Thursday Linkorama

USCHO: This Week in Hockey East looks at BU’s first game and the performance of the Terrier’s top line of Ahti Oksanen (photo), Jack Eichel and Danny O’Regan, which some have dubbed the “OREO” line.  Discussing  Oksanen, Head Coach David Quinn said:

“[Ahti] and I spoke at length about [converting to wing] beginning last spring. He had been here for two years and played a lot of hockey. Obviously, he’s a very skilled and talented defenseman. I just thought with his skill set he’d be a better winger.”

Hockey’s Future’s preview of Hockey East (first of three parts), looks at the Terriers top NHL prospects, including Eichel, Robbie Baillargeon, Matt O’Connor, Matt Grzelcyk and Johnathan MacLeod, as well as prospects at BC, Connecticut and Maine.

SB Nation’s Jeff Cox explored “How Important are Face Offs?” in his Hockey East column. Draws were one of the few weaknesses for BU in its opening game win against UMass. The Minutemen controlled 40 out of 63 face offs in the 8-1 Terrier win.

Episode 2 of Inside BU Hockey features Bernie Corbett’s interviews with Quinn, Associate Head Coach Steve Greeley, who discusses the 10-man freshman class, and Nikolas Olsson, the first of the freshman to score in Friday’s opener vs. UMass.

Looking ahead 

2016 recruit Patrick Harper (photo) scored a goal and an assist in the Neponset Valley River Rats’ 6-0 win against the 495 Stars.   The next day, Harper scored two goals and an assist in the River Rats’ 12-1 thumping of EMass Senators. The 5-8, left-shot forward, who skated for the NJ Rockets U19s last season, leads the River Rats with 21 points (10G, 11A) and is tied for the lead in scoring within the Massachusetts Selects U18 league. He will play for Avon Old Farms during the prep season.

It’s a little tough to see on this video, but 2015 recruit Maxim Letunov had a highlight reel goal in Youngstown’s 6-3 loss to the NTDP U18s last Friday. He picked the pocket of defenseman Joseph Masonius, skated in and beat goalie Michale Lackey top shelf. It was the lanky center’s second goal of the game. Thanks to our friend at hockeyphan.com for sending the clip our way.

Looking back 

Ryan Whitney(photo) has signed on with the Sochi HC of the KHL. The former Terrier blueliner, who had appeared in 481 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Edmonton, Anaheim and Florida, attended Blues camp last month. A member of the U.S. silver medal Olympic team in 2010, he becomes the second BU defenseman to sign with a team in the Russian pro league, joining 2009 BU co-captain Matt Gilroy, now playing for Altant Moscow Oblast.

4 years ago after the Vancouver Olympics my goal was Sochi 2014...It's always satisfying when you reach your goals.
— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) October 16, 2014

Wade Megan scored a goal and an assist to earn first-star honors in the Cincinnati Cyclones’ 5-3 exhibition game win over Wheeling.