Young joins Penguins staff; Harper, Cockerill Make Early Impressions at WJSS

Terrier assistant Scott Young has been tapped by Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh as its new director of player development. Young, who returned to Comm Ave as BU’s Director of Hockey Operations in 2014-15 and then became an assistant to David Quinn, rejoins the team with whom he won a Stanley Cup in 1991. And he’s reunited with two Terrier teammates: Pens head coach Mike Sullivan and AHL Wilkes Barre/Scranton head coach Clark Donatelli. In two seasons playing for BU, he scored 65 points, earning 1986 Hockey East rookie of the year honors, before skating for the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. Recently inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Young played 16 NHL seasons, winning the Stanley Cup a second time with Colorado in 1996.

● NHL.com/Penguins report

● PittsburghSportsReport.com report    

● Career stats

World Junior Summer Showcase Report By Neal E. Boudette

The USA Hockey evaluation camp for the 2018 Junior National team opened on Friday and continued over the next several days, culminating in a three-game showcase with USA facing under-20 teams from Finland, Sweden and Canada.

Five Terriers have shots at making the American roster, and I’ll be there just about every day to give Terrier Hockey Fan Blog readers insights and updates on their progress.

It was sophomore Patrick Harper who stood out on the opening day, which included practice sessions for the two USA squads – blue and white – and then a scrimmage later in the evening.

Harper must be working on his shot because he seemed to score on every other chance in drills in practice. He seemed quicker and stronger on his skates than during his excellent freshman campaign with Terriers (13-24-37). In the scrimmage, he set up several good scoring opportunities with his passing and was slotted on the power play.

               Logan Cockerill & Jake Oettinger at World Junior Summer Showcase practice

Also making an impression was in-coming freshman Logan Cockerill. He’s probably a long shot to make this year’s junior team, but in the scrimmage he created a goal by forechecking goalie Dylan St. Cyr, knocking down St. Cyr’s clearing attempt and feeding Sasha Chmelevski for the goal.

“I've seen him play the puck for two years so I knew where St. Cyr was going with the puck,” Cockerill said. He added he's just trying to work hard and see how it plays out. “I think everyone has a chance to make it. Everyone is just coming out and trying to play their game and giving it their best shot.”

A 7th round pick of the Islanders, he said he’s got started on classes at BU this month. “We’re pretty excited about the season. Right now, we’re just focused on getting stronger and getting faster and getting prepared for the season.”

Cockerill was at home in Brighton during the NHL draft and admitted to being a little nervous as the rounds went on. “I’m happy they picked me up. I’m pretty excited to be part of that organization,” he said.

I also caught up with Kieffer Bellows. He said he left BU because he felt his development would proceed more rapidly by playing a 72-game schedule in the WHL. “I’m the kind of player who needs more than 30 or 40 games,” he said.

Bellows added he loved his time at BU and still has feelings for the place. “I’ll always be a Terrier,” he said. “A lot of my buddies are there and I hope they win it this year.”

Today's Schedule

USA White vs. Finland - 1pmET 
USA Blue vs. Sweden - 4pmET 
Live stream: @MyHockeyTV 


►NHL.com Top Prospects Look to Impress at WJSS 

Looking back

Former Terrier Evan Rodrigues has signed a two-year $1.3 million contract with Buffalo after making 30 starts with the Sabres last season. Rodrigues scored 121 points in four BU seasons, including 61 in 2014-15, helping lead BU to the NCAA championship game.

That feeling when you resign with @BuffaloSabres, get married & it's your birthday #thankyou #blessed pic.twitter.com/vQ9owf3qM5

— Evan Rodrigues (@evanr17) July 28, 2017

● Buffalo News report

● Die by the Blade report

Nine seasons after helping BU to its fifth NCAA title in 1995, John McCarthy told his hometown newspaper in Andover , Mass., why he’ll continue his professional career as captain of the AHL San Jose Barracuda. McCarthy, who scored 45 points as a Terrier, has had multiple stints with the NHL Sharks, including 36 games in 2013-14.

● Andover Townsman report

Former Terrier and NHL defenseman Adrian Aucoin has joined the field of former NCAA players who will skate in the August 5 Chicago Charity Hockey Classic, which will benefit the Special Olympics.

● College Hockey Inc. report