With
BU’s opening game against Union less than a week away, THFB presents its annual
captain’s Q&A interview, this year with senior defenseman Brandon Hickey.
For the fifth consecutive season, the Terriers are being led by a blueliner.
The
6’ 2” Leduc, Alberta, native, has generated 15 goals and 25 assists and has been
one of Hockey East’s top shot blockers during his first three seasons. A
third-round draft pick of Calgary in 2014, his rights were traded to Arizona
last June and he attended Coyotes development camp this past summer along with
Clayton Keller and freshman Cam Crotty.
Q. Brandon, why did you
decide to return for your senior season? What tipped the scales?
A. First and foremost, Boston is an amazing city and going
to Boston University has been one of the most rewarding and special experiences
I’ve had in my life. What kept me here is that I feel we are building something
special for this upcoming season. I wanted to be part of it and wanted to
help lead the way. It’s hard to want to leave a place like this.
Q. How has playing for
David Quinn made you a better defenseman? What's the most important thing he’s
instilled in you?
A. He truly is one of the best defensive minds in hockey
today; to be honest, he is the biggest reason why I came to BU. He is
unbelievable at picking apart all the little details of your game, everything
from stick positioning, to body positioning, all the way to the little things
in your posture that could be improved to help you defend more efficiently. The
most important thing that he has taught me though is how to approach each day
like a pro, whether it is a game, practice, or even a lift. He has always
stressed coming into each day with a pro mentality.
Q. What are your personal goals for the season and what
facets of the game are you looking to improve?
A. This season for me is an important one because it is the
last chance I have to leave an impression before I turn pro. With that being
said, I am looking to continue improving the offensive side of my game, like
puck skills, poise with the puck and playmaking. I want to do all of this
without sacrificing anything on the defensive side of the puck. That is
where there is a fine line. However, my main goal this year is to help instill
the BU hockey mentality and culture in the younger players, to show them what
they need to do to win this year and in the future.
►
Results of the Hockey East Writers and Broadcasters Association pre-season poll are out and BU, with just over half (13) of the 25
possible first-place votes, finished on top for the second consecutive year. A pair of Terrier sophomores, Jake Oettinger
and Dante Fabbro were named to the pre-season All-Hockey East team.
2017 Media Pre-season Poll
1.
Boston University (13) 259
2.
Providence (5) 235
3.
UMass-Lowell (5) 233
4.
Northeastern (2) 193
5.
Boston College 185
6.
Vermont 148
7.
Merrimack 109
8.
Connecticut 98
9.
New Hampshire 73
10.
Massachusetts 60
11.
Maine 57
Pre-season All Hockey East Team
F
Adam Gaudette (Jr., Northeastern)
F
Brian Pinho (Sr., Providence)
F
Dylan Sikura (Sr., Northeastern)
D
Garrett Cockerill (Sr., Northeastern)
D
Dante Fabbro (So., Boston University)
D
Casey Fitzgerald (Jr., Boston College)
G
Jake Oettinger (So., Boston University)
Looking
ahead
2018
recruit Joel Farabee (photo) scored twice in regulation and produced the only goal in a
shootout as the NTDP U18s edged USHL Muskegon, 7-6. The 5’11’ speedster from Cicero,
NY tied the game at 2-2 in the second period on a shorthanded breakaway goal.
His third-period goal gave the U18s a 6-5 lead, but the Lumberjacks responded
late in the period. After a scoreless overtime, Farabee, who had a combined 50
points (25G, 25A) last season between the U17s and U18s, “stole the show, scoring the only
goal of the contest on an ever-so-patient move that he followed up with a
bar-down wrister on the shootout’s very first shot,” according to the Muskegon
recap.
●
USA Hockey recap
●
USHL box score
Ryan O'Connell had another 2 point game for Penticton, makes a nice pass to Cassidy Bowes for the goal pic.twitter.com/ugyXWFUv8t— Future Of The Six (@FutureOfThe6) September 24, 2017
2018 recruit Ryan O’Connell scored his first goal of the season and assisted on the game-winner as BCHL Penticton doubled up Chilliwack, 6-3. The 6’2” defenseman from Gloucester, Ontario has four points in four games for the undefeated Vees.
●
BCHL box score
●
Penticton recap
Looking
back
Clayton
Keller tallied a pair of assists for the Coyotes, who fell
to San Jose, 5-4, in a shootout.
Women’s
Team
Terriers
dropped a 2-1 decision to Merrimack in the regular-season opening game at
Walter Brown Arena. BU took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on a
power play goal by Reagan Rust, assisted by Victoria Bach and Abby Cook. Rust,
a junior, transferred to BU from R.I.T.
The Warriors tied the score with their own power play goal half-way
through the second period and scored the go-ahead goal in the final minute of
the period. BU fired 11 shots in the third period but couldn’t produce an
equalizer. Senior goalie Erin O’Neil stopped 30 Merrimack shots.
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