Thursday, September 24, 2026

UPDATED: USCHO Poll: #16 Terriers; A pair of previews; Grzelcyk & Celebrini news; Women's exhibition

 Matt Grzelcyk and Macklin Celebrini news added to Looking back. 

Terriers begin this season at #16 in the USCHO Poll after entering 2025-26 ranked #2. Future opponents in the top 10 are #1 Denver, #3 Michigan State, #7 Quinnipiac, #9 Providence and #10 Massachusetts. 

Image   

A graphic from BU Hockey Stats breaks down how each of 18 programs that been ranked in at least 15 of 31 USCHO preseason polls were ranked each season.  BU was slotted in the top 10 in 17 seasons, including the previous three.

►College Hockey News' Mike McMahon has posted his Preseason Top 10 Plus 5 More That Just Missed the Cut. BU lands in the latter group, as do BC and Cornell. He writes: 

"The Terriers had a surprisingly rough year considering the talent on their roster. One noticeable change is that BU managed to get a little older this season, and I think Mikhail Yegorov will find his form again."   

Media Day  (more images at BU Men's Hockey on X)

 With puck drop approaching, we have several initial Terrier previews. 

► BU Hockey Stats' previews of both men's and women's seasons looks at departures, returnees newcomers and stats to follow. 

● BU Hockey Stats A chance to rebound 

                           Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) / X

►The Boston Hockey Blog writers each project the men's and women's season ahead. 

● Boston Hockey Blog Where does BU men’s hockey go from here?

● Boston Hockey Blog What does the new era of BU women’s hockey have in store?

The BHB crew also begins a new season of Terrier Hockey Talk (Spotify) breaking down the off-season for both the men's and women's programs. 

 Editor's Note: Early next week we'll post THFB's Annual Season Preview Podcast 

►College Hockey Insider’s Mike McMahon is plowing through his annual preseason rankings and previews and has posted teams #41-63. Terrier opponents reviewed so far are #42 Lowell, #45 Colgate, #58 Brown (exhibition) and #62 Alaska Fairbanks, where BU will open the season.

► Puck Preps' ranking of D1 freshman classes slots the Terriers at #8. BU's six-man class includes the 2026 third overall draft pick, Caleb Malhotra, and three early second round picks, Haoxi Wang, Xavier Villeneuve and Niklas Aaram Olsen.

Image 

 Looking ahead

 

2027 recruit Braidy Wassilyn’s first goal of the season earned OHL Play of the Night honors. He  added an assist in Saginaw’s opening game overtime 5-4 loss to Sault Ste. Marie.  The next night, Wassilyn produced another goal-and-assist effort but the Spirit fell to Flint, 5-4. The 6’0” left wing, who wasn’t drafted in June, was invited to Montreal’s Development Camp. 

2027 recruit Carter Meyer is among the first four players rostered for Team CHL, for the 2026 CHL-NCAA Prospects Game set for December 1 & 2 in Quebec. Last week, he was selected for the QMJHL Prospects game set for next month.  

TSN's Craig Button's September ranking for the 2027 draft has Meyer at #4 and Jamie Glance (St. John) at #18.

Image  

2027 recruit Alessandro Di Iorio, a third round pick by Columbus in the 2026 Entry Draft, will wear the C for Sarnia this season. Now in his third season with the Sting, the 6'1" center attended Blue Jackets rookie camp and the initial days of main camp. 

2027 recruit Liam Lefebrve continues to impress at the L.A. Kings main camp. He played in last night's exhibition game against Clayton Keller and Utah, with 14 minutes of ice time and registered one assist. 

Update: Lefebrve was returned to his QMJHL team where he'll try to lead Cape Breton to the Memorial Cup. 

He earned universal praise at the Rookie Faceoff event a few weeks ago, coming away unofficially as one of the team’s top three players — something that almost never happens with a first-year player at that tournament. 

--Mayor'sManor.com Lefebvre Left a Lasting Impression at Kings Training Camp

 

Looking Back

Image 

Following his franchise-record 115 point season, Macklin Celebrini has been named captain of the Sharks. At 20 years old, he's the youngest captain in the NHL and the youngest to wear the C in franchise history.  

He joins Clayton Keller as Terrier captains in the NHL. Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk each served as captains of their initial league teams.  Celebrini was selected to captain Canada at this past year’s IIHF World Championships.

  

                     Graphic credit: BU Hockey Stats

● The Athletic Sharks name Celebrini youngest captain in NHL (shared article)    

Matt Grzelcyk, a 10-season NHL veteran, joins the Sabres after spending last season with Chicago and the prior campaign with Pittsburgh. The two-time All-American and two-time BU captain skated for the Bruins in his first eight seasons. Buffalo Head Coach Lindsey Ruff.

“We’ve talked about the standard we’re at and the expectations, and bringing in a veteran player who has a lot of experience in every situation, the message is we’re going to give ourselves the best possible chance to help ourselves win hockey games.”  

 

Drew Commesso will return to AHL Rockford for another season, but will be ready for a call-up to the Blackhawks if injuries arise. Last season, he was recalled for three games and pitched his first NHL shutout.  

“The biggest thing that I noticed right away was the size of the guys,” Commesso said. “There’s a lot more screens (and) it’s harder to find the puck when it’s in the zone. I’d say the game’s also more crisp, almost more predictable, where guys are always in the right spot making good plays. At first, it was (adjusting to) the speed, the size of guys and finding the puck (but) the more I play, the more comfortable I feel.”

● ChicagoTribune.com As Drew Commesso bides his time in Rockford, the Chicago Blackhawks goalie prospect keeps building confidence

►The Athletic highlights Quinn Hutson as an Edmonton prospect to watch this season.  

Hutson’s first pro season saw him score 30 goals (an outrageous total based on his scouting report) while struggling in the second half as an even-strength outscorer. College players often hit a wall in the second half of their debut AHL seasons (it’s a much longer schedule and there’s plenty of gruelling travel), and this could be the case for Hutson. There is no easy road to the NHL, but Hutson has a chance and is coming off a substantial 2025-26 pro debut. He is one to watch.

Hutson scored the game-winner in Thursday's 2-1 Oiler win against Vancouver. 

Women's Team 

● GoTerriers.com Women's Ice Hockey names 2026-27 captains

Terriers kick off the 2026-27 season Saturday with an exhibition game against LIU. Puck drop at Walter Brown Arena is set for 4 p.m. 

Our friend BU Hockey Stats provides a game preview: Sharks in the Water.  


 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Site Meter