Monday, March 31, 2025

UPDATED AGAIN: Frozen Four Field Set; Terriers to face Penn State; Pandolfo on Morning Cuppa Coffee; defkit's Terrier Takeaway

 

► Cole Hutson led all scorers in the NCAA regionals with six points (2-4-6). Ryan Greene fourth with 0-0-4. 

► Nearly 200 players have entered the transfer portal since their seasons have ended. Here's the list compiled by College Hockey Insider with rankings included.

 

Graphic showcasing the four teams that qualified for the NCAA Men's Frozen Four: Boston University, Denver, Penn State, and Western Michigan. 

#8 Terriers will head to St. Louis for their 25th Frozen Four appearance and take on #12 Penn State on April 10. The semifinal game will air on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m.

● USCHO.com A first look at the 2025 NCAA Frozen Four

● BU Hockey Stats Holy Toledo!

Jay Pandolfo has been a Penrose Award finalist each of his three seasons behind the Terrier bench. The full list of semifinalists:

David Carle, Denver, NCAA Semifinalist
Mike Cavanaugh, UConn, Hockey East Coach of the Year
Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan, NCHC Coach of the Year, NCAA Semifinalist
Guy Gadowsky, Penn State, NCAA Semifinalist
JF Houle, Clarkson, ECAC Coach of the Year
Jay Pandolfo, Boston University, NCAA Semifinalist
Bill Riga, Holy Cross, AHA Coach of the Year
Brett Riley, Long Island University, Independent Coach of the Year
Steve Rohlik, Ohio State, Big Ten Coach of the Year
Luke Strand, Minnesota State University, CCHA Coach of the Year

 

defkit's Terrier Takeaway

- After never having won a Western regional (at least since moving to the 16 team, no bye format), BU has now accomplished the feat in two successive seasons. That doesn't happen without strong coaching and experience in big games. Congrats to Jay and the staff. It has been a bumpy season but reaching the Frozen Four for a third straight year cements us back into the "Elite" club of programs in my opinion.

- Of the BU teams the past three years, this team may be the least skilled, definitely has the least depth on defense, and played the most inconsistent throughout the year. But I feel better about their chances to win it all than the teams from the past two years based on our forward depth, strong goaltending, and how the rest of the field looks. At first, Penn State scared me given how easily they dispatched Maine. But UConn showed how to compete with them. I think Denver now is the team to beat, as they are clicking on all cylinders.
 
- Speaking of defensive depth, Cole Hutson, Tom Willander, and Sascha Boumedienne may need new skate blades before St. Louis. I haven't looked for the stats, but they are clearly all logging significant minutes. Kudos to the strength and conditioning staff.
 
- Putting up 40 shots against Cornell was feat unto itself. It was great to see the team "start on time" for the first time in a while. If they can do so against Penn State, that will help their chances a ton. Scoring eight goals against Ohio State may have been the confidence boost some of the forwards needed to kick things into a higher gear and start the game with good energy.
 
- Jack Hughes has shown his best efforts all season lately. Matt Copponi, while perhaps not as strong a two-way player, is creating scoring opportunities again. And Kamil Bednarik, while not flashy, continues to play very important minutes for this team due to his two-way play.
 
- Big Mike made a couple huge stops early in overtime against Cornell. Then we got our legs going again, and had a great cycle game going for a few shifts leading up to the game-winner. Kudos to Shane Lachance for keeping it alive in the O-zone twice.
 
- Cole Hutson's goal may be the most accurate shot I've ever seen. I can't imagine there was room for more than 2 pucks to make it into the net from that angle.

►Kudos to the sharp-eyed Terrier fans who noticed former BU standout Alex Chiasson standing next to Kim Branvold on the far left in the photo below. Chiasson, who is one of 12 Terriers to win the Stanley Cup, retired last fall after a long NHL career and has been a volunteer assisting the staff this season. His Cup win came in 2018 with Washington.

NCAA Toledo Regional Team Photo Celebration

 

 

Morning Cuppa Hockey ☕ Hosts ...

► Coach Jay Pandolfo joined today's episode of Morning Cuppa Hockey to talk with Colby Cohen and Jonny Lazurus about the Regionals and Frozen Four. Among other things, he explains how the team watched film of Cornell's penalty kill between the second and third periods and that Cole Hutson spotted "an opening," which he exploited to give BU a 2-1 lead. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple.

 

►One more look at Quinn Hutson's overtime goal that punched the Terriers' ticket to St. Louis:         

►College Hockey News has announced is first and second national all-star teams and national all-rookie team. Cole Hutson was named a second-team all-star and all-rookie while Cole Eiserman joined him on the all-rookie team. 

 

Looking back

Lest one thinks that Quinn and Cole were the only Hutsons making their presence felt in a big way on the ice this weekend, Lane Hutson assisted on three goals, including the primary (see below) on the game-winner, in Montreal's 4-2 win against Florida.  Evan Rodrigues had a helper for the Panthers.

Hutson now has 59 points and his 54 assists are tied for second most by a defenseman with Quinn Hughes and is just three behind Cale Makar.

 

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