Thursday, September 24, 2015

A Four Dog Night in Buffalo



The 2015 All-American Prospects Game is tonight at First Niagara Center with NHL Network broadcasting the game live beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Among the 42 prospects, all eligible for the 2016 NHL draft, are current Terrier Charlie McAvoy, and 2016 recruits Kieffer Bellows, Clayton Keller and Chad Krys.

SB Nation previewed the game with thumbnails of all the players. Three Terriers will skate for Team Plante:


#4 Charlie McAvoy, Right Defense, Long Beach, NY, Boston University (Hockey East) - The Terrier freshman is a smooth-skating, puck-moving blue liner that is expected to go in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft. He makes very strong and accurate lead passes in transition and can really quarterback a power play. A late '97, he's certainly not suspect defensively, but he's a little inconsistent.


#9 Kieffer Bellows, Left Wing, Edina, Minn., US National Under-18 Team - He's had unbelievable chemistry with teammate and fellow Terrier recruit Clayton Keller. One coach told this observer last weekend in Pittsburgh that he thinks the former Edina and Sioux Falls star has one of the best shots he's seen. He has a quick release that gets on net real quick. For a scorer, he's not afraid to throw his weight around.  He's hard to knock off the puck. His father Brian had a lengthy NHL career with the Minnesota North Stars, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.  College Commitment: Boston University

#14 Clayton Keller, Left Center, Swansea, Ill., US National Under-18 Team - His passing skills, especially to NTDP linemate Bellows, are a thing of beauty. He's been a human highlight reel machine. He's not the fastest skater and it wouldn't be too unfair to compare him somewhat to BC freshman and Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Jeremy Bracco. College Commitment: Boston University
And one will play for Team Roenick:

#2 Chad Krys, Left Defense, Ridgefield, Conn., US National Under-18 Team - He's a tremendous skater with the ability to make a huge impact in breaking the puck out of the zone and on the power play. He's so agile and his mobility is top notch. He has a good stick and is decent defensively. His father Mark played at BU and his brother Luke is a solid '00 prospect. College Commitment: Boston University
Discussing his decision to commit to BU, Bellows told the Buffalo News:

"Most of the guys going to BU will say the same thing but it was most definitely the coaches," said Bellows also playing with the U.S. Under-18 Team this year. "They made me feel as if I was part of the Terrier family before I even committed. They have great facilities. The school is second to none. It felt like a perfect fit when I got there."

● Players, including Keller, talk about the game
● Lookback at the 2014 AAPG where Jack Eichel was MVP
● Buffalo News preview

Preseason Puck Drop
Head Coach David Quinn was interviewed by Bernie Corbett and answered questions from Terrier fans at a gathering at Sunset Cantina Wednesday evening. We hope to have an audio file of the full interview soon. But we do have a video file of Quinn answering several questions. 

Looking back
Alex Chiasson scored a goal and an assist to lead Ottawa past Buffalo, 5-2. Matt O’Connor (photo) started in goal for the Senators and stopped all 18 shots he faced in 30 minutes of action. A couple of those shots came off the stick of Evan Rodrigues who made his first exhibition game appearance for the Sabres.
● NHL.com recap and video
● SensChirp recap and video of O’Connor saves
● Ottawa Sun recap

Colin Wilson recorded a pair of assists as Nashville doubled up Tampa Bay, 4-2.

Women’s Team
The four-time defending Hockey East Champion Terriers will be on the ice Saturday afternoon in an exhibition game against the University of Guelph. As Head Coach Brian Durocher noted on Media Day, BU returns seven of its top nine scorers from last year’s team, including senior Sarah Lefort (27-23-50) who was named a NE Division 1 All-star, senior Captain Kayla Tutino (photo, 14-23-37) and sophomore Victoria Bach (20-14-34), who was Hockey East’s Rookie of the Year.  A veteran defense is joined by standout transfer Alexis Crossley, while the goaltending tandem of Victoria Hanson and Erin O’Neil returns.
● Terriers’ roster
● Daily Free Press preview
● Coach Durocher’s Media Day comments (audio)

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