Final four freshman and team roster announced

The 2014-15 Boston University Men's Hockey Roster has been released today.  Via the BU Men's Hockey Twitter, the Terriers also released the names of the final four members of the 2014 recruit class--two forwards, a defenseman and a goalie--completing the ten-man class. In May, six recruits (Brien Diffley, Jack Eichel, Brandon Hickey, John MacLeod, Chase Phelps and J.J. Piccinich) were announced.  Here's a look at the players announced today:

A.J. Greer, left wing

 

●  Kimball Union Academy, co-captain 2013-14

●  23-34-57 in 31 games for the Wildcats last seaon; 16-19-35 the previous season

●  A KUA teammate of Nick Roberto and Doyle Somerby in 2012-13

●  Played two games for USHL Des Moines in 2014, scoring 2 goals, 1 assist

●  Led College Esther-Blondin to silver in 2012 Telus Cup

●  The youngest Terrier, he turns 18 on Dec. 14

●  THFB report

●  Elite Prospects card

●  KUA Coach Tim Whitehead (in mid-February):

"AJ Greer has really emerged this season as an impact player for us, playing both forward and defense.  As a Co-Captain, AJ has helped lead KUA to a 20-6-5 record so far, and a first place finish in the Lakes Region League.  In 28 games played, AJ currently has 21 goals and 31 assists for 52 points (1.86 points per game).  BU fans are going to love watching this young man play next year.  AJ is an exceptional skater with high level skills and a heavy shot; so, he’s always a threat to create something offensively.  At 6-3, 210 lbs, the 17-year-old Greer is an imposing physical presence on the ice.  He has the courage to block a shot for his teammates and take a hit to make a play.  He’s also got an intimidating edge to his game.”  

Brandon Fortunato, left-shot defenseman

● Won gold medal with Team USA at the IIHF World U-18 championships

● Quarterbacked the NTDP U-18 power play; top scorer among defensemen with 39 points

● Following in footsteps of NTDP small, skilled d-men Matt Grzelcyk, David Warsofsky and Bryan Miller

● Helped lead LI Royals to 2012 Tier-1 16-U national title

● THFB report

● Elite Prospects card

● U.S. of Hockey’s Chris Peters (prior to BU verbal):

A dynamic offensive-minded defenseman, Fortunato has top-end puck skills and creativity. At 5-9, 144, he’s probably not the ideal size for a defenseman and was left unranked by Central Scouting, but what he does with the puck makes him extremely effective and could even get him drafted anyway. With 32 points including 29 assists, he was the U-18′s top scoring defenseman this season. Fortunato is a good skater and has really sound on-ice vision. He is excellent at creating time and space for himself, which leads to Fortunato making a lot of nice plays with the puck. The defenseman reportedly decommitted from Harvard and is currently being pursued by several top college programs. His skills are definitely worth watching.

Connor LaCouvee, goalie

● Alberni Valley; 2.82, .920 sv% in regular season; 2.76, .929 in playoffs

● Earned team MVP honors

● Save on penalty shot (video)

● Alberni Valley Times news feature

● THFB report

● Elite Prospects card

● Alberni Valley News editor Susan Quinn:

"Plays his angles well when he is at the edges of the crease, and has quick reflexes. LaCouvee is confident on the ice and a team leader. There were a lot of times last season the Bulldogs' defence struggled and Lacouvee kept the team in the game."

Nikolas Olsson, LW-RW

● Sioux City, 3G, 4A in 34 games

● USHL highlight goal (2:10 of clip)

● Two seasons with NTDP; scored a goal against BU in 2012 exhibition game (video).

● California native who played for LA Select U-16's scoring 28 points in 21 games

● THFB report

● Elite Prospects card

● Musketeers coach Jay Varady:

“A physical winger with the skill set to make offensive plays.”   

► Look for an exclusive THFB interview with Terrier Head Coach David Quinn to be posted in the next few days.

Looking back

Former BU All-America and NHLer Mike Grier and NBC hockey analyst and former NHLer Eddie Olczyk will serve as the head coaches at USA Hockey's All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo on Sept. 25. Grier, a top scorer on BU's 1995 national championship team and later a fan favorite with the Sabres, played in more than 1,000 NHL games, scoring 383 points. This past summer, he was an instructor at the USA Hockey Select-17 development camp.

● USA Hockey announcement

● Buffalo Hockey Beat report 

Women's Team

Led by returning standout Marie-Philip Poulin and 2nd team All-American Sarah Lefort, the defending Hockey East Champion Terriers have announced their schedule for 2014-15, featuring early season away games with Clarkson and Minnesota--the past two NCAA titlists--and additional out-of-conference match-ups with Cornell, Harvard and Quinnipiac.

Tenth year head coach Brian Durocher enters the 2014-15 season just 17 wins away from the 200 victory milestone. 
● GoTerriers.com report

●  2014-15 schedule

●  Daily Free Press report