Game Day BU vs. Vermont at The Gut

Terriers are in Vermont for a single game against the Catamounts at Gutterson Fieldhouse tonight. Game time is set for 7 p.m. with a live stream available on CBS All-Access. BU took three of four points from UVM in a November two-game series at Agganis Arena.

BU, which has won only twice on the road this season, will be looking for two critical points in conference standings. Currently in fifth place, the Terriers trail three teams tied for second by a single point.

Vermont has struggled in the new year with two ties and five losses in its past seven games; but they did win their own Catamount Classic in late December. The Catamounts’ strength is in goal where senior Stefanos Lekkas has a .910 save percentage and a 2.98 GAA. Freshmen Jacques Bouquot and Andrew Lucas have 12 and 11 points respectively, while junior Ace Cowens has six goals.

CHECK BACK FOR TONIGHT’S BU LINE-UP

● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, Terriers Sports Radio Network, @BUHockey

● CBS All-Access Live stream

● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog, game preview

● USCHO.com Hockey East predictions

● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape

► BU Today: Captain Patrick Curry: a Study in Diligence and Drive

 

This week’s episode of Inside BU Hockey features Bernie Corbett’s interviews with Head Coach Albie O’Connell, freshman goalie Ashton Abel and journalist Neal Boudette. Abel joined the Terriers at semester break from Okotoks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League where he put up standout numbers. The Ft. McMurray native has two wins and a tie in three starts as a Terrier, along with a 1.58 GAA and a .937 save percentage.

Boudette—a BU grad, New York Times automotive reporter and a contributor to The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog—co-authored BU and Olympic legend Mike Eruzione’s just published autobiography, The Making of a Miracle. 

Eruzione and Boudette at Bookends in Ridgewood, N.J.

It was a busy week for the former BU and U.S. Olympic captain that included book-signing events in New Jersey, New York and New Hampshire--all sellouts. He also was interviewed on New York’s WFAN, Fox & Friends and at the NHL Network studios. The NHL Network interviews will air multiple times in February in conjunction with airing of the movie, Miracle, and events commemorating the 40^th anniversary of Team USA’s gold-medal win in the 1980 Olympics.

Feb 7 - Mike Eruzione night at Agganis. Capt of 1980 Miracle on ice team will be signing copies of his new book “The Making of a Miracle.” BU vs Merrimack 7:30 pm @TerrierHockey @thfblog @HockeyonCampus @BurntBoats @hockey_east @BOShockeyblog @BU_Tweets @BU_FoH @bualumni pic.twitter.com/zX08IaERI1

— Neal E. Boudette (@DZoneDraw) January 31, 2020

Women’s Team

Following a tough loss to #3 Northeastern on Tuesday, the #8 Terriers return home to face Vermont at Walter Brown Arena. Game time is 7 p.m. for the contest that will air on NESNplus and CBS All-Access.

BU is currently in second place in Hockey East, a point ahead of BC with a game in hand. Earlier in the season, the Terriers swept Vermont in Burlington by scores of 3-2 (OT) and 5-1.

● GoTerriers.com preview, Live Stats, @BUHockey

● CBS All-Access live stream

Beanpot broadcasts; Women edged by Northeasterm

The year’s Beanpot Tournament will be broadcast nationwide and in Canada. In addition to the broadcast on NESN, fans from outside New England will be able to watch on the NHL Network or on TSN2. In Monday’s first-round games, Terriers will face Boston College at 8 p.m., while defending champion Northeastern takes on Harvard in the 5 p.m. contest.

BU has won 30 of the previous 67 tournaments and has reached the finals 31 times in the last 36 years.

● GoTerriers.com Beanpot Preview Notes

● NESN preview and podcast

►Junior Kasper Kotkansalo is featured on the Boston Hockey Blog’s Terrier Hockey Talk podcast.

Looking ahead

The Hockey News reviewed the top draft prospects from the recent BioSteel All-American game, including a pair of future Terriers:

Luke Tuch, LW (NHL CS Rank: 35)
It might be a lazy comparison, but Luke plays a game very similar to that of his older brother, Vegas Golden Knights forward Alex. A big, 6-foot-2 forward, Tuch is a strong kid who creates havoc around the crease and he was rewarded with a goal in the second period. A Boston University commit for 2021, Tuch puts a lot of power behind his shot and he moves well for a big kid, too. Knocking the puck off of him is a challenge.

Drew Commesso, G (NHL CS Rank: 2G)
Commesso, a Boston University commit for 2020, was actually the quietest goalie on Monday, but of his 10 stops, there were a few big ones that stood out. Specifically, a pair of breakaway saves in the first period that kept the game tied at one. Obviously, it’s still early, but Commesso’s .921 save percentage in 17 games with the U-18 team this year ties John Gibson for the best mark in program history among goalies with at least 15 starts. That’s a showcase of some upside given the U-18 team’s overall weaknesses compared to the powerhouse team from last year. The best 2002-born goalie in the country, Commesso is confident and doesn’t let a bad goal get to him.

Looking back

Chris Drury has been named general manager of the 2020 U.S. Men’s National Team.

Details → https://t.co/1V1tRQQAj4 pic.twitter.com/ypFgwFGjiu

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 29, 2020

● USA Hockey report

Women’s Team

#8 Terriers dropped a tough 2-1 decision to #3 Northeastern at Matthews Arena Tuesday night. Despite the loss, BU remains in second place in Hockey East behind the Huskies.

Terriers took a 1-0 lead eight minutes into the game on Deziray De Sousa’s turnaround shot from the slot, assisted by Kristina Schuler and Julia Nearis.

Five minutes into the second period with BU on a power play, the Huskies’ Alina Mueller scored shorthanded on a 2-on-1 rush. Midway through the period, Northeastern’s Skylar Fontaine tallied another shorthanded goal after BU was unable to clear the zone. It proved to be the game-winner.

Corinne Schroeder turned away 29 shots while NU’s Aerin Frankel stopped 23 shots. Northeastern swept the three conference games with BU, having won by 2-1 and 2-0 scores in early November.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Daily Free Press recap

Reagan Rust, captain of last year’s Terriers who won the program’s first Beanpot Championship since 1981, will be inducted into the Beanpot Hall of Fame next Tuesday between the opening round games of this year’s tournament at Walter Brown Arena.  A year ago, she scored the deciding shootout goal in the first-round win over Northeastern and then tallied BU’s first goal in a 3-2 overtime win against Harvard in the championship game.

● GoTerriers.com report