Calgary Flames: Terrier Out, Terrier In?

Former Terrier sniper and fan favorite Tony Amonte’s (right) two-year tenure as Calgary Flame appears to be ended. An unrestricted free agent, he’s not listed on the Calgary roster and with Mike Keenan taking the helm, a Amonte return seems unlikely. Keenan was the New York Rangers coach who sent Tony packing in 1994, just before the Rangers won their first Cup in 54 years.

Amonte’s production dipped to 10-20-30 last season, bringing him to 900 career points in 16 NHL seasons. Might he follow Terrier linemate Shawn McEachern into retirement?

Meanwhile, David VanderGulik’s strong first pro season has earned him a shot at the NHL. Following an injury shortened senior year at BU that ended with a broken wrist, VDG played all 80 regular season games for the Flames AHL affiliate, the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben (Nebraska, backwards) Knight scoring 43 points and opening some eyes.

Invited to the just-completed Flames development camp, VanderGulik discussed his year in Omaha and his choice of NCAA hockey over major junior with the Calgary Sun. His play at development camp earned the kudos of several fans in attendance. One blogger wrote:

Wow Did not know this kid until I seen him at this Camp. What do I know about him now? He has speed and has moves that will leave dmen behind looking for their well you get my point. The only problem is his size but in todays new NHL with his speed and his skill he can over come that. He has a great shot and does some scary things with the puck. Seeing him on a break away will be a treat.

Another Flames fan suggests that "If there's an injury spot that opens, depending what Calgary's need is (PK especially) I wouldn't be surprised to see DVG [Nope, it’s VDG] get the call." If VanderGulik doesn't make the big club, he'll begin next season in a new city since the Flames have moved their AHL affiliate to Quad Cities (Illinois). That franchise move led to the demise of the UHL Quad City Mallards where ex-Terriers Matt Radoslovich and Jason Tapp have played the past two seasons.

Odds 'n ends

International Scouting Service's latest rankings for the 2008 NHL draft are posted on the hockeysfuture.com homepage. Incoming freshman center Colin Wilson (video IIHF World U18 Championship, vs. Russia) , son of former NHLer Carey Wilson, is ranked #6....When collegians like Brandon Yip participate in an NHL development camp (slide show, 5th slide), as Brandon recently did with the Avs, they not only pay their own travel expenses, to protect their NCAA eligiblity, but they also must pay pro-rated ice time fees...Incoming freshman Joe Pereira's younger brother, Mike, is making a name for himself. He's following in Joe's footsteps, transferring from high school in Connecticut to the South Kent School, which Joe led in scoring last season. Mike, who will be a junior at SKS, opened some eyes at two recent events, the Jr. Chowder Cup, where he led his team in scoring, and the ProAm Predraft tournament, where he joined Mike and a few recently graduated SKS players. One observer reports: "[Mike] isn't as fast as his brother but is still fast. But he can bury the puck, has great hands and is more skilled than his brother. "

Hockey in Israel—Who Knew?

Updating an earlier post on the World Jewish Hockey Championships, BU sophomore forward Zack Cohen is bringing home a gold medal and a bunch of unforgettable experiences from his summer trip to Israel. Cohen scored 4 goals and 4 assists in games for Team USA in the tournament just completed in Metullah. The largely-collegian USA team, backstopped by former Harvard goalie Dov Grummet-Morris, beat Israel in the championship game, 2-1, after winning all three preliminary games. Canada took the bronze, beating France, 4-1.

Cohen, who skated on a line with UMass forward Matt Burto and Middlebury’s Scott Bartlett, visited Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with his teammates and caught up with Grummet-Morris’ brother, an Israeli soldier. Metullah, where the Canada Center is located, is so close to the Lebanese border that Cohen could see a Hezbollah camp from the hotel swimming pool.

The U.S. team included several sets of brothers and even a father-son combo. USHR reports that 50-year-old Caleb Koeppel, who once played for Trinity College, and Caleb’s son, Max, a club player at Syracuse University, made a unique a family affair.

NHL.com also reported on the tournament as did the Israeli dailies.

Talented--and Howe!

In a post last month (The Buddy System), we reported that recent Avalanche draft choices Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen (photo, right)had been teammates on the on the '89 East Coast Selects, a top summer/spring tournament program headed by Travis Howe, Gordie's grandson. A recent nhl.com feature looks at the impact of the ECS program, examines Howe’s philosophy, and discusses ECS’ first crop of alumni drafted by the NHL, including Shattenkirk, Cohen, BC recruit Nick Petricki and Edmonton draft pick Sam Gagner.

Howe’s ECS Web site currently features photo essays on the development of Shattenkirk and Cohen. Future Terriers Corey Trivino (2008; and OPJHL/North Rookie of the Year) and Ethan Werek (2009), who will be teammates next season on the OPJHL Stouffville Spirit, also have participated in ECS programs.

Close to home--more camping
Incoming freshman goalie Adam Kraus, an Irving, Texas, native, has been invited to participate in the Dallas Stars’ rookies/prospects camp beginning next Monday. Kraus , who also had offers from three WCHA school, played for the NAHL Alaska Avalanche last season and previously with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

Midsummer Linkorama

SI.com’s “Best Game I’ve Ever Seen” series produced this gem today. It’s from Sports Illustrated reporter—and daughter of a Michigan State goalie, Lisa Altobelli describing her first Beanpot game while a student at BU.

2000-01 Terrier Captain Carl Corazzini is back in red, having signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Red Wings. The Framingham speedster, one of many St. Sebastian’s alums to skate for BU, spent the past two seasons in the BlackHawks organization, playing 7 NHL games. He played a dozen games for the Bruins in 2003-04; earlier in his pro career Carl suited up for a team with one of the all-time best names: the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. BU College of Communication professor Jack Falla, a former Sports Illustrated staffer, penned an insightful and revealing article about Captain Carl in a 2000 issue of Bostonia.

BU 2008 recruit defenseman David Warsofsky has been named to the Team USA U18 team that will play next month in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The team was chosen from players in the recently concluded national Select 17 festival in St. Cloud. Warsofsky, who played on last summer’s U17 USA squad in the Three Nation’s tournament, joins the NTDP program this fall and will play for Coach John Hynes’ Ann Arbor-based Under 18 team.

Warsofksy, who spent the past two seasons at Cushing Prep (Sports Illustrated Video Faces in the News clip) where he was a prep all-star both years and last year’s USHR Prep Defenseman of the Year, was ranked among the top six defenseman at the Select festival. USHR described him as a “super mobile, puck-moving D,” while Chris Dilks of the Western College Hockey blog reports that he’s“Very relaxed and poised with the puck. Can make a great pass, even when he’s under a great deal of pressure. He has NHL-level skills, but lacks ideal NHL size.”

Speaking of his size, the USA.com summer U18 roster lists Warsofsky at 5-10, 170, a nice spurt from the 5-9, 160 lb., September 2006 numbers from Cushing. [Note the name Jake Youso on the roster; older fans may remember his grandfather, Frank Youso, who played offensive tackle for the Giants in the "greatest game ever played" (and the toughest loss), the 1958 NFL championship overtime win by the Colts]

Another Terrier recruit who stood out in St. Cloud is 2009 defenseman Max Nicastro whom USHR put in a group of blueliners rated A-, just behind the top six, reporting that he “has the tools. Not sure how well he sees the rink.” Dilks says the California-born defenseman who joins the USHL Chicago Steel in the fall is an “extremely smooth skater, and comfortable with the puck. Can make a nice pass in just about any situation. He’s listed at 6’3” 195 lbs., but looked a lot lankier.”

In today’s Research on Ice newsletter, Paul Shaheen quotes Steel GM Jason Koehler as saying, "Nicastro will simply be one of the best first year Ds in the USHL this season. He is a stud in my opinion. Will be a top three round NHL pick - would not shock me that he becomes a first-round pick next summer if he adds weight to his frame. Max is not your typical West Coast player, more gritty. Very exciting, great PP guy."

Among forwards at the Select 17s, BU recruiting target Vinny Saponari had a strong camp. USHR ranked him among its top 12 forwards and wrote:”Excellent, and fun to watch. He can bring you out of your seat with his 1-on-1 moves.” Dilks concurred, reporting “I thought he was one of the better forwards at the camp. He’s very confident and poised with the puck and always seemed to be creating offensive chances. He probably had an even better week than his point totals indicate.”

Saponari, whose brother Victor is in BU’s 2007 recruit class, was a top scorer with the NTDP U17s last season and moved up the U18s for the IIHF World U18 Championships. Warsofsky-Saponari should be a dynamic combo for next season’s U18s; Terrier fans will get a look on Dec. 8 when John Hynes brings his team to Agganis for an exhibition game.

If the BU coaches observing the Select 17s scouted Omaha defenseman Adam Comrie, they probably were impressed. The defensively-minded LD from Virginia earned kudos from USHR’s Chris Warner: “Big – he’s 6’4” – and mobile. An excellent skater with a hard shot. Keeps the game simple. A little error prone, but he does have all the tools.” The Western Blog was even more effusive: “He probably has the most upside of anyone at the camp. He’s a big kid that is very physical and is good at jumping into the play. He’s a pretty good skater too. He had a lot of penalties, but more from being overly aggressive as opposed to being out of position.” It’s just speculation on our part, but with so many RDs expected on next season’s roster, Comrie might be a good fit for the 2008 class.

Summer Ice, Part II: Tuesday Night Lights

It may be offseason, but most of the Terrier hockey team can be found on the ice together on Tuesday nights, keeping their skating and timing sharp by playing 50-minute non-checking games in the Hub City Pro Hockey Summer League at the Bridgewater Ice Arena. The current and incoming BU players are joined by recent grads such as Sean Sullivan, Tom Morrow, Kevin Schaeffer, Ken Roche and Ryan Weston.

Five games into the league season, junior forward Jason Lawrence is the top scorer with 11 goals and 10 assists. Sullivan, back from Coyotes rookie camp, is third with 3-11-14. Lawrence’s team, which includes, Roche, Brian Strait, Luke Popko and Zach Cohen, as well as several skaters from “that school up the block,” is last in the standings. However a nearly all-Terrier team has the best record as of today. Its roster features forwards Peter MacArthur, Boomer Ewing, Brandon Yip, Chris Higgins, Brian McGuirk, Steve Smolinsky, Craig Sanders, Weston, and Joe Pereira; defensemen Matt Gilroy, Kevin Kielt, Sullivan, Morrow, Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen; and goalies Karson Gillespie and Brett Bennett. These two teams meet tonight and we’ve dispatched a correspondent to report on the game. One more Terrier connection: Boomer Ewing’s father, Ben, owns the BIA facility

Summer Ice

Junior right wing Brandon Yip recently concluded a week at Avs Development Camp in Centennial, Colorado, Tom Morrow was in Sabres camp in Amherst, N.Y.—probably not posing for Mutt & Jeff photos with Nathan Gerbe—and Andrew Glass, one of the youngest players in Caps camp, was holding his own there. On Frozen Blog reports that: “Glass, who won’t enroll in freshman composition at BU until 2008, looks anything but out of place against young world-class competition.”

Brian Strait, Jason Lawrence and possibly one or two other Terriers are skating on Tuesday nights at the Bridgewater Ice Arena in the Hub City Summer Pro League featuring college and professional players. But the Terrier with the most unusual summer skating experience has to be sophomore Zach Cohen (pictured) .

Last summer Northern Israel was filled with military units headed to the Lebanese borders to fight Hezbollah. This summer, just south of that border, at the Canada Centre rink in Metulla, the combatants are four hockey teams—U.S.A., Canada, France, and the host— competing in the first World Jewish Hockey Championship, July 13-20.

Team U.S. headed by General Manager Neil Smith (W. Michigan alum) and Coach John Anderson (Chicago Wolves) has 13 current or former NCAA players on its roster including Terrier winger Cohen. Bobby Weston played for the Terriers in 1997-98 and 1998-99 before finishing his career at Babson. The goalies are Harvard alum Dov Grummet-Morris and former Michigan Wolverine Noah Ruden. Also on the roster are UMass forward Matt Burto and Miami’s Nathan Davis, one of two collegians to play for team USA in this past spring’s IIHF World Championships. Canada’s squad features Merrimack goalie Andrew Brathwaite and ex-Vermont Catamount Oriel McHugh. Israel’s squad includes Oren Eizenman, who scored the final RPI goal in last season’s 4-4 tie with the Engineers, and his brothers, Alon and Erz, and is coached by former Montreal head coach Jean Perron.

We’ll post later this week an expected NHL.com feature about the tournament, which was originally scheduled for last summer, but postponed due to the hostilities. For those interested in the full rosters, see the comment below.

Looking ahead to 2008 and 2009

Eric McErlain of the Off Wing Opinions blog conducted interviews this week at the Washington Caps rookie camp and, at our request, got upclose and personal with 2008 Terrier recruit Andrew Glass. Andrew, selected by the Caps in the seventh round, confirmed that he'll return to Noble & Greenough school for his senior, rather than join the USHL Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets who put him on their affiliate list. He indicated that BU told him to make the choice, but hinted that he might go to the USHL at some point, in which case his matriculation would begin in 2009.

Interview With Andrew Glass, July 11, 2007
Uploaded by emcerlain

2009 recruit Ethan Werek of the Stouffville Spirit has recently received strong recognition of his ample talent. Werek, a six-foot center who scored 128 points in 55 games for the Toronto Marlies minor midgets last year, recently was projected by International Scouting Services as the #5 pick in the 2009 NHL draft. Now, he has made the 35-man short list for for the Ontario U17 team which will compete in the World Hockey Challenge in December. Werek, who was one of five York region players selected for the short list out of 84 candidates, will be a teammate next season of 2008 BU recruit Corey Trivino on the Spirit, an OPJHL Junior A team co-owned by Ethan's father.

2007 BU recruit class announced

Courtesy of the BU Sports Information Office

BU Men’s Ice Hockey Announces Seven-Member Class of 2011

BOSTON -- The Boston University men’s ice hockey program will welcome seven newcomers to its 2007-08 roster, as announced today by head coach Jack Parker. Nick Bonino (Farmington, Conn.), Joe Pereira (West Haven, Conn.), Victor Saponari (Powder Mills, Ga.) and Colin Wilson (Greenwich, Conn.) will bolster the team’s forward lines, while Kevin Shattenkirk (New Rochelle, N.Y.) and Colby Cohen (Radnor, Pa.) will join the Terriers’ defensive corps. Goaltender Adam Kraus (Irving, Texas) rounds out the freshman group.

The Terriers had the most incoming freshmen selected in last month’s National Hockey League Entry Draft of any Hockey East school, as Shattenkirk and Cohen were picked by the Colorado Avalanche in the first and second rounds, respectively, and Bonino was a seventh-round selection by the San Jose Sharks.

"This incoming class certainly filled our needs," said Parker. "We struggled a bit offensively last year after leading the league in scoring the year before. Freshmen usually don’t play a big role coming in, but this group will be counted on to be important members of our offensive production, both in 5-on-5 situations and on the power play."

Wilson (shown in photo), the son of former Dartmouth and NHL standout Cary Wilson, was dominant at the AAA Midget level in Canada before joining the U.S. National Team Developmental Program. After moving up from the U-17s to join the U-18s late in the 2005-06 season, he was a member of the gold-medal winning team at the 2006 World U-18 Championships. He was the second-leading scorer this past year for the U-18s, which won the silver medal at the World Championships, and was tied for the lead in scoring for the tournament. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward is projected as a top-10 pick in next year’s NHL Entry Draft.

The United States Hockey Report Prep Forward of the Year, Bonino (6-1, 180) captained Avon Old Farms to the 2007 New England Division I prep championship, finishing third among all New England preps in scoring with 66 points, including 23 goals. After being the top scorer at Farmington High School during the 2004-05 campaign, he moved to Avon and led the team in scoring (26-30-56). Bonino also was the leading scorer and co-MVP of the 2006 Spring Hockey Night in Boston.

"Wilson is a big, strong center iceman who plays well in all three zones," said Parker. "He is a proven point producer who will center one of our top lines.

"The same holds true for Bonino. He’s a gifted offensive forward who will be plugged in on our top lines, as well as the power play."

Last season’s top scorer at South Kent School, Pereira (5-10, 175) led the Cardinals to the New England prep playoff semifinals. He scored 25 goals in each of his two years at South Kent after earning all-state honors at West Haven High School.

"Pereira is the best skater among the newcomers," said Parker. "He possesses good speed and intensity and he is a real good goal scorer. We expect him to jump right in and fill one of the slots our forward lines."

Saponari joins the BU program from Culver Military, where he posted 20 goals and 22 assists in 39 games this past season as a post-grad. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward was named to the all-tournament team at this year’s Cushing tournament.

"Much like Pereira, Saponari is a determined and intense type of player," said Parker. "He will be an asset on our forecheck and will also improve our overall team speed."

The captain of the U.S. National U-18 Team, Shattenkirk (5-11, 190) was named the top defenseman at the 2007 World Championships after helping his team earn the silver medal. He was named to the 2004-05 All New England Prep First Team as a sophomore at The Brunswick School before joining the NTDP. In the 2006 North American Hockey League playoffs, Shattenkirk led the U-17 team in scoring.

"Shattenkirk is a complete player who is a real leader," said Parker. "He is a smart defensive player who can be an effective quarterback on the power play."

Cohen was also a member of the NTDP before moving on to play for the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League. He led all USHL defensemen in scoring this past season with 60 points (13g, 47a). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound blueliner broke out on the scene in 2004-05 with the Syracuse Stars of the Eastern Junior Hockey League, tallying 43 points in 50 games.

"Cohen is a terrific offensive defenseman," said Parker. "He has great hands and passes well, and he put up a lot of points during his year in the USHL. Like Shattenkirk, we expect him to be important for us on the point in power-play situations."

Playing for the Alaska Avalanche of the North American Hockey League, Kraus (6-3, 175) posted a 3.50 goals against average and a .912 save percentage this past season after spending two years as a member of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings at the AAA Midget level.

"Kraus was a highly recruited goaltender, especially by schools from the WCHA," said Parker. "We are confident that he can enter the goaltending mix right away and fight for ice time."

News from the NHL rookie camps

The Washington Caps summer development camp begins today in Arlington, Virginia, and 2008 recruit Andrew Glass (see July 8 post) has been invited. Thanks to our friends at the Off Wing Opinions blog, we hope to have some video of Andrew in action later this week.

Hockeysfuture.com’s recap of Capitals’ draft picks offered additional comments about Glass. Thanks to Brian Gentry for posting this information on USCHO.

Andrew Glass, LW -- Nobles High School Height: 5'11 Weight: 180 Drafted: 7th round, 199th overall

Andrew Glass was drafted out of Nobles High School in Massachusetts where he had 17 points in 18 games in the 2006-07 season. Slated to play for the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets of the USHL this fall, Glass will attend Boston University beginning in 2008. Called one of the top players his age in New England by his former coach Chris Masters of the Boston Junior Bruins, Glass is a good stick handler with the agility to beat defenders one on one. He can keep puck control in traffic which makes him a good penalty killer, but will need to use his body to his advantage to be a successful player at the higher levels.

Both the Off Wing Opinion post and the hockeysfuture.com recap indicate Glass will switch from the Noble & Greenbough school to the Ohio Junior Blue Jackets in the more competitive USHL for his senior year. Chris Heisenberg’s recruiting Web site still lists him at N&G. We’ll look for a definitive answer and post it.

Another hockeysfuture.com draft recap, looking at the Sharks’ picks, offered comments on 2007 recruit Nick Bonino (pictured above):

Nick Bonino, C – Avon Old Farms (USHSE)
6' 1, 204 lbs.6th Round, 173rd Overall
Nick Bonino was the Sharks second selection of the sixth round and, like Zackrisson had been passed on in the previous draft. Bonino was nearly taken by San Jose last season with their final pick, but now has the opportunity to join their prospect ranks a year later. The Connecticut high-schooler had another strong year as a big center dominating the smaller competition with 23 goals and 43 assists in 26 games while attending Avon Old Farms, but there are concerns that he does not have the skating ability to compete at higher levels. He will attend Boston University in the fall, and the hope is that he will be forced to improve his speed enough to make him worthy of a professional contract. The Sharks are very high on him and were happy to be able to get him so late in the draft.

Coyote Ugly

Out in Arizona, 2006-07 captain Sean Sullivan and goalie Brett Bennett are working out at Coyotes’ rookie camp, where former/current rivals have become teammates. Coyotes’ TV offers an interview with Sullivan and BC forward Benn Ferriero that focuses on the Terrier-Eagle rivalry. Other familiar faces in camp include Keith Yandle, Daniel Winnick and David Spina.

Select 17

Future Terrier defensemen David Warsofsky (2008; Gold squad) and Max Nicastro (2009, Maroon squad) are in St. Cloud, Minnesota, for the National Select 17 Festival. So is 2008 recruiting target Vinny Saponari (Teal squad) whose brother Victor joins the Terriers this fall. One of the BU assistant coaches, most likely David Quinn, is at the festival to observe these prospects and other candidates for the 2008 recruit class which needs a second defenseman and another forward.

"Entrepreneur" Glass readies for Caps Camp

Longtime Boston Globe reporter Marvin Pave includes 2008 recruit Andrew Glass in his column today on local athletes.

Glass drafted by NHL's Capitals
Wrentham's Andrew Glass, who will be a senior at Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, is creative both on and off the ice.

Glass, taken in the seventh round (199th overall) of the National Hockey League entry draft by the Washington Capitals, runs his own company, which he calls Noble and Greenlawn Landscaping.

While taking a water break in his truck on June 23, Glass's cellphone rang. The person calling was a representative of the Washington organization, who said, "Welcome to the Washington Caps." Calls from Andrew's dad, Michael, and other friends who heard the good news soon followed.

"That was a pretty cool moment," said Glass, whose close friend and Nobles linemate, senior Josh Franklin of Wrentham, will attend the University of Vermont this fall. "It's always been my dream to play professional hockey and it was nice to get drafted even after missing some games last season because of injuries."

Glass has great admiration for his late grandfather, Fred Glass,
who started the family's cleaning supply and machinery business from scratch. He also appreciates the time his father spent as his youth coach and for getting him started as a hockey player.

Glass, who plans to attend Washington's summer development camp this week at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., is a 5-11, 180-pound winger. According to scouting reports, he has good puck skills, a quick stick, and the agility to beat defenders one-on-one. He is also an effective penalty killer.

Glass has committed to Boston University for the fall of 2008 after considering Harvard, Boston College, and Providence College.

"Aside from the academics, the BU coaching staff won me over. It's a great program and a great rink and BU has been a path for many players to the pros," said Glass, who had seven goals and 15 assists as a Nobles freshman, improved to 15 goals and 24 assists the next season, and had seven goals and 10 assists in a 2006-07 season shortened by a strained shoulder and twisted knee.

"Andrew has continued to grow as a player," said Nobles coach Brian Day. "He's played a significant role in helping us make it to the semifinals of the New England Prep championships the last three seasons and winning the Independent School League title in 2005 and 2006. Andrew has made the commitment to being a better player."

We’ll look for coverage of the Caps summer development camp, as well as some reliable message board assessments of his performance there.

Besides playing for Nobles, Glass has played three seasons on the Little Bruins, the Boston Jr. Bruins organization fall team for mostly prep players. While his injuries limited him to just 12 games last fall, Glass tallied 7 goals and 8 assists. The previous season, his line was 9-11-20 in 19 games.

From the message boards

An observer at Penguins conditioning camp (where Brian Strait was told he was the best conditioned player in camp) posted these comments:

Strait is a gem... he looked quite good again in game situations yesterday, but didn't get to throw the body a whole lot as I assume they were told not to do too much of that, but you can tell that he uses his body very very effectively and looks very strong when pinning guys against the boards... he was good with his stick as well and didn't get beat on anything. He even showed that offensive skill again, making some nifty passes and scoring a few very nice goals, but as I said before, he seems to play a safe game and at the NHL level, I see more of a defensive defender (unless he works on his offense some more & becomes willing to take a chance or two, which he would project as a two-way defender).

We've not yet seen any evaluations of Eric Gryba's performance at Senators' camp, but an Ottawa fan has posted video (and more video) showing Gryba (#61 in black) in action. His team won the Sens' 3-on-3 competition.

And, in the professional ranks, a heatbroken Sabres fan posted this assessment of Chris Drury on a Rangers' message board:

You're going to love having Chris Drury in Ranger Blue. This man is the epitome of an unselfish hockey player. He's battle-tested, grizzled, and has a flair for the dramatic.He's a hockey player that can't do anything to a team besides make it better, regardless of what you pay him (though you're paying him an awful lot). He scores big goals at clutch moments as you witnessed first-hand, and he's a great penalty killer. His offensive numbers are present, as is his two-way game. Any way you look at it, the signing is a great one for the Rangers.He'll blend in in NY, where he won't have to worry about taking the spotlight with guys like Jags and Gomer there, which is the way Dru likes it.

Former Terriers strike free agent gold

Three former BU standouts were among the big winners on the first day of the NHL’s free agency. Former BU defenseman Ryan Whitney re-upped with the Penguins for six seasons on a $24-million backloaded contract had the sixth highest point total among NHL defensemen in 2006-07. The 6-4 blueliner had just completed his second full season in Pittsburgh, which is emerging as an elite NHL team.

The next stop for Chris Drury’s ballyhooed career just had to be…. Broadway. The former Terrier All-American, 1995 NCAA championship team member, Hobey Baker Award winner, and co-captain of last year’s top-scoring NHL team, the Buffalo Sabres, now moves to the other end of New York State, signing on with the Rangers for five years at $35.25 million. The Broadway Blueshirts also added Devils star center Scott Gomez who joins Jaromir Jagr and Brendan Shanahan on an offensively-gifted Rangers’ team. Next decision: which free agent gets number 23.

While Drury moves into New York, his Terrier teammate and fellow All-American at BU, Tom Poti, is leaving the Big Apple for Washington, D.C. After playing with the Rangers and Islanders the past four seasons, the former Olympian from Worcester, Mass., signed a four year, $14-million contract with the Caps. Last year Poti rebounded from a subpar 05-06 season to be the Islanders' top defenseman.

March of the Penguins

Today’s news is from the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization, Earlier this week, rumors emerged that BU’s All-American (East) goalie John Curry had signed a pro contract with Pittsburgh. Pens’ fan site Faceoff Factor now has confirmed that the Shorewood, Minnesota, product has been inked to a two-year deal.

The Penguins hold the draft rights to Notre Dame’s David Brown, the All-American West goalie, and St. Cloud netminder Goepfert, but according to pittsburghlive.com , the team will not pursue a contract with Goepfert, who began his college career at Providence and once considered transferring to BU. Like Curry, Brown and Goepfert have concluded their college eligibility.
Former Terrier Ryan Whitney has blossomed as a Penguin, who teamed him last season with ex-BC Eagle Brooks Orpik. Rob Scuderi also is a member of the blueline contingent and ex-Harvard d-man Ryan Lannon will be looking for chance to make the big club this season.

The Pens’ summer conditioning camp for rookies and prospects brought together as teammates Commonwealth Avenue rivals Brian Strait and BC’s Carl Sneep. NHL.com described some of the “team building” off-ice activities, quoting Strait, while a video clip provides further illustrations. The value to college-eligible prospects of attending the camp at their own expense is examined by the Post-Gazette. Another Terrier currently in an NHL development camp is Eric Gryba, who is in Ottawa at the Senators' camp.

July 1 Linkorma

Several ex-Terriers become free agents today, including Chris Drury, Tony Amonte, Joe DiPenta, Tom Poti, Dan Lacouture, and Carl Corazzini.

We have more post-draft coverage beginning with a feature on Colorado’s #1 choice, Kevin Shattenkirk. He and second round choice Colby Cohen are not the first Terriers connected to the Avs organization. Drury, who played a key role on the Avs 2001 Stanley Cup championship team, was a 3rd round draft choice when the franchise was in Quebec. Jeff Kealty was the Nordiques final first round draft choice before the team moved to Colorado.

The New Brittain Herald interviewed San Jose Sharks' sixth round choice and incoming BU freshman Nick Bonino, who led Avon Old Farms to the New England Prep championship in 2007. Both this article and another on the San Jose site indicate that Sharks scouting director Tim Burke had hoped to draft Bonino last season, but didn’t have room to make the choice. That was rectified in this year’s entry draft.

Super Saponari Brothers: 2007 Terrier recruit Victor Saponari of Culver Military Academy and his brother Vinny, an NTDP U17/18 standout and a 2008 recruiting target, have been keeping busy in their home state, playing in the Georgia Elite High Level Camp. Vinny and Victor were the overall first and second leading scorers and their Honeyman team won the annual event.

ISS Scouting has released preliminary top five selections for the next two drafts and 2009 BU recruit Ethan Werek was ranked #5 for that year. Incoming freshman Colin Wilson, who ISS had in its top five for 2008 last year, has dropped out of the top five, but remain a projected early first round choice.

The National Select 16 tournament was played last week in Rochester, N.Y. BU 2009 recruit target and new NTDP U17 member Ryan Bourque was fifth in scoring, despite playing for a weak team in the event. New Jersey Junior Devils product Kyle Palmieri, another incoming NTDP U17 who played in the Select event and has expressed interest in BU, is the nephew of former New York Mets shortstop and manager Bud Harrelson. Another new U17 player, defenseman Richie Crowley of Thayer, had a strong tournament with three goals in five games.

Another Terrier joins the coaching fraternity

USHR is reporting that former Terrier captain Brian McConnell has been hired as an assistant coach on Jamie Rice’s staff at Babson College. McConnell, who led the 2004-05 team, has since played two seasons in the ECHL, at Fresno and at Trenton where he teamed with Mike Pandolfo, Gregg Johnson and other former BU players. Terrier fans will recall McConnell's "hattrick" of a goal, assist, and highlight-reel open ice hit on BC's Chris Collins in the 2003 Beanpot Championship game, won by BU, 3-2.

And, speaking of the Beanpot, a news feature, originally on Si.com, lists the "101 Things a Fan Must Experience Before They Die." The Beanpot is number 72, just a few slots down from the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships. When first published, the article had Beanpot written as two words and being played in December. Alert fans prompted the corrections.

The Buddy System

Several of the post-draft interview reveal that incoming freshmen defensemen Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen not only will be teammates at BU and potential pro teammates in Colorado, but they already have a considerable history together on ice, even before being members of the 2005-06 NTDP U17s.

In an NHL.com feature, Cohen explained "Rooming together, playing together, friends since we were 10. This summer, we head there [BU] July 1 and we're going to be staying together this summer."

He also explained that he grew up a Flyers fan, but he's an Avs fan now. "If there was one team in the NHL I could have picked to play for it's the Colorado Avalanche," he said. "I have a lot of family out there and growing up I really liked the Avalanche. Joe Sakic is one of my favorite players."

Shattenkirk and Cohen also were teammates in 2004 and 2005 on the '89 East Coast Selects, coached by Travis Howe, Gordie's grandson. ECS is one of the top summer/spring tournament programs, competing in events such as the Prospects Tournament in Toronto and the Mission Cup. The '89 club was an exceptional one that included three other 2007 first rounders, Sam Gagner, Logan Couture and Nick Petrecki, as well as future college players Michael Biega (Harvard), Ryan Smith (BC), Ben Rosen (Brown) and Jack Downing (Vermont). Two other future Terriers, Corey Trivino (2008) and Ethan Werek (2009) have also suited up for ECS.

Cohen Meets the Press

Colby Cohen, the Avs second draft choice and 45th overall met with the media following his selection. Commenting on his choice of Boston University where he'll join fellow Colorado draft choice Kevin Shattenkirk, he said:

"I'm an American kid and I've always liked the idea of college," said Colby Cohen, who's headed to Boston University after being selected in the second round by Colorado. "My mom went to Boston [University], so it's just the perfect fit. I'm going to head there with the Avalanche first-round pick Kevin Shattenkirk. We're rooming together, playing together."

A USCHO feature, "Meet the Press," included more thoughts from Cohen on where he'll call home in the near-term and later.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Draft weekend is the way in which these very young players deal with enormous media pressure. Cohen, a Philadelphia native, didn't disappoint, displaying an aptitude for handling tough questions from the press, displaying a sincerity and poise admirable for his young age.

He gushed about his immediate destination, but knew how to balance his answer. "I really like the [BU] coaching staff, the facilities were great, it's four hours from home.

"Boston's the best city in the world — well, it's right there with Denver."

Cohen talked with PhillyBurbs.com about coming from Philadelphia, a non-traditional hockey market that now is producing NHL prospects. He also particiapted in a pre-draft Q&A with the Journal Star in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he spent last season as the USHL's top-scoring defenseman.

Shattenkirk met with reporters Friday evening and the exchange, including his response to a question about being ranked 34th before the World U18s, is shown in a video clip. [Aside-don't you just love those XM Radio commercials, like the one preceeding this clip?]

More comments about his selection and the qualities that made him a first round draft choice:

"He wasn’t the top player on our list, but he was very high on our list,” said Avalanche chief scout Ted Hampson. “We saw several players we had behind Kevin go to other teams, and he became No. 1 on our list by five or six selections.

[Avs GM] Giguere began the task Friday by selecting Kevin Shattenkirk, with the 14th overall pick on the draft. The Boston University-bound defensemen earned raves for his offensive style and leadership skills while the captain of the U.S. Under-18 hockey team at the World Under-18 championship this past April in Finland."Our scouts came back raving about him when they came back from the world championships" Giguere said. "Just like me .. I came back raving about this guy."

"In terms of offensive upside and ability to change the game and be a big influence offensively, Kevin Shattenkirk, with his vision, is probably the cream of the crop " U.S. [NTDP U18] coach Ron Rolston said.

"He was the acknowledged leader both on the ice and in the dressing room for that U.S. Under-18 team” [Red Line Report's Kyle] Woodlief said. “He’s another kid who is not the biggest in the world, but he has excellent power-play skills with really good passing and vision. He tends to come up clutch in huge moments late in close games. So, that all plays to his advantage. The U.S. team actually used him as one of their shooters in all their shootouts and they were involved in a lot of shootouts. So, it was unusual that he was their go-to guy, even in shootouts."

2007 recruit Nick Bonino and 2008 recruit Andrew Glass were selected in the 6th and 7th round respectively. Bonino, the scoring leader at New England Prep champ Avon Old Farms, was taken by San Jose. Glass, who returns to Salisbury for his senior season, was chosen by the Washington Capitals.

Shattenkirk and Cohen fly a mile high!

With several presidential candidates choosing campaign theme songs, selecting a tune for the incoming BU freshman class now is a no-brainer. It just has to be John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High,” now that the Colorado Avalanche has followed up its first round choice of Kevin Shattenkirk by selecting Colby Cohen with the team’s first of three second rounders, #45 overall. More on Cohen's selection later today.

In announcing the club’s selection of Shattenkirk, Avs Chief Scout Ted Hampson told the Denver Post, “We're real high on his skill level and his hockey sense. He always seems to do the right things with the puck and without the puck. We had to wait and watch several players that we had behind him get taken by other teams, so we were excited to see him there." Additional coverage of the choice is on the Avs Web site and in the Rocky Mountain News .

INCH (Inside College Hockey) draft notes

Boston University-bound Kevin Shattenkirk of Greenwich, Conn., was drafted by the Colorado Avalanche with the 14th overall pick. The defenseman will have the opportunity to make an impact on the Terriers right away, since three of their regular defensemen last season graduated. The coaching staff and city drew Shattenkirk to Boston University.

"I love the coaches there. I worked with David Quinn in the recruiting process and he was just a great guy and has a lot of knowledge of the game. Obviously coach (Jack) Parker is a famous coach and you can't really go wrong there. I love the city of Boston and felt in the end that it was the best fit," Shattenkirk said.

Draft tidbits

The Rockies have compared Shattenkirk to their standout puck-moving defenseman John-Michael Liles, who also was an NTDP standout prior to his college career at Michigan State and are hoping Shattenkirk’s development will emulate Liles’. That path would be more than okay for Terrier coaches and fans. Liles became Michigan State’s all-time top goalie-scoring defenseman, a two-time All-American and a Hobey Baker finalist in his four seasons as a Spartan. Like Shattenkirk, Liles grew up a fan of New York Rangers star Brian Leetch.

Longtime Terrier fans will have spotted two former Terriers making stage appearances during the first-round proceedings. When Patrick Kane (sigh) posed in his Blackhawk jersey, one of the Chicago officials with him with scout Ron Anderson, a high-scoring winger on BU’s 1971 and 1972 NCAA championship teams and a former head coach at Merrimack. Anderson’s assistant coach on those Terrier title teams, Bob Crocker, now a Los Angeles Kings amateur scout, was part of the Kings entourage that took the stage to select Thomas Hickey with the 4th overall choice. Crocker is the dean of New England NHL scouts.

In a recent McKeen’s Q&A interview, Shattenkirk was asked to name the top five skaters he’d played with or against. Four of the five—Patrick Kane, James Van Riemsdyk, Alexi Cherepanov and Angelo Esposito—also were first round choices in the draft, with Kane and Van Riemsdyk going first and second overall. The fifth player, Shattenkirk’s NTDP teammate and fellow BU 2007 recruit, Colin Wilson, will be eligible for next year’s draft.

By being selected 14th overall, Shattenkirk is the 7th Terrier to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft, 14th overall, just behind his new blueline mentor David Quinn, who was picked 13th in 1984 by the Minnesota Stars. USA Hockey has prepared a listing all previous American born players chosen in the first and second rounds of the draft, including former Terriers Quinn, Scott Young, Keith Tkacuk Mike Pomichter, Jay Pandolf, Jeff Kealty, Rick DiPietro, Ryan Whitney, Mike Pomichter, Jay Pandolfo, and now Shattenkirk and Cohen.

San Jose made some draft day trades to open up cap room for a reported effort to sign free agent Chris Drury. If the former Hobey Baker Award winner does head to the left coast, he’d once again be reunited with Mike Grier, his teammate at BU and with the Sabres.

Draft Day 2007

With the first round of the 2007 NH Entry Draft just a few hours away, we present some Terrier Draft Day morsels.

An NHL.com feature on potential “sleeper” choices in the draft includes a discussion of what makes incoming freshman Nick Bonino an intriguing prospect:

Bonino, a senior at Avon Old Farms in Connecticut (the same boarding school program once attended by Brian Leetch and Chris Higgins, among others), was born on April 20, 1988. Compared by his coach John Gardner to Chicago Blackhawks center Jeff Hamilton, Bonino has been a dominant player at the prep school level, posting 26 goals and 56 points in 25 games this season. Prior to that, he scored 68 goals for Farmington High School in Connecticut. He is committed to playing NCAA hockey for Boston University in the fall.

The main issue that has held back Bonino: skating. He lacks an explosive first stride and won’t win many footraces with NHL caliber players. But several NHL scouts have said that if the player improves skating ability (for example, through intensive power-skating training), he has the hands and creativity to be a productive professional player.

“Look at Doug Weight. He never dazzled anyone with his skating but he compensated other ways. I’m not saying (Bonino) is going to have a career like Dougie’s, but he has the type of hands and creativity where you can take him and hope his skating catches up. Everything else is there,” says an Eastern conference scout.

The official NHL online draft center is located at here , while CSTV.com’s is at this link, where a Dave Starman feature points out that BU, with 51, is third among all colleges in draft choices, trailing only Minnesota and Michigan.

Hockeysfuture.com has tallied up the list of college affiliated players in the Central Scouting rankings of North American skaters and goalies. Among the skaters, there are four BU recruits--Kevin Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen, Andrew Glass (2008) and Bonino—in the top 26 ranked. Kieran Millan (2008) is 6th among goalies entering or committed to an NCAA school.

Shattenkirk, who has been slotted anywhere from 8th to well into the second round in the myriad of mock drafts found on the Internet, including a projected 12th by Montreal in the RedLineReport mock draft, is profiled by his hometown Westchester, N.Y., newspaper, The Journal News.

TSN.com’s top 60 ranks Shattenkirk and Cohen at 12th and 36th respectively.

The Boston Globe and Boston Herald each provided pre-draft coverage today.

And, in a draft-related trade, because his team needed to shed salary, ex Terrier Adrian Aucoin was traded by the Blackhawks to the Flames where he’ll rejoin Mike Keenan, who coached him in Vancouver where he scored 23 goals in 1998-1999. Aucoin struggled in Chicago after several standout season with the New York Islanders.

Finally, the Terrier Hockey Fan Blog has lined up an on-site correspondent for the draft. We hope to have a report over the weekend, but will keep you posted on the draft using a variety of online sources.

USHL rivalry moves to Comm. Ave.

Another gem from CSTV.com’s Elliott Olshansky, who surveys the USHL rivalry between defensemen Colby Cohen (BU) and Nick Petrecki (BC), which will continue next season when the highly ranked draft eligibles suit up at opposite ends of Commonwealth Avenue. The article features an embedded video link to a Lincoln-Omaha game last season when the two blueliners—both All-USHL second-team honorees, dropped their gloves and Cohen dropped his larger opponent.

Entry Draft Linkorama

The Sporting News has released it’s draft rankings and profiles for the top 60 eligible players. Here's TSN’s skinny on BU recruits Colby Cohen and Kevin Shattenkirk:

#12 Shattenkirk
RANKINGS TSN: 12, CSB: 34NA, ISS: 27, Red Line Report: 17, McKeem's: 7, The Hockey News: 18
From NHL Central Scouting: An offensive defenseman with good puck skills. Reads the play well and is heady in transition. Has good mobility along with quick feet. Needs to add a physical presence to his game. Needs to improve consistency of his defensive game.
From ISS: Kevin is a confident d-man, very good team player. He reads the play well. He potted very nice and important overtime goal with accurate wrist shot against Sweden. Tries to shoot from every position and keep it very low. Still needs more power to his legs and muscle mass. Good puck-handling ability. Displays leadership qualities.

#36 Colby Cohen
RANKINGS TSN: 36, CSB: 25 NA, ISS: 43, RedLinwReport: 85, McKeen's: 55, The Hocley News: 54
From NHL Central Scouting: A skilled offensive defenseman. Has good puck skills and a good shot from the point. Makes good passes and sees the ice well. Needs to improve his defensive positioning and the consistency of his work ethic. Led all USHL defensemen in points.
From ISS: Right-shooting d-man beings a lot of offence to the table. Cohen joined Lincoln six games into the season after leaving the National Team Development Program and quickly has made up for lost time. He's got a very good shot, especially his one-timer. Improving defensively will be the biggest factor in Cohen's advancement in hockey.

A New York Ranger fan blog profiles Cohen as a potential Blueshirt draft choice.

This draft guide lists Shattenkirk at #13 and Cohen at #14 and includes profiles of each.

And finally, OnFrozenBlog takes a humorous look at the replies to a question that NHL Central Scouting asked of some 200 potential draftees: What three people would you most like to have dinner with?

BU HOCKEY GOLF - JUNE 11, 2007

Last Monday was the annual Terrier Hockey Golf fundraiser. It was held at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead and featured a mix of former Terrier players, alumni, and Friends of Hockey along with other sponsors of the program. As a non golfer I generally go for the dinner and a chance to see some former teammates and other ex players whom I have come to know through the informal BU Hockey Alumni network.

It was a nice day for golf and it appears that all of the participants enjoyed themselves. Coach Jack Parker (a non golfer as well) tends to mingle amongst the groups sharing stories and catching up in a nice relaxed setting.

Celebrity Marketing, headed by ex Terrier Cleon Daskalakis has hosted the event for the last several years.

Some of the former Terriers in attendance were, Cleon, Coach Parker, Coach David Quinn, Coach Mike Bavis, David Sacco, Tom Dion, Mark Krys, Mike Eruzione, Bobby Richardson, Tom Ryan, Mike Sullivan, Dan Cavanaugh, Paul Miller, Chris Dyment, Pat Aufiero, Chris Mays, Tim Kimball, Bill Whelton, Gary Fay, Marc Hetnik, Brian Collins, Vic Stanfield Tony Ruvolo, Brian Durocher, and I am sure others that I missed (as I age my recall without notes isn't the greatest).

Chris Dyment is getting married (this weekend I think) and will return to hockey, Dan Cavanaugh has finished his 6th year of pro hockey and played this past season for Springfield in the Lightning organization coached by former Terrier Captain Steve Stirling, and Pat Aufiero will begin law school this fall at Suffolk University. Mike Sullivan is happy to be back in the NHL where he will be an assistant at Tampa Bay and will soon head south to look for home, school etc.

All of the coaches are enthusiastic about the incoming class of recruits, many of whichyou have read about in this blog.

All in all it is a nice midpoint to the end of last season and the beginning of the next one.

CDRAL

Good reading

CSTV’s Rink Rat, Elliott Olshansky has been a busy writer with three excellent articles just this week. The first relates to Wednesday’s post about John Curry and the report in the Globe Bruins’ Blog that Jack Parker has been contacting NHL coaches on behalf of the All-American goalie who is a free agent. The RinkRat post addresses the relationship between college coaches and NHL general managers as it impacts the decision as to whether an undergraduate skater might be ready to join the play-for-pay ranks. In the article, Parker says he more comfortable talking with GMs and player personnel managers he already knew from college such as Jack Ferreira, Brian Burke, Paul Fenton and Lou Lamoriello .

Thursday Elliott chimed in on the NCAA vs. Major Junior debate over the best place to develop, and on Wednesay, he examined which NHL teams historically have drafted most heavily from the college ranks.

Curry played with injury

If you thought All-American goalie John Curry was a bit off his game in BU’s last few games this past season, you’re right and the reason is that he played with a torn labrum in his hip. Fluto Shinzawa reveals the injury in a June 13 post to the Boston Globe's Bruins’ blog. The quote also quotes Jack Parker saying Curry should have an NHL contract very soon.

Incoming freshman Colby Cohen, ranked 25th among North Americans by Central Scouting was the subject of a feature in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Cohen who displayed a blazing shot from the point in his Central Scouting video clip, was the top-scoring defenseman in the USHL last season with 60 points.

Kyle Woodlief’s RedLine Report rates Kevin Shattenkir as the sixth defenseman available in this year’s NHL entry draft. Calling Shattenkirk “one of the best pure finesse defensemen available, “ Woodlief points out that the 5-11 former U18 captain is “an excellent PP quarterback with good vision who has an uncanny knack for being able to get his shot past would-be blockers and on net through traffic.”

Freshman videos, Junior National camp invitations

More incoming freshman videos
Thanks to the Vancouver Canucks Web site, we have the opportunity to view Central Scouting video of 100 top-ranked draft eligibles, including three incoming freshmen. Colby Cohen is #25, Kevin Shattenkirk #34 and Nick Bonino #89. The Shattenkirk video is the same in the link posted here on June 6. Cohen, a right-shot defenseman, shown playing the left side, displays the blazing shot that made him the USHL’s top-scoring defenseman in more than five seasons. The Bonino clip shows exactly what one talent evaluator says about him: “First round draft choice hands, but his wheels will make him a third rounder.” If Mike Boyle can improve his skating, BU has quite a weapon.

Four Terriers to go (Junior National) camping
Two current Terriers and two incoming freshmen are among the 45 skaters invited to Lake Placid for the 2007 National Junior Evaluation Camp in August. Rising sophomores Brian Strait and Luke Popko and new recruits Kevin Shattenkirk and Colin Wilson will compete for spots on the U.S. squad that will travel to the Czech Republic in December for the IIHF World Junior Championships. Goalie Brett Bennett had attended a pre-camp goalie evaluation last month, but was not invited to Lake Placid. Even so, BU’s representation at the camp will total five because the Junior National Team coach is John Hynes, also coach of the 2007-2008 NTDP U18s.

USA Hockey has introduced version 2.0 of its Web site. It is a visual improvement, but still under construction and the archive portion of the site is not yet available.

There was more good news for Shattenkirk. Kevin Paul Dupont reported in The Globe’s Bruins Blog he was among five draft prospects invited to Boston for a battery of tests and interviews.

Lowell Lives, Shattenkirk Shines, Cavanaugh ..er, ah,..Keynotes

College Hockey and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, in particular, dodged a bullet with the City of Lowell and the University reached a compromise on the fees for playing home games at Tsongas Arena. The one-year deal keeps the River Hawks program afloat for at least one more season. The Lowell Sun reported that "the one-year deal, would eliminate the university's annual $50,000 contribution to the arena, give UMass Lowell a bigger piece of food and beverage sales during its 17 home hockey games..." Tsongas Arena, which also is home to the AHL Lowell Devils, has a capacity of 6,496. Last season, the River Hawks, coached by former BU associate head coach Blaise MacDonald, averaged just under 3,000 in home game attendance.

Last weekend BU incoming freshmen Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen joined more than 100 other draft eligibles at the 2007 NHL Combine in Toronto for rigorous workouts and interviews with NHL scouting staffs. A report that this blogger received today indicates both Terrier recruits impressed at the Combine and could be taken in the first round. The Bruins, who have the eighth overall pick, took a hard look at Shattenkirk, who was the subject of an NHL.com feature story just prior to the Combine. Included is a link to a 5-minute video of Shattenkirk in action for the NTDP U18s—notice his ability to fire one-timers—and a personal profile, complete with that “three people you'd like to dine with” question. Kevin’s choices: Achilles, Einstein and Michael Jordan.

Former Terrier center Dan Cavanaugh was the keynote speaker at last month’s McDonalds’ McScholar Athlete Awards event recognizing winners from Western Massachusetts. Cavanaugh, who spoke about the need to persevere to reach goals, played three seasons at BU, with a career-high 34 points in 1999-2000. In 2006-07, he spent his sixth pro season with the AHL Springfield Falcons, coached by former BU All-American and New York Islanders coach Steve Stirling.

Issues of the day and a Wildcat connection

The UMass-Lowell hockey program in serious danger and may be extinct before the month is out. A USCHO feature article references a Lowell Sun report that “ the city of Lowell and the University have until June 21 to restructure the lease deal at the Tsongas Arena or the UMass Board of Trustees will vote to terminate the hockey program which has been a member of Hockey East since the league's inception in 1985.” If this worst case scenario pans out, each of the other nine Hockey East teams will find itself with three holes in its 2007-8 schedule and more than two dozen players will be scrambling to find a school that will accept them for next season.

Chris Heisenberg’s recruiting blog takes a look at the manipulation games being played by some of the players chosen in the recent QMJHL draft. Names included are Steve Anthony and Louis Leblanc whom USHR reported recently had attracted the interest of BU and many other Eastern schools. Now, USHR has added its voice to the issue, declaring “The Q draft has turned into a trading frenzy, with agents/advisers working all the angles, the most powerful one being the NCAA card, in order to get their clients selected by a team they would actually consider going to (i.e., a team with boatloads of money and/or a team located in an English-speaking city). It also involves lying. Kids lying. Parents lying. Teams lying. Agents lying. It’s all become standard operating procedure.”

Commenting on reports the second round Q draft choice Devon MacAusland, a high-scoring Nathan Gerbe clone has verballed to BC, USHR reports “there is no commitment whatsoever on the part of the Eagles to MacAusland. The center may be playing the NCAA card a little more specifically then is really necessary.”

The Northwestern women’s lacrosse team’s march to a third consecutive NCAA championship this year included a win over BU’s standout squad. There’s also a connection between the Wildcats and BU hockey. Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is the younger sister of Tony Amonte, a scoring star for two Frozen Four Terrier squads. Amonte Hiller, a two-time D-1 Lacrosse Player of the Year at Maryland, resurrected a Northwestern program that was disbanded in 1993 and recalled to life in 2000.

One Win Away

With last night's Duck's win over the Senators, ex-Terrier Joe DiPenta is on the verge of becoming the sixth former BU player to have his name inscribed on Lord Stanley's Cup.

DiPenta had sat out the first three games of the final series, but returned to the lineup when Chris Pronger was suspended for one game.

The other Cup winners are: Jay Pandolfo, NJ 2003 and 2000; Scott Young, Colorado 1996, Pittsburgh, 1991; Chris Drury, Colorado 2001, Shawn McEachern, Pittsburgh, 1992; and, Ed Ronan, Montreal, 1993.

Mentioning Ronan always reminds me of the last time he was in the playoffs. A late season call-up to the Sabres in 1996-97 after spending most of the season in the AHL, Ronan scored a game-winning playoff goal in overtime. After the game a reporter thrust a mic in his face and asked how excited he was to score the game-winner, and Ronan, six years removed from his college career, replied, "I can't wait to call Coach Parker and tell him."