Thursday, September 30, 2021

Hockey East Media Day; NESN schedule released; Women open at UNH UPDATED

 

Hockey East’s Media Day took place on Wednesday morning via a Zoom Video Conference. Commissioner Steve Metcalf and Supervisor of Men’s Officials Brian Murphy spoke first followed by each of the 11 head coaches of league schools.

Head Coach Albie O’Connell noted that while BU was one of the youngest teams last season, it’s now more of veteran group and excited to again be playing at Agganis Arena. Playing games at Walter Brown last season while practicing at Agganis, “we had two totally different size sheets.”

Addressing the shortened 2020-21 season, O’Connell emphasized the important role played by the leadership team, which is largely back.  “We had challenges to start, and then had a lot of starts and stops after that. A lot of mental scars and hardening for our group going through last year. And some of the disappointments. Hopefully, we’ll be better for it. I can’t say enough about (captain) Logan Cockerill and how he can hold the group together in a lot of different ways.”

Asked about the fast pace of Saturday’s Red vs. White scrimmage, he said, "“BU is a skating team and it’s important that we can play at a high pace and be aggressive.”

He also noted the 100th year of Terrier hockey and plans to “celebrate some of the great people we’ve had within the program” at special events throughout the season

O'Connell referenced the crowd of 200 fans present at the scrimmage and “the energy they gave our guys,” adding "so, it’ll be nice to hear the band, hear the roar of the crowd. Everyone is really looking forward to it."

● HockeyEastOnline  Full Zoom Video Conference

 

Television and Live Stream update: 

Hockey East has announced its schedule of NESN and NESN+ games for 2021-22. The 104 league contests, including the Hockey East Tournaments for both men and women, is the largest-ever schedule for NESN.

The Men's team will be featured nine times, including two games each with BC, Providence and UMass. The Women's team is scheduled for NESN five times, including two games each with BC and Providence.

For viewers outside of New England, the NESN games will be live streamed on College Sports Live. 

A link to the NESN schedule has been added to the TV and Live Stream list in the sidebar.

HockeyEastOnline announcement and schedule

● GoTerriers.com Fourteen Terrier games to be televised on NESN

-Saturday’s exhibition game against Holy Cross, beginning at 7:30 p.m. will be live streamed on CBS Digital Sports’ College Sports Live platform.

-Games streamed on College Sports Live will become available as archives at least through the end of the 2021-22 season. 

 

Looking ahead

2022 or 2023 recruit Nick Roukounakis is off to a hot start with the BCHL West Kelowna Warriors with three goals in two exhibition game wins. The 6’2”, 220 lb., left-shot power forward scored twice in Tuesday’s 4-3 overtime win against Prince George and earned first-star honors.

The Pembroke, Massachusetts native played two seasons at Thayer Academy under Tony Amonte, producing an 11-16-27 line in 26 games in 2019-20. Ranked #184 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, he went undrafted in his first year of eligibility, in part due to Thayer’s 2020-21 season being cancelled. In the fall, however, he skated for the Boston Jr. Bruins 18U, winning praise from NEHJ’s Jeff Cox at the Cape Cod Whalers Midget Showcase:

Roukounakis has impressed me the past couple of weeks. He looks to be in better shape and he’s still a force below the dots and can get shots off quickly and with zip. In my viewings of his team last weekend, he was around the puck, produced, and drew penalties with his size and strength down low. He made a bold statement to NHL scouts, more than anyone else.

He also caught the attention of USA Hockey, earning five starts with the NTDP U18s.

● Westkelownawarriors.ca recap

● BCHL.ca Roukounakis draft profile and Q&A interview  


Numerous future Terriers took part in the USHL Fall Classic in Pittsburgh this past weekend, which launched the season for the top U.S. junior A league. Three 2022 recruits were called out in NEHJ’s review of the event: 

 

Ryan Greene, Green Bay Gamblers, 10/21/03, C, right shot, 6-1/175- Boston University: Newfoundland native and South Kent Selects Academy grad looked the part throughout, playing an all-around game up the middle. He’s not a dynamic center who brings you out of your seat on every shift, but with his slick hands, smarts and ability to make seam passes or carry the puck around defenders, he and Lund give Green Bay a potent 1-2 punch up the middle.

 

Lane Hutson, U.S. NTDP U-18, 2/14/04, D, left shot, 5-8/148- Boston University: The Illinois native is Team USA’s most skilled defender and if he had better size, would be a household name already. Even as it is, the future Terrier has dynamic wheels and can impact the game in all three zones. On the power play, he’s deadly with the added time and space.

 

Devin Kaplan, RW, U.S. NTDP U-18: Big (6-3/199), athletic winger from Bridgewater, N.J. was outstanding in his first game, pushing defenders back, skating with his head up and making several top passes, one of which resulted in a goal. He’s always been a bit of a glider, but he was moving his feet and engaged throughout--an excellent showing.

 

Women’s Team


Terriers open the regular season this weekend with home-and-home series against New Hampshire. They’ll face the Wildcats at the Whittemore Center Friday at 6 p.m., before returning to Walter Brown Arena for Saturday’s home opener at 2 p.m.

GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, Live Stats, BU Game Day

CollegeSportsLive Live Stream

● Boston Hockey Blog 3 Takeaways from exhibition win

● WTBU Sports Terriers take exhibition matchup with Holy Cross

● Boston Hockey Blog Women’s Hockey to Start Regular Season Against New Hampshire

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