Terriers face key conference tests

Terriers will go into their weekend matchups with Merrimack and Boston College minus first line center Corey Trivino who has an injured ankle, according to a Boston Hockey Blog report. Junior defenseman Max Nicastro will return to the lineup after sitting out last weekend’s loss. Senior Kieran Millan (photo) gets the start against the #6 Warriors at Agganis Arena Friday night.

Coach Jack Parker, a college hockey coaching legend in his 39th season at BU, was asked by The Boston Hockey Blog about the controversy at Penn State that cost long-time football coaching icon Joe Paterno his job this week.
● CHN’s Hockey East power rankings
● USCHO’s This Week in Hockey East

Looking ahead
2013 recruit Sam Kurker was the top scorer for the Massachusetts High School All-Stars in the Bauer Elite NIT in New Hope, Minn. Kurker, who will be a senior and captain at St. John’s Prep, scored twice and added three assists. Fellow 2013 recruit Brendan Collier, a senior at Malden Catholic, scored twice for Massachusetts. The New England Prep roster for the tournament included Cantebury School forward Nicolas Pierog, whose father Mark Pierog was a Terrier forward from 1980 to 1984.

2012 recruit Jarrid Privitera, younger brother of Terrier freshman Alexx Privitera, assisted on the championship-winning goal as the Connecticut Jr. Wolfpack edged Mid-Fairfield in the New England Regional U-18 tournament. The Wolfpack earned a berth in the Tier 1 national championship in April. Privitera is entering his senior season at The Gunnery, where he scored 25 goals and added 18 assists last year.

You’ll probably think you’ve heard this before—and you have. 2012 recruit Mike Moran earned first-star honors (4th time this season) in Victoria’s 3-2 victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Wednesday. Moran’s only mark on the score sheet was an assist, but, according to GrizzRoar, Moran was “determined to make something happen on every shift“

Looking back
Kevin Shattenkirk assisted a pair of Blues goals in a 3-0 shutout of Chicago.

Colin Wilson scored one goal and assisted on another in the Predators’ 4-2 win over Anaheim Wednesday night.

Tuesday Linkorama

Despite the lopsided loss to Lowell, BU remained in the USCHO weekly poll top 20, placing 16th.

CHN’s Joe Meloni opines that the Terriers will turn around their up-and-down season.

USCHO explores the deep BU roots of sophomore Charley Coyle, who leads the Terriers with a +9 to go with nine points. (photo credit-Brendan Mahoney)

The Daily Free Press looks at the team’s motivation and penalty issues and analyzes BU’s goaltending situation.

Looking back
2009 Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy earned a place on the NHL.com highlight reel with a spin-o-rama move and slick backhand pass to Steve Stamkos for tap-in goal in Tampa Bay’s 4-3 overtime win against Florida. It was Gilroy’s fourth assist of the season.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Wesley Myron had Canada West’s only goal in a 2-1 exhibition game loss to Russia at the World Junior A Challenge in Langley, B.C. Canada West plays Team Sweden tonight and Team USA tomorrow in preliminary round games.

Myron’s teammate on the Victoria Grizzlies, 2012 recruit Mike Moran, registered his 12th assist in a 3-2 win against Coquitlam. His scoring line stands at 12-12-24.

Women’s team
Sophomore goalie Kerrin Sperry was named Hockey East’s co-defensive player of the week, following two standout outings: a 30-save performance in a 4-1 win against B.C., and a 35-save effort in Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Eagles. Junior forward Isabel Menard earned a spot on Hockey East’s list of top performers for the week.
● Daily Free Press recap of Saturday’s game and analysis

Terriers thumped by Riverhawks, 7-1

The score speaks for itself. Thankfully, there are no video highlights to share, but to get a clear, un-sugar-coated picture of this flat-out stinker by BU, please read Scott McLaughlin’s “Takeaway” analysis on College Hockey News.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Boston Hockey Blog recap and Coach Jack Parker’s post-game comments
● USCHO recap
● WTBU Sports recap

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Matt O’Connor stopped 36 of 39 shots in regulation and three shootout attempts as Youngstown edged Indiana, 4-3. Two of the Ice’s goals were produced by 2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon, including a game-tying goal with a minute left in regulation. He earned the game’s second star.
● Phantoms recap

2012 recruit Mike Moran had a pair of assists in Victoria's 6-4 loss to Langley, bring his season scoring line to 13-13-26 in 19 games.

Women’s team
The Terriers fell to Boston College, 3-1, at Walter Brown Arena. Jill Cardella scored the only goal for BU, which was playing without seniors Captain Jenn Wakefield (Team Canada) and Jennelle Kohanchuk (injury). Goalie Kerrin Sperry stopped 35 shots. Next up for BU is a home matchup with New Hampshire next Saturday.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● WTBU Sports recap
● Video highlights
● Coach Brian Durocher post-game comments (video)

Game Day: BU vs. UMass-Lowell--UPDATED

The 3-2-1 Terriers visit 2-3-0 Lowell for a conference matchup tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. BU, aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, is led on offense by sophomores Matt Nieto (6-4-10, +7) and Charley Coyle (1-8-9, +9). Terriers will have four freshmen in the lineup as Alexx Privitera, Cason Hohmann and Evan Rodrigues are joined by redshirt freshmen Yasin Cissé, making his first start of the season. The Riverhawks are led by forwards Riley Wetmore and Joe Pendenza.

Tonight's BU lineup
Connolly-Trivino-Rodrigues
Nieto-Coyle-Chiasson
Megan-Gill- Cissé
Courtnall-Gaudet-Hohmann
Noonan-Clendening
Escobedo-MacGregor
Privitera-Ruikka
Millan

● GoTerriers.com preview, WWZN Radio Webcast
● B2B Networks Webcast
● WTBU Sports Inside Edge
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape, Tweetcast
● GoRiverhawks.com preview, game notes

Looking ahead
2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon scored his second goal of the season in Indiana’s 5-1 win against Cedar Rapids. Teammate Robert Polesello, a 2012 recruit, registered five of the Ice’s 34 shots.

2012 recruit Matt O’Connor relieved Youngstown’s starting goalie at the beginning of the second period and stopped 20 of 21 shots in the Phantoms’ 4-1 loss to Muskegon.

Women team
Terrier will complete their home-and-home with Boston College this afternoon at Walter Brown Arena, beginning at 3 p.m., BU, which won Wednesday night’s matchup with Eagles at Conte Forum, 4-1, will be without senior captain Jenn Wakefield, who is skating for Team Canada this weekend in the Four Nations Cup.
● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, All-Access Webcast , Gametracker
● WTBU Radio Webcast

Changes ahead

Just one game on BU’s weekend agenda, a conference matchup with UMass Lowell at Tsongas Arena Saturday evening at 7 p.m.. Under new coach Norm Bazin, the River Hawks have a 2-3 record following a pair of losses to BC in which they were very competitive. No longer a center-zone trap team, Lowell is, according to some reports, playing a transition game emphasizing speed and shooting often.

The Daily Free Press spoke with Coach Jack Parker who will be tweaking his lines with the return of junior right wing Alex Chiasson to the lineup. Sophomore Sahir Gill (photo), whom Parker praised as “our most consistent top performer” will center the third line, a move designed to create a third scoring unit. Gill, with a 3-5-8 line, has at least one point in all six games this season. Freshman Alexx Privitera will return to the Terrier blueline while junior Max Nicastro sits one out.

BU’s scheduled Jan. 4 game at Harvard has been moved to Jan. 14, and The Boston Hockey Blog learned from Parker that the game could be relocated to Fenway, a move the Terrier coach does not favor.
● WTBU Sports weekly notebook
● Hockey East weekend preview
● USCHO Weekly Hockey East picks

Looking back
David Van der Gulik scored a goal and an assist for Lake Erie, but the Monster were felled, 5-3, by Houston.

Thursday Linkorama

● New England Hockey Journal analysis of BU-UMass series
● USCHO Hockey East Blog looks at BU-UMass and TV contract
● Inside Terrier Hockey—Episode 4 Webcast guests are Jack Parker, sophomore center Charlie Coyle and former Terrier Travis Roy, recipient of the BU’s prestigious Young Alumni Award last weekend as part of Alumni Weekend. Roy was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first and only college game 16 years ago last month. Video feature on Roy.

Looking back
Terrier teammates on the 2009 national championship team, Colby Cohen and David Warsofsky, both now members of the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Providence, talked with Terrier Nation (video) about the transition to professional hockey.

Women’s team
Captain Jenn Wakefield (photo) scored a milestone goal and added two assists as the Terriers thumped Boston College, 4-1, at Conte Forum. The senior center’s first-period goal earned her the distinction of being the first Women’s Hockey East player to reach 100 goals. The former Canadian National Team player scored 59 goals in two seasons at the University of New Hampshire and has added 41 more (9 this season) since transferring to BU.

Kathryn Miller provided the eventual game-winner with just a minute to go in the first period. After BC sliced the lead to 2-1, Louis Warren and Isabel Menard added third-period goals to put the game out of reach. Kerrin Sperry turned aside 30 shots to gain her fourth win of the season.
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Hockey East recap
● Daily Free Press recap and Wakefield feature
● Coach Brian Durocher post-game comments (video)
● Wakefield post-game comments:

Terriers on the Tube

Hockey East today announced a seven-game television package with NBC Sports Network (now called Versus) that includes BU’s New Year’s Eve matchup with Notre Dame and the Terrier’s Feb. 24 contest at Vermont, as well as four Hockey East tournament games. Both semifinals and the championship game will be aired.

NBC Sports Network—which is Versus until Jan. 2—will broadcast a total of 16 college hockey games this season, beginning with BU-Notre Dame. The schedule:

Dec. 31 Boston University at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 Dartmouth at RPI, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 13 Minnesota Duluth at Nebraska-Omaha, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 Michigan at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 Yale at Harvard, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 Cornell at RPI, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 10 Boston College at Vermont, 7:30 p.m.; Minnesota at Denver, 10 p.m.
Feb. 17 Dartmouth at Yale, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 24 Boston University at Vermont, 7:30 p.m.; North Dakota at Denver,
Mar. 9 Hockey East Quarterfinals 7:30 p.m.
Mar. 16 Hockey East Semifinals 5 and 8 p.m.
Mar. 17th Hockey East Championship 8 p.m.

The games will be produced by the same team that produces NHL games for NBC and Versus.

BU also will appear three times on CBS Sports Network: Dec. 2 at BC; Dec. 10 at Maine; and Jan. 28 against Maine at Agganis Arena.
● GoTerriers.com announcement of nationally-broadcast games.

In addition, BU has added a third game this fall to its own local schedule with NESN: the Nov. 18 home game against Vermont. And Merrimack has a regional schedule of games on WBIN-TV which now features a Feb. 3 matchup with the Terriers at Lawler Arena.

FYI
● We've added a link in the sidebar to BU's Virtual Media Guide for 2011-12.
● College Hockey Weekly continues its countdown of the 25 greatest college hockey teams.
● College Hockey Inc. Executive Director appears on USCHO Live to discuss potential expansion of the sport and a proposal to raise the minimum NHL draft age to 19 after the first round.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Wesley Myron, a Victoria Grizzlies center, earned a spot on the Canada West roster for the World Junior A Challenge following this past weekend’s evaluation camp. Canada West plays an exhibition against Canada East tomorrow, then meets Russia on Saturday in another exhibition.
● BC Local News feature on Grizzlies and Myron

Women’s team
The #5 Terriers conclude a five-game road trip with their first conference game of the season, taking on #6 Boston College at Conte Forum tonight beginning at 7 p.m. Team captain Jenn Wakefield, who leads both Hockey East and BU in points (13) and goals (8) was named Hockey East Player of the Month for October. She also leads the nation in power play goals.
● GoTerriers.com preview, games notes, live stats
● WTBU Radio Webcast

Monday Linkorama

Earlier today, Hockey East did what opposing goalies have been unable to do this season—rob Matt Nieto. Somehow, the Terrier sophomore wing didn’t get the nod for player of the week. No knock on the two players who did share player-of-the-week honor, but it’s awfully easy to make a strong case for Nieto who turned around Friday’s game with his fifth goal (video) after a UMass breakaway was stifled and also assisted on the tying goal.

During Saturday’s rematch, he set up a pair of goals, including Charley Coyle’s shorthander to knot the score, then wristed home the overtime game-winner (video), extending his consecutive game streak to eight games. Oh yes, he earned first-star honors in both games—making it three times in six games—which leaves him tied for the top spot in the conference’s Army ROTC Three Stars Award standings.

Nieto did make the conference list of top performers for the week along with Coyle and Sahir Gill, who scored a goal in both UMass games and has at least one point in every game this season.

Terriers moved up a notch to 12th in the USCHO poll and remained at 12th in the USA Today Poll.

BU now leads the nation in shorthanded goals with four, while Coyle leads all conference skaters with a +9.

● Boston Hockey Blog October mailbag
● Daily Free Press recap and feature on Nieto

Looking back
Former Terrier Nick Bonino, who is fourth in the AHL in assists with nine, has been recalled by the Anaheim Ducks from Syracuse.

Looking ahead
More from BU’s M&M boys in Victoria—Wesley Myron and Mike Moran. Myron is at Canada West evaluation camp for the World Junior A Challenge. Meanwhile, Moran scored his third game-winning goal in 14 games with the Grizzlies and added an assist, once again earning first-star honors, as Victoria beat Coquitlam, 5-2. Current BU assistant captain Justin Courtnall also is a Grizzlies alum
● Recap and box score
● Video highlights (Moran is #12)

Nieto caps comeback for OT win

It took the continuation of one streak to end another one.

Matt Nieto rifled a shot home in overtime—his sixth consecutive game with a goal this season—to end the Terriers’ two-game non-winning streak as BU edged UMass, 5-4. The red-hot left winger added two assists and, with his goal and assist on Friday, completed a five-point weekend.

The Minutemen had sprinted to 3-0 lead, scoring late in the first on a bad bounce clearing pass by Ryan Ruikka and a goalmouth turnover by Charley Coyle. But after killing a UMass two-man advantage in the second period, BU began chipping away. First Garrett Noonan roofed a pass from Corey Trivino, then Sahir Gill pounced on a rebound to score his second goal in two nights . Terriers continued to press in the third period and knotted the score on the first goal of the year for Coyle, a shorthander assisted by Nieto. Trivino’s fourth gave BU its first lead midway through the third period, but UMass responded with a Mike Pereira power play goal, squaring things at 4-4.

In overtime, a UMass crosscheck on Cason Hohmann put BU on the power play, setting the stage for Nieto’s heroics.

Senior Grant Rollheiser, who stopped 29 shots in his first action of the season, was solid over the final two periods after a shaky start.

Freshman Evan Rodrigues, who was rewarded for strong play by being moved BU’s first line, registered his first two career assists on the Noonan and Trivino goals and earned kudos from Coach Jack Parker.

Nieto, who now has an eight-game goal scoring streak going back to last season, and was cut from the U.S. Junior National Team roster during evaluation camp this past summer. His standout play at both ends of the ice is likely to win him reconsideration for that squad . Nieto earned first-star honors for the third time this season, while Trivino, who was dominant on faceoffs, winning 17 of 23, was the game’s third star.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Boston Hockey Blog recap
● USCHO recap
● Boston Globe recap
● Boston Herald recap
● MassLive.com recap
● WTBU Sports recap
● College Hockey News analysis
● Post-game comments: Coach Jack Parker
● Post-game comments: Nieto/Coyle


Looking ahead
U.S. Hockey Report reports that 6’2”, 180 lb. LC Wesley Myron (photo), "a polished power forward" for the Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), has committed to BU for next fall. Myron was #3 on USHR’s recent list of top uncommitted NCAA prospects for 2012. USHR describes Myron as “a tall, lanky kid with the frame of an NHL-type center, a strong skater who has shown a lot of finish in the BCHL.”

Centering the Grizzlies’ top line, he’s currrently 7th in BCHL scoring with an 8-15-23 line in 13 games. Following a hattrick and an assist in a 7-1 win against Langley, Myron traveled East to visit BU and UNH.[While he was away, fellow BU 2012 recruit Mike Moran took his place on the top line and responded with a 3-1-4 night.]

An 8/16/92 birthdate and Victoria, BC native, Myron, who had a 20-21-41 line for the Grizzlies last season, was named to the Canada West selection camp (Oct. 29- Nov. 1) for the upcoming World Junior A Challenge, beginning Nov. 7 in Langley, B.C.

St. Cloud and Michigan also were interested in him, too.

►With Myron at Canada West camp, Moran was back on the Grizzlies' top line, scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist in a 5-2 Victoria win against Coquitlam. For the second time in eight days, he earned first-star honors. Since being traded to the Grizzlies, Moran has 11 goals, including three game-winners, and 19 points in 13 games.

Women’s team
The Terrier absorbed their second straight defeat at the hands of top-ranked Wisconsin, losing 6-1 in Madison. Taylor Holze’s second goal of the season, knotted the score at one after the opening period, but the Badgers, who had 40 shots, added a goal in the second period and four more in the final stanza.
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Post-game comments: Assistant Coach Allison Coomey
● University of Wisconsin recap

Game Day: BU-UMass redux

Terriers and Minutemen do it again tonight, this time at Agganis Arena. 7 p.m. start.
WZZN Radio Webcast
BU TV All Access Webcast
HockeyEastOnline live scoreboard

There are a number of changes in tonight's lineup. Senior Grant Rollheiser gets his first start of the season in goal

Connolly-Trivino-Rodrigues
Nieto-Coyle-Gill
Megan-Gaudet-Hohmann
Courtnall-Rosen-Gilroy

Noonan-Clendening
Nicastro-Ruikka
Escobedo-MacGregor

Rollheiser

Terriers and Minutemen all tied up--updated

Terriers traveled West yesterday to Amherst and rallied for a 2-2 overtime tie with UMass. Sahir Gill's third-period goal, his second in two games, knotted the score, after BU had fallen behind 2-0. After an Alex Chiasson shot hit the post, the Minutemen scored a power play goal with 34 seconds left in the opening period, then doubled their lead in the second with a goal just seconds after another power play expired.

BU spent nearly a third of the middle period killing penalties. After Chiasson clanged another post, the Terriers finally got on the board when, with the teams skating 4-on-4, sophomore Matt Nieto scored his fifth goal late in the period on a feed from Charley Coyle.

The Long Beach, Calif., native, who also assisted on Gill's score and now has goals in his last seven games, earned first-star honors. [Note just prior to his goal (video) Nieto's backcheck following a UMass breakaway]

Senior goalie Kieran Millan, who was named second star, turned away 33 shots.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● HockeyEastOnline recap and video highlights
● Boston Globe recap
● MassLive.com recap
● WTBU Sports recap
● Boston Hockey Blog recap and post-game interview with Jack Parker
● College Hockey News feature on Nieto

Looking back
Former Terrier captain Sean Sullivan scored the game-winner for the Worcester Sharks in a 4-3 overtime victory over Bridgeport. John McCarthy added an assist for the Sharks.

Chris Bourque notched his sixth goal of the season for Hershey in a 4-3 loss to Springfield.

Women's team
Terriers were defeated, 3-0, by Wisconsin in the first of two games with the defending national champion Badgers. Goalie Kerrin Sperry stopped 37 shots, including 17 in the opening period, to keep BU in the game.
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Coach Brian Durocher post-game commenets (video)

Game Day: Terriers vs. Minutemen--updated

Terriers look to rebound with a pair of conference games against the UMass Minutemen, beginning with tonight’s game in Amherst. New defense pairings, including sophomore Adam Clendening with classmate Garrett Noonan (photo), and junior Ryan Ruikka’s return are expected. And senior goalie Grant Rollheiser should see his first action of the season in one of the games. The 7 p.m. start will air on NESN.

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, game tracker, WWZN Radio Webcast
● Daily Free Press preview
● USCHO’s Hockey East game predictions
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape, Tweetcast
● HockeyEastOnline weekend preview, live scoreboard

Lineup
Connolly-Trivino-Gill
Nieto-Coyle-Chiasson
Megan-Gaudet-Rodrigues
Courtnall-Rosen-Gilroy
Noonan-Clendening
Nicastro-Ruikka
Escobedo-MacGregor
Millan

Looking back

The Bleacher Report took a crack at choosing the 10 greatest college hockey goals of all time. Nick Bonino’s game-tying goal in the 2009 NCAA final ranked third, while Mike Prendergast’s game-winner in 1993 that snapped Maine’s 32-game winning streak earned honorable mention. #1? Michigan’s Mike Legg’s “lacrosse goal” against Minnesota in the 1996 NCAA regioinal.

Women’s team
The #5/4 Terriers (5-1-1) continue their road trip with two games against top-ranked Wisconsin (7-1-0) at the Kohl Center. Both games begin at 3 p.m. ET. The series features a match-up of two of women’s hockey’s best goaltenders: BU’s Kerrin Sperry (1.98 GAA) and UW’s Alex Rigsby (2.04)
● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, WSUM Radio Webcast, Coach Brian Durocher YouTube interview
● Daily Free Press preview
● Daily Cardinal preview

Help for the D on the way?

As the Terriers approach a weekend pair of conference games—home and home with UMass—Coach Jack Parker indicated that junior defenseman Ryan Ruikka (photo) may rejoin the BU lineup after missing the first four games with a broken foot. On Inside Terrier Hockey he also told Bernie Corbett that reshirt freshman forward Yasin Cisse (concussion) is not yet ready for game action.

This week’s edition of Inside Terrier Hockey also has Corbett interviewing two former Terriers—L.A. Kings Director of Pro Scouting Steve Greeley and Friends of BU Hockey Chairman Paul Giandomenico, a sparkplug forward on BU’s 1971 and 1972 national champions.

● More in the injured Terriers from The Daily Free Press.
● WTBU Sports assesses trends after four game
● USCHO’s This Week in Hockey East
● UMass weekend preview

Looking back
This is alumni weekend at BU and among the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Awards will be former Terrier Travis Roy, a motivational speaker and activist who established the Travis Roy Foundation after suffering a paralyzing injury playing in his first hockey game as a BU freshman. Roy will receive the Young Alumni Award.

Former Terrier captain and Olympic gold medalist Jack O’Callahan will be inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame on January 29. The Charlestown, Mass., native spent five seasons patrolling the Chiacgo Blackhawks’ blueline

Kevin Shattenkirk assisted on two Blues’ goals in a 3-0 win against Vancouver.

Syracuse Crunch forward Nick Bonino, scoring a goal and an assist, helped make it a miserable night for an ex-teammate, Zach Cohen, and former coach, David Quinn, as Syracuse crushed Lake Erie, 7-0.

Looking ahead
2013 recruits Brendan Collier (Malden Catholic) and Sam Kurker (St. John’s Prep) have been named to the Mass High School All-Star Team that is headed to the 2011 Bauer National Invitational Tournament in New Hope, Minn. Nov. 4-6.

Collier, Kurker, Dan O’Regan, and Kevin Duane all received B ratings in NHL Central Scouting’s latest listing of players to watch for the 2012 draft. 2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon also received a B rating in an earlier listing.

2012 recruit Mike Moran continues to wield a hot stick for the BCHL Victoria Grizzlies, scoring twice and adding three helpers in a 7-4 win against Cowichan on Wednesday. The Marshfield, Mass., native has 10 goals in 11 games since joining the Grizzlies early in the season and an 11-8-19 scoring line overall. Grizz Roar reports:

Mike Moran - Has nine points in his last two games showing how dominant and how key to the Grizzlies he is this season. Hard to knock of the puck, sees the ice well and can be a real difference maker.

Women’s team
The Terriers travel to Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend to take on defending national champion, Wisconsin for a pair. The Badgers beat BU, 4-1, in last year’s NCAA title game. Senior defenseman Tara Watchorn, recovered from a concussion, will return to the BU lineup, but injured senior forward Jennelle Kohanchuk is not expected to be available.

Wisconsin Coach Mark Johnson, an Olympic teammate of O’Callahan, discussed the weekend matchup.

Tuesday Linkorama

Matt Nieto, who has scored a goal in each of BU’s four games, was named to Hockey East’s top performers list for the past week. Going back to last season, the sophomore wing has found the net in six consecutive games. Junior assistant captain Alex Chiasson, with two goals and an assist in the Holy Cross loss for a team-leading seven points, also made the list. (Photo credit-Brendan Mahoney)

In the weekly rankings, the 2-2-0 Terriers fell to 13th in the USCHO poll and 12th in the USA Today poll.

● Daily Free Press analysis of BU’s 5-4 loss to Holy Cross
● WTBU Sports recap
● Post-game comments/transcripts: Coach Jack Parker, Chiasson
● USCHO weekend recap

Monday was a sad day for the college hockey community as Alabama-Huntsville, an independent since the demise of the College Hockey American conference, decided to shut down its Division 1 program, replacing it with a club team.
●Analysis from Chris Dilks of the Western College Hockey Blog.

Looking back
An AHL.com feature talks with Providence Bruins’ rookie David Warsofsky.

Looking ahead
After scoring two goals and five assists in a pair of wins for the GB Bruins U18s, 2013 recruit Brendan Collier continues to lead the Mass Midget Selects league in scoring with a 9-13-22 line.

Women’s team
Captain Jenn Wakefield, freshman Kayla Tutino and goal Kerrin Sperry—who has four 30+ save games this season—all made Hockey East’s top performers’ list for their efforts in the weekend’s win and tie in the North Country.

● Daily Free Press weekend recap
● Terriers dropped to #5 in the USCHO weekly rankings.

Flat Terriers fall to Holy Cross

Facing Holy Cross last night, the Terriers emulated their effort from last weekend. Unfortunately, it was a flashback to the loss to Providence, rather than the victory over Denver. Defensive mistakes, untimely penalties and penalty-killing failures, lack of either a forecheck or crisp breakout—and a strong effort by the Crusaders—gave the visitors a well-earned 5-4 upset win.

After an early Holy Cross goal, BU responded with a pair of well-executed passing plays, resulting in Sahir Gill’s first goal of the year and Alex Chiasson’s third. But the next 40 minutes belonged to the Crusders, who scored four times, twice on power plays. BU had previously yield just one power play goal this season.

In the final period Terriers, trailing 5-2, narrowed the margin on Chiasson’s fourth—a shorthander— and Matt Nieto’s fourth, but, again as was the case in Providence, BU couldn’t produce the equalizer. Following the game, a thoroughly displeased Jack Parker summed up the defeat:

“Defensively, we were pathetic in our own zone...We got beat
to every loose puck; we got out-muscled in front of our own net,
and we were pathetic killing penalties. And as bad as we were,
they were good at all of that stuff."

● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● USCHO recap
● Boston Hockey Blog recap
● Worcester Telegram recap
● Coach Jack Parker’s comments
● College Hockey News recap

Looking ahead

For the third time this season, 2012 recruit Mike Moran earned first-star honors in BCHL play. His hattrick--plus an assist--led Victoria past Chilliwack, 7-5. Moran has a 9-5-14 line in 12 games.

Women's team

Terriers completed their North Country weekend, edging St. Lawrence, 3-2, behind Kerrin Sperry's 36-save performance and the eventual game-winner by captain Jenn Wakefield. BU moved out to a 3-0 lead on goals by Kayla Tutino, Shannon Mahoney and Wakefield before yielding a pair of goals to the Saints. Sperry made 14 saves in the final period to seal the win.

● GoTerriers.com recap

● Comprehensive box score

Game Day: Terriers vs. Crusaders

Terriers face off tonight against Holy Cross at Agganis Arena in their final non-conference game until Red Hot Hockey vs. Cornell after Thanksgiving.

● GoTerriers.com preview, game tracker , WWZN Radio Webcast, All Access Webcast,
● BU game notes
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● CHN Tale of the Tape
● Holy Cross game notes

Looking ahead
2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon assisted on three goals in Indiana’s 6-2 win against Tri-City. 2012 recruit Robert Polesello also added a helper.

Looking back
Nick Bonino recorded his second 3-point game in a week, assisting on three goals, including the overtime game-winner, as the Syracuse Crunch beat Lake Erie 4-3. Dave Van der Gulik had an assist for the David Quinn-coached Monsters.

Scott King, who played BU’s 1995-96 Frozen Four squad, continues his long professional career in Europe and currently is the leading scorer for the Hannover Scorpions in the German DEL. Other ex-Terriers in the DEL include John Curry with the Hamburg Freezers and John LaLiberte with Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams.

Women’s team
Freshman Kayla Tutino’s unassisted goal late in the final period—her fifth of the season—enabled the Terriers to tie Clarkson University, 2-2, at Cheel Arena in Potsdam, N.Y. BU took an early lead on junior Taylor Holze’s goal, but the Knights pulled even on a two-man advantage in the second and took the lead early in the third. Kerrin Sperry stopped 32 shots for BU, which takes on St. Lawrence today in nearby Canton, N.Y. (which is home to men’s team forward Wade Megan).

● GoTerriers.com recap/preview of St.Lawrence
● WTBU Sports recap
● HockeyEastOnline recap

Friday Linkorama

On Saturday, BU takes on another non-conference opponent, Holy Cross, at Agganis Arena. The Daily Free Press talked with junior assistant captain Justin Courtnall about preparation for the Atlantic Hockey team that the Terriers last played three seasons ago. The DFP also reported that injured forward Yasin Cissé and defenseman Ryan Ruikka won’t return to the lineup this week.

Heading into BU’s fourth game, junior assistant captain Alex Chiasson and sophomore Sahir Gill (photo) are tied for the team scoring lead with four points apiece. What bodes particularly well for the Terriers is that—as Coach Jack Parker pointed out on Inside Terrier Hockey—senior Corey Trivino and junior Wade Megan have been his best performing forwards to date.

● Holy Cross Athletics preview
● USCHO’s Hockey East picks
● HockeyEastOnline.com weekend preview

The Terrier’s schedule of TV games continues to grow. BU’s game at Notre Dame on New Year’s Eve will air leave on Versus, soon to be rebranded as NBC Sports Network.

Bostonia profiles Elliott Dribben, BU’s fan for all seasons and all Terrier sports for more than 40 years.

The Boston Hockey Blog takes note of the 16th anniversary of Travis Roy’s tragic accident in his first college game, as well as his continuing impact on BU’s hockey program.

►With no BU hockey scheduled tonight, you can take a look at the Vermont Catamounts who will be at Agganis Arena on Nov. 18. The Cats’ game against Minnesota airs tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NESN and Fox Sports North.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Matt O’Connor won his fourth straight game, stopping 22 shots in Youngstown’s 4-3 OT win against Cedar Rapids.

Looking back
A pair of former BU All-Americans now playing in Europe, Freddy Meyer and John Curry, were named to the U.S. Men's Select Team that will compete at the Deutschland Cup from Nov. 11-13 in Munich, Germany. Meyer is playing for MODO in the Swedish Premier League, while Curry tends goal for the Hamburg in the DEL.

Women’s team
The #4 ranked Terriers head to the North Country to play Clarkson and St. Lawrence. The weekend begins today at 3 p.m. against the Knights, who are 3-0-1, coming off a sweep of Syracuse.

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes
● Coach Brian Durocher’s weekend preview (video)

Rookies ranked; Rausch remembers

Inside College Hockey has posted its annual ranking of college hockey's top freshmen. BU winger Evan Rodrigues (photo) is rated #12 among forwards. [Cason Hohmann’s absence from the list is frankly baffling]. Alexx Privitera is the #8 defenseman and BU’s small, but talented class is ranked #6 overall. (Photo credit-Brendan Mahoney)

Episode 2 of Inside BU Hockey is now available on the BU Athletics Web site. Bernie Corbett’s guests are Head Coach Jack Parker, sophomore Matt Nieto, who has scored a goal in all three games this season and has points in his eight of his last nine games, and 1995 NCAA championship team member Ken Rausch. The interview with Rausch, a former UMass-Lowell assistant and current manager of Youth Hockey for USA Hockey, is a particularly enjoyable one as he recalls the circumstances that made him, an unrecruited walk-on, a Terrier, as well as his penchant for delivering in tournaments (video).

Looking ahead
International Scouting Services, reporting on prospects for the 2012 NHL draft, says 2012 recruit Robert Polesello's stock is rising.

Robert Polesello, F, Indiana ICE
Looks to have made a quick adjustment to USHL. Currently leads the Indiana Ice in goals with 4 in 3 games while helping the Ice
go undefeated. Polesello is a smaller, skilled offensive minded forward that possesses great tools. He is an exceptional skater, displaying a ton of speed and quickness that allows him to dart in and out of the open ice and create separation. His quickness is likely the best in this draft class and matches much of the best players in the world in that regard.

Looking back
Brian Strait, recalled from the AHL to Pittsburgh, was in the lineup for last night’s Pen’s win against the Wild, but suffered an upper-body injury during the second period.

Former Terrier co-captain John McCarthy assisted on three goals in the Worcester Sharks’ home-opening 6-1 win against Albany. Note the Sharks’ lineup filled with former collegians, including Sean Sullivan.

Women’s program
Freshman Kayla Tutino, who scored a hattrick in the 6-2 win over Union College, was named Hockey East Rookie of the Week.

Captain Jenn Wakefield and goalie Braly Hiller earned spots on the leagues list of top performers for the week.

Monday Linkorama

● Daily Free Press feature on Corey Trivino (photo credit, Brendan Mahoney) who has a power play goal, a shorthander and one at even strength in three games.

● CHN Takeaway: Sophomores Impress

● Weekly Polls – USCHO: BU moves up a notch to #7; USA Today: down one slot to #8

● USCHO Hockey East blog: Weekend wrap

● USA Hockey feature on Charlie Coyle

● Trivino, Matt Nieto and Adam Clendening were named to Hockey East’s list of top performers.

► Dating back to last season, five Terriers (Alex Chiasson, Chris Connolly, Wade Megan, Nieto and Trivino) are currently on five-game point streaks

► Hockey East now posts video highlights from games involving conference members on the Hockey East YouTube Channel, affording an opportunity to see other teams in action. That channel has been added to list of links in the blog sidebar for fast access.

► Blog contributor Candycanes99 has provided a photo gallery from Saturday's 4-3 win against Denver.

Women's Program
● Daily Free Press: recap of win over Union; Kayla Tutino feature
● BU maintained its #4 ranking in USCHO's Weekly Poll

► Blog contributor Candycanes99 has provided a photo gallery from Saturday's 6-2 win against Union College.

Special teams lead BU past Denver

Two shorthanded goals and a power play marker in the first three minutes of the second period powered #7 BU past #3 Denver, 4-3, at Agganis Arena. Sophomore Matt Nieto, who earned first-star honors, and second-star Corey Trivino (photo) both scored early in the middle stanza while Garrett Noonan was serving a penalty. For each, it was the third goal of the season. Two minutes later, with the Terriers enjoying a man advantage, Wade Megan found net on a backhander, extending BU’s lead to 4-0. Alex Chiasson had opened the scoring midway through the first period, assisted by Cason Hohmann—his first career point.

Despite BU’s continued strong play in the third, Denver clawed its way back. A wrap-around goal that just eluded Kieran Millan, a blueline shot that glanced off Millan’s pad, and an extra-attacker goal narrowed the margin to 4-3. BU nearly added an empty netter before time expired.

Millan finished with 35 saves, and the win, the 63rd of his career, vaulted him past Sean Fields into first place for victories by BU goalie.

The Terrier defense made an emphatic reversal from Friday night’s subpar effort. Sophomore Pat MacGregor was very effective, using his body and reach well. The former Avon Old Farms standout made a strong claim to stay in the lineup once Ryan Ruikka returns.

Check back for more coverage and photos

● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● USCHO recap
● Boston Hockey Blog recap
● WTBU Sports recap
● Boston Globe recap
● College Hockey News features on Trivino and DU goalie Adam Murray
● Coach Jack Parker’s comments.

● Post-game comments: Nieto and Chiasson



Looking ahead
2012 recruit Matt O’Connor won his third game in a row for USHL Youngstown, stopping 22 shots in a 4-1 win against Des Moines.

Looking back
Nick Bonino assisted on four goals, including three by Kyle Palmieri, in Syracuse’s 6-2 win against Adirondack.

David Van der Gulik, playing at Lake Erie for former Terrier associate head coach David Quinn, scored his first goal of the season in the Monsters' 5-3 loss to Toronto.

Women’s team
Behind a hattrick by freshman Kayla Tutino, the #4-ranked Terriers pulled away from Union College for a 6-2 and raised their record to 4-1-0. Captain Jenn Wakefield added a pair, her 6th and7th of the season, and Kasey Boucher potted her first of the year. Braley Hiller stopped 27 shots to earn her first collegiate victory. Another freshman, Sarah Bayersdorfer, recorded her point. BU put a season-high 44 shots on goal.
● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● WTBU Sports recap
● Coach Brian Durocher’s comments.