#2 Terriers launch their 103rd season--and the fourth under Head Coach Jay Pandolfo--tonight with a first-time meeting with the Long Island University Sharks. Puck drop at Agganis Arena is at 7 p.m. with live streams on ESPN+ and TSN+.
The Terriers, who reached the national championship last season, have 14 new faces on the roster—12 freshmen and two portal transfers—the largest turnover since the early 1990s. BU enters the season as the youngest team in D1 with average age of 20 years, one month. Next is Michigan at 20 years, nine months.
The 12 returnees from last year’s post-season run to the Frozen Four are led by NCAA Rookie of the Year Cole Hutson, top freshman goal scorer Cole Eiserman, Captain Gavin McCarthy, emerging standout defenseman Sascha Boumedienne and Mikhail “Big Mike” Yegorov, whose mid-year arrival fueled the Terriers turnaround.
The newcomers expected to be immediate impact contributors start with the transfers, NCHC Rookie of the Year Sacha Boisvert and veteran forward Owen McLaughlin. Four recently drafted top prospects from the NTDP U18s, forwards Jack Murtagh and Conrad Fondrk, and blueliners Carter Amico and Charlie Trethewey have earned spots in the lineup, as has the first CHL recruit since the NCAA rules change, high-powered wing Ryder Ritchie. And, continuing the “importing” of Swedish talent to Comm Ave. is physical D-man Malte Vass.
BU begins the season a bit short-handed at forward with Nick Roukounakis out indefinitely with an upper-body injury and Fondrk, not quite at 100% after a lower-body injury last Spring. He’s expected to return next weekend.
tw-align-centerPer @collegehockey: BU is the youngest team in NCAA DI men’s hockey, with an average age (as of Oct. 1) of 19.9 years old. It’s the first time since CHI began tracking the data in 2021-22 that a team will open the season with an average age of under 20
— BU Hockey Stats (@BUHockeyStats) October 4, 2025
And at an average height of 6'1.3", the Terriers are the NCAA's third tallest squad.
LIU has a new head coach with a familiar name, Brendan Riley of the legendary Riley coaching family. He succeeds his cousin Brett Riley, now at Ferris State. The Sharks, whose average age is a full18 months older than BU's, lost nearly two-thirds of its offense to transfers and graduation.
They’ll look for increased scoring from four sophomores: JR Perdion (18 points), Onni Leppanen, who had 17 points in just 21 games last season; Anthony Lucarelli (15 points) and Isaac Lambert (17 points). Freshman Dylan Kinch put up 67 points in the BCHL last season. A pair of transfers—Nate Benoit (Quinnipiac) and Trevor Griebel (Merrimack)—join sophomore Trent Powell on the backline.
Sophomore goalie Daniel Duris played in just four games last season with strong numbers. A pair of freshmen will compete for time in the net.
LIU played an exhibition game at Army West Point last night and came away with a 3-0 win.
TONIGHT’S BU LINE-UP
● GoTerriers.com preview, Game Notes, Live Stats, BU All-Access (audio), BU Men’s Hockey Twitter
● Live Streams ESPN+, TSN+ International Stream
● Pandolfo Media Call (See Thursday's blog post)
● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape
The season’s first episode of Inside BU Hockey features Bernie Corbett’s interview with Coach Pandolfo and Kat Cornetta’s interview with Coach Tara Watchorn.
Spotify: http://tinyurl.com/27xtoaxh GoTerriers: http://tinyurl.com/29st7473
The Boston Hockey Blog continues to post the feature stories from its annual print hockey issue. One focuses on the second McCarthy in three seasons to wear the C. The second tracks Ritchie’s path from Western Canada to Boston, with a significant assist from longtime friend Macklin Celebrini.
tw-align-centerAfter the entirety of BU men’s hockey’s leadership group departed last spring, the Terriers shifted focus to their newest captain, Gavin McCarthy. @henrydinhprice on McCarthy following in his brother’s footsteps, and where his love for hockey began.
— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) October 3, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/iaJ6z7TUP1 pic.twitter.com/zQawqayWrT
tw-align-centerBU men's hockey has had Ryder Ritchie on its radar since he was 15 years old. When the NCAA opened the doors to the CHL, BU called.@Marcussi_MA on Ritchie’s journey to Comm. Ave. — a path shaped by help from a former Terrier and best friend.
— Boston Hockey Blog (@BOShockeyblog) October 2, 2025
🔗: https://t.co/JecxUP50Bg pic.twitter.com/TroDX5Vm00
Roster move
An injury that will sideline freshman goalie Steven Luciano indefinitely has necessitated adding Jack Perry to the roster from the club team.
tw-align-centerBU adds a fourth goalie, Jack Perry, up from the club team pic.twitter.com/F3fl8e5idp
— BU Hockey Stats (@BUHockeyStats) October 3, 2025
Friends of Hockey Lounge Open After Games
Friends of BU Hockey will be able to gather in the Friends of BU Hockey Lounge after each game in Agganis Arena, including tonight's game. Complimentary desserts and coffee will be provided in the space following the game. The lounge is located directly next to the Agganis Arena ticket office.
Looking ahead
Earlier this week, 2026 recruit Haoxi Simon Wang was assigned by San Jose to his OHL junior team, Oshawa Generals. The 6'6" left-shot defenseman participated in the Sharks' rookie camp and their main camp. The second-round draft pick made his first start of the season for the Generals Friday night.
Looking back
Quinn Hutson has been assigned by Edmonton to AHL Bakersfield Condors. He made his NHL debut with the Oilers last Spring.
Women's Team
#13 Terriers dropped a 5-0 decision to #3 Minnesota in the season-opener at Walter Brown Arena. BU played the Gophers even in the opening period with the difference being a Minnesota power play goal.
The Gophers outshot BU by 18-7 margins in both the second and third periods, adding one score in the middle period and three more in the final period. Final shots were 49-24 in favor of the visitors.
The teams complete the series on Saturday in a 4 p.m. start.
● GoTerriers.com recap and box score
● Boston Hockey Blog recap
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