Thursday, October 10, 2024

UPDATED: Pandolfo dishes on opening night win; NESN schedule; 17 Terriers on NHL rosters






Head Coach Jay Pandolfo held his weekly media call today and addressed last weekend's win and more. In addition there was media availability with two Terrier newcomers, senior transfer Matt Copponi and freshman Alex Zetterberg. Thanks to the Boston Hockey Blog reporters who posted the following comments:

Pandolfo added that Greene was "clearly the best player on the ice" in the win over Holy Cross. 

On Sascha Boumedienne's performance on Saturday: "I thought he handled himself very well...Playing against older players is obviously going to be a little bit of a challenge for him, but I've seen huge strides in his game just from the start of preseason." 

On Mick Frechette's performance Saturday: "He's made huge improvements in his game, just from being committed every day in practice last year, having an understanding of how we want to play. I thought he was really good in game one." 

 On Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman working with BU: "He trains here in the summertime...so he was just using our facilities. It was great to have him around, the guys could talk to him, especially the goalies, just kind of bounced different things off him. Jeremy's a great kid, very humble"

Copponi added: "I'm not the biggest guy in the league...it doesn't matter about the size of you, it matters how big your heart is."

On not hearing his name called at the NHL draft in June: "I know who I am as a player and it really doesn't make a difference in who I am. So I just try to put that away." [Note: Zetterberg is eligible again for the next draft.]

 

►In an analysis of the Holy Cross game, BHB’s Sam Robb O’Hagan concludes that “Boston University men’s hockey entered the "Cole World.” He opines:

If there was any doubt, it was snuffed in a hurry: the era to follow the unforgettable Macklin Celebrini-Lane Hutson show belongs to Cole Eiserman and Cole Hutson. Both freshman phenoms didn’t even play that well by their standards Saturday, and still, the reality was loud and clear: The Coles were the two most talented players on the ice. 

● Boston Hockey Blog: With Mack and Lane gone, BU men’s hockey enters the Cole World


►Per the Grand Forks Herald: DraftKings Sportsbook has posted futures odds for the college hockey season.

Boston College is their favorite to win the NCAA national title at +500, followed by Minnesota (+800), Denver (+900), Michigan (+1100), Michigan State (+1200) and Boston University (+1200).

UND has the seventh-best odds at +1300. Providence has the 11th-best odds at +2200.

►Hockey East has announced its schedule of games that will air on NESN in New England. Fans outside of New England can watch the games on ESPN+.

BU will have five regular-season games on NESN: 10/18 vs. UConn; 12/11 at UMass; 1/17 at New Hampshire; 1/24 vs. BC; 1/25 at BC.

● GoTerriers.com Seven Games to Air on NESN as Part of Hockey East Package


►While enhancements to Walter Brown Arena are being completed, Agganis Arena will host seven doubleheaders featuring the women's and men's team during first semester.

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►According to the NCAA, college hockey enjoys a 93-percent graduation rate, tied for the best among all NCAA Division I men’s sports.

Looking ahead

College Hockey News' Mike McMahon looks at the proposed eligibility changes that would allow Major Junior players from the CHL to play for NCAA team. The article also addresses how that might impact the status of 2025 or 2026 recruit Zach Morin. 

Boston University recruit Zachary Morin left the Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) last season and signed with the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL.

Morin is originally from Quebec. He's projected as a late-first, or most likely second-round pick in next summer's NHL Draft. 

Current NCAA rules would prohibit Morin from playing NCAA hockey because he signed in the "Q." However, if the D-I council passes the proposal next month, he could still end up as a Terrier

 Note: Elite Prospects still lists Morin as a BU recruit.

2026 recruit Haoxi (Simon) Wang's combination of size (6'6") and skill continues to draw attention from the scouting community. The right-shot defenseman is eligible for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

In this 2025 Draft Talk session, HockeyProspects.com' scouting director and a scout discuss Wang's substantial upside ("a special toolkit") as well as the "needs improvement" areas of his game.

Looking back


With 17 active NHLers, BU is tied with BC for most on opening-night rosters and second behind Michigan (26) for most in D1. Overall, of 240 NCAA players in the NHL right now.

Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson join the list of NHL Active Terriers. Gone from list are Kevin Shattenkirk and Nick Bonino, the last two members of the 2009 national champions to be playing in the NHL. Shatty and Nick, along with 1995 champs Chris Drury and Jay Pandolfo are the only Terriers to win both an NCAA championship and the Stanley Cup.

2009 alum Brandon Yip is still playing pro hockey and is in his seventh season with Kulan Red Star in the KHL.

● GoTerriers.com Seventeen Terriers Named to NHL Opening Night Rosters

● HockeyEastOnline 82 Hockey East Alumni to begin NHL Season in 2024-25 

►When Celebrini takes the ice tonight, he’ll become the 95th Terrier to play in the NHL. The 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, who will center the Sharks’ top line tonight, said:

“I’m going to face challenges that other guys might not have or different things like that. For me, it’s just going through it myself, going through an 82-game season and really dealing with the different ups and downs and back-to-backs and things like that. That’s something that I really have to do for myself.”

● NHL.com Celebrini ready for Sharks debut, rigors of 82-game regular season

►First Terrier to hit an NHL score sheet this season was Clayton Keller who recorded his first goal in Utah’s 5-2 win over Chicago. Alex Vlasic had an assist for the Blackhawks.

Evan Rodrigues scored a goal and an assist—and earned the 3rd Star—as the defending champion Panthers defeated the Bruins, 6-4. AJ Greer, a former Bruin, had an assist and a fight. Charlie McAvoy scored Boston’s first goal (video). 

Jack Eichel assisted on four goals as the Golden Knights doubled up the Avalanche, 8-4.


Women’s Team 


Following their longest road trip of the year, a series at Minnesota, Terriers will take their shortest trip to begin a home-and-home against Northeastern at Matthews Arena, Friday.  Puck drop is at 7 p.m. for the game that will air on NESN and live-stream on ESPN+

Earlier in the week, freshman Lola Reid was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week with a goal and three assists.

● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, BU Women’s Hockey Twitter 

● Boston Hockey Blog preview


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