Saturday, September 23, 2023

Captain's Q&A; Prospect Pool Ranking has BU on top; 30 Terriers at NHL camps

 

It’s Case McCarthy Day at The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog as we have, first, the annual THFB Captain’s Q&A, and then his appearance on this week’s Terrier Hockey Talk podcast from the Boston Hockey Blog.

Last season, the 6’0” right-shot defenseman was an assistant captain and set career best marks in points (15), assists (12) and blocked shots (71) while earning Hockey East All-Academic Team honors for a second time.

In our Q&A, grad student McCarthy talks about his season-ending injury and recovery, his decision to become a fifth-year player, teaming up with brother Gavin, a new uniform number and the coaches’ and team’s emphasis on both structure and culture as the foundation of BU’s success, among other topics.

Q: How disappointing was it not to be able play in the Hockey East title game or the NCAA tournament? And how did that factor into your decision to return for a fifth season?

A: It was extremely disappointing for me having to watch that last stretch. However, I am extremely proud of the way the group performed down the stretch to not only win Hockey East but also make it to the Frozen Four. It definitely played a major role in my decision to come back and compete for BU for one more year. I personally feel like I have unfinished business and I want to have those experiences, but I also know that the group this year feels the same way with the knowledge of what it takes to get there.

Q: What is the status of your recovery? A recent video showed you in a blue practice jersey.

A: As of now I am transitioning to be full contact after getting clearance from both the surgeon and the team doctors.  I am feeling great and very fortunate to have the opportunity to be healthy and play the sport that I love for BU again. I’ll be ready to go for the October 7th game against Bentley.

Q: When was the last time Gavin and you were teammates?

A: Being four years older I have never had the opportunity to play with Gavin.  I was able to play with our brother Aiden a long time ago when we were just starting to play.  I’m excited to have Gavin at school and be able to be around him every day.

Q: What is the backstory of Gavin taking your #2 jersey while you shift to #7 (which has been worn by a long list of high-impact defensemen)?

A: #7 had been my number growing up, or #77 if it was taken. Since Vlasic and I both wanted the number for school I think we had to rock, paper, scissors for it which obviously I lost. I am grateful to be included in the history of wearing #2 at BU, however I felt that with the opportunity to wear #7 again and give my number to my brother to allow him to be a part of that history was special for me. 

Continue reading 

                                                


● Spotify.com Case McCarthy on BHB’s Terrier Hockey Talk

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Tristan Amonte, Mick Frechette, Tom Willander, Ryan Greene

 

 L-R: Assistant Equipment Manager Mike Scire and Equipment Manager Mike DiMella

 

National Rankings 

Two days after College Hockey News gave the Terriers the #1 slot in its pre-season Top 10, ESPN's John Buccigross put BU atop his pre-season top 16. Like the CHN ranking, Buccigross had all of last April's Frozen Four teams in his top five. BC sits in the #6 spot while Providence is #12.

 Looking ahead

In ranking its prospect pools, Puck Preps looked at teams' classes by birth year, rather than matriculation year. Hence, freshman Macklin Celebrini is in BU's 2006 class, along with future Terriers Kamil Bednarik, Cal Hughes, Cole Hutson, Owen Keefe and John McNelis. 

BU's 2006 birth year group was ranked #2 behind North Dakota.  The 2005 birth year group--ranked #10--includes freshman Gavin McCarthy and 2024 recruits Brandon Svoboda, Jack Pridham and Michael Chambre. Players from outside North America, including Swedish defenseman Tom Willander, are not part of the calculations.

 The Terriers especially strong start with 2007 birth year players--NTDP U17s Conrad Fondrk, Jack Murtagh and Charlie Trethewey, plus Youngstown's tendered forward Zach Morin from Quebec--was instrumental in BU gaining the overall top spot.

A few player profiles from the Puck Preps report:

Kamil Bednarik is a player the BU coaching staff will fall in love with given the attractive brand of hockey he plays. The 6’0 185 lbs Illinois native is coming off a productive season with the NTDP where he scored 44 points in 61 games. His tenacious forecheck and ability to get under the opposition’s skin and force errors will be a huge advantage for his side to get their skill players on the puck more. He is an excellent complementary winger who has a great positional understanding and is a quick decision maker. He is a right-place right-time style of player who does not hesitate or panic when the puck lands on his stick, instead making an intelligent play.

Cole Hutson is a household name at this point and his offensive capabilities are just as well known. Much like his older brother, Lane, Cole is a diminutive offensive minded defenseman with sublime vision and playmaking ability with the puck on his stick. He uses deception in the form of body feints to open passing lanes well and feather passes into the space that opens up. His skating is expectedly elite as is his edgework and quick acceleration to provide him with unlimited opportunities in the attacking zone. Quarterbacking the Terrier powerplay is almost certainly going to be one of his responsibilities.

Owen Keefe is a two-way defenseman with a wide range of tools in his kit, something that will make him a valuable member of this future blue line. His vision and defensive positioning are some of his standout traits, as his timing with poke checks and d-zone rotations denies attackers free entry into middle ice. Keefe facilitates play well, moving the puck quickly and making precise passes to forwards in transition.

►2024 recruit Chambre stopped 23 of 25 shots in his initial action of the USHL season as Sioux Falls dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to Tri-City. The Florida native and NTDP alum kept the Storm off the score sheet until a power play goal late in the third period tied the game.

● Sfstampede.com Herd and Storm battle into OT, herd falls, 2-1

►2024 or 2025 recruit Hughes assisted on the game-winning goal and added an insurance goal as BCHL West Kelowna opened its season with a 5-3 win against Penticton.

● WestKelownaWarriors.ca recap 


►USA Hockey has confirmed that all NTDP home games—U18s and U17s—will be streamed on USA Hockey’s new platform https://usahockeytv.com/ this year. You will have to create an account, but all NTDP games will be streamed for free.

● NTDP Current rosters, schedules

 

Looking back

                                           Domenick Fensore - Men's Ice Hockey - Boston University Athletics

Twenty-nine Terriers are rostered for NHL training camps, including five from last season’s Frozen Four squad: Matt Brown (PHL), Drew Commesso (CHI), Dom Fensore (CAR, photo), Jay O’Brien (TOR) and Wilmer Skoog (FLA).  The Bruins have six Terriers in their camp: Alex Chiasson, Charlie Coyle, AJ Greer. Matt Grzelcyk, Charlie McAvoy and Kevin Shattenkirk.  A full list is in the BU news release below

● GoTerriers.com Twenty-Nine Terriers Taking Part in NHL Training Camps

Update: make that 30 Terriers in NHL camps. Adam Clendening has been signed to a PTO contract by the New York Rangers and joined their camp roster. The right-shot defenseman, who scored 11 points in 31 games for the Rangers in 1916-17, spent the past few seasons in the AHL.

● Daily Faceoff.com Rangers sign Adam Clendening to PTO

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