UPDATED Catching up with Matt Gilroy; Captain Case; WJC Rosters finalized; Updated BU roster projections

New York Times automotive writer and blog contributor Neal Boudette caught up with 2009 co-captain and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy shortly after the NTDP U18s, for whom he's an assistant coach, visited Agganis Arena. It was just the third visit back for Gilroy, who along with John McCarthy led a senior class whose 100th win--and final game--was the NCAA championship--the D.C. Miracle.

 

Gilroy Glad to Extend Hockey Career Through Coaching

Author of brilliant pass that paved way to '09 title

"He Didn't Just Blast It"

It was probably the greatest pass in the long history of Boston University Hockey. Surely, there was never a pass from one Terrier to another with so much on the line – a dream season, a national championship slipping away, just seconds remaining for someone to somehow conjure up some kind of a miracle.

The puck comes to Matt Gilroy, the captain of the 2008-09 Terriers, named that year’s Hobey Baker winner just days before. The University of Miami leads 3-2. Gilroy is in the left faceoff circle. He raises his stick, seemingly in preparation to do what most players would do in that situation: fire it at the net.

Instead, as a Miami player slides to block his shot, the righthand shot Gilroy pulls to puck to his backhand, then slides it back across the slot. To the other faceoff circle. Where Nick Bonino is waiting. And Bonino has his stick cocked, ready to fire the puck himself. Except that Bonino, unlike Gilroy, is looking at a wide open net.

“Score! Unbelievable!” announcer Gary Thorne screamed on the broadcast. “Boston University has scored two goals in the last minute and has tied this game!”

It was left to color man Barry Melrose to pinpoint the brilliance of Gilroy’s play. “BU’s talent showed right there. They didn’t panic with the puck. They made great decisions. They didn’t just shoot it. Great back door play right there. Most players in the slot right there – Gilroy got it – most guys would have just blasted it. But Matt Gilroy makes a beautiful pass over to Bonino. That’s what talent gives you, man. Great, great goal.”

You know the rest of the story. Overtime, Colby Cohen, one of the most exciting Frozen Four finals ever, BU’s fifth national championship.

                                        Continue reading

► Mark Divver reports that Jay Pandolfo confirmed that goalie Max Lacroix, who had been a 2024 recruit, will come aboard for second semester. The Governor's Academy grad has been playing for the Colorado Grit in the NAHL. More about this roster move in our next post.

 

 

                                              Photo credit Matt Woolverton

Captain Case McCarthy talked with College Hockey News about the injury during the Hockey East playoffs that ended his season, his decision to return as a fifth year player and skate with his brother, and where he sees the Terriers at mid-season.

● College Hockey News McCarthy back to being Old Reliable at BU

 

►Our friend @BUHockeyStats breaks down first-semester result by uniform.

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BU Men's Hockey 1st Half Jersey Records:

White "Candy Canes" 6-0
Red "Candy Canes" 4-2-1
"Boston University" Whites 1-2

📸@mattwoolverton | @RichardTGagnon | @graciedave_ pic.twitter.com/NIrQroMsAS

— BU Hockey Stats (@BUHockeyStats) December 14, 2023

World Junior Championships

Macklin Celebrini spoke with the media after receiving confirmation that he had made Team Canada’s final roster for the WJCs, which begins Dec. 26 in Gothenberg, Sweden. Team USA, with Lane Hutson, announced its final roster Saturday.

● NHL.com Celebrini makes Canada World Junior roster

Team USA announced its final roster today. Lane Hutson repeats as a member of the U.S. Junior National Team.

●  FloHockey.TV  Team USA Roster Announced, Led by Gauthier, Hutson

● FloHockey.TV Interview with Lane Hutson

►NHL.com's Mike Morreale, in his report on the U.S. selection camp, spoke with Hutson about the prospect of facing Celebrini in the WJCs. (Scroll down). 

 

 

►A Boston Globe examination of Bruins draft picks includes junior defenseman Ty Gallagher.

Ty Gallagher, D, BU (2021, seventh round, 217th overall) After tallying eight goals and 29 assists in his first two seasons with the Terriers, Gallagher struggled at the beginning of his junior season (0-2—2). But it appears he turned the corner in November.

“He’s getting his confidence back. He’s getting some more minutes,” said BU coach Jay Pandolfo. “When he plays a simple game, that’s when he’s at his best. When he gets the puck, he moves it quick. He’s good at joining the rush. He’s good at seeing the ice. He’s been very good on the penalty kill recently. His game is rounding into form, We expect him to have a really good second half.”

Looking ahead

Following the commitment of two standout defensemen, Carter Amico and Sascha Boumedienne, our friend BurntBoats has updated his roster projections graphic. That’s an impressive compilation of talent in the Terrier pipeline. (Link to chart)

Also, Mitch Fink of The Boston Hockey Blog examines the seven high-end 2007 birthdate skaters who have committed to BU since the signing period began on August 1. The group includes four NTDP U17 players and two tendered skaters for USHL Youngstown and one OJHL player. (Photo is Jack Murtagh)

● Boston Hockey Blog Breaking down the star-studded 2007-born recruiting class

In his first game for Youngstown since committing to BU, Boumedienne assisted on three Phantoms goals in a 5-3 win over the NTDP U18s. 2024 recruit Cole Hutson scored his seventh goal for the U18s.

2024 recruit Michael Chambre stopped 40 shots but Sioux Falls was edged by Fargo, 3-2.

2024 recruit Brandon Svoboda scored his second goal at the World Junior A Challenge in Nova Scotia as Team USA defeated Canada East, 7-2. He scored his third goal in Saturday's semifinal overtime loss to Canada West, 4-3. (Video)

2024 recruit Jack Pridham scored his 10^th goal, assisted by 2025 recruit Cal Hughes, in West Kelowna’s 3-2 overtime loss to Penticton on Friday.

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Jack Pridham with a DART to tie the game! 🎯#BCHL | @TerrierHockey pic.twitter.com/aiH6hvoYpY

— West Kelowna Warriors (@BCHLWarriors) December 16, 2023

►On Saturday, Pridham earned first-star honors with a goal and two assists in the Warriors' 6-3 win over the Vees. The 6'2" right wing has an 11-13-24 scoring in 28 games. 

 Looking back

If you’re a subscriber to The Athletic, check out Michael Russo’s deep dive in newly named Minnesota Wild Coach John Hynes and how he used his time between jobs to analyze his own performance and to shadow other coaches, including David Quinn, to prepare for the next NHL coaching job.

● TheAthletic.com: John Hynes’ path to the Wild: Sacrifice, setbacks, self-improvement and the evolution of a career coach

Kevin Shattenkirk assisted on a pair of goals in the Bruins’ 5-4 shootout win against the Islanders. Charlie Coyle had one of Boston’s two shootout goals.

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It's just nasty. pic.twitter.com/ktFLy88LaF

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 16, 2023

Jack Eichel banged a rebound past Devon Levi to give Vegas a 2-1 lead early in the third period, but the Sabres would score four times and come away with a 5-2 win.

 

Women’s Team

Terrier fan Irene has created a roster projection chart for the women's team.

●The Hockey News profiled 2024 recruit Avery Supryka, a defenseman for the U22 Elite Ottawa Senators.