Saturday, December 14, 2024

Zetterberg, Bednarik lead BU past U18s, 7-5

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In an offense filled game that produced 12 goals and 76 shots on goal, #13 Terriers defeated the NTDP U18s, 7-5, in the final game of the calendar year at Agganis Arena. Freshmen Alex Zetterberg (2G,A) and Kamil Bednarik (G,2A) led the offense with three points each while Tristen Amonte, Jack Hughes, Matt Copponi and Quinn Hutson scored a goal.

The win was the first against NTDP teams since 2018, Last year’s 8-2 loss featured a hat trick from Cole Eiserman and two tallies from Cole Hutson. Neither of them was in the lineup as they, along with Brandon Svoboda, are headed to Plymouth, Michigan, for Junior National Team camp. Tom Willander is going to Sweden’s camp.

With Mathieu Caron given the night off, Max Lacroix got the start. Forwards Devin Kaplan (maintenance) and Doug Grimes also were out of the line-up.

BU dominated the first half of the opening period with two goals. At 1:15, Matt Copponi disrupted a U18 breakout. The puck went to Ryan Greene who passed to Shane Lachance and his shot was redirected home by Copponi.  

Ten minutes later, Hutson doubled the lead. Hughes stripped a defender behind the US goal, and passed to Zetterberg who found Hutson alone in front for a quick shot past Harrison Boettiger.

The U18s slowly turned the momentum and they got on the board when Jake Stuart, alone outside the crease took a pass from behind the goal line and beat Lacroix.

Team USA tied the score four minutes into the middle period on Will Horcoff’s goal.

BU re-established a two-goal lead with a pair of tallies two minutes apart. First, Jack Harvey stole a puck along the boards in the offensive zone, drove toward the net and set up Amonte’s quick wrister. Bednarik had the second assist.

Then, Nick Roukounakis took a pass from Mick Frechette, and skated around the U18s’ cage and into the right circle. He fired a shot that Bednarik redirected home for a 4-2 lead.

Late in the period, Zetterberg skated into the US zone on a 2-on-1 with Hutson. The freshman wing's hard wrist shot from the left circle flew past Boetigger’s glove, making it 5-2.

The U8s got one back quickly when 2025 recruit Jack Murtagh retrieved a puck behind the BU net and centered it for Richard Gallant’s quick finish from in front of the crease. 5-3 BU.

Grad student Billy Girard IV took over in goal for Lacroix as the third period began. Five minutes in, Copponi drove from the point toward the U18s' goal, then dished to Zetterberg, who fired into a half-empty net for a 6-3 lead.

After moving and shooting the puck effectively on its first three power plays with no goals to show for it, BU connected on its fourth man-advantage. Harvey’s shot from the left circle was defended, but Bednarik slipped the rebound to Hughes for a put-back and a 7-3 lead.

Gallant scored his second goal, again assisted by Murtagh to make the score 7-4. Then Will Moore added one more for the U18s with 1.8 seconds remaining for the 7-5 final.

BU outshot the U18s, 43-33, but was on the short end of face-offs winning 25 of 55. Terriers blocked 14 shots with Aiden Celebrini accounting for three.

Along with Murtagh, who showed an impressive physical and offensive skill game, fellow recruits Conrad Fondrk, who centered the U18s' first line, and Charlie Trethewey on the top D pair, each had strong games as was expected from highly rated prospects. Trethewey received an A-rating on Central Scouting's Preliminary Watch List for the 2025 draft, while Murtagh and Fondrk each received a B-rating.

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score

● Highlights

● Post-game: Pandolfo, Roukounakis, Zetterberg

● Boston Hockey Blog BU men’s hockey concludes first half with 7-5 exhibition win over NTDP

 

Looking ahead

2025 recruit Mikhail Yegorov stopped 27 shots, but Sioux City rallied in the third period for a 5-3 win over Omaha.

2026 recruit Jay Feldberg score in double overtime to give the Toronto Jr. Canadians a 2-1 win against Stouffville. The right-shot center has an 8-9-17 line in 24 games.

Looking back

Even with Kevin Shattenkirk’s retirement this week, the number of Terriers in the NHL is growing to 19. Drew Commesso was recalled by the Blackhawks a week ago and saw his first action on Thursday night (11 minute of relief). Defenseman Cam Crotty was recalled from the AHL to Minnesota a day after Commesso, but has yet to see game action. Crotty made his NHL debut last Spring when he was with the Coyotes organization.

 

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