Seven-man freshman class announced; UPDATED AGAIN

Terriers announced their 2015 freshman class today via their @TerrierHockey Twitter account. The seven-man class is highlighted by two second-round picks in the 2015 NHL draft, a projected first-round pick in next June’s draft, the USHL’s co-leader in goals scored and an All-New England Prep goalie. 

Joining 19 returnees from last season’s Beanpot and Hockey East Champions—and NCAA finalist squad—are four forwards: Swedish center Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, NTDP U18 left wing Jordan Greenway, Sioux City (USHL) center Robert Carpenter and Boston Jr. Bruins wing Ryan Cloonan. The defense adds Charlie McAvoy from the NTDP U18s and Shane Switzer from AJHL, while Max Prawdzik from The Brooks School joins the goaltending crew.

► 2014-15 stats for each of the freshmen along several highlight videos are shown here.

 

Forsbacka-Karlsson, whose nickname is JFK, was picked #45 overall by the Bruins in the NHL draft and was an MVP of the USHL "Top Prospects" game, while Greenway was selected five picks later by Minnesota after scoring 44 points for the U18s. 

Carpenter, son of NHL standout Bobby Carpenter, scored a USHL-best 35 goals for Sioux City and averaged just over a point per game for the Musketeers. Cloonan, an East Longmeadow native, rang up 92 points playing for Boston Jr. Bruins Premier the past two seasons.

McAvoy was the top scoring blueliner (7-33-40) on the NTDP U18s and quarterbacked the power play as the US won gold in the World U18 Championships. He's projected to be a first-round draft pick next June. A product of the Victory Honda program, Switzer split last season between AJHL Brooks and Lloydminster and racked up 43 regular-season points and another seven in the playoffs. Both defensemen are right shots.

6’3” netminder Prawdzik led The Brooks School to the New England Prep larger school championship and earned ISL Hockey League MVP honors with a 1.25 GAA and a .944 save percentage.

With the addition of the seven freshmen to 19 returnees, BU’s 26-man roster shows 15 forwards, eight defensemen and three goalies. It would have been 27; however junior swingman TJ Ryan has decided to end his playing career due to another concussion. He was originally injured during the Beanpot Tournament as a freshman. 
● GoTerriers.com report
● Boston Hockey Blog report 
Links will be added when available

►Jack Eichel and Evan Rodrigues, linemates for the final month of BU's 2014-15 season, took different routes to their first pro contracts. Eichel was Buffalo's first-round draft pick and #2 overall this past June, while Rodrigues was signed as an undrafted free agent. But when Sabres rookie camp opened today, the two Terriers were linemates once again as the team prepares for a three-team tournament this weekend with the Bruins and Devils.
● InsideToronto.com report 
● Boston Herald: Eicher excited to begin

►The Toronto Sun looks at Senators' rookie Matt O'Connor's quest to reach the next level after his standout season at BU. 

Looking back--Overseas Edition

Terrier All-American, Hobey Baker Award winner and co-captain of the 2009 national championship team Matt Gilroy is playing a second season in the KHL. Gilroy signed with Moscow Spartak after earning league All-Star honors last year with Moscow Oblast Atlant.

● Career stats

Chris Higgins has returned to the Belfast Giants of the EIHL after spending last season with the Nottingham Panthers. The speedy wing, who scored 133 points in four seasons at BU and was a first-line forward on the 2009 NCAA Championship team, scored 50 points in 44 games in his first turn with the Giants in 2013-14.

● Career stats

Another standout BU blueliner, Ryan Whitney, has signed on with Swedish Hockey League power MODO. The Scituate, Massachusetts native played for HK Sochi in the KHL last season after appearing in nearly 500 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Edmonton and Florida.

●  Career stats

More Looking Back

The Bruins have promoted former BU All-American, captain and Hobey Baker Award finalist Jay Pandolfo to Director of Player Development.  The Winchester, Mass., native, who is 11^th on the all-time BU scoring list with 169 points, had been a development coach for the Bs after concluding his 15-year NHL career. Pandolfo scored 100 goals and 126 assists in 899 regular season goals, adding 33 points in playoff games, while winning the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2000 and 2003.

Last month, Pandolfo’s BU teammate, Chris Drury was appointed to the same position with the New York Rangers. Both were members of BU’s 1995 NCAA championship team.

● Bruins announcement

● Career stats

Congrats to @TerrierHockey alum @danronan02 being named to Boston Business Journal's 40 Under 40. Still giving back to game as NEFPHL coach.

— Jeff Cox (@JeffCoxSports) September 11, 2015

Ronan's NEFPHL U18 team won the recent Mass. Tier 1 Labor Day Faceoff

Women's Team 

A pair of current Terriers and four former BU standouts are on the roster for Canada's National Women's Team Fall Festival, set to begin this Sunday in Calgary. Joining senior Sarah Lefort and sophomore Victoria Bach (photo) are Marie-Philip Poulin, Jenn Wakefield, Tara Watchorn and Jenelle Kohanchuk. Lefort scored 23 goals as a junior while Bach earned Hockey East Rookie of the Year honors last season.

● GoTerriers.com report