Shattenkirk and Cohen join the march to the West

A year after the slogan "Burn the Boats" guided them to a national championship, two more Terriers are heeding the advice of newspaper editor Horace Greeley more than 150 years ago, "Go West, young man." Junior defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk (photo) and Colby Cohen have both signed entry level contracts with the Colorado Avalanche. Both will join the Avs' AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters where Zach Cohen has already begun his pro career and where they'll be reunited with Head Coach David Quinn, who recruited both blueliners and coached them for two seasons at BU. Denver Post coverage. Classmate Nick Bonino also headed West to begin his pro career in Anaheim.

USCHO photographer Melissa Wade has assembled photo galleries of Shattenkirk and both Cohens, who are not related.

Shattenkirk was the Avs' first round draft choice in the 2006 draft and Cohen was selected in the second round that season. The two were teammates long before their Terrier careers, playing together in Ann Arbor for the NTDP U17s and U18s and also for Travis Howe's East Coast Selects program (1, 2) where many current and future Terriers have honed their skills.

Shattenkirk, who captained the 2009-10 team, finished his BU career with 78 points, including 29 as a senior. In 2008-09 he was second in the nation in plus/minus with +28. Cohen also finished with 78 career points and was BU's second-leading goal scorer this past season with 14. His overtime goal, off a pass from Shattenkirk, gave BU its fifth national championship a year ago in Washington, D.C. (video)

Brandon Yip, who was enjoying a strong rookie season for Colorado, before injuring a shoulder, has returned to the Avs lineup and commented on his once and future teammates.

Daily Free Press reporter Scott McLaughlin, writing for NESN.com produced a list of the top ten moments (with video clips) in Frozen Four history, with last April's dramatic come-from-behind victory by BU taking the top spot. BU's triple-overtime loss to Northern Michigan in the 1991 title game was rated #3.

Looking back

Former BU captain and Hobey Baker winner Chris Drury's 13th goal of the season helped the New York Rangers upend the Florida Panthers, 4-1, and pull into a tie for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.