Looking Back: Miracle in Milwaukee

BU’s most recent Frozen Four appearance is now a decade in the past. One of the most memorable games in Terrier history—BU’s stunning 3-2 upset of defending champion Michigan in the 1997 semifinal—was played ten years ago today.

When Jack Parker’s “few good men” traveled to Milwaukee’s Bradley center for a rematch of the 1996 NCAA semifinal, easily won by Michigan, 4-0, few observers gave the Terriers much of a chance. The top-ranked Wolverines boasted a gaudy 35-3-4 record, 240 goals scored, seven 20-goal scorers and three first-team All-Americans, including goalie Marty Turco. After North Dakota won its semifinal earlier in the day, some of the media were asking Michigan Coach Red Berenson how his squad stacked up against the Sioux.

The Terriers had other ideas, beginning with a gameplan that called for playing fast and physical, and making the players in Maize and Blue regret each time they handled the puck. Crunching hits by Dan Lacouture on Michigan power forward Jason Botterill and Chris Drury on Brendan Morrison (who edged out Chris for the Hobey Baker that season) set the tone and the Terriers never let up. Even still, Michigan took a first period lead on a Warren Luhning goal that eluded Michel Larocque. Later in the period, BU survived a 5-minute major to Bill Pierce who received a game misconduct.

The second period belonged to the Terriers. Lacouture won a battle in the corner for a puck and centered to Greg Quebec (who later played for the short-lived Macon Whoopee) in the high slot who beat Turco. Six minutes later, Chris Heron (the hero of the Hockey East title game) converted from Shawn Bates and Tom Poti to put the Terriers on top. Then, on a BU powerplay, when three Wolverine defenders followed Drury behind the Michigan net, Tommi Degerman was all alone to convert a pretty goalmouth pass for a 3-1 lead. Drury nearly upped the margin to three when he ripped a shot off the post and Turco was forced to make a nifty glove save on Drury's wrister off the rebound.

The Terriers held the vaunted Michigan powerplay at bay (0 for 5) and Larocque stopped 9 of 10 shots in the final period, yielding only an extra-attacker goal to Morrison just after a glaring non-call when Drury was tripped trying to clear the puck.

The win gave BU an eight-game winning streak, with Larocque in the net for seven of them, registering 1.67 GAA and .931 save percentage in those games. The streak ended two days in the NCAA final, with BU losing 6-4 to North Dakota.

Last year when the NCAAs returned to Milwaukee, College Hockey News’ Adam Wodon took a look back at the BU-Michigan game as an example of college hockey at its finest. Wodon points out that 17 players from the game reached the NHL, including Poti and Bates, now Islander teammates.

Sullivan and Quinn to coach Team USA in 2007 Worlds

Two former BU captains will lead the United States’ entry in the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship set for April 27-May 13 in Moscow. Current Terrier Assistant Head Coach David Quinn has been named by USA Hockey as an assistant coach. He will assist former Bruins coach Mike Sullivan, who has been named head coach for Team USA. Quinn and Sullivan were teammates on the 1986-87 and 1987-88 BU teams.

Looking Back: Kings of Comm. Ave. and the NCAA

On March 25, 1978, Boston University won the third of its four national championships in the first all-East final since BU's shutout of Cornell in 1972. The Terriers defeated arch-rival Boston College, 5-3, in the first ever NCAA tournament meeting between the schools. BU was led by freshman standout Mark Fidler, who registered a 30-goal season, and three future Olympic gold medalists, Dave Silk, Jack O'Callahan and Jim Craig. After Fidler scored 38 seconds into the game, BC's Joe Mullen and Bobby Hehir put the Eagles on top. Goals by Silk and Tony Meagher restored BU's lead. Meagher's second and Fidler's second extended the lead to 5-2 before BC added a final tally. Craig stopped 28 shots while BC's Paul Skidmore had 31 sames. The win capped a 30-2 season for BU which won its first 21 games before falling to Yale.

Despite its stellar on-ice record, the Terriers almost didn't reach the NCAA tournament, which at that time was just a four-team event. BU had lost in the ECAC semi-final to Providence, before beat Brown in the consolation game. After Providence lost to BC in the ECAC final, the NCAA elected to hold a playoff game between the Terriers and Friars to determine the second Eastern participant. This time BU won 5-3 in a game played at Schneider Rink. Four days later, BU returned to Providence, this time at the Civic Center, where they throttled Wisconsin in the NCAA semi, 5-2, setting up what would be the fourth win over year against BC.

Fidler led BU in scoring with 65 points, followed by John Bethel's 65, Dick Lamby's 59, Silk's 58 and O'Callahan's 55. This also was the season of the big blizzard in Boston which hit the night of the Beanpot first round (BU 12, BC 5) and forced the finals (BU 7, Harvard 1) to be played in March.

Gameday-NCAA Midwest Regional

As BU prepares to take on Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional, there’s no shortage of gameday reading for BU fans. First there are BU's own game notes and the HockeyEastOnline.com news release.

Then we have the experts and pundits weighing in on who will emerge from each regional. Five of the eleven members of the CSTV.com panel say the Terriers will emerge as the winner of the Midwest Regional. Most of College Hockey News’ team of experts picks Notre Dame to reach the Frozen Four, but old friend Tom Burke and NHL.com writer Bob Snow have the Terriers continuing their post-season travels in St. Louis. USCHO previews the four teams in the regional.

Lots of coverage in the media, both locally and in Michigan.
- Daily Free Press
- Boston Globe
- Boston Herald
- Patriot Ledger
- The State News (MSU) and
- The Buffalo News, which reports on Sabres players following their alma maters in the NCAAs.

Previously we reported that 1972 All-American goalie Dan Brady, a Grand Rapids resident, would be at the regional. He’ll be joined there, among Terrier rooters, by another All-American, Brian Gilmour, who with his cousin Pete McLachlan, anchored the Terrier defense from 1964-1967, including the 66-67 team that reached the NCAA final against Cornell.

Looking back: “A few good men….”

On March 22, 1997, ten years ago today, Chris Drury's goal at 12:20 of overtime gave Boston University a 4-3 win over Denver in the NCAA East Regional Final in Worcester, punching the Terriers' ticket to the Frozen Four in Milwaukee.

The second-seeded Terriers (Clarkson had been the #1 seed) had taken a 3-2 lead with 3:19 left in regulation on Shawn Bates' (in photo)shorthanded breakaway goal. However, the Pioneers forced overtime with an extra-attacker goal by Eric Anderson, beating Michel Laroque with 53 seconds left.

In overtime, with both teams two men down, Chris Kelleher took a pass from Jon Coleman and wristed a shot on goal from the left point. Drury was locked up with a Denver defender in front of the net, gained control of the rebound and, while falling down, slid the puck past tournament MVP Jim Mullin.The moment is replayed in the taped intro to BU hockey radio broadcasts, punctuated by Bernie Corbett's call, "A few good men are going to Milwaukee."

The “few good men” line was reference to a BU roster that began the season short on depth and was further depleted by injuries. Tommi Degerman joined the team after first semester to bolster the team and became a key contributor. Drury's goal was his 37th of the season. Albie O'Connell had a pair of goals for BU, which upset defending champion Michigan in the Frozen Four semis before losing to North Dakota in the final.

NCAA Regionals on Television

ESPNU is the primary network for the NCAA Regionals, but many other local carriers are picking up some or all of the games. Check here to find the outlets in your area for the games.

Next Stop Grand Rapids

For the first time since the NCAA hockey tournament began holding neutral ice regionals, BU is headed West for the first round of the national tournament. The Terriers travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan, as the #2 seed in the Midwest Regional, and will take on #3 seed Michigan State on Friday, March 23, at 8:30 p.m. The victor plays the Notre Dame-Alabama Huntsville winner for the regional championship and a trip to St. Louis for the Frozen Four.

All NCAA Regional games will air on ESPNU. In addition, CN8 in New England will air the BU-MSU game at 8:30 P.M. on Friday, with a Webcast available at CN8 Live.

BU’s last game against Michigan State was 6-1 win in the first round of the 2002 Great Lakes Invitational. The last Terrier-Spartan match-up in NCAA tournament play was a 4-2 MSU win in 1992. Two years previously in 1989-90, the teams played a best of three quarterfinal at Munn Arena in East Lansing, with the Spartans winning the first night and BU registering 5-3 wins each of the next two nights. Overall BU is 7 up and 6 down in 13 games against MSU. Michigan State is coached by former Northern Michigan coach Rick Comley, a good friend of Jack Parker. The two last squared off in an NCAA tournament game in 1993 when BU beat NMU in the regional final. Two years previously, The Wildcats had outlasted the Terriers in 8-7 in 3 OT to win the 1991 National Championship. BU has never played Alabama Huntsville, but has played Notre Dame twice, winning 7-3 in both games. Coincidentally, BU went to the Frozen Four in both years it played Notre Dame: 1971, after beating the Irish at Boston Arena, and 1996, after defeating them in the Badger Showdown.

And, there is a strong BU-NCAA hockey connection in Grand Rapids. Former All-American goalie Dan Brady, who was named Most Outstanding Player during BU’s first NCAA championship win in 1971 and who is now second to John Curry on the BU career GAA list, lives in Grand Rapids. Dan had attended the Terrier’s home opener against Northeastern; he’ll have a shorter trip to see BU play on Friday.

Looking Back: Regan Shines at the Garden

35 years ago today, March 18, 1972, BU gained its second NCAA championship, beating Cornell in the title game, 4-0, just a week after a victory over the Big Red in the ECAC tournament final. Goalie Tim Regan, who allowed just one goal in two games was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. The victory concluded the 10-season Jack Kelley era at BU, marked by four Final Four appearances, a 206-80-8 record and a .714 winning percentage.

The backstory here concerns Regan, BU's starting goalie throughout 69-70 and the first half of 70-71, when he lost the job to Dan Brady who led BU to the '71 national championship. The next year, with both goalies returning for their senior seasons, Regan was given leave to play for the '72 U.S. Olympic team that won a Silver medal in Sapporo. Regan lost the starting Olympic job to a late squad addition, Lefty Curran, and then was called home to Boston, just before the end of the Olympics, when Brady was injured. By the time Regan reached Boston, Brady had recovered and Regan saw action in just one regular season game after his return.

Brady was in goal for BU's ECAC tournament win, the school's first, but strained a knee ligament in practice, forcing the rusty Regan into goal. He gave up an early goal on a tipped 80-ft shot against Wisconsin in the semi-final, stopped a Badger breakaway that would have made the score 2-0, then slammed the gates shut as BU roared back for a 4-1 win, led by John Danby's final college hattrick. Two nights later, Regan turned away all 39 Big Red shots, in the 4-0 win to make BU the first Eastern team to win back-to-back NCAA titles, while handing Cornell its first shutout in 225 games.

Looking Back: Last game in the old Garden

On March 18, 1995, Boston University won the final college hockey game played at the old Boston Garden, defeating Providence College, 3-2, to win its 4th Hockey East championship and complete the second leg of what would be the second "triple crown" season (Beanpot, league championship, NCAA title) in Terrier history. PC 's first period goal was matched by BU's Ken Rausch. Mike Grier put the Terriers ahead in the second before the Friars knotted the score on a Brady Kramer slapper past a screened Derek Herlofsky. Then, late in the second, Chris Drury muscled his way off the sideboards and passed to Matt Wright, who wheeled, closed on the net and whipped a shot past PC goalie (and tournament MVP) Bob Bell for the game-winner. Bell had 40 saves and Herlofsky, 24.

Wright scored the last college goal at the Old Garden; a month earlier, he'd scored the final Beanpot goal at the Garden in BU's 5-1 win over BC in the championship game.

All three Terrier goals in the HE championship game were scored by walk-on players: Wright, Rausch and Grier, who was a first-team All-American and Hobey Baker finalist in 94-95.

Hockey East Tournament telecasts

Due to a conflicting Bruins game, Saturday night's Hockey East Championship game won't be seen on NESN, but is available live on a number of alternative stations, including CN8.

Fans in New York, New Jersey and southern Connecticut can watch all three tournament games on SportsNet New York (the Mets' cable network) on a delayed basis. UNH-UMass will air tonight at 7:30 p.m. The BU-BC semifinal airs Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and the championship games airs Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Honors

If the Terriers can peform as well on the ice this weekend as they did in the awards category yesterday, BU fans will be a very happy group.

First, John Curry was selected as one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. Chris Drury is the only Terrier to win college hockey's top individual honor.

After two years as runner-up, Curry earned Hockey East Player of the Year Honors. He also was named Itech Goaltending Champion and won the Itech Three Stars award. Team Captain Sean Sullivan took home the Old Tyme Hockey Defensive Defenseman award. All the league awards are listed conference first team All-Stars. Only once before has BU had three first team All-Stars in a season. That was 1985-86 when current Assistant Head Coach David Quinn, John Cullen and Scott Shaunessy were selected. Pete MacArthur was named to the second team, while Kenny Roche earned honorable mention.

(Photo from 2007 Beanpot; credit Melissa Wade)

Tuesday Trivia Answers

1. Of the three BU games that made the list of 30 longest NCAA D1 hockey games, the only Terrier win came in the 2003 Hockey East Semifinal against, you guessed it, BC, 6-5 2OT. Justin Maiser not only scored the game-tying goal, but also the game-winner in the 2nd overtime to complete a hattrick.

With these four links we can almost turn the clock back to 2003.
Tying goal
Winning goal
Game Recap
Box Score

Justin is currently the 2nd leading scorer for the ECHL Dayton Bombers.

2. Maine put the last back-to-back defeats on BU on consecutive days on the Terriers' home ice, 3-4 and 3-6 in November 1992.

A walk-on forward for 2007

BU has added a walk-on forward for 07-08. It's Victor Saponari, and if you've been following posts on this blog, the name sound familiar. Victor, a 5-10, 170 forward from Powder Springs, Georgia, is the older brother of NTDP U17 forward Vinny Saponari, a Terrier recruiting target for '08. Securing the older brother, who plays at Culver Military Academy as a PG (and played there last year with Vinny) doesn't mean BU is a lock for Vinny, but it certainly helps.Vinny, who has moved up to play several games with the U18s, had his first point for the U18s last weekend.Victor played in last Summer's Chowder Cup and had 2 goals in 3 games for the Atlanta Jr. Flames. I believe he's BU's first player from The Peach State.

More Kudos for Terrier Recruits

USHR’s New England Prep Awards have been announced and two BU recruits have been recognized as best at their position. Voters—prep and college coaches, and pro scouts—chose 2007 recruit Nick Bonino (Avon) as Top Prep Forward. and 2008 recruit David Warsofsky (photo,Cushing) as Top Defenseman.

USHR described Bonino as “a 6'1" center, who has great hands and an excellent shot, and who was the go-to guy on the team that won the New England prep title. He won this award by a comfortable margin.”

Warsofsky, it reported, is “highly-skilled, with great hands, vision, and passing ability.” He was the leading-scoring defenseman in Div. I with a 15-34-49 line in 29 games. Current Terrier captain Sean Sullivan won the same defensive honor in 2002-03.

The third award winner was BC goalie recruit John Muse of Nobles.

Linkorama

Sports Illustrated hockey writer Michael Faber’s all clean team, candidates for the Lady Byng award, features ex-Terrier Jay Pandolfo...Staying with Sports Illustrated, the SI On Campus Awards have been announced and John Curry was named college hockey's top goalie for 2006-2007...The coaches of the four HE seminfinalists participated in a teleconference this week and the transcripts are available online... The Bruins Web site offers thoughts on the HE tournament from Bruins players and other employees, each with a rooting interest. Brant Berglund, the Boston Bruins Video Coordinator (who held the same position at BU) believes BU's underdog status might give them an "advantage" this time around.

"I think it's an easier position (for BU head coach Jack Parker) to come from," said Berglund, who is also a proud former member of Parker's staff. "It's easier for him to address his players in that situation."

Reacting to the Terriers’ “road trip” at Agganis last weekend, he was not surprised at all. "That is vintage Parker," said the B's captain video, chuckling. "He thinks outside of the box and mixes things up that way.."I saw some stuff like that when I was there…and obviously it worked."

On to the Garden

Congratulations to Brandon Yip, whose parents were at the UVM games, visiting from British Columbia, on becoming the only player in Hockey East history to score two overtime goals in tournament games. Congratulations, too, to Brian Strait, who, a week after having several wisdom teeth removed, earned Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors. It was his second selection as top rookie.

Friday’s Hockey East semifinal with BC is the next challenge for BU and it has implications beyond the conference tournament. Right now, BU is #7 in the Jason Moy, the resident bracktologist at USCHO, has BU as the second seed in the Rochester regional, with a first round game against Michigan State. A victory over the Spartans would match BU with the Notre Dame-Sacred Heart winner.

INCH’s 4x4 projection for the NCAA tournament assumes certain outcomes this weekend, including a Terrier loss to the Eagles. In that scenario, BU would travel to Grand Rapids, again as a second regional seed, for a matchup with Michigan with a win sending the Terriers up against the Notre Dame-Alabama/Huntsville winner.

While bracketology is a murky science, it appears very likely that BU has one added incentive on Friday night. Besides playing its historical rival for the 238th time overall (and 5th time this season) and seeking to defend its Hockey East title, BU can take a major step toward staying in the East for the regionals with a win. A pair of victories this weekend would make it a lock.

Terriers are 4-3-1 since the Beanpot championship game, which, most would agree, was a fortunate win. BC is 8-0 since the teams last met, averaging about 4.5 goals a game with a red-hot power play. While the Terriers certainly face a stiff challenge, Garden/Fleet history is on their side: in the past 10 meetings at that venue, BU has won 8 times, 6 of them by a single goal. Four of the past six meetings on Causeway Street have gone to overtime. Advice for Friday night: clean your fingernails and plan to stay late.

06-07 Beanpot 2-1 ot
05-06 HE 2-1 ot, Beanpot 3-2
04-05 Beanpot 2-1
03-04 Beanpot 1-2 ot
02-03 HE 6-5 2ot, Beanpot 3-2
01-02 Beanpot 5-3
00-01 Beanpot 3-5
99-00 Beanpot 4-1

Quarterfinal Video Highlights

If you missed the quarterfinal series with Vermont, video of the goals in game 2 can be seen on the HockeyEastOnline site. Highlights of game 3 are available as podcasts on the BU Web site.

Tuesday Trivia

BU was a participant in three of the 30 longest games in NCAA history. If the list went to 35, it probably would be 4 of 35. The 1991 triple overtime loss to Northern Michigan in the NCAA championship just missed making the list at 81:57. BU has won only one of the three games on the list. What game was it and who scored the GWG? No fair looking at the list before submitting an answer.

Second question. This week’s Hockey East Online report notes that BU has not lost at home to the same team on consecutive days since Nov. 20-21, 1992. Who was the opponent? That season BU had a 3-4-1 record after eight games before going 26-5-1 in the next 32, reaching the NCAA semifinals.

Looking back: March 10, 1991

Sixteen years ago today, Shawn McEachern’s “wonderous dash up the Boston Garden ice to score 2:19 into overtime” (quoting the late, great Boston Globe writer Joe Concannon) gave BU a 4-3 win over Maine and its second Hockey East Tournament championship. Defenseman Phil von Steffanelli got the game-winning goal started with a pass from the BU blue line to Tony Amonte, just outside the Maine blueline. He quickly found McEachern streaking into the Maine end where he beat netminder Garth Snow, plunging the Terrier team and the BU faithful into delerium. Coach Jack Parker cited the game as one of the most memorable games he coached against the Black Bears' Shawn Walsh.

The Terriers’ other goal scorers were Amonte, Ed Ronan and Peter Ahola. McEachern, Ahola and goalie John Bradley were named to the All-Tournament team. McEachern, the tournament MVP, finished the season with 82 points.

1991QUARTERFINALS(single game elimination)

#8 Northeastern 6-#1 Boston College 5

#2 Maine 5-#7 Lowell 3

#3 Boston University 7-#6 Merrimack 1

#4 Providence 4-#5 UNH 1

SEMIFINALS (Boston Garden)

Boston University 7-Providence 5

Maine 4-Northeastern 3 (OT)

CHAMPIONSHIP (Boston Garden)

Boston University 4-Maine 3 (OT)

MVP: Shawn McEachern, So. F, BU

An audio clip of an interview with McEachern about his BU and NHL career is here. Scroll down to the photo of Shawn and click the link.

Looking ahead: Nick Bonino

Could Avon Old Farms center and co-captain Nick Bonino be the sniper BU has been seeking since, well, Chris Drury graduated?

The Terriers had this past weekend off, but 2007 recruit Bonino (see McKeen’s Q&A article) was busy doing what he does best—scoring goals and setting up teammates—as he led the Winged Beavers to their record 6th NEPHISA championship. Bonino had a hand in all three Avon goals in a 3-0 title game victory over Belmont Hill, scoring twice and assisting on the other. He scored the game-winner on a goal-mouth scramble and closed out the scoring with a strong individual effort described in The Boston Globe (and reminiscent of Steve Thornton’s unassisted goal in the 1995 national championship game against Maine):

The last hurrah came with five minutes left in the game. In what seemed like an instant, Bonino controlled a faceoff in the Belmont Hill zone, then slid the puck between the legs of a defender and created an open alley to the net. He fired a gloveside shot that beat Gedman, who barely had time to react to the sequence.

"That was Bonino at his best," [Coach John] Gardner said. "He's a magician with the puck."

Gardner also told New England Hockey Journal "Nick can snipe, but he's so creative with the puck and without the puck.”

His 3-3-6 line in three post season games lifted his season’s total to team-leading 23-45-68, good for second overall in New England Prep hockey. Last year, he also led Avon with 25-30-56 and the previous year, he set a Connecticut high school record with 68 goals in 24 games for Farmington.

Sniper and puckhandling skills, along with great vision, are his strengths. A year ago, a post on the McKeen’s site described Bonino as “A pure goal scorer .. very gifted offensively - can put it in the net, make a beautiful pass or stickhandle through multiple defenders .. excellent one-on-one or setting up another player .. despite his average size, he can also play a physical game and doesn't let the rough play knock him off his game “

Co-MVP and top scorer at last spring’s Hockey Night in Boston All Scholastic event, Nick received a “Best Pro Prospect” award at the 2006 HNIB’s Major Showcase in the summer (see photo).

A source close to BU has compared his hands to Chris O’Sullivan’s and another established talent evaluator recently remarked that "if his skating matched his hands and stick skills -- he can really shoot it -- he would be a first round pick in June's draft."

Skating is the perceived weakness in his skill set and the reason he was ranked #117 by Central Scouting in its midyear evaluation, rather than in the top 30. A USCHO poster familiar with Bonino’s game posted this week:

“Yeah, there is some doubt about his skating, most people consider him slow, I know that over the past year he has been working with a hockey specific trainer that also works with[ex Lowell defenseman Ron] Hainsey from the Canadians, and several other players who are in the Connecticut area in the off season to work on his quickness, he is solid on his skates, and what he lacks speed wise forwards backwards, he more than makes up laterally, fastest kid I have seen with the puck move side to side around people, also what he lacks in speed he makes up for in vision on the ice, hockey knowledge, and the ability to almost always be in the right spot.”

Of course, Bonino is working hard to improve his strength and skating, as noted in the McKeen’s Q&A article linked above. And when he arrives at BU, he’ll get considerable attention from BU strength and conditioning guru Mike Boyle, who will put to good use the 50 yard straightaway sprint track inside the Agganis Arena training facility. If Boyle can duplicate the improvement in speed he achieved with Mike Pandolfo, Terrier fans can look forward to a dynamic player who'll frequently find the back of the net and make his linemates look good, too.

First 2009 recruit

BU has reached all the way across the country for its first 2009 recruit, 6-2, 180 right shot defenseman Max Nicastro of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings who turns 17 years old today. He’ll spend the next two seasons with the Chicago Steel (scroll down) of the USHL coached by former Colgate and NHL defenseman Steve Poapst.

Steel general manager Jason Koehler says “Max is one of the top young defensemen in the country not playing in the USHL right now," adding that “Boston University made a wise move grabbing him now, as his stock will only go up once he's in the USHL next season and getting many NHL Draft looks.”

Despite being injured early in last summer’s Select 16 national camp, Nicastro was named to one of the two USA U17 teams that played in the Three Nations Tournament in Rochester. His team, which also included 2008 recruit David Warsofsky, won that event. Nicastro was in Massachusetts this past December for the Fall Beantown Classic which the Junior Kings won.
One pro scout calls him a player with “potential, good size and offensive ability.” USHR says Nicastro “holds the blue line well, has a good stick, can make a pass, and sees the ice well.”

Nicastro currently has a 17-19-36 line with 15 powerplay goals. Like BU’s 2007 and 2008 blueline recruits (Kevin Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen, and Warsofsky) powerplay effectiveness is a big part of his game.

USHR on Warsofsky: [He] is small, but he has excellent mobility, an excellent stick, and he sees the ice uncommonly well. He can thread the needle with his passes – a high number of them are exceptional. He has poise a-plenty. When he’s running the power play for the Terriers in a few years, those high-priced seats in the new arena will be worth every penny. He’s just a fun player to watch.

U18 Coach Ron Rolston on Shattenkirk: He's one of the players on the team that's a difference maker on the ice surface. He's really good instinctively and creating off the blue line. He can really make things happen and is the catalyst of our offense."

Is there a BU connection at the Junior Kings. Yes, there is. It’s former Terrier Nick Vachon, son of NHL goalie Rogie Vachon. Nick, who briefly reached the NHL with the Islanders, is a coach on the Junior Kings staff.

With permission from Paul Shaheen, we’ve reprinted his report on Nicastro in Research on Ice.

In a week where many an NHL GM went searching for diamonds in the rough, the Boston University Terriers have done likewise, snagging 1990 born defenseman Max Nicastro from the AAA Los Angeles Junior Kings for the fall of 2009.

At 6-2 and 180 pounds, Nicastro is a fire-wagon type blueliner, who in 48 games has scored 36 points on 17 goals--15 of which have come on the power play.

"He's as dynamic as they come," says Junior Kings coach Mike Pilon, who took over the AAA Kings coaching duties earlier this year after (former Bowling Green star) Nelson Emerson stepped aside from his full-time coaching duties to work as an assistant with the NHL Kings.

"Max's biggest asset is his shot. He can get off a one-timer no matter what. Slow puck, bouncing puck, you name it, he can pivot and shoot and usually get it right on net. For a kid his size, he's very smooth."

From the Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks, CA., Nicastro is a junior in high school, and according to Pilon, the type of kid any team would want to have around.

"He comes from a very good family, and he's a very dedicated young man," Pilon adds, "he's very good in the locker room, especially on our team which only has three kids that young. He could well develop captain-type qualities, but for now he's an excellent support guy. He does his job, and he's no distraction at all."

Only in his first year with the Kings, this may also be his last. Property of the USHL's Chicago Steel, Nicastro, born March 2, 1990, is more than likely to be playing in the USHL next year, and barring a trade, in Chicago.

The Junior Kings are preparing for their USA Hockey district playoffs, which will begin next week.

Game Day

Games notes for tonight's game at Northeastern are up on the BU athletics site. Terriers need a win tonight and for New Hampshire to take at least 2 points in its weekened home-and-home with BC to nail down second place in Hockey East. In that scenario, BU likely would host Providence in the quarter-finals. A third place finish would result in a match-up with Maine, UMass or Vermont, depending upon final weekend action...note the new link to a Curry for Hobey page on the BU athletics site, including video highlights of the BU netminder's senior year...Tonight's game is televised on CN8 but only in New England. However, the game can be seen as a Webcast on CN8 Live . As always Bernie Corbett and Tom Ryan will handle the Internet radio broadcast.

Hockey East and NESN have announced plans for Hockey East tournament broadcasts: one "wild card" quarter final on March 9, both semi-finals on March 16 and the Hockey East championship game on t March 17.

A goalie for the 2008 class

Kieran Millan, the Spruce Grove Saints/AJHL goalie who visited BU last month and attended the Jan. 26 game against BC at Agganis Arena, has given the Terrier coaching staff his verbal for 2008. Just after his visit reported in The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog, he participated in the AJHL All-Star game

SAINTS RELEASE: Saints’ Millan Commits to Boston University Posted February 23, 2007 The Spruce Grove Saints are pleased to announce that Kieran Millan has committed to attend Boston University, beginning in the 2008 season. Millan, a native of Edmonton, has had a very impressive rookie campaign with the Saints, posting a 19-6-4 record and a .918 save percentage. The 17-year old, graduate of the Canadian Athletic Club Midget AAA program was selected to participate in the 2007 AJHL All-Star game.

“Kieran has made a considerable impact on the Spruce Grove Saints this season. He has earned the confidence of his teammates and coaches, as he consistently turns in strong performances. The Terriers have landed an excellent, young goaltender and Kieran has a chance to continue to develop his game at an outstanding NCAA program. The Spruce Grove Saints would like to congratulate Kieran and his family on this tremendous opportunity,” stated Saints’ GM/Head Coach Steve Hamilton. “We look forward to Kieran’s continued contributions to our organization in preparation for his career with the Boston University Terriers.”

Friday Linkorama

Game notes for this weekend’s home pair with the Catamounts are now available. Tonight’s game is on CSTV and starts at 8 PM. Tomorrow’s game is on CN8 airing in both the New England and MidAtlantic regions...Bob Monahan who passed away this week. Back in the ‘70s he dubbed Kelley’s skaters and later Parker’s as the “go-go Terriers.” Yes, BU used to be a speed team…Another Globe story mentions former BU SID Art Dunphy who recently retired. Dunphy also had done play-by-play of BU hockey on radio… What do John Curry's teammates think about him? A tongue-in-cheek answer in today's Daily Free Press....CSTV Rink Rat Elliot Olshansky has moved Curry to the top of his Hobey hattrick rankings.

2008 recruit Corey Trivino is on loan from the Stouffville Spirit to the Ontario U17 team now competing in the Canada Winter Games in the Yukon….Another 2008 recruit, Cushing defenseman David Warsofsky was named first team All-Prep. His teammate, sophomore forward Ryan Bourque, who made an unofficial visit to BU earlier this year, had a hattrick plus an assist this week against Wyoming Prep, bringing his season total to 19-30-49, putting him in the top ten in prep scoring. Bourque is either a 2008 or 2009 recruit, depending on whether he accelerates. BU and UNH are among the schools he's considering.

NHL Notes

While Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin are receiving the lion’s shared of attention for the Penguins' resurgence this year, the continued development of Ryan Whitney has been a key factor in that success, too. Whitney, who played in the recent NHL Young Stars game and is 9th in scoring among all NHL defensemen, is the subject of a feature this week on the Pens Web site.

And now, yet another story about two-time Stanley Cup winner Jay Pandolfo’s contributions in New Jersey. The writer, however, misidentifies Jay’s brother as Mark, rather than Mike. Both Mike Pandolfo and Lowell alum Mark Pandolfo had been playing for the Trenton Titans, but Mike was recalled to Lowell of the AHL this past Sunday. At the time he was leading the ECHL in goals with 38 and was third in scoring with 67 points in 48 games.

Two other ex-Terriers in the NHL, Keith Tkachuk and Adrian Aucoin are among the eight former college players likely to be moved before the trade deadline according to INCH.

The Hart of the Sabres

Last week, we posted an nhl.com story boosting Jay Pandolfo's candidacy for the Selke Trophy given to the best defensive forward in the NHL. Now, Buffalo News writer Bob Dicesare makes a case that Chris Drury has earned strong consideration for the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Drury, who won the Calder Trophy as top rookie in 1998-99 and who is the only BU Hobey Baker award winner (Pando was a finalist), scored his 31st goal of the year this past weekend, establishing a new personal high.

30 year reunion

Members of the 1976-77 Terriers, who won a record four consecutive ECAC championships, will be in attendance at tonight’s BU-UNH game, watching from the Mark Bavis alumni box, above Section 102. That team featured the scoring of Rick Meagher, Mike Eruzione and Dave Silk, Jack O'Callahan, Dick Lamby, Gary Fay and Bill O'Neill on defense, and Jim Craig and Brian Durocher in goal. Meagher was named All-American for the third year in a row.

It’s appropriate that the reunion take place at a BU-UNH game as the Terriers beat the Wildcats, 8-6, in the ECAC title game in 1977, culminating a wild and high-scoring ECAC tournament. The Terriers had beaten BC, 8-7, in the quarter finals and came back from two goals down late in the semi-final, to oust Clarkson, 7-6. We’ll have more information about this reunion and some remembrances from team members during the coming weeks.

By the numbers

Last night’s 4-2 victory continued the Terriers’ uncanny record of success against UNH at The Whitt. It was BU’s 8th win against 4 losses and 5 ties. The rest of Hockey East has a 22-114-12 record there. So, BU is responsible for more the 25% of the Wildcats’ losses at their current home.

The win was John Curry’s 56th as a Terrier, passing Tom Noble for fourth place on the all-time list. Curry’s next win ties him with Michel Larocque. He’s four behind Scott Cashman and six behind leader Sean Fields. Not bad considering BU’s Hobey Baker candidate saw just five minutes of ice time as a freshman.

When Curry gets that 56th win, it also will be Coach Jack Parker’s 760th career win.

During last night’s BU broadcast, analyst Tom Ryan commented that BU had allowed only eight 5-on-5 goals in the previous 22 games. Not exactly. The actual stat from last night’s game notes was that BU had allowed a 5-on-5 goal in just eight games of the previous 22—and with last night’s game, it’s now the last 23. In five of those eight games, BU gave up two even-strength goals. Still, a most impressive effor by the Terrier netminders.

During that 23 game stretch, the 32 goals allowed break down this way: 14 even-strength, 13 powerplay, 3 shorthanded, 1 penalty shot and 1 empty net goal. BU scored 59 goals in those same 23 games.

The Terriers’ record when scoring two or more goals: 16-2-5; when scoring less than two: 1-3-3. The team’s road record is a shiny 9-1-4. At home it is a far less gaudy, 6-3-4. With three of the final four HE games at home and home ice for the quarter finals very likely, that trend must change.

Recruiting News

Avon Old Farms’ forward and 2007 recruit Nick Bonino was named first team Prep West All-Star. He’s fifth in prep scoring with 19-33-52.... 2008 recruit Andrew Glass, who has missed much of the current Nobles season with injuries, had a goal and an assist last night in a 5-2 loss to Belmont Hill....Cushing's David Warsofsky is ninth in prep scoring with 45 points... Camrose Kodiaks forward Mike Connolly, who had BU as one of his final three college choices, has committed to Minnesota-Duluth.

The photo

One month from today, there will be a new---or, let’s hope, a repeat—Hockey East champion. And that means that the superb photo of John Curry hoisting the Lamoriello Trophy that greets visitors to the Hockey East Online Web site will be replaced. If you collect photos of BU milestones, that’s one to save before it’s gone.

TGIF

It’s not just Terrier fans who think John Curry should be a Hobey Baker Award winner--certainly a finalist. Curry’s MVP and record-setting Beanpot performance has vaulted him to the top of the INCH Hobey Tracker. INCH's weekly podcast devotes considerable time to Curry's performance and his chances of winning the Hobey. USCHO writer Scott Weighart also casts his votes for the Terrier netminder to be a finalist.

And speaking of the Hobey Baker Award, if you want to own the latest in college hockey collectibles, a minature Hobey can be yours for just $195 plus shipping.

A good read from CSTV.com Rink Rat Elliott Olshansky on the strong defenses and goaltending throughout Hockey East.

Blog readers in the New York/New Jersey area are in for a rare treat as both games against UNH are being televised locally--depending upon your cable provider. SportsNet New York will carry tonight's NESN broadcast and CN8 Atlantic Region is carrying tomorrow game which also is on CN8 New England.

USHR reported today on the ice hockey results at this year's Asian Games. Kazakhstan, which played in last year’s Olympics, squeezed past Thailand….by a 52-1 margin, outshooting the Thais by a 91-7 count. The Kazakhis then roughed up United Arab Emirates, 38-0, and China 17-1. But the steamroller busted a gear in the semis and was upset by Japan, 3-2.

The answer to the trivia question about Darryl Abbott's distinction (see Looking Back-BU-Cornell 2OT Tie) is that he was the only Terrier hockey player to also serve as student body president (at least according to my sources).

Without looking at the BU stats online, which players currently rank first and second on the team in +/- ?

A Selke for Pandolfo?

At BU, he was a Hobey Baker finalist, a dynamic offensive player who found the net 38 times his senior year and added 29 assists. He was a weapon on defense, too, once recording a short handed hattrick against Northeastern.

In ten pro seasons, however, Jay Pandolfo’s contributions have been concentrated on the defensive side of the puck. Together with former Michigan Wolverine John Madden—his nemesis in the 1996 NCAA semifinal—Pando gives the Devils the NHL’s best penalty-killing duo. At full strength, he generally finds himself covering each opponent’s best right wing. Madden has received more recognition in the past, but now Pandolfo is being discussed as a potential Selke Award winner. NHL.com offers a profile of the Winchester native, including a mention of how Jack Parker still uses Jay’s career evolution in his recruiting efforts.

Update on BU Recruits

Two future Terriers have been putting up impressive numbers in the New England prep hockey leagues this season. Nick Bonino, a senior at Avon Old Farms, who arrives at BU next fall, is now fifth in prep scoring with an 18-33-51 line, coming off a 4-point effort against Gunnery. 2008 recruit David Warsofsky of Cushing Academy is the top scoring prep defenseman with 15-30-45. Two of Warsofsky's teammates, forwards Matt White and Ryan Bourque, who have made unofficial visits to BU, are among the top scorers, too. White has 55 points and Bourque, just a sophmore, has 43.

Linkorama

For the first time, the Terrier Hockey Fan Blog offers a an article about a fan, perhaps the most recognized BU fans in recent years, Brian Sive, a/k/a Sasquatch. His story is featured in the Boston Globe...The Herald looks beyond Jack Parker’s on-ice coaching achievements to assess his ability to handle crises involving severe injuries to players, focusing on the assault on three Terrier seniors in December...The Globe’s Jim McCabe examined the decreasing number of goals scored in college hockey games, with Coach Parker and former Terrier 30-goal scorers David Silk and Terry Meagher quoted. Parker has gone on the record before advocating that the size of the goal be increased. That opinion was seconded recently on SI.com by veteran writer E.M. Swift, co-author of Travis Roy’s “Eleven Seconds” and a former collegiate goalie at Princeton...In the just completed Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic (See “Looking Ahead—Captain Clutch,” below), there was a new face on the Team U.S.A. roster. Vinny Saponari, a winger from Georgia, was called up from the U17s. Saponari who is squarely on the radar of BU recruiters was the subject of this weeks USA Hockey NTDP feature...With Ryan Whitney, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi, Dominic Wilson and Noah Welch on its roster, the Pittsburgh Penguins boast the most former Beanpot participants of any NHL team, but it was young superstar Sidney Crosby who was the focus in an nhl.com story on the Beanpot.

Looking Forward—Captain Clutch

Readers of this blog know that 2007 BU recruit Kevin Shattenkirk is an elite talent, an exceptional offensive defenseman and a recognized leader. Over the past few days, he’s proven he knows how to produce in the clutch. Shattenkirk, the U18s’ captain, scored game-winners against both Sweden and Russia in consecutive games of the Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic. The U.S. squad won all four games against its international opponents, also beating Finland and the host Czechs. The last three wins were all by 3-2 margins and all went beyond regulation.

In Thursday win over Sweden, Shattenkirk scored in overtime. The next day, against Russia, the game went to a shootout and the future Terrier blueliner was the only goal-scorer. USA Coach Ron Rolston was right on the money calling his captain “a terrific offensive defenseman with a lot of skill that can be a difference-maker in hockey games.”

Colin Wilson, who had two goals and three assists in the tournament, also delivered a clutch goal for Team USA, scoring with 28 seconds left in the third period to bring the U.S. even with Finland before UNH recruit James Van Riemsdyk scored in overtime.

International Scouting Service has ranked Shattenkirk 24th for next June’s NHL draft. McKeen’s has him at 17th, while NHL Central ranks him 13th among North Americans.

A few online articles about Shattenkirk: USA Hockey East Coast Selects

Looking Back: The '66 BU-Cornell 2OT Tie

Thanks to Hurl82, we have the Ithaca Journal's account of the Dec. 1966 double-overtime tie with Cornell mentioned in the "Sister Kissers" post below.

"Who is number one in Eastern college hockey?

The question wasn't settled here Friday night, as unbeaten Cornell and Boston University battled through two overtime periods to a 3-3 tie before a capacity crowd of 5,450 in the climax of the Boston Arena Christmas Tournament.

Both teams were near exhaustion during the two extra 10-minute sessions. The teams, both now 11-0-1, battled evenly throughout. They probably won't meet again until the ECACchampionships at Boston Garden in March.

The goalkeeping by Cornell's Ken Dryden and Boston's Wayne Ryan, who shared the Most Valuable Player award, was superlative, with Dryden having 40 saves and Ryan 32.

Cornell shut out the East's top-scoring line of BU sophomores Mickey Gray, Serge Boiley and Herb Wakabayashi in a sterling defensive effort.

Defensemen had two goals for both teams. Cornell had two apparent first period goals disallowed, and hit the post several times, but BU held its own in all respects, particularly in the late going.

Cornell had a wide edge in territorial play in a penalty-marred first period, but the Terriers capitalized on their opportunities and thwarted theBig Red's power plays.Harry Orr, on a pass from Mike Doran, scored at 2:13 with BU two men down to put Cornell ahead, 1-0.The Big Red was a man down when Jim Quinn scored the equalizer at 6:35 on a feed from Fred Bassi.

TheTerriers went ahead, 2-1, at 19:29 with Cornell two men down, on Brian Gilmour's slapshot. In the first period Cornell was two men up for 3:22and one man up for 1:56, but managed just one goal. BU was two men up for 28 seconds and one man up for 1:19, but scored two goals. Cornell's two disallowed goals were by Mike Doran, on a deflection of a Bruce Pattison slapshot, and by Pete Tufford, but officials ruled that Cornell players near the cage had raised their sticks higher than the allowed limit. Cornell exploded early in the second period with two quick goals on slapshots by Bob Ferguson from 20 feet at 1:14 and Skip Stanowski from 35 feet at 2:15. Ryan got a glove on both shots but they trickled into thenet and Cornell went ahead, 3-2.

Dryden's brilliant goaltending kept Cornell ahead in the second period and well into the third as both teams, playing their third game in as many days, tired visibly in the late stages. BU tied the score at 15:22, with the Terriers down one man, when defenseman Darrel Abbott drove in on a solo rush to beat Dryden and make it 3-3. Seconds earlier, Bob Ferguson and Stanowski had hit the pipe with 15-footers.

Cornell blitzed the Terrier goal in the last minute ofthe third period but couldn't score.Cornell had the edge in the first three minutes of the first overtime with Ryan making a sensational save on Doran from in close, but BU outskated the Big Red over the last seven minutes. Dryden had brilliant saves on Boiley and Bill Hinch late in the period. In the second overtime, both teams struggled to mount an attack and failed to threaten seriously.

The two head coaches, BU's Jack Kelley and Cornell's Ned Harkness, agreed to play the unprecedented secondovertime period and agreed that would be all.

"I thought we played excellently and that we shouldhave won," Harkness said in a silent Cornell dressing room. "You bet your life we still think we're No. 1,"he added.

Harvard won the first game over Northeastern, 5-4,also in overtime.

Note: The officials were Giles Threadgold and Bill Cleary(yes, THAT Bill Cleary)
Trivia: What distinction does Darryl Abbott have among all BU hockey players?

Sister-kissers

The eight ties thus far this season have frustrated BU fans as well as the coaches and players since most of those games were very winnable. Two came against last-place Lowell. If BU registers one more tie this season, it will equal the school’s all-time record of nine in 2003-04.

In the ten years that Jack Kelley coached the Terriers (‘62-‘63 through ‘71-‘72), they played just eight ties in 294 games (2.7%) By comparison, during the Parker era, BU has played 92 ties in 1,232 games (7.5%)

BU’s longest streak of games without a tie? 100 tie-less games covering more than three years during the Kelley stewardship. After tying New Brunswick twice to open the ‘63-‘64 season (games against Canadian school were not exhibitions at the time), the Terriers played their remaining 22 games without a tie that season. The ‘64-’65 season (25-6-0) and ’65-’66 season (27-8-0) were played without any ties, nor were there any deadlocks in the first twelve games of the ’66-’67 season. The streak ended with the most famous tie in BU hockey history: a double-overtime tie with Cornell (anchored by Ken Dryden) in the Boston Arena Christmas Tournament on December 30. It was the only tie that season (25-5-1) which concluded when BU and Cornell met for the NCAA title. The Big Red won that one, 4-1.

Live Chat with Jack Parker

Here's your chance to ask Jack the questions that have been gnawing at your gut during this often-frustrating season. Live chat on CSTV.com begins Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 1 PM E.T.

Linkorama

Ex-Terrier and current NTDP U17 coach John Hynes has been named head coach of the U.S. squad for the 2008 World Junior Championships. Jack Parker was WJC coach in 1996...Future Terrier Colby Cohen scored a goal in the West’s 9-3 win over the East in the U.S.H.L. all-star game last week. A pregame article in the Waterloo Sioux Falls Courier mentions Cohen as a player scouts would be watching: “Scouts from every NHL team will be on hand in hopes of finding the next USHL gem. It could be Sioux City forward Max Pacioretty. Defensemen Nick Petrecki of Omaha and Colby Cohen of Lincoln also have scouts drooling.” Cohen was ranked #27 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting last month. Following his 10th goal of the season for Lincoln, this past weekend, hee is currently the highest scoring USHL defenseman with 11-25-36 in 30 games...Colin Wilson scored three assists and Kevin Shattenkirk had two helpers in the NTDP U18s final game before leaving for this week's Four Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic. Wilson is second on the team in scoring with a 19-25-44 line. Shattenkirk is the top-scoring blueliner with 23 points.

Interesting reads
College Hockey News looks at a possible return to college hockey for Dean Blais and a number of possible destinations...The Boston Globe recently examined the increasing role of regional junior leagues in player development...The New Haven Register looked at early plans for a Beanpot-like tournament in Connecticut with UConn, Yale, Quinnipiac and Sacred Heart participating.

In case you missed it....Chris Drury scored a highlight reel goal Saturday night in the Sabres 3-2 loss to the Devils. Driving to the net on goalie Martin Brodeur's left side, Drury faked a shot to pull the ace netminder out of position, then circled the net for a wraparound goal. It was Chris' 30th goal of the season, equaling his career high set last season...Ryan Whitney scored his 10th of the season last night and now is 9th in the league in scoring by defensemen.

Beanpot

The Free Press reports that Tom Morrow and Eric Thomassian will return to the lineup tonight as BU takes on Northeastern in the Beanpot opener...Check out a fabulous team photo on the cover page of the BU game notes...The Boston Globe's pre-game coverage include a feature on senior Tom Morrow... New England Hockey Journal offers a feature on Kenny Roche.

Linkorama

Let's begin with a few pre-Beanpot stories. Today's Boston Globe looks at the role John Curry has played for the team as "emotional savior" as well as ace netminder....INCH's weekly Hockey East column looks back at the old Boston Garden as the Beanpot's venue. The column also points out that a Canadian dish network has picked up the games and will broadcast the tournament throughout Canada... The Boston Herald's coverage reports that Clark Donatelli was guest speaker at the Beanpot press luncheon, which, as always, was punctuated by Jack Parker's one-liners.

Ex-Terrier and current NTDP U17 coach John Hynes has been named head coach of the U.S. squad for the 2008 World Junior Championships. Jack Parker was WJC coach in 1996...Future Terrier Colby Cohen scored a goal Tuesday night in the West’s 9-3 win over the East in the U.S.H.L. all-star game. A pregame article in the Waterloo Sioux Falls Courier mentioned Cohen as a player scouts would be watching: “Scouts from every NHL team will be on hand in hopes of finding the next USHL gem. It could be Sioux City forward Max Pacioretty. Defensemen Nick Petrecki of Omaha and Colby Cohen of Lincoln also have scouts drooling.” Cohen was ranked #27 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting last month...When 2008 goal prospect Kieran Millan visited Agganis Arena last Friday night, he was joined by 2007 recruits Colin Wilson and Kevin Shattenkirk, both of the NTDP U18 team, which leaves Sunday for a Four Nations tournament in the Czech Republic.

Interesting reads
College Hockey News looks at a possible return to college hockey for Dean Blais and a number of possible destinations....The Globe examines the increasing role of regional junior leagues in player development.

Jack and Toot

Today's Boston Herald reported on this tongue-in-cheek exchange following Saturday's 3-3 comeback tie with UMass.

During that same postgame interview, Parker spotted UMass coach Don Cahoon in the back of the room waiting for his turn at the podium.

“That game obviously should have been in the bag for UMass if they had any kind of coaching at all,” quipped Parker as he glanced toward his former assistant.

When Cahoon got his chance, the ex-Terrier said, “He’s my mentor. . . . He’s so overrated!”

Recruit in for a visit

2008 prospect Kieran Millan, a standout goalie for the Spruce Grove Saints of the AJHL, is visiting BU and should be at tonight's game at Agganis Arena. Millan returns to Alberta this weekend to participate in the league all-star game.

Hattrick Corey

Two weeks ago Corey Trivino marked his 17th birthday with a 2 goal, 3 assist game for Stouffville/OPJHL. Perhaps his coaches put birthday cake on the menu again tonight as Trivino registered his first hattrick of the season and, for good measure, assisted on the game-winner in the Spirit’s 6-5 come from behind win over Ajax, 6-4. Trivino now has 23-33-56 in 45 games, and 8-6-14 in his past 5 games for the streaking Spirit.

2007 recruit Nick Bonino continues to lead Avon Old Farms in scoring and added 3 goals and 5 assists in three games this past week. His 16-24-40 line in 17 games puts him 6th in the New England Prep scoring race.

Laliberte earns ECHL All-Star honors

The transition from college to pro hockey started slowly for John Laliberte. The team that drafted him, Vancouver, didn’t offer a contract, nor did Colorado after Laliberte had a decent free agent tryout. He landed in Trenton, a franchise that has always been friendly to college players, and just completed a strong first half that took him to the ECHL all-star game, where he joined another ex-Terrier, Ken Magowan, now skating for the Toledo Storm. New England Hockey Journal tracks John's progress.

Updated access to tonight's BU-BC game

Can’t get a ticket to tomorrow night’s BU-BC game at Conte? You can watch online using the ACC Select Service. You can buy a single game for $3.99 or take a 15-day free trial for the service....Another way to follow the game is through a live blog that INCH's Hockey East Writer
Jeff Howe will run throughout the game from Conte Forum. .. And, as always, you can listen live to Bernie Corbett and Tom Ryan's play-by-play on the radio or online. The BU site also links to CSTV's game tracker.

Friday night's rematch at Agganis is on NESN in New England and SportsNet New York in the New York Metro area.

Transcript of John Curry's CSTV.com chat

All-American goalie John Curry discussed the Terriers' need for a strong second half without peaking too soon as well as his appreciation for the support of BU fans in an online chat held earlier today on CSTV.com .

We've got the horse right here...

His name is Aces Marks and this three-year old colt was named by his Ottawa Senators scout owner, Lew Mongelluzzo, in remembrance of Mark Bavis and Ace Bailey. Details in an NHL.com feature.

Nobles Winger Joins 2008 Recruit Class

The second forward in BU's 2008 class is Nobles' LW Andrew Glass who verballed earlier this week. A 5-11, 180 lb junior left wing from Wrentham, Mass, he joins joins Corey Trivino and David Warsofsky in the 2008 recruit class. Glass had a strong sophomore season at Nobles, scoring 15-24-39, but injuries have limited him this season. Prior to the current prep season, he played for the Little Bruins (Jr. Bruins organization) and had 7-8-15 in 12 games.

USHR reports that "Glass is a smooth skater who moves the puck quickly and accurately – and he keeps his feet moving while doing so." Other scouting comments:
--"...his skating is his best asset...great edges and control...excellent puck skills...smart with the puck...offensive creativity"
--"really clever, nice hands, strong puck skills, has to get physically stronger, but all kids do!"

Glass played in 2006 Select 17 tournament and had 4-1-5 in five games. He also participated in the in 2005 Select 16 and 2004 Select 15, and was invited to 2005 NTDP tryout camp.

BU and Harvard were the finalists for Glass, who was ranked #110 by Central Scouting for N. American skaters. BC and Providence recruited him, too.

Trivia Answer

Question: Besides Ferullo, which four players have worn uniform number 1 since 1990?

goterriers came up with two of them--Stephen Siwiec and Scott Cashman. The other two were a bit more obscure. During the 98-99 season, the team's third goalie was David Magid, who never skated in a game. If I recall correctly, he transferred to a D3 school. The fourth goalie was Ian Arrougheti, who was a practice squad goalie during the 97-98 season when BU had just two netminders, Tom Noble and Michel Larocque, on the roster. When Noble suffered a leg injury, Arrougheti dressed as the backup to Larocque for several games and, like Magid, did not get into a game. Googling Magid reveales little information, but Arrrougheti is still actively stopping pucks in a Southern California adult league.

Kudos

Beyond the four points earned in Orono, BU’s sweep of Maine last weekend brought individual and team honors to the Terriers. Hockey East named John Curry Defensive Player of the Week and standout first-year defenseman Brian Strait was recognized as Rookie of the Week. Inside College Hockey chose Peter MacArthur as its Player of the Week and College Hockey News designated the Terriers as its team of the week in an article full of quotes from MacArthur.

Looking back

Think back to BU's last national championship team in 1995. The netminding chores, you'll recall, were shared by senior Derek Herlofsky and freshman Tom Noble. But who was the Terriers third goalie? It was Shawn Ferullo, who played just 55 minutes in eight games during his career. Today, Ferullo, a family physician in South Boston, is one of three former BU athletes who became physicians and now are involved with BU sports again, as described in the current edition of Bostonia.

Terrier trivia: besides Ferullo, which four players have worn uniform number 1 since 1990? We'll post the answer later this week.

Looking forward

Cushing Academy sophomore and BU recruit David Warsofsky is considered one of the top players in New England prep hockey and perhaps the best defenseman. Warsofsky, who turned down an invitation to join the NTDP U17s was the subject of a recent feature in New England Hockey Journal. When Warsofsky verballed to BU this past summer, USHR reported: "Warsofsky, in our opinion the most skilled defenseman in prep hockey last winter – and that as a ninth grader – is scheduled to enter BU in the fall of ’09, but look for him to accelerate his studies and arrive on Agganis Way in the fall of ’08.

"Warsofsky, who’s 5’9” and 155 lbs., is a native of North Marshfield, Mass. Last season, in 37 games with the Penguins, Warsofsky had an 8-26-34 scoring line, making him one of the top-scoring defensemen in prep hockey.

"Warsofsky is small, but he has excellent mobility, an excellent stick, and he sees the ice uncommonly well. He can thread the needle with his passes – a high number of them are exceptional. He has poise a-plenty. When he’s running the power play for the Terriers in a few years, those high-priced seats in the new arena will be worth every penny. He’s just a fun player to watch."

Following a Labor Day weekend midget tournament in which Warsofsky played for the GBL Jr. Bruins, McKeen'sHockey.com offered these insights:

David Warsofsky D, (Cushing)A tremendously talented defender .. a definite offensive defenseman with an accurate shot from the point as seen by his hat trick against Neponset Valley .. the game against Neponset Valley saw his team with a 5-on-3 advantage with 7 minutes left in the first and the first 8 minutes in the second, and David played a huge portion of that power play .. showed great patience and poise to work the puck around and wait for the best shot .. his first goal during the 5-on-3 was when he walked in from the blue line and blasted a shot beating the goalie top corner with no screen .. his second goal was a one-timer that he kept low and went right in .. the last goal he scored is when he sneaked down from the point, received a nice pass, and re-directed the puck into the net .. needs to add more strength for his defensive play and in the corners .. very vocal and displays a great talent for carry the puck.

In 12 games with Cushing this season, Warsofsky has 20 points.

The view from Orono

After catching Friday nght's game the way most BU fans did - on NESN - I made the trip up to the North country for Saturday night's game. And needless to say, I was glad I did. That's two trips to Orono in two years for me, and both times I've come home happy. Here are some thoughts.

- Alfond must be among the most unique venues in collegiate athletics. From outside, it looks more like a college cafeteria than a hockey arena. Once inside, you realize they have seats in every nook and cranny available. I am always amazed that the building holds over 5,000 people. At first glance, it seems more like 3,000. Anyway, the building and the atmosphere were once again a treat.

- Maine's "experimental" jerseys - really not sure why new material requires such a change in design, but if nothing else, enlarge the player names on the back. The lettering looks horrible.

- The net fiasco - despite all the talk in the past, it had been my impression that ever since Fields left, the net dislodging had dropped dramatically. Certainly wasn't the case Saturday. I'm not sure what the issue was with getting the pegs into the holes, but my gut tells me that it contributed to the frequency of the dislodgings. Tom Morrow was lucky that he didn't get called for delay at one point.

- Maine players - Purcell looked good - no surprise he's the top freshman in the country. However, the senior leadership lacked on Saturday with Levielle and Soares taking unneccesary penalties. Bishop looked better Saturday, but still gave up a bad rebound that led to Gilroy's goal.

- BU - as a team, they looked excellent in the second period Saturday, and carried it through the rest of the game. Their passes in the defensive zone were crisp. Other than Sully's slapshot from the point that led to the Ryan breakaway, they made good choices with the puck. The center on every line was in position to intercept passes into the slot, and the backchecking was inspiring.

- My unsung hero for the weekend - Kevin Schaeffer. He was robbed of a goal and an assist by the refs/scorekeeper on Friday night and played solidly on Saturday. He pinched and pokechecked the puck to Yip who fed MacArthur for his second of the night, and he scored the 5th goal, not Lawrence.

- My weekend MVP. Curry is an easy choice, but for the second year in a row, MacArthur picked a 2-game series with Maine to lift his game to another level and helped them take 4 points. Scoring 15 seconds after Maine did on Friday was huge, and his SH breakaway goal was the goal that really put BU in command (the late collapse notwithstanding). There is no question in my mind that he is the inspirational leader of this team. If he can continue to play at that level, BU will win games down the stretch and will make the NCAA's without having to worry on selection day.

Johnny B. Good Tonight…Again

Don’t let the five goals allowed fool you. John Curry was exceptional again in the Terriers’ nail-biting 6-5 win over Maine. HockeyEastOnline’s game account of the win includes links to video of all the goals. Before the weekend series began, NHL.com's “On Campus” column looked at the achievements of BU’s best-ever walk-on.

Seventeen Candles

Future Terrier Corey Trivino turned 17 on Friday night and celebrated his birthday with his best performance yet in his first Junior A Season. Trivino bagged a pair of goals and three helpers in Stouffville’s 6-0 win. He now has 47 points (17g, 30a) in 41 games, second best on the Spirit....Colin Wilson scored his 18th goal of the season as the U18s lost in overtime to Traverse City. Kevin Shattenkirk, who went scoreless, was the subject of USA Hockey’s weekly NTDP feature story.... Colby Cohen had an assist for the Lincoln Stars in a 4-2 win, bringing his point total to 27 in 22 USHL games. Before joining Lincoln, Cohen had a goal and 7 assists in 12 games with the U18s.

NESN Games on SportsNet New York

THFBlog visitors from the New York metro area will be able to watch Terrier hockey live on television tomorrow and several other Friday nights. SportsNet New York, the Mets cable station (www.sny.tv) is airing the NESN Friday Night Hockey East Game of the Week package. Tomorrow night's game is BU-Maine from Orono. The BU-BC game at Agganis is on the schedule Jan. 26, as is the Feb. 16 game at UNH. The full schedule is at HE TV.
Check your local cable listings to find out what channel SNY is on.

NHL Central Scouting

On the heels of srsterrier's informative observations of future Terriers Kevin Shattenkirk and Colin Wilson, NHL Central Scouting has issued its midterm rankings for the 2007 draft. Shattenkirk is ranked #13 among North American skaters, making him a likely first round draft choice. Wilson, whose draft year is 2008, is not ranked. Colby Cohen's stocked has soared since he made the switch from the U18s to the Lincoln Stars where he's among the USHR's top defenseman. He's ranked #27. Interestingly, BC recruit Nick Petrecki, whom some rating services had in their top ten, is ranked #31 by Central Scouting. BU forward recruit Nick Bonino, a senior at Avon, is ranked #117.

Chris Heisenberg's recruiting blog (see link to the right) has listed all NCAA and NCAA-bound players in the midterm ranking. To see the full list of rankings, go to http://centralscouting.nhl.com/ To log in, the username is public access . The password is hockey 2004 .

An Early Look At Two 07' Freshmen

The US National Development Under –18 team played this past Saturday Night against the top-ranked Division III School, Manhattanville, in Stamford, CT. This provided an opportunity to get a look at two of next year’s recruits, Kevin Shattenkirk and Colin Wilson. After hearing much about them, my expectations were high. Still, I did not go home disappointed as both showed the potential to be great NCAA players:

Kevin Shattenkirk - the best way to describe his style of play is to compare him to a point guard in basketball. When he’s out on the ice - which is often - Shattenkirk is usually the player who skates the puck up the ice and distributes it to the forwards (not just during power plays but at even strength too). Once in the offensive zone, he usually stays up at the point. He is a smooth skater who handles the puck with ease. There was not much hesitation to his game. He seemed to always know where he wanted to pass the puck. Shattenkirk regularly creates scoring chances for his teammates (he is 5th on the team in scoring at 6-14-20 with 32 PIM in 30 games as of 12/18/06) and wound up with an assist on the power play in this game. I would not describe his shot as very hard but it is accurate. He is not very big, but a player with his skills is well-suited to the “new” NHL. He is projected as a late first-round or early second-round selection in this year’s NHL entry draft. Also: Shattenkirk wears the “C” and is clearly the team’s leader on the ice, often giving directions to teammates before draws.

Colin Wilson - Wilson is 2nd on the team in scoring (16-21-37 with 25 PIM in 30 games as of 12/18/06). Although he was kept off the scoresheet for this game, he showed a lot of skill. Like Shattenkirk, Wilson gets his share of ice time. He kills penalties, plays on the power play and also takes draws. I wasn’t keeping track, but he won a number of them. Wilson has good wheels and can stickhandle the puck pretty well. With his stickhandling, he created a couple of chances. He also showed that he could play physically. Wilson is listed as 6’0, 190 lbs. but looks a little bigger than that. Because of his late birthday, Wilson will not be draft-eligible until 2008. Early projections have him going as high as the top-5.


I was hoping to speak to both players after the game but there were about 500 squirts from the Stamford Youth Hockey League waiting for autographs. Wilson did give me the “thumbs up” when he saw my BU cap. As for Shattenkirk, his mom (along with several other family members and friends) was sitting near us and she said that he is very excited about the program and is looking forward to the fall. With this next class coming on board, so am I.