Wednesday, January 07, 2026

UPDATED: Pandolfo Media Call; More on Lawrence, Boumedienne; Weighart's 2nd half keys; Macklin and Lane Shine; Goaltender of the Month for Pietersen

 

Pandolfo Media Call

In his weekly media call Coach Jay Pandolfo reported that newly-rostered Tynan Lawrence had arrived in Boston, but too late for Wednesday’s practice. He’ll practice Thursday and then the coaches will determine whether he’ll skate in Friday’s game at UMass.

Pandolfo revealed that BU had spoken with Lawrence and his family over the summer about coming aboard in September, following his very successful 2024-25 season leading Muskegon to the Clarke Cup title and being named MVP.

”Ultimately, he decided he wanted to go back to finish at Muskegon for one more year and come in the fall," Pandolfo said. "As the season progressed, he had some injuries early on. We talked to him about a month ago and he was still set on staying at Muskegon. They’ve been good to him there. Then, in the last little bit, really just recently, we mutually decided it might be best for him to come in and help us.

Assessing his new 5-⭐️forward who won't turn 18 until August, Pandolfo explained:

“Tynan is just a play-driver, a center iceman who is a 200-foot player. He can drive play to the middle of the ice. He has an engine on him; he doesn’t stop moving his feet. We’re getting a really good player. I know he’s young, but he’s had a lot of success at the Hlinka [Gretzky Cup]. He’s had a lot of success in the USHL. A lot of the time, that translates well to college.”

Asked about whether Lawrence, who will wear #11 for BU, might be focused on his draft ranking (he’s projected top 5), Pandolfo replied:

“I don’t think he’s overly concerned with the draft. He understands that if he helps our team and helps us win hockey games, he helps himself. He’s really mature for a younger player."

Pandolfo continued, “It’s hard to sit here and compare someone to Macklin Celebrini because of what he did at BU and what he’s doing at the National Hockey League level, but I see a lot of Macklin in Tynan. Similar qualities to their games. I don’t want to compare them but that’s the way Tynan plays the game. He plays very hard at both ends of the ice. He’s very good through the neutral zone, attacking, but he doesn’t cheat the game.

Coincidentally, Lawrence and Celebrini--both top-ranked Canadian centers, although from opposite ends of the country--have followed similar paths: high-scoring seasons at Shattuck St. Mary's, followed by standout USHL seasons and then arriving at BU as 17 year olds.

Commenting on Sascha Boumedienne’s strong performance winning gold in the World Junior Championship, Pandolfo said, “It can help his confidence overall. Last year when the U.S. won [the WJC title], the difference in Cole Hutson’s game in the second half...and I think we can expect a similar thing from Sascha.

“You’re playing against the best players in the world at your age group. He played very well for [Sweden]. They depended on him heavily, killing penalties. He was playing big minutes for them.”

Pandolfo also reported that freshman forward Ben Merrill has recovered from his injury and will be back in the line-up Friday.

Pandolfo acknowledged that with the addition of Lawrence and all hands now healthy, the team has more depth at forward and that increased competition for ice time can only benefit the team. 

 

►College Hockey Insider's Mike McMahon wrote:

"In the eyes of many, Lawrence’s USHL performance has already put him squarely into the conversation with McKenna for No. 1 overall. However, for me, it’s hard to see him getting there had he remained in the USHL. That’s not a slight on the league — the USHL and the CHL sit at the top of the junior hockey ladder — but college hockey presents a different evaluative lens, with prospects regularly measured against older, more physically mature players. That’s what made it attractive for McKenna and Keaton Verhoeff this season, and players like Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini before them."

He also pointed out that Lawrence is being represented by “Quartexx Management, which also counts former Terrier Lane Hutson as a client (they represent all of the Hutson brothers), along with Will Smith, Mitch Marner, and nearly 100 other NHL players.”

►PuckPreps' Ryan Sikes, answering the question "What Boston University Is Getting In Tynan Lawrence," writes:

Offensively, Lawrence is a lot to handle. He scores at a strong rate, supports plays as a secondary creator, and generates shots from across the offensive zone. His game revolves around puck control. He creates his own opportunities, sets up teammates, and consistently gains the zone with speed and elite stickhandling.

When he’s on the ice, play tilts decisively in his team’s favor, both in shot volume and scoring chances. He’s strong in the faceoff circle (won 55% of all draws with Muskegon this year), competes hard in puck battles, and contributes defensively through positioning and effort despite being just moderately physical.    

● GoTeriers.com Men's Ice Hockey Adds Lawrence to Roster 

● Boston Hockey Blog Analysis: BU men’s hockey needs Tynan Lawrence more than he needs them. But can he solve the Terriers’ problems?  

● Boston Hockey Blog Tynan Lawrence joining BU for second semester (UPDATED)               


Sacha Boisvert and Conrad Fondrk celebrate a goal 

                     Photo by Dan Koerner 

►►BU Hockeywriter Scott Weighart's second half preview examines three keys to unlock success: building of the strong first semester finish with four wins in the last five games; getting key players fully healthy (Sacha Boisvert, Conrad Fondrk, Hutson and Merrill are all ready to go); and achieving consistency throughout games and from game-to-game.  

● GoTerriers.com Three Keys Can Unlock Second-Half Success for Terriers

►When Lawrence takes the ice for BU, he'll be tied for youngest player in Division 1. Now, the youngest team in D1 (20.0 yrs before Lawrence's addition) gets even younger. 

►Fresh from his gold-medal heroics at the World Junior Championships,  Boumedienne joined the Game Notes crew (@GameNotesBud) to explore, among other things, why he decided to play at BU.     

Looking ahead

Elite Prospects' post WJC draft rankings has seven Terriers recruits among its top 100, led by newly-promoted Lawrence at #4. Caleb Malhotra is #12, Egor Shilov is #28, Luke Schairer is #41, Braidy Wassilyn is #57, Brady Knowling is #84 and Rian Chudzinski is #97. 

Chudzinski scored his 11th goal in Moncton's 7-0 thumping of Gatineau. The former Dexter Southfield star has 17 points in 29 games. 

Looking back

Macklin Celebrini's extra-attacker goal tied the game with 1:06 left in the third period and then he forced a turnover in overtime to set up the game-winner as San Jose edged the Kings, 4-3. His three-point night extended his point streak to 12 and his 67 (24G, 33A) points are third best in the NHL.

Lane Hutson scored his eighth goal in Montreal's 4-1 win against Calgary. He has 42 points in 42 games, third best among NHL blueliners. Joel Farabee's 10th was the Flames lone goal.   

In Chicago's 7-3 win against St. Louis, Matt Grzelcyk assisted on a pair of goals (9,10), while Ryan Greene recorded his 12th helper and Alex Vlasic his eighth. 

Trevor Zegras scored the Flyers' first two goals, his 16th and 17th, in a 5-2 win over Anaheim.  He has 41 points in 41 games.   


Women's Team           

Junior Mari Pietersen, who backstopped BU to the Friendship Series championship in Belfast, has been named Hockey East's Stop It Goaltender of the Month.  

● GoTerriers.com Pietersen Tabbed Hockey East Goaltender of the Month  

● Boston Hockey Blog How Mari Pietersen became the go-to goalie for BU women’s hockey

 

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