USA Today Polls; Terrier Takeaway; Women sweep

The preseason USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine College Hockey Poll shows the Terriers ranked #2, trailing Commonwealth Avenue rival BC. Another local rival, Harvard, is #5 and Providence was ranked #7.
Note: We'll post the new USCHO poll results when they're published.

Terrier Takeaway

This week’s Takeaway, from blog contributor buoldtimer, focuses on the freshman class and and the candidates for filling the void left in goal due to Matt O’Connor’s departure:

Jordan Greenway – Given his size, I was dubious of his mobility, but he appeared to have greater agility than I’d expected. Obviously, he will be difficult to dislodge from the front of the net.

Jakob Fosbacka-Karlsson – Aside from his two goals, he handled the puck well, wasn’t reluctant to enter traffic, and was poised with the puck.

Charlie McAvoy – His high level skills were apparent at each end of the ice, from the drop of the puck. Handled the puck well on the power play. An effortless skater who played with confidence.

Shane Switzer – Demonstrated that he knows when to jump into a play. Besides his goal, he also jumped into a second scoring opportunity.

Ryan Cloonan, Bobo Carpenter – Played a similar style, at least they did on Saturday. Both were involved in the play on each shift.

Connor Lacouvee – Beaten on a tip and a breakaway, but gave up several big rebounds.

Sean Maguire – As noted in the game recaps, he moved well in the crease, limited the rebounds, and was in good position throughout his 30 minutes of play.

►Looking ahead on the BU schedule, Denver will be in town for a Halloween afternoon match-up. The Pioneers, who reached the NCAA regional final last Spring, are USCHO’s pick to win the NCHC title this season.

BC (20 yrs, 169 days) and BU (20 yrs, 179 days) are also the two youngest teams in the NCAA this year. Notre Dame is 5th (20 yrs, 333 days).

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 5, 2015

Looking ahead

2016 recruit Clayton Keller scored a third-period power play goal to pull the NTDP U18s into a 1-1 tie with host Lake Superior State and Team USA went on to claim a 2-1 overtime win. Keller’s third goal of the season was assisted by fellow 2016 recruit Chad Krys and gives the former Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep standout a team best nine points (3G, 6A)
●  WCHA recap

Krys was interviewed by USHL TV about his recent commitment to BU, playing on a team with three other future Terriers and his chances of making the US Junior National Team.


 

►With the St. Louis Blues spending a few days working out at Michigan’s Yost Arena, members of the NTDP U17 team had a chance to watch an NHL team practice and to meet NTDP alum—and Terrier All-American—Kevin Shattenkirk. 2017 recruit Brady Tkachuk is featured in an interview.

.@shattdeuces meets with @USAHockeyNTDP's future World Junior Championship participants. #WJCinSTL https://t.co/KzeOprDQzc

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) October 4, 2015

Looking back

NHL.com’s Mike Morreale has pegged Jack Eichel as the favorite to win the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year. And TSN agrees, too. Eichel would become only the second player to follow a Hobey Baker Trophy win with the Calder. The first to do it was former Terrier All-American and NHL standout Chris Drury (Hobey ’98, Calder ’99).

Sahir Gill is opening eyes at the AHL Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins training camp, where he scored a goal and an assist in a loss to Lehigh Valley. The Baby Pens new coach, former Terrier captain and longtime NHLer Mike Sullivan, noted:

“(Gill’s) got really good offensive instincts. I think he’s a guy that can make plays in tight areas. I was curious to see how he would handle the workload. Three games in three nights is a grind and it takes a certain level of mental toughness to find the energy to be effective out there. I thought (Sunday) was his strongest game.”

● Penguins Insider report

Women’s Team

   Photo by Falon Moran, Daily Free Press

Freshman Sammy Davis (photo) scored her second goal of the game to break a 2-2 tie with three minutes left in regulation, and BU went on to a 4-2 win against Maine at Alfond Arena. The Terriers, who improved to 2-0, also received goals from Friday’s hero, senior Rebecca Russo, and sophomore Rebecca Leslie.

The Black Bears opened the scoring late in the first period and added to the lead early in the second. Davis cut the margin in half, redirecting home a Sarah Steele shot and Russo made it 2-2 midway through the middle stanza on a deflection.

After Davis’ third goal of the season gave BU its first lead, Leslie scored into an empty Maine net for the final margin. Victoria Hanson, who relieved Erin O’Neil in goal early in the second period, picked up her second win and emerged from the weekend with a .971 GAA.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

●Daily Free Press: Opening weekend sweep,  Davis shines in debut

► With the two wins, BU moves up from #8 to #7 in the USCHO weekly poll.

Davis and Hanson saw their efforts rewarded with the Hockey East Rookie of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week honors. Russo, who scored the game-winner against UConn Friday in the final second of regulation, earned a spot on the Top Performers’ list.

● Hockey East Weekly release