Monday, April 10, 2023

UPDATED Moving Day: Signing and Departures; an empty goalie room

NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes is reporting that junior goalie Drew Commesso will be signing an entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks who had drafted him in the second round of the 2020 draft. In three seasons as a Terrier, he had a 43-22-4 record. 2022-23 was his best season with a 24-8-0 record and a 2.46 GAA. He earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the Hockey East championships, yielding just three goals in the final two games.

According to NBC Sports Chicago, the deal will begin next season and run through the 2025-26 campaign.  Financial details have not yet been reported. Commesso will join his former BU teammate, Alex Vlasic, who signed with Chicago last Spring after his junior season and who recently was called up to the Blackhawks after a season in the AHL.

● GoTerriers.com Commesso signs entry-level contract with Chicago Blackhawks

● NBCSports Chicago Blackhawks sign goalie Drew Commesso

 

Five Terriers entered the Transfer Portal on Monday. Sophomore Brian Carrabes, junior Vinny Duplessis and seniors Jamie Armstrong, Ethan Phillips and John Copeland. Armstrong, Phillips and Copeland are eligible for a fifth seasons because their 2020-21 season was impacted by the COVID-19 the pandemic.

Duplessis made 21 starts over three seasons with a 15-6-0 record, 2.20 GAA and a .915 save percentage in his total of 25 games. He was particularly invaluable when Commesso was out with Covid and when Commesso was in Beijing at the 2022 Olympic games. A highlight was his performance in the 2022 Beanpot, beating Harvard, 4-3, and then blanking Northeastern in the championship game. A highlight of the last season was a 31-save, 3-2 win at Michigan.

Carrabes played in 24 games as a freshman, but only had 11 starts this past season and compiled a 5-5-10 career line.

Armstrong, who excelled in his role on the checking line, had a strong senior season with a 5-8-13 line and two game-winning goals. and finished his career with 26 points.

Phillips had 38 points (12G,26A) during a career plagued by injuries. He missed all but one game as a sophomore, seven a junior and 11 as a senior. However, his four-point performance in the Manchester Regional last month earned him a spot on the all-tournament team as well as Hockey East Player of the Week honors.

Copeland, who came to BU as a project, played in just one game his first two seasons, but worked his way into the defense corps rotations as a junior (18 games) and skated in 27 games as a senior, taking on a larger role when Case McCarthy was injured.

► With Commesso turning pro and Duplessis entering the transfer portal, the BU goalie room is, for the moment, empty. Third string goalie Patrick Schena, a grad student, has expended his eligibility. NTDP U18 goalie Michael Chambre is committed for next season and, according to Twitter posts, the transfer portal may provide BU with a goalie who has two years of Division 1 experience. Stay tuned.

Poll story


In the final national polls of the season, BU finishes at #4 in both the USCHO weekly poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. Back in September, the Terriers were ranked #12 in USCHO’s pre-season poll and #14 in the USA Today poll. Both polls had ranked eventual NCAA champion Quinnipiac at #7.BU was ranked in the top 20 of both polls all 28 weeks of the season.

 

► Boston Hockey Blog: Ranking the 10 Best Moments of the Season

► Boston Hockey Blog: Dog Pound Diary

 

Looking ahead

2023 recruits Macklin Celebrini and Jack Harvey each scored a goal as Chicago bounced back to defeat Youngstown, 6-2. Harvey’s goal, which was the game-winner, was his 36th, while Celebrini registered his league-high 46th goal. He also extended his franchise record for power play goals to 21 and upped his point total to 86. Harvey now has 70 points.

2023 recruit Doug Grimes' power play goal proved the game-winner as Lincoln rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Omaha, 5-3. The Brookline, Mass., power forward added a second goal, his 22nd, and now has 44 points.

At the USA Hockey Nationals, two BU recruits won championships and made their tournament All-Star teams: 2024 recruit Will Zellers with Shattuck St. Mary's in the U18 Division (he's playing up a year) and 2025 recruit John McNelis with Long Island Gulls in the 16U Division.

Looking back

In Dallas's 2-1 shootout win against Vegas on Saturday night, Jake Oettinger made 19 saves, including this five-bell gem. 

Last night, Oettinger gained his 36th win of the season, stopping 12 of 13 shots in 40 minutes before his back-up played the final period, as the Stars thumped Detroit, 6-1.


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