Ahti on the mend; Junior National Team camp opens at Agganis

The Boston Hockey Blog tweeted that senior Ahti Oksanen (photo) who was helped from  the ice in the third period against Quinnipiac “suffered an upper-body injury …and the team is hopeful for his return on Jan. 7, per source.”

Freshman Bobo Carpenter’s third-period goal against Quinnipiac was selected as one of the five top plays of the week by the NCAA. (video)

►If you were unable to attend or watch the BU-Quinnipiac game, the full contest is available for  viewing on YouTube. [Note: this link takes you to the Oksanen injury in the third period; just drag the red control back to the beginning to see the full game.]

Junior National Team Training Camp at BU

Training camp began at Agganis Arena yesterday for 28 candidates for the squad that will represent the U.S. in the World Junior Championships in Finland.  

The Daily Free Press talked with sophomore Brandon Fortunato and freshman Charlie McAvoy who were paired on the blueline for much of the first practice.  

HometownLife reported on BU 2016 recruits Kieffer Bellows, Clayton Keller and Chad Krys, who are seeking to make Team USA as under-agers.

● USA Hockey: First practice notes; Video report

U.S. National Junior Team takes the ice in Boston to open training camp for IIHF World Junior Championship. #USAWJC pic.twitter.com/x8amW0BWa1

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 15, 2015

Looking ahead

.@Jake_Oettinger pad save vs. Youngstown in his first shutout of the season is this week's @Kroger "Great Save." pic.twitter.com/BRP2Nq337j

— USA Hockey NTDP (@USAHockeyNTDP) December 15, 2015

2018 recruit Jake Wise heads SB Nation’s pre-season All-Massachusetts Catholic School Team.  The 5-11 left-shot center led Catholic Central last season with a 16-26-42 scoring line in 25 games.

The '00 is an elite talent with an equally impressive hockey IQ. There is little doubt he's the best '00 forward in the U.S. and will be a sure-fire bet to be invited to play for the US National Team Development Program next season. He'll be the catalyst for Central Catholic's run to a Super 8 title.

2018 recruit Tyler Weiss assisted on the game-winning goal—“after some great work down low”— as Team Graves defeated Team Corson in the GTHL top prospects game, 3-2.

Looking back

Last week, members of BU’s 1971 and 1972 back-to-back NCAA championship teams gathered at The Fours in Norwell, Massachusetts for their fifth annual reunion luncheon.  Front row: Assistant Coach Bob Crocker, Steve Dolloff.;  back row (L to R): Peter Yetten, Joe Robillard, Bob Gryp, John Danby, Ed Walsh, Tim Regan; center row (L to R): manager Chris Henes, John Grady, Larry Abbott.

►On Saturday, Dec. 12th, a memorial service for the late Jack Garrity was held at Milton Academy’s Apthorp Chapel. Garrity, who died on August 31, was a two-time All-American who led the Terriers to their first two Frozen Fours in 1950 and 1951. He holds the BU record for most goals in a season with 51 and was inducted into the BU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1959.

Garrity’s four children offered poignant tributes to their father regarding his core values of family, education and consideration of others. As a World War II veteran, his family was presented with an American flag by a U.S. Military honor guard.

Among the attendees were former Terrier head coach Jack Parker and former assistant coach Ben Smith. In April 2009, Parker invited Garrity to fly up from Florida to the Frozen Four in Washington, DC to speak with the Terriers on the eve of the tournament.  In the finals, BU overcame a 3-1 deficit with less than a minute to go in regulation, and defeated Miami University in overtime for their fifth national championship.  Many thanks to blog reader pmitch for sharing details of the memorial service.

 
►New Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, who captained BU’s 1990 Frozen Four squad, expounded on his coaching philosophy at a press conference following his first practice.  

● NHL.com report and video   

David Warsofsky running Pittsburgh's No. 1 PP. Typical BU.

— Fluto Shinzawa (@GlobeFluto) December 16, 2015

Kevin Shattenkirk assisted on a pair of power play goals in the Blues 4-3 win against Winnipeg. The former BU All-American and captain has four goals and 15 assists in 21 games.

Former BU assistant captain Sean Escobedo (photo) has been signed to a professional tryout contract by the Hartford Wolfpack. The defenseman from Bayside, NY had a 1-10-11 scoring line in 26 games for the ECHL Swamp Rabbits. Both teams are affiliates of the New York Rangers.