Sunday, December 31, 2023

A big night for Terrier Ds past and future; US, Sweden, Canada advance to medal round

 

On Friday, two current Terrier blueliners—Lane Hutson and Tom Willander keyed wins for their teams in the World Junior championship. On Saturday a former BU defenseman and one who arrives at Comm. Ave. next September played decisive roles in their games.

Looking ahead

2024 recruit Cole Hutson scored the game-winner at 2:35 of overtime, firing a shot in off the crossbar, as the NTDP U18s edged North Dakota, 4-3, in Grand Forks. Early in the third period, fellow recruit Kamil Bednarik scored on a wrap-around, assisted by Hutson and Cole Eiserman, to give Team USA a 3-2 lead before the Fighting Hawks tied the game to force overtime.

Hutson's goal was his eighth, giving him 25 points in 29 games. Bednarik has a 15-19-34 line in 29 games, while Eiserman has a 28-20-48 line in 25 games.

 

In the BCHL, 2025 recruit Cal Hughes scored a pair of goals, his 12th and 13th, in West Kelowna’s 4-3 overtime loss to Prince George. The first was short-handed. The second was assisted by 2024 recruit Jack Pridham who extended his points streak to nine games with 13 points (4G,9A). Both skaters will participate in the BCHL Top Prospects game on January 19.

 

2025 recruit John McNelis 9th scored his ninth goal as Sioux Falls defeated Cedar Rapids, 5-2. 

World Junior Championships

Lane Hutson assisted on three tallies, including the short-handed game-winner, as Team USA routed Slovakia, 10-2.  He also was +3 and led all skaters with 23:41 ice time The win clinches first place in Group B at the World Junior Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. The US next plays Latvia in the medal round quarterfinals on January 2.  Hutson has five assists in five games.

Despite losing to Finland, 5-4, in a shootout, Sweden finishes atop Group A. Tom Willander assisted on the host team's initial goal and has two points (G,A) in four games. He led Sweden with +8 and wasn't on the ice for any opponent goals in the preliminary round.

Macklin Celebrini scored twice to lead Canada to 6-3 win over a stubborn German team. He earned player of the game honors for Canada and now is tied for second in most points in the tournament.  Here are links to his first and second goals.


 


►As 2023 ends, BU is ranked #2 with a 12-4-1 record. A year ago following a 2-1 overtime win against Harvard on Dec. 30, the Terriers were ranked #9 with a 12-5-0 record. For the calendar year 2023, BU is 29-10-1.    

 

Looking back

Kevin Shattenkirk scored a pair of goals in the Bruins’ 5-2 win against the Devils. His first, assisted by Matt Grzelcyk and Charlie Coyle, was not only the game-winner, but also the 100th tally of the former Terrier captain’s NHL career and, as Conor Ryan tweeted a “T. Anthony Trio @TerrierHockey Tally.” 

From The Hockey News;
Shattenkirk became the second defenseman from the 2007 Draft class to reach 100 goals, joining P.K. Subban (115), according to NHL Stats.

With an assist on the opening goal of the Panthers’ 4-1 win over Montreal, Evan Rodrigues has 24 points (7G,17A) and is +18, seventh best in the NHL.

 

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