who split last season between the Florida Panthers and AHL affiliate San Antonio, had signed a free agent contract with the NY Rangers within days of BU’s overtime win against Miami in the 2009 Frozen Four final.

Another blueliner from the 2009 national championship team, Eric Gryba, has signed a new contract with Ottawa covering two seasons and totaling $2.5 million.

Former Terrier captain Nick Bonino was traded by Anaheim to Vancouver for Ryan Kesler. Bonino scored a career-best 49 points for the Ducks last season and added four goals in the playoffs.