Wednesday, September 09, 2020

Terriers hit the ice


Terriers began on-ice practice at Walter Brown Arena on Tuesday. (Agganis Arena currently is being used as a Covid-19 test center for the University.) Led by captain Logan Cockerill and assistant captains David Farrance and Ty Amonte, the 26-man squad—16 forwards, 7 defensemen, 3 goalies—start preparations for the 99th season of Boston University hockey—with the date when games will begin far from definite.

Eighteen returnees, including Amonte, who missed the entire 2019-20 season with an injury and who will be a red-shirt junior, are joined by eight newcomers (6 freshmen and 2 transfers) who were introduced to BU fans via Twitter on August 15. (Link)

The Boston Hockey Blog has posted additional coverage of insights from Cockerill (photo) and Head Coach Albie O’Connell delivered at last month’s 16th annual BU Hockey Summer Hockey Roundtable. Cockerill, a N.Y. Islanders draft pick, opined that the delayed season launch provides a very young Terrier team (only 8 upperclassmen) with an opportunity:  

“We’ve got a whole month extra to get our freshmen acclimated to our system, and to be able to have that development for an extra month can be big.”

Along with the status of player injuries and incoming players to watch, O’Connell talked about his goaltending corps that is long on talent, but short on experience. Returnee Ashton Abel who flashed talent in nine games last season is joined by a pair of well-regarded freshmen. Whitecourt Wolves netminder Vincent Duplessis was among the top AJHL goalies and had a 1.99 GAA/.932 save percentage in the playoffs that ended early. Drew Commesso, the second highest ranked goalie for the 2020 NHL draft, produced a 2.05 GAA and a .920 in 30 games with the USNTDP He held a 5-1-0 record in six international appearances with a 1.47 GAA and .941 SV%. O’Connell noted:

 “We’re excited about the three of them, and the cream will rise to the top there for sure, but it’ll be competitive.” 

● Boston Hockey Blog O’Connell Cockerill talk 2020-21 roster, players to watch

 Freshman forward Luke Tuch, Commesso’s teammate last season and his roommate now, is the younger brother of Vegas Golden Knights (ex-BC Eagle) wing Alex Tuch. The 6’2,” 203 lb., power forward talked with NHL.com about his brother’s success in the NHL playoffs and how watching Alex this summer has impacted his own game.

● NHL.com report

Looking ahead

Chris Heisenberg has posted 2021 pages for his recruiting site (LINK). The BU section includes the three most recent commits: forwards Shane Lachance, Michael La Starza and Jack Musa.

Five BU recruits will be skating for the NTDP program this season—forwards Jeremy Wilmer and Brian Boucher and blueliner Roman Schmidt with the U18s and forward Devin Kaplan and defenseman Lane Hutson with the U17s. Both squads will have new head coaches. Coaching the U18s is Dan Muse, an assistant last season with the Nashville Predators under John Hynes and previously with the Chicago Steel and Yale. Adam Nightingale will coach the U17s following a three-year stint with the Detroit Red Wings after four seasons at Shattuck-St.Mary’s.

Looking Back 

Chris O'Sullivan was Most Outstandng Player in the 1995 NCAA Championship game win against Maine and an All-American. Buddy Powers skated on BU's 1974 and 1975 ECAC champions and later was head coach at both RPI and Bowling Green. All-American defenseman Peter Ahola played for BU's 1990 and 1991 Frozen Four squads.

Jake Oettinger made his NHL debut Tuesday, playing 17:09 in the third period of the Stars' 3-0 loss to Las Vegas. He stopped all five shots he faced.  

● NHL.com recap 

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Shattenkirk, in his first season with Tampa Bay, is having a strong playoff season with nine points (1G,8A) and a +9 in 14 games. The Lightening lead the Islanders, 1-0, in the Eastern Conference finals.

● NHL.com recap and video highlights

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