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.