McAvoy signs with Bruins; Quinn looks to the future.

As anticipated, sophomore defenseman Charlie McAvoy will give up his final two years of eligibility after signing an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the AHL Providence Bruins. An entry-level NHL contract with Boston will begin with the 2017-18 season.

The right-shot blueliner from Long Beach, NY was BU’s top-scoring defenseman with 26 points (5G, 21A) after a 25-point freshman campaign. He also was an alternate captain on the gold-medal winning US squad at the 2017 World Junior Championships.

His final point as a Terrier was the double-overtime game-winner against North Dakota in the NCAA regionals.

At Providence, McAvoy—Boston’s first-round draft pick last June— will be reunited with his former BU defense partner Matt Grzelcyk, who is completing his first pro season. He's expected to make his debut on Saturday.
● GoTerriers.com report

● Boston Hockey Blog report

● SB Nation report

● USCHO report 

Looking ahead

With McAvoy and Clayton Keller moving to the next level, Terrier head coach David Quinn sat down with Jonathan Sigal of the Daily Free Press to answer the question: “What’s the state of BU Hockey moving forward?”

Talking at length on Wednesday in his Agganis Arena office, Quinn said that he fully expects junior defensemen John MacLeod (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Brandon Hickey (Calgary Flames) to be back, and the same goes for sophomore forwards Jordan Greenway (Minnesota Wild) and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (Boston Bruins).

Quinn, who also discussed BU’s eight-man 2017-18 recruit class, called the recently ended season a “good” one, but declined to label it a success, noting “there’s only one measuring stick and that’s a national title. He added:

“I think we’re in really good shape. “We’ve been to three straight NCAA Tournaments. We’ve played for a national championship, got knocked in the first round, then lost in overtime. We just have to keep going back to win one. That’s how it works. You can’t show up once every four years and win a national title. You have to keep going back.”

Further comments from Quinn can be found in Sigal’s Twitter feed.

 

Keller signs 3-year deal with Coyotes, makes NHL debut

As expected, BU’s star freshman Clayton Keller has signed an entry-level contract with the Arizona Coyotes who had made him their first draft choice and 7^th overall in last June’s Entry Draft. Shortly after BU returned to Boston early Sunday morning, Keller, who led BU in scoring with 45 points (21G, 24A), flew to St. Louis (the Coyotes’ next stop on a road trip). He led the team’s Sunday practice and made his NHL debut last night.  A native of nearby Swansea, Illinois, Keller recorded 14 minutes of ice time in Arizona’s 4-1 loss to the Blues.

● GoTerriers.com report

● Video Q&A with Keller

Clayton Keller's favorite player growing up? Keith Tkachuk. pic.twitter.com/X3MJL7R53W

— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) March 27, 2017

A number of reports indicate that sophomore Charlie McAvoy's advisor is discussing an ATO contract with the Bruins that might have him suiting up next weekend for the AHL Providence Bruins, where his former BU defense partner, Matt Grzelcyk, is in his first pro season.

► College Hockey Inc. Pro signings

Following the NCAA Regionals, the Terriers remained at #6 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. In both the RPI and KRACH ratings, BU is ranked #5.

Freshman Jake Oettinger, who stopped 56 pucks against North Dakota and another 20 against Duluth, was named Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week. It was the third time Oettinger earned DPOW honors. A two-time Rookie of the Week, he was named to Hockey East’s All-Rookie team and was selected as a Hockey East Second Team All-Star. McAvoy, who scored the game-winner against North Dakota, and Patrick Harper, who had two assists in the semifinal win and the tying goal against Duluth, were named to the weekly top performers list.

● GoTerriers.com report

► Somerby says thanks

Looking ahead

2017 NTDP Evaluation Camp in Plymouth, Michigan today and SB Nation’s Jeff Cox offers his thoughts on the 45 invitees, who included six future Terriers.  He ranked 2020 recruit Trevor Zegras (photo, Avon Old Farms) as the top forward in the group and 2019 recruit Case McCarthy as the #3 defenseman.

● SB Nation report

Looking back

With two assists in Buffalo’s 4-2 win against Florida, Jack Eichel reached the point-per-game mark with 55 points in 55 games.

Bulldogs' OT goal beats BU in NCAA Regional Final

With BU and Duluth headed to overtime, two things were certain: the final score would be 3-2 and that the result would either be déjà vu or a reversal of fortune. Two years ago, BU punched its ticket to the Frozen Four with a 3-2 win over UMD in the Regional Final. Sadly, that script wasn’t repeated Saturday night, as the Bulldogs scored a power play goal in overtime, sending them to Chicago while the Terriers’ season comes to an end.

After Bobo Carpenter was whistled for a trip at 1:39 of the extra session, UMD stopped a BU clearing pass and Adam Johnson fired from the point. His shot hit Doyle Somerby and rebounded to Johnson who skated into the right circle and wristed a shot high to the far corner past a screened Jake Oettinger.

The teams had finished the fast-paced first period at 1-1. After Bulldog goalie Hunter Miska stoned Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson with a desperate leg save, BU took the lead on Clayton Keller’s 21^st goal. The freshman skated up the left side, cut to the net and backhanded a shot off the post. UMD knotted the scored in the period’s final minute when a Terrier center-ice turnover allowed Alex Iafallo to enter the BU zone, skate behind the net and score on a wraparound just before Patrick Harper’s stick could stop the shot.

B-U!!  B-U!!  B-U!! 

Clayton Keller flies past UMD and finds the back of the net on the backhand! BU leads 1-0. #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/jWOMERvbp4

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 25, 2017

The second period was played at a slower pace with no goals scored, but both teams revved it up in the third. Midway through the period, UMD’s Joey Anderson brought the puck down the right side to the net. Oettinger made the initial save, but Anderson was able to flip the rebound into the cage.

BU pressed for an equalizer with Brandon Hickey just missing the top corner with a shot and Nick Roberto sending the puck over the net. With just under four minutes left in regulation, Chad Kyrs sent Harper into the UND zone. He skated into the right circle and wired a shot under the crossbar for his 13th goal and a 2-2 tie.

😱 😱 😱 😱 😱 😱 😱

WE ARE TIED UP!! Patrick Harper with an unreal shot and it's 2-2 with 3:13 on the clock! #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/D9KsuCwCPk

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 26, 2017

► The Terriers had killed 27 consecutive power plays before yielding the man-advantage goal that ended their season.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Post Game comments: Quinn, Somerby, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson

● ►Daily Free Press recap

● USCHO recap and photo gallery

● College Hockey News recap, What next for BU?

● Boston Herald recap     

● Duluth News Tribune recap

We couldn't ask for better fans. Thank you for all your support this season! #GoBU pic.twitter.com/fJTpZ2rGvN

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) March 26, 2017

Looking back

Jack Eichel scored a pair of goals and added an assist as Buffalo thumped Toronto, 5-2. It was the sixth three-point game of the season for Eichel who now has a 23-30-53 scoring line in 54 games.

●  NHL.com recap and video

Colin Wilson assisted on a pair of goals as Nashville routed San Jose, 7-2.

Kevin Shattenkirk recorded his 38^th and 39^th assists in Washington’s 4-1 win against Arizona.