Maguire, Noonan lead Terriers past UMass, 3-1

(Steve McLaughlin photo)

A three-goal second-period outburst helped BU shake off a tight opening period and provided all the offense needed in a 3-1 win over UMass that kicked off the Head Coaching career of David Quinn.  Sophomore goalie Sean Maguire stopped 39 shots and carried a shutout through nearly 51 minutes before Steven Iacobellis’ power play goal put the Minutemen on the board.

Just a minute into the middle stanza, co-captain Garrett Noonan took a slick pass from Ahti Oksanen and wristed a shot past the UMass goal who was screened by Robbie Baillargeon.

Four minutes later with the Terriers having a man advantage, freshman Tommy Kelley ripped a Cason Hohmann centering pass under the cross bar with Oksanen also picking up an assist. Evan Rodriguez upped the lead to 3-0 as he neatly toe-dragged past a defenseman and then roofed the puck with Oksanen registering his third helper.

Maguire’s heroics earned him first-star honors and kudos from second star Noonan, who said: “That’s what he does. He makes big saves. He really kept us in the game especially in the first period.”

While enjoying his first win behind the BU bench, Quinn knows there’s much room for improvement:

• I don't think we played great tonight. Our effort was there physically, but we need to be more purposeful when we have the puck and understand situational hockey. You’ve got to look big picture here,” Quinn said. “We’re going to be a completely different team in the next two months. If we can win hockey games in the process, which I think we can and will, then we’re going to be in a great situation.”

● Go Terriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Boston Hockey Blog recap, Room for Improvement, Three Up Three Down, and Kenshin Okubo slideshow

● Post-game comments: Quinn

● Post-game comments: Noonan, Rodriguez

● USCHO recap and Quinn feature

● College Hockey News recap

● SB Nation: Three Hockey Stars-Oct. 11

● Boston Herald recap

● Boston Globe recap

Retired head coach Jack Parker was at the game with his grandchildren and drew a roar from the crowd when they were captured on the video scoreboard. Parker also was interviewed between the first and second period on the NBC Sports Radio broadcast and revealed he’ll be doing a bit of coaching next month. Along with two of his former assistants, Ben Smith and Mike Bavis, Parker will direct Team USA in the Deutschland Cup in Munich. Team USA will feature Americans playing professional hockey in Europe.

Terriers dressed seven freshman for their opening game.

Terriers are back on the Agganis Arena ice tonight at 7 p.m. to meet Holy Cross. With no other conference games on the Hockey East composite schedule until Nov. 1, BU will hold first place for the next few weeks.

Looking ahead

2014 JJ Piccinich scored his seventh goal in seven games this season as Youngstown blanked Chicago, 3-0. The 6-0 right wing’s 7-3-10 line is second in USHL goal-scoring and points.

Looking back

Alex Chiasson found the back of the net once again—on a power play—and added an assist as Dallas upended Winnipeg, 4-1. The right wing from Quebec has now scored in each game this season and has nine goals and 11 points in ten NHL starts. Video

Adam Clendening’s second goal in three games helped AHL Rockford defeat Lake Erie, 5-2.

Where are they now: Clark Donatelli, the leading goal-scorer (28) and a teammate of Quinn on the 1985-86 squad that won BU’s first Hockey East tournament championship , is now in his second full season as head coach of the ECHL Wheeling Nailers. 

The Nailer lost a preseason game 2-1 to Reading with former Terrier Sahir Gill scoring a second-period goal for Wheeling. That tally was matched 30 seconds later by the Royals’ Ryan Santana.

Women’s Team
Terriers skated to a 2-2 tie with Rensselaer to open their season last night. BU, which received goals from sophomores Jordan Juron and Rebecca Russo, carried a 2-1 lead into the third period, but the Engineers tied the score and the teams played a scoreless overtime. 
● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score

● HockeyEastOnline recap