Tuesday, April 28, 2009

National title game replay on ESPNU

A replay of the Terriers’ 4-3 overtime win over Miami in the NCAA championship game will air Wednesday afternoon a 2 p.m. ET as the ESPNU "TMI" Game of the Week.. Details and a link to a preview are here.

Inside College Hockey takes an early look at ten possible Hobey Baker candidates for 2009-10 and center Nick Bonino and goalie Kieran Millan have made the list.

The Daily Free Press chronicles the four-year career of Brandon Yip that began as Hockey East Rookie of the Year in 2005-06 and concluded as a national champion.

Looking ahead
2009 recruit Justin Courtnall gets a second chance a post-season hockey. His Victoria Grizzlies were eliminated in the semifinals of the BCHL playoffs, but as host of the RBC Cup tournament, Canada’s Junior A National Championship, Victoria gets a berth in the five-team field. BCHL champion Vernon Vipers feature winger Sahir Gill, reported to be a Terrier recruiting target for 2010.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Weekend Link-o-Rama

From Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara’s Hockey on Campus radio program, we have a 32-minute video clip of interviews with Jack Parker and Colin Wilson

BU All-Access interviewed both co-captain John McCarthy and Boston Herald sportswriter John Connolly.

USCHO Hobey Watch blogger and New York Daily News college hockey writer Elliott Olshansky penned an extensive piece on Matt Gilroy’s path to the NHL.

Tonight, the Terriers will be back on ESPN, this time as honorees. The team will be feted during the Red Sox-Yankees game at Fenway Park.

AHL Report
Former Terriers John Curry and Chris Bourque will faceoff in the AHL Eastern Division playoffs. Curry stopped 20 of 22 shots as Wilkes Barre/Scranton beat Bridgeport 4-2, eliminating the Sound Tigers, 4 games to 1. Bourque, who had 73 regular season points for Hershey (a few NHL call-ups) assisted on the only goal in the Bears’ win Friday to finish a four-game sweep of Philadelphia.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Gilroy meets the New York media


(photo credit Newsday)

Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy attended his first New York Rangers’ game at Madison Square Garden last night (not Monday as previously reported) and watched as Chris Drury, BU’s first Hobey winner, delivered his 17th career game-winning goal in post-season play. Rangers edged the Capitals, 2-1. Gilroy was interviewed on MSG Network during the game by ex-Minnesota and NHL defenseman Joe Micheletti.

Earlier in the day, Gilroy was introduced to the New York media and explained three factors in his choice of the Rangers: 1) playing in Madison Square Garden where his father, Frank, played basketball for St. John’s; 2) his admiration for Drury; and, 3) the coaching similarities between the Rangers’ John Torterella and BU’s Jack Parker.

Press conference coverage:

The New York Times
NHL.com
Newsday
The New York Post

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

The Drive For Five Was Realized


The following retrospective on the Terriers' playoff journey, climaxed by the dramatic events in Washington, D.C., was prepared by blog contributor mh82, who also authored the Terrier Tales articles about the 1977-78 season and BU in the Big Apple, which are linked in the sidebar.



“That wasn’t a hockey game out there tonight.
That was something different.”

Coach Jack Parker, following BU’s 8-7 loss to
Northern Michigan in triple overtime in the 1991 NCAA final.


Not even the sight of players in white jerseys with scarlet trim gathering in a euphoric mass against the glass was convincing enough. At least not right away. Had it all really played out in such a dramatic manner, or was this just pushing the bounds of reality?

The mood swing in the building and plot twist on the ice were almost too much to comprehend. Just over a week has passed and yet it’s still hard to believe the sudden turn of events that unfolded on the ice at the Verizon Center on a wild Saturday night in Washington. Even the victors admitted as such over three days later.

Less than an hour before the game’s conclusion, I had sat in front of the TV feeling a sense of disappointment for the players and coaches, resigned to the fact that after carefully carving out a season's worth of accolades (with accompanying trophies as proof) by answering the bell with big win after big win, perhaps the final step to the peak of the NCAA hockey mountain just wasn’t meant to be for this 2008-09 BU hockey team, one that had already tied the single-season school record of 34 victories. Was this going to add up to another frustrating NCAA Championship Game loss, the school’s fourth since 1991?

continue reading

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Boston University's 2005 recruiting class

Editor's note: This is the first of several original articles written by blog contributors looking back at the 2008-09 season and, in this case, BU's senior class.

by srsterrier

It is April 2009 and the mood on Comm. Ave. is decidedly euphoric [well, at least part of Comm. Ave]. But four years ago, the reaction out of Terrier Nation to BU's 2005 recruiting class was underwhelming. The class did not make Inside College Hockey’s annual list of the Top 15 recruiting classes, finishing behind the likes of Bowling Green and Ferris State. The six recruits coming to BU that year, Chris Higgins, Jason Lawrence, John McCarthy, Steven Smolinsky, Brandon Yip, and some walk-on out of the EJHL named Gilroy, were the subject of ridicule from some fans of opposing schools. The conventional wisdom was that BU was falling behind in the recruiting battles with other Eastern schools.

Four years later, the results are in and the 2005 recruit class accomplished the following:
• 100 wins
• 3 Beanpot Championships
• 2 Hockey East Regular Season titles
• 2 Hockey East Tournament Championships
• 2 End-of-regular-season #1 rankings
• 3 NCAA tournament appearances
• 1 National Championship

How is it that what many believed to be a mediocre class could have this kind of success? One factor stands out: all six stayed for the full four years and will be graduating together next month. While other elite programs brought in top players, many of those recruits left after a year or two. Members of BU’s 2005 recruiting class chose to finish what they started and gave the program much-needed continuity and leadership in the incredible 08-09’ campaign. It didn’t have to be this way. In the case of Gilroy, there were multiple offers from the NHL, but he passed on them. Some felt that Yip could pursue a similar opportunity, but he also stayed. Smolinsky could have been forgiven if he had transferred elsewhere so he could have more playing time. But he remained with his class too.

Not only did the six classmates provide leadership, it turns out they were talented too. Aside from the numerous individual awards and accolades that they won [multiple Player of the Week awards, Hockey East Rookie of the Year, All-American team, Hobey Baker, etc.], this year’s Seniors had a knack for producing goals at the most critical times. In the last month alone, Yip scored the lone goal in the Hockey East Championship against UMass-Lowell; Lawrence scored the game-winner with seconds to go in the NCAA quarterfinal against UNH; and Higgins tied things up late in the 3rd period of the NCAA semifinal against Vermont. Finally, who can ever forget Gilroy’s brilliant play to get the puck over to Nick Bonino with the clock ticking down against Miami?

When all is said and done, Boston University’s 2005 recruiting class will be remembered as one of the most successful in Terrier history. For a group of recruits that many observers had panned, that must feel pretty good.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Strait & Shattenkirk to lead Terriers in 2009-10




One week after the Terriers’ stirring last-minute comeback and overtime win in the NCAA championship game, the 2008-09 season officially came to a close with the 46th annual Friends of BU Hockey Banquet, attended by an estimated 600 including coaches, players, parents and friends.

Emceed by Bernie Corbett, the festivities featured remarks from the coaches and the six senior class members, among others; plus video highlights, a slides show, the team’s six trophies, the Hobey Baker Award, and the presentation of eight annual BU awards:

• Ed Carpenter Award (Top scorer) - Colin Wilson

• Kevin T. Mutch Award (Top player in BU-BC Series) - John McCarthy

• Regina Eilberg Scholarship - Joe Pereira

• Clifford P. Fitzgerald Scholarship (Returning defenseman) - Brian Strait

• Bennett McInnis Spirit Award - Steve Smolinsky

• Most Improved Player - Zack Cohen

• Friends/ Albert Sidd Unsung Hero Award - John McCarthy

• George V. Brown Most Valuable Player Award - Matt Gilroy

Senior-to-be Brian Strait and rising sophomore Kevin Shattenkirk were unanimously voted co-captains for next season by their teammates. Both players had been captain of the U.S. NTDP U18 team prior to arriving at BU. Freshman David Warsofsky held the same position a year ago.
The Terriers will be recognized next Sunday night at Fenway Park prior to the Yankees-Red Sox game. If the experience of the 1995 team is repeated, one of the BU seniors will be invited to throw out the first pitch.

Newsday reports that Matt Gilroy will take in tomorrow night’s Rangers-Capitals game at Madison Square and it will be the first Rangers game for him in that building. The article failed to mention that Gilroy had already skated at MSG when BU beat Cornell in 2007 in the Red Hot Hockey matchup. He's also visited the Garden frequently for St. John's basketball games. Matt's father, Frank, was a standout player for St. John's between 1977 and 1981.

Friday, April 17, 2009

From Comm. Ave. to Broadway



Terrier co-captain, three-time All-American and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy has signed a two-year deal with the New York Rangers for an estimated $3.5 million. Gilroy will join BU's only other Hobey winner, Chris Drury, who is captain of the Broadway Blueshirts.

Newsday

Daily Free Press

Wilson signs with Nashville


As many, including BU Coach Jack Parker, expected, sophomore All-American forward Colin Wilson has signed a contract with the Nashville Predators. Wilson was Nashville’s first round draft choice –seventh overall—in the 2008 draft. A Hobey Baker hattrick finalist, first team All-Hockey East and Inside College Hockey’s 2009 Player of the Year, Wilson scored 90 points (29-61) in two seasons with the Terriers, climaxed by this season’s NCAA title. Wilson was named to the U.S. Junior National Team both seasons.

But Jack will be back!
It’s not surprising that some folks would wonder if BU’s NCAA championship might be the perfect way for Jack Parker to conclude his career behind the Terrier bench. Wonder no more. The 2009 Spencer Penrose Coach of the Year winner made his intentions clear last night during a Bruins’ game between the periods interview:


“I’m looking forward to how the lines will look next year. I was making them up this morning.”







► Another Terrier All-American and Hobey Baker finalist, John Curry, gets ready to lead the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs beginning tonight. Curry set franchise records this year with eleven consecutive victories in February and 33 wins overall.

►Miami alum David Flemming, a senior writer for ESPN.com, looks back at the championship game from the RedHawk fan viewpoint.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Still basking in the glow of victory

(Photo credit Melissa Wade, USCHO)

Prior to yesterday’s parade and Marsh Plaza celebration, Coach Jack Parker guested on WEEI’s Dale & Hollly Program.

BU Today presents an video replay (now updated) of the celebration and USCHO's photographer extraordinaire, Melissa Wade, captured everything in this photo gallery.

Several people have asked if we could post Bernie Corbett’s calls on WWZN of the BU goals in the championship game. Here they are: Connolly's 1st period goal; Zach Cohen's goal at 19:01; Bonino's game-tying goal at 19:43; and Colby Cohen’s game-winner in overtime.

Much more to read
• Sports Illustrated: BU-tee-ful
• New England Hockey Journal: Moment in the Sun
• CHN’s Mike Machnik: One Last Momentous Moment For Team of Champions

A trio of player features from hometown papers:
• Maple Ridge News: Brandon Yip
• Hartford Courant: Nick Bonino
• Marshfield Mariner: David Warsofsky

Ready for one more look at the Terriers' championship game heroics? Of course you are! First, the furious final minute of regulation with Bonino setting up Zach Cohen and then Gilroy setting up Bonino's game-tying one-timer.





And the overtime winner--Colby Cohen's deflected slapper flies over the shoulder of the screened Miami goalie.






Red, white & blue
Colin Wilson will be donning a Team USA sweater once again. Wilson who has represented his country in the World Junior Championships and World U18s, has been named to the preliminary USA roster for the World Championships. Nashville GM Dave Poile is the USA Ass’t GM, so perhaps he’s providing Wilson with a tryout against competition at the next level. Ex-Terrier and NHL star Joe Sacco is an assistant coach for Team USA.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Party Continues in Boston

(Boston Globe photo by John Tlumacki)


Terrier Nation massed along Commonwealth Avenue today for Boston's signature "Duck Boat Parade" to honor the 2009 NCAA Champions. Thousands turned out on a chilly, but sunny day and gathered in Marsh Plaza to celebrate with the players and coaches, who were introduced by longtime Voice of BU Hockey, Bernie Corbett. The six seniors each carried on of the trophies the team earned this season: IceBreaker, Denver Cup, Beanpot, Hockey East Regular Season, Hockey East Tournament and NCAA Frozen Four. Coach Jack Parker and co-captains John McCarthy and Matt Gilroy address the crowd, which also relived the highlights of Saturday's heart-stopping championship game on a jumbo video screen.

During the celebration, Mike Lynch revealed the Coach Parker had been named the 2009 recepient of the Spencer Penrose Award as Coach of the Year. The honor caps a year in which Parker garnered his 800th coaching win and third NCAA title. He had previously received the Coach of the Year award in 1975 and in 1978 when BU also won the national title.

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the celebration.

Blog contributor candycanes99 was in the midst of the crowd and provides a series of 11 video clips from today's celebration:


BU Today slide and sounds show

Boston Globe photo gallery
New England Cable Network
WBZ-TV (raw footage)
• USCHO's Scott Weighart reports on the celebration.

NESN photo gallery and video clips.

►Junior defenseman Eric Gryba, who celebrated his 21st birthday today, was interviewed following the NCAA tournament by Hockeysfuture.com.

► Somehow we missed a GoTerriers.com feature on senior wing Chris Higgins last week. Here it is.

Blog contributor CDRAL was in Washington, D.C., for the Frozen Four and shares a list of former Terrier players he encountered at the Verizon Center: Jack Garrity, Jim Todaro, Mike Eruzione, Joe Meehan, 1970 co-captains Larry Davenport and Dick Toomey, Mike O'Connell, Dennis O'Connell, Jack O'Callahan, Paul Giandomenico, Scott Manty, Steve Greeley, John Bethel,Brian Collins, Brad Zancanaro, Pat Aufiero, Brian Durocher, Don Cahoon, Dan Ronan, Michel Laroque, Bill Whelton, Peter Fish, Jack Baker, Mike DiMella, Chris O'Sullivan, Kevin Kielt, Todd Johnson, Eric Thomassian and Ryan Monoghan. If you were in D.C. and we missed you, please let us know.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Terrier Nation to Celebrate Champs with Parade on Tuesday

A national championship wouldn't be complete without a parade, so GoTerriers.com reports that ...



Boston University will celebrate the men's ice hockey team's fifth NCAA championship with its own Duck Tour parade on Tuesday, April 14, starting in Kenmore Square at 12 p.m. and then rolling up Commonwealth Avenue. When the parade hits Marsh Plaza on campus, the party kicks off with cake and ice cream and will feature speeches from the players who will display their hard- earned NCAA championship trophy.
Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino will issue a proclamation making Tuesday "Terrier Day in the City of Boston." Bostonia will stream live video of tomorrow's parade at this link.

Dean of Students Kenn Elmore provides a special video announcement of the festivities:



And if you haven't tired of reading about the Terriers and their hard-earned championship:

• CHN's Adam Wodon provides a retrospective look at Jack Parker's 36 years behind the Terrier bench. CHN also provides a gallery of Josh Gibney photos.

The Daily Free Press marvels at the Terriers' post-season flair for the dramatic and how the team has accomplished everything it possibly coud.

• HockeyEastOnline issued its final weekly release. BU's newest 50-point scorer, Nick Bonino, was player-of-the-week, Vinny Saponari--who scored the critical third goal against Vermont and screened Miami's goalie on the championship-winning goal--was rookie-of-the-week and Kieran Millan was defensive-player-of-the-week.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Parker: "Wow, What a hockey game, What a finish."

Video highlights of the post-game press conference:




GoTerriers.com
BU season timeline
Weighart: Cardiac kids
2008-09 Season in Photos
Send congratulations to the Terriers
Post-game press conference transcript ("Burn the Boats" explained on page 4)

Celebration: Jack Parker addresses Terrier fans at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel

Championship game highlights from ESPN & more

It wasn't a dream. That incredible final minute, 2-goal rally really happened. So did Colby Cohen's overtime goal. After beating Miami goalie Reichard earlier in the game with a bullet off the crossbar, Cohen's OT slapper deflects off defenseman Roeder and flies over Reichard's left shoulder while the goalie, screened by Vinny Saponari and a defender, never sees it. When Jack Parker says "Hockey is a slippery game....played on ice," this is what he's talking about.




►Nick Bonino on his game-tying goal

“What else can you say about that pass from Matt Gilroy? It’s unbelievable. He saw me and I saw it in his eyes. He looked at me, faked the shot and dragged it around the guy so I knew it was coming. I was wide open and saw me and obviously I tried to put it on net. I was aiming anywhere, I just hit it as hard as I can and it squirted by the goalie.”



►Mike Eruzione:

"The old saying is that there is never a bad shot in overtime."
• David Albright's ESPN recap
• USCHO: Melissa Wade’s photo gallery ; Dave Hendrickson: Anything But Easy; M.O.P.Colby Cohen
• The Boston Globe: Uncommon Wealth, Legendary Comeback, Frozen Four Notebook
• CBS Sports catches up with Mike Eruzione
• The Daily Free Press: Monumental
• College Hockey News: Bonino feature; Emotions flow for the coaches
• Inside Hockey: Cohen's Shot Heard 'Round the Hub; A Silver Success for Hockey East
• Philly.com: Colby Cohen feature and photo gallery (scroll down for more video of the game-winning goal and on-ice celebration)
• New York Daily News: Drury reaches out to Parker

We'll be adding more links to this post throughout the day. Visit GoTerriers.com for more articles and Terrier features. A ticker-tape parade is planned for Tuesday, April 14, in Boston. Details to follow.



Saturday, April 11, 2009

NCAA CHAMPIONS !!!



Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, the Terriers scored twice (Zach Cohen and Nick Bonino) in the final 59 seconds of regulation to tie Miami, then won in overtime, 4-3, on Colby Cohen's goal (video below) in the NCAA championship game. It was the fifth national title for the Terriers and the third with Jack Parker behind the bench. (Photo credit Jim Rosvold)




“The way we did it might have given Coach a heart attack,
but I wouldn’t want it any other way,” BU captain and Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy said. “The dramatics of it … I’m in awe of it. It’s a great feeling.”

► Gilroy becomes the fifth player to win the Hobey Baker Award and an NCAA title in the same season, joining Minnesota's Jordan Leopold (2002) and Maine's Paul Kariya 1993) Harvard's Lane McDonald (1989) and North Dakota's Tony Hrkac (1987). See Elliott Olshanksy's Hobey Watch Blog.

► Cohen was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the All-Tourney team by Millan, Bonino and Colin Wilson.

“Colby, you closed your eyes.” - Gilroy, interrupting game-winning- goal-scorer Colby Cohen’s explanation of how the shot found the net.


The championship game win--by the numbers:
• The win was the 35th of the season, setting an all-time Terrier record.
• It was also BU's 45th game of the season, another record.
• And it gave the senior class an even 100 wins over four seasons.
• Parker became the first Division I coach in history to earn 30 NCAA Tournament victories, passing crosstown rival and contemporary Jerry York of Boston College, who has 29.
• The victory was also BU's first and only overtime win during a season in which they were ranked #1 for much of the year.
• BU won six tournaments this season (IceBreaker, Denver Cup, Beanpot, Hockey East Tournament, NCAA Regional, Frozen Four) and seven titles, the seventh being the Hockey East regular season title.
• The Terriers remain undefeated in games in which Nick Bonino scores at least one point (25-0--3).
• Freshman netminder Kieran Millan extended his record away from Agganis Arena to 16-0-1. BU finished the season with a 17-0-2 record in its final 19 games away from home.
• Colby Cohen's NCAA-championship-winning goal was the #1 top play on ESPN SportsCenter. Bonino's tying goal was #3.
• BU has now played in 10 national championship games and has won five times (19771, 19772, 1978, 1995, 2009).


• Brian Kelley's in-game blog provides some of the highlights.
• USCHO's Jim Connelly has an early recap. Chris Lerch's in-game blog.
• USCHO notebook--"Burn the Boats" revealed
• New York Times recap.
Boston Herald recap, notebook, Colby Cohen feature.
• Associated Press recap and photo gallery.
• Hockey East Online recap.
• College Hockey News recap.
Washington Post recap.
• INCH's Championship Game notebook
• Jack Parker post-game comments (audio).
• Players' post-game comments (audio)
• NHL Fanhouse recap

Check back later tonight and again tomorrow for much more.

Game Day--The Final Obstacle


Let’s cut right to the chase, BU fans. Today is the day the Terriers have worked for since captain’s practices began in September: the opportunity to play for the biggest prize in college hockey--an NCAA championship. Thirty-four wins and four tournament championships are in the books and now the one obstacle left is the Miami Riverhawks, one of the tournament surprises, but a big, fast team that has already beaten some of the best in college hockey.

Gametime is 7 p.m. ET with the live broadcast on ESPN. BU games notes and links to listen to the audio broadcast and gametracker are available on Go Terriers.com . SID Brian Kelley will be blogging live throughout the game. CHN's Tale of the Tape.

A few more articles to peruse before game time.
The Boston Globe looks at the sacrifices made by hockey moms and dads
Scott Weighart talks with Matt Gilroy’s senior classmates about his achievements.
The Boston Herald offers a preview of today’s NCAA championship game.
College Hockey News previews the title game
The New York Times' hockey blog features Coach Jack Parker
Lynn Daily Item provides a feature on senior wing Chris Higgins.
BU Today provides three photo galleries on the fan experience in D.C. and back in Boston. 1,2, 3.


GO TERRIERS: DRIVE FOR FIVE



Friday, April 10, 2009

“Hobey” Gilroy leads parade of BU honorees


As widely expected throughout the college hockey community, Terrier co-captain and defenseman Matt Gilroy was named the 2009 Hobey Baker Award winner tonight at the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C. He is the second Terrier to win college hockey’s highest honor, following in the footsteps of former BU standout Chris Drury who won the award in 1998. Gilroy, who had been one of three “Hobey Hattrick” finalists, along with his teammate sophomore forward Colin Wilson and Northeastern goalie Brad Thiessen, received the award in a ceremony at the Verizon Center.

Gilroy also was named an ACHA First Team All-American today, joining Drury and Rick Meagher as the only three-time All-Americans in BU history. Wilson also earned First Team All-American honors, while sophomore defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk was named to the Second Team. Previous All-Americans.

In recent weeks, Gilroy had received the 57th Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best American-born Division I player in New England, and the College Hockey News’ Player of the Year Award . He also was named First Team Hockey East All-Star.

The fourth Terrier recognized tonight was freshman goalie Kieran Millan, who won the third annual Hockey Commissioners' Association National Division I Rookie of the Year award. Millan had previously been named Hockey East Rookie-of-the-Year.

More Hobey Baker media coverage
Hockey EastOnline
USCHO

More All-American coverage

National Rookie-of-the-Year
USCHO

.

More recaps and video of BU's semifinal win

(photo credit Josh Gibney)

We have much more coverage of and observations on last night's nail-biting semifinal victory over Vermont in the NCAA Frozen Four, beginning with video highlights from ESPN:







GoTerriers.com
Game recap
Photo gallery
Scott Weighart feature on Chris Higgins

INCH
Joe Gladziszewski’s recap
Jeff Howe’s seminfinal notebook
Videos: commentary and analysis; John McCarthy interview

College Hockey News
Adam Wodon’s game recap
Cream Rises to the top
Mike Machnik talks with Jason Lawrence

The Boston Herald
John Connolly’s recap
Semifinal notebook

The Boston Globe
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell’s recap
Dan Shaughnessy column

USCHO
Dave Hendrickson on BU’s “Quiet Star”
Elliott Olshansky’s Hobey Watch: Oh-Mr. Wilson!

The Daily Free Press
John Barrone's game recap

ESPN
Game recap

New England Cable News
Video clip of post-game press conference (Parker and players)

On Frozen Blog
Terrier Nation turns out for the Frozen Four (includes video)

Observations:

►BU had numerous grade A scoring chances late in the first period. Had the score reached 3-0 after one, we likely would have seen a very different game.

►With all the kudos going out to the Wilson line for its heroics, let's not forget the fancy stickwork by Nick Bonino to set up Vinny Saponari's power play goal. It prevented BU from going to the locker room trailing after two.

►In both back-to-back losses to Vermont in November, the Cats broke a 3-3 tie in the third period, then held on to win. This time, BU would not be denied and pressed the action to tie the game and retake the lead. Not only did BU avenge the early season sweep, but also ended Vermont's season as they did to BU last season.

►In the postseason, BU turned the lights out on five Hockey East rivals: Maine, BC and Lowell in the conference tournament, New Hampshire in the NCAA regional and Vermont last night. In the seven post-season games against those teams, BU won six, five of which were one-goal victories.

► Many BU fans were upset with the officiating from the CCHA crew last night including blog contributor defkit and myself. Besides some very marginal calls against BU, there were some serious non-calls on Vermont. The Catamount's first goal was facilitated by a pick on Colby Cohen that went uncalled. Cohen immediately let the ref know what had happened, to no avail. BU had been called for a pick earlier in the game.

►INCH's Jeff Howe reported that Coach Jack Parker didn’t go to the Boston University locker room during the second intermission. Rather, co-captain Matt Gilroy held court in the room with a speech to his teammates.

►Correcting an earlier post, Kieran Millan's record in games away from Agganis Arena now is 15-0-1.

BU nips Vermont and skates into NCAA final--UPDATED


Hobey Baker finalist Colin Wilson’s second goal of the night, off a Chris Higgins rebound broke a 4-4 tie with 5:41 left in the third period gave the BU a 5-4 comeback win over Vermont, vaulting the Terriers into Saturday’s national championship game against Miami. Wilson added an assist to his pair of goals while Higgins tallied a goal and three assists and linemate Jason Lawrence added 1+1. (Photo credit: AP)

BU led after one period, 2-0, then fell behind 3-2 in the second before tying the score on power play goal. The Catamounts took a second lead on their own power play goal midway through the third period, but in a 1:13 span, Higgins tied the score and Wilson put the Terriers on top to stay. BU denied the Cats any quality chances during the final five minutes.

We have recaps from USCHO, Hockey East Online , NHL.com and New England Hockey Journal, in-game blogs from USCHO and GoTerriers.com, Brian Sullivan's USCHO Notebook and a comprehensive boxscore.

Audio comments: Coach Parker, Players

From The Boston Herald, a Colin Wilson feature. Check back frequently as we’ll add more game coverage, player and coach comments, and highlights.

►College Hockey News Q&A with Colin Wilson

Nick Bonino assisted on Vinny Saponari's power play goal that tied the game at three. With the Terriers' victory, they remain undefeated (24-0-3) in games in which the sophomore center has at least one point. Both Bonino and Colby Cohen hit the crossbar with shots during BU flurries.

► Despite a couple of soft goals, freshman goalie Kieran Millan improved his record in games away from Agganis Arena to 12-0-2.

► The victory was BU's 34th equaling the school record set by the 1993-94 squad.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Game day--Frozen Four edition


The basics: BU vs. Vermont, 8:30 p.m. The Verizon Center in Washington D.C. ESPN2

For better or worse, BU is the favorite to win it all. To do so, there are two more obstacles to surmount: first, a familiar foe, the only team to beat the Terriers twice this year; and if BU reaches the final, an unfamiliar opponent, possibly the Cinderella team of the tournament, Bemidji State, possibly Miami.

If you’ve plowed through all the articles, videos and audio clips we’ve posted and still have an appetitite for more, here’s today’s batch. GO BU: DRIVE FOR FIVE

The Daily Free Press:
Semifinal preview

The Patriot Ledger:
• Jack Parker Part 1, Part 2

The Boston Globe:

Burlington Free Press:
Semifinal preview

Tampa Bay Lightning:

College Hockey News:

NESN:

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Eyes on the prize

With the Terrier's semifinal matchup with Vermont less than a day away, we have another BUshel full of articles, video highlights and audio interviews to fill the hours before gametime.

GoTerriers.com
Final Four Central
Semifinal Game Notes
Quotes from Coach Jack Parker
Quotes from Players
Gametracker and Listen Link
Pre-game and watch parties in Washington, D.C.
Pre-game and watch parties—national
Frozen Four Web site
BU All-Access offer links to video highlights for both Hobey Hattrick finalists, Colin Wilson and Matt Gilroy, and an audio interview with freshman standout David Warsofsky
•Scott Weighart looks at five candidate for the Terriers’ “unsung player.”

USCHO
BU-Vermont semifinal preview
Miami-Bemidji State semifinal preview
Wednesday BU Notebook
More Notebooks

College Hockey News
BU-Vermont preview
Tale of the Tape matchup
Adam Wodon goes one-on-one with the four Frozen Four coaches
Terrier goaltending coach Mike Geragosian talks about Kieran Millan
Millan discusses Geragosian

InsideHockey
Inside Hockey’s All-American team
BU-Vermont preview
Miami-Bemidji State preview

INCH & NHL.com
Podcast Video Report

The Boston Herald’s John Connolly offers a look at the past six decades of Terrier Hockey.

The Boston Globe’s Nancy Marrapese-Burrell will conduct a Frozen Four live chat on Thursday at 1 p.m.

New York Times’ Frozen Four preview

NHL.com's BU-Vermont preview

Yahoo! Sports’ Q&A with Matt Gilroy

Bruce Ciskie of NHL Fanhouse wonders if anyone can stop the Terriers’ quest for a title.

The Pipeline Show in Edmonton, which previously interviewed hometown star Kieran Millan and co-captain Matt Gilroy, spoke with Terrier head coach Jack Parker and the three other Frozen Four coaches.

More game notes
Vermont
Miami
Bemidji State

►Forward Joe Pereira who suffered a ruptured spleen in the Hockey East championship game has recovered enough to join his teammate in Washington, D.C.

Looking back
BU Today catches up with three members BU's 1995 NCAA championship team: forwards Mike Prendergast and Mike Sylvia and goalie Tom Noble.

April is award season for Boomer Ewing. Last spring, at the end of his Terrier career, he won Second Team All-American and First Team Hockey East honors. Now in his first pro season, Ewing has been named the ECHL's Rookie-of-the-Year, a First Team all-star and all-Rookie.

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Tuesday, April 07, 2009

BU: Drive for Five


With just two days left until the Frozen Four begins in Washington, D.C., BU's "Drive for Five" moves into high gear. Why five? The Terriers have already won four tournaments this season: The Icebreaker, The Denver Cup, The Beanpot and The Hockey East Tournament. A win in the NCAAs would make five and also give the Terriers a fifth national championship.

We are literally overflowing with articles and videos to help you get informed and psyched for BU’s final quest of the season, beginning Thursday with its semifinal matchup against Vermont at the Verizon Center.

We start with a trio of video clips from BU Today: An interview with Jack Parker. Coach’s comments about senior co-captain and Hobey Baker Award finalist Matt Gilroy. And special message from Dean Kenn Elmore for those in Boston who can’t make the trip to D.C.

The Boston Herald sat down with Coach Parker to discuss the changes in his approach to coaching over the years, while both The Boston Globe and College Hockey News look at how getting his feet moving put sophomore center Nick Bonino in gear for a big season.

The Daily Free Press focuses on how freshman standout Kieran Millan turned last season’s weakness between the pipes into one of the Terriers’ greatest strengths.

We have previews of Thursday’s BU-Vermont semifinal from Inside College Hockey and College Hockey News. Each of these Web site has numerous Frozen Four articles including capsules of the four teams, a Q&A interview with Gilroy, and a chat with fans from the editors of INCH.

LowerHudson.com offers a look at Shattenkirk's standout season that earned him second team all-Hockey East honors.

More individual honors:
The New England Hockey Writers’ all-stars and award winners have been announced with several Terriers among the honorees. Millan, Gilroy, Shattenkirk and Hobey Baker Award finalist Colin Wilson were named all-stars. Wilson took home best forward honors, while Gilroy was the top defenseman and Millan took home rookie-of-the-year.

2009 recruit Alex Chiasson has been named to the USHL's All-Rookie team.

Look for more features and previews tomorrow including game notes from all four Frozen Four schools.

Monday, April 06, 2009

Looking back

Former Terrier wing Matt Wright has been named head coach at the New Hampton School in New Hampshire. Wright, who played on four Final Four squads between 1994 and 1997, scored both the final goal the last Beanpot played in the old Boston Garden (a 5-1 win over BC) and the final and game-winning goal in the last college hockey game played there (BU’s 3-2 win over Providence in the 1995 Hockey East championship game).

John Laliberte has signed on with the German pro league's Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg, where Ken Magowan and Gregg Johnson are playing this season.

NHL.com has taken notice of Boomer Ewing’s standout rookies season in the ECHL. Returning to the city where he was born, Ewing has is top scorer on the Wheeling Nailers with a 43-48-91 scoring line in 67 games.

Former Terrier Captain Brian McGuirk is now skating for the Syracuse Crunch, but a Salem News article shows his heart is still with the dog.

Also in the AHL, Ryan Weston , injured when the Albany River Rats' bus overturned earlier this year, picked up his eighth goal of the season, while another former BU captain, Sean Sullivan, scored his eighth goal for the San Antonio Rampage tonight .

Former All-American goalie John Curry set a Wilkes Barre/Scranton record with 31 wins last week and has since earned his 32nd “W.”

The Hockey Show brings us a Frozen Four Preview, which you may listen to in its entirety here. The show includes a Jack Parker Press Conference (Hockey Show), where he is joined by Terrier co-captain Matt Gilroy. Coach Parker discusses the results of the regionals, the upcoming match-up with Vermont, and the irrelevance of a number one ranking.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Gilroy & Wilson named to Hobey Hattrick


And then there were three.

Senior co-captain Matt Gilroy and sophomore Colin Wilson were named to the Hobey Hattrick--the final three candidates for the Hobey Baker Award--today. Joining them is Northeastern goalie Brad Thiessen, making it an all-Hockey East affair. Hockey East Online's report includes video footage of all three as well as Vermont's Viktor Stalbeg who had been on the earlier list of ten finalists. GoTerriers.com report.

Both Gilroy and Wilson also were named First Team All-Americans by Inside College Hockey. INCH's FF Podcast looks back at last weekend's regionals and ahead to the Frozen Four.

April Fool

Bogus news announcement on April first are a long-time tradition in the hockey community. Yesterday, college hockey site D1 Hockey posted a news story, alleging that:

Air Force and Vermont to face off in Play-in game!
In a startling move, the NCAA has adjusted the Frozen Four field based on a disallowed goal in the Regional Championship game in Bridgeport, CT. Last Saturday, the University of Vermont Catamounts scored what looked to be the winning goal in the second overtime period against Air Force. The video review led the on-ice officials to award the game winning goal to the Catamounts. Upon further review by the NCAA forensics unit, the puck never entered the net from the goal mouth and has been disallowed. Because the game was tied, the NCAA has decided to schedule a "play-in" game for the Frozen Four. Several members on the NCAA committee wanted to simply award the Frozen Four bid to Air Force so the Serratore brothers can get together for dinner in the Nations Capitol, but UVM Coach Kevin Sneddon objected. By the way, today is April 1st.
The New York Times' Stu Hackel recalls the king of April Fool's hockey pranksters, Paul Wieland, former communications director of the Buffalo Sabres, and some of his best effort. One year, he released an announcement that the Aud would replace its ice surface with a high-tech polymer.
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Midweek Linkorama

► Terrier head coach Jack Parker is one of nine nominees for the Spencer Penrose Award for Division 1's coach of the year. Parker and Miami coach Enrico Blasi are the only previous winners among the finalists. Parker won the award in 1978 when BU went 30-2 en route to its third national championship.

► More recognition for senior co-captain Matt Gilroy, who was named Player of the Year by College Hockey News. The Hobey Hat Trick of three finalists will be announced tomorrow, April 2. The winner will be announced Friday, April 10, 2009 from Verizon Center in Washington, DC during the NCAA Frozen Four. The announcement will be aired live on ESPNU at 7:00 pm ET.

► USCHO's Elliot Olshansky takes a final stab at the three players who will be named tomorrow. Terriers Gilroy and Colin Wilson are on his ballot.

► Former Terrier All-American and current Washington Capital defenseman Tom Poti talked with The Washington Post about BU fans and about playing in the 1997 Final Four, when BU upset defending champ Michigan, before losing to North Dakota in the final.

► The BleacherReport offers an early preview of the BU-Vermont semifinal matchup.

► Just prior to last Friday's game with Ohio State, the Terriers were visited and "pumped up" by former BU co-captain and U.S. Olympic captain Mike Eruzione.

► Finally, fourteen years ago today in 1995, BU won its fourth NCAA championship, beating Maine, 6-2 in the Providence Civic Center. For a recap and a link to Sports Ilustrated's coverage, click here. Stats for 1994-95 title team.



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