H.E. Media Poll; Erod to Avs; Frozen Fenway

 

The Hockey East Writers & Broadcasters Media Association pre-season poll has ast year's regular-season champion, Northeastern in the top spot with 117 points and 7 first-place votes, while 2022 conference tournament titlist UMass was second with 96 points and 3 first-place votes. Closely bunched Providence (87), UConn (86) and BU (85) followed with the Terriers snaring one first-place vote.

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2022-23 @hockey_east Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
8. Merrimack 51
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21
(1/2)

— Mike Machnik (@MikeMachnikCHN) September 12, 2022

The poll's pre-season all-star team features one Terrier, defenseman Dom Fensore, who is joined on the blueline by UMass' Scott Morrow. Forwards are PC's Brett Berard, NU's Aiden McDonough and UConn's Ryan Tverberg. The goalie is NU's Devon Levi.

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We’re only 1️⃣9️⃣ days away from opening night at @AgganisArena! pic.twitter.com/uVMHefjEov

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) September 12, 2022

Looking back

Unrestricted free agent Evan Rodrigues has landed with the Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, signing a one-year deal worth a reported $2 million. He's coming off a career year in Pittsburgh where he scored 19 goals and added 24 assists. ERod skated in every regular season contest in 2021-22, the only Penguins player to do so, and finished fifth on the team in goals, sixth in points and tied for sixth in assists.

● NHL.com Avalanche signs Evan Rodrigues

● SportsNet.ca Avalanche sign Evan Rodrigues to one-year, $2M contract

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Otter mask for Jake Oettinger. 🚨🦦

(📸: @DallasStars) pic.twitter.com/Y7ADKuRcyT

— BarDown (@BarDown) September 10, 2022

Looking ahead

2023 recruit Michael LaStarza scored a pair of goals and totaled five shots in Sioux Falls’ 5-3 exhibition game win against Sioux City. The 5’11” left wing from Montreal had 44 points last season, split between Sioux Falls and Waterloo. He previously had 66 points in 45 games with Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U AAA.

2023 recruit Anton Castro stopped all eight shots he faced in 30 minutes of action in Fargo’s 3-1 exhibition game win against Tri-City. The 6’3” goalie from Mendota Heights, Minn., split last season between Fargo and NAHL Aberdeen.

2024 recruits Cole Hutson and Kamil Bednarik each tallied his first NTDP goal in the U17s’ 7-3 loss to Janesville. USA Hockey’s recap: 

“The U.S. got on the board first courtesy of a great individual effort from Cole Hutson. The defenseman took a drop-pass from Kristian Epperson and cruised into the offensive zone. Hutson charged the left lane and fired a quick shot from the left circle that snuck through Jets goaltender, Selby Warren, to give the U17s a 1-0 lead." 

Bednarik’s score came on a redirection.

 

2023 or 2024 recruit Tim Busconi is on the training camp roster of BCHL Victoria, joining 2023 recruit Jack Gorton. A right-shot defenseman, the Milton, Mass., grew up in the Boston Advantage program and had a 10-21-31 line in 35 games with the 18U AAA team last season. He also made 15 starts for the Boston Advantage NCDC team.

Women's Team

In the DCU/USCHO Women's D1 hockey poll, BU did not make the top 15, but was tied for 17th with St. Lawrence.

The Terriers will participate in this Winter's Frozen Fenway series, taking on conference foe Holy Cross. The January date and time are TBD.

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When we kick off the second half of this year's schedule, it will be a really short bus ride!🏒❅🐾 pic.twitter.com/wECMPHFBPj

— BU Women's Hockey (@TerrierWHockey) September 12, 2022