Midweek Linkorama

World Junior Championship practice has begun for Team USA in Lake Placid with Terriers Colin Wilson and Kevin Shattenkirk on hand. Wilson, who grew up in Winnipeg, explained to The Sporting News the importance the event is in Canada. NHL network is televising this year's tournament. which is being held in Ottawa.

Bernie Corbett and Paul McDonald’s weekly HOCKEY ON CAMPUS program will broadcast live from Bickford’s Grille in Burlington, Mass. this evening, from 7 to 9 p.m. ET on AM-890 in Boston, and 1400-AM in Lowell. It also will be streamed live online at www.890espn.com. Tonight’s line up for the 2nd Annual “College Hockey Christmas Party” includes:
►Coach Jeff Jackson from the #1 ranked nationally Notre Dame Fighting Irish
►Coach Guy Gadowsky from the 8th ranked Princeton Tigers
►Early season commentary from players from Holy Cross in Atlantic Hockey and Boston University from Hockey East, and Manhattanville and Trinity College in Division 3
►Writer Elliot Olshansky on the early-season Hobey Baker Watch; and
►Mike Klein, PR Director from the Eastern Junior Hockey League
The program’s call-in number is 617-242-3776 (E-S-P-N) .

Denver Cup
The Terriers' next action is after New Year's in the Denver Cup. The only New England television coverage would occur if the Terriers meet the host team in the final on Jan. 3. In that case, CN8 will air the game, picking it up in progress following the Catamount Cup.

Looking Back
After 23 professional games, ex-Terrier Ryan Weston found the back of the net, providing the game-winner in the AHL Albany River Rats’ 3-1 win over Portland last Sunday. He celebrated by doing former teammate Pete MacArthur’s trademark leap into the corner glass.

Former BU forwards Craig Sanders and Eric Thomassian are playing for the Amstel Tijgers in Amsterdam.

Coach’s Mailbag #2--Submit your questions

With the regular season at its midpoint, we’ll begin accepting your questions for the second Coach’s Mailbag of the season. Please send them to: buhockeymailbag@comcast.net . Include first name only (or other posting name) and location with your question. You can take a look back at Coach Parker’s responses in our first mailbag back in September. At that time, he said he was "hoping that Chris Higgins, Brandon Yip and/or Jason Lawrence can do what Boomer Ewing did in his senior year." Thus far, Higgins and Yip are on that path, while Lawrence, after a hot start, has cooled off considerably.

Freshman Corey Trivino’s first semester was slowed by a knee injury, but Elliot Olshansky reports in The Daily News that he made good use of his time off the ice and that it should help him handle the increased physical play in Division 1. Olshansky also looked at some of the top Hobey Baker Award candidates and gives WJC Tournament-bound Colin Wilson an early vote.

John Curry's first game back in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, following his three NHL appearances, was a success with the Baby Pens winning, 5-1. The former Terrier All-American goalie stopped 23 of 24 shots.

We offer condolences to the family of former BU defenseman and co-captain and current radio analyst Tom Ryan, whose father, James, passed away last week.

Terriers notch 11th win, edge Lowell 3-2

BU concluded its first semester schedule with a hard-earned victory over always-tough UMass-Lowell, 3-2. The Riverhawks, coached by former Terrier assistant Blaise MacDonald and former BU and NHL standout Shawn McEachern, had took one-goal leads twice, but fourth-line forwards Joe Pereira and Zach Cohen (photo) responded to knot the score. A Colby Cohen one-timer deflected off Chris Higgins during a third-period power play for the game-winner. We have recaps from the BU Athletics Web site, The Boston Herald, and The Boston Globe. Coverage from USCHO includes a Jim Connelly sidebar piece about the Terriers’ strong penalty-killing. Detailed boxscore. Video highlights are here.

Loose pucks
► Terriers killed all six Lowell power plays, giving them 17 consecutive kills and 24 in the past 25 attempts.
► Zach Cohen’s goal was his third in the past five games.
► Colby Cohen leads all HE defensemen in scoring with 13 points (1-12). Kieran Millan raised his conference leading won-lost record to 8-1-1.

► Colin Wilson, who assisted on Higgins' game-winner, was plus-seven on faceoffs as BU won 36 of 61 draws during the game.
► Blog contributor CDRAL points out that last night’s game was the 1300th of Jack Parker’s coaching career. It also was his 792nd win.
► Maury Edwards, who scored Lowell’s second goal, has become what Bernie Corbett called “a Terrier-killer” with a 6-4-10 line in eight career games against BU.

What a difference a year makes.
In December 2007, BU ended its first semester with a 4-3 loss at Lowell, bringing its record to 4-10-2. Terriers had scored 56 goals and given up 59. This season's midpoint numbers: 11-4-1 with 57 GF and 34 GA.

Looking ahead

►2009 recruit Max Nicastro scored a goal and an assist in Chicago’s 6-3 win against Indiana, bring his season’s line to 4-9-13.
►2010 recruit defenseman Sean Escobedo helped his new team, Sioux Falls, blank his old team, TriCity, in his first game since a midweek USHL trade.

Gameday: BU-Lowell at Agganis

The Terriers' final game of the semester is the season’s second matchup with the Lowell Riverhawks. BU came from behind to win 6-4 last month in a game at Tsongas Arena in which Colin Wilson (photo) assisted on the tying goal by Chris Higgins, then scored the game-winner. BU gamenotes and links to watch on All-Access, listen online and follow gametracker are here. Our friends at College Hockey News offer a matchup comparison of the teams.

John Curry earned his second NHL win in the Penguins blowout of the Islanders last night, 9-2, with his parents in attendance at The Igloo. Curry's reward was to be reassigned to Wilkes Barre/Scranton in th AHL as the Pens' top goalie returned from an injury. Islanders All-Star goalie Rick DiPietro, recovering from surgery, is a few weeks away from returning to action.

Sharks draft choices earn kudos
Of the 28 NHL draft choices that suited up in last Friday’s BU-BC game at Agganis Arena, three are property of the San Jose Sharks: Terrier captain John McCarthy and his linemate, sophomore Nick Bonino, and BC blueliner Nick Petrecki. Sharkspage talent analyst Max Giese viewed both weekend games and offered opinions on all three as did an unnamed NHL scout. The two were in agreement about McCarthy’s defensive skills and leadership and that Bonino reminded them of Sharks center –and former Wisconsin standout--Joe Pavelski.

As has been the case with several Terrier recruits from outside of New England, playing in the Beanpot Tournament was a motivating factor in 2010 recruit Wade Megan’s verbal to BU. A native of Canton, N.Y. Megan became a BU fan as a youth when he and his father attended the Beanpot. Megan recalls, " It was a great experience. It started there and I don't know, I always wanted to play there." The 6-1 left-shot forward now centers the top line for South Kent School, whose home games are Webcast at no cost. On Wednesday, Megan had a goal and two assists in an 8-2 win for the Cardinals.

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Midweek Linkorama

Head Coach Jack Parker recorded a special thank you to Terrier fans who attended Friday night’s game at Agganis Arena and Saturday’s game at BC’s Conte Forum. He applauds the "fabulous noise level" on Friday and and how the fan presence at BC Saturday "spurred us on." Parker's message also urges fans to support the Student Athletic Advisory Committee's "teddy bear toss" at this Friday's home game against Lowell to benefit The Home for Little Wanderers. To see the clip, click here, then choose “free events” and the “Dec. 9 Special Thanks from Jack Parker.”

The Daily Free Press profiled senior co-captain John McCarthy, a quiet leader who has instilled his own work ethic in his teammates.

Hockey on Campus, the weekly radio broadcast hosted by Terrier broadcaster Bernie Corbett and Paul McNamara, returns to the air tonight. The two-hour talk show, beginning at 7 p.m. ET airs on Wednesday in Boston on 890AM and 1400AM and online on ESPN Radio Boston. This week's guests include Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna, Northeastern Coach Greg Cronin and BU Strength & Conditioning Coach Mike Boyle.

Looking ahead on the blueline
2010 recruit defenseman Sean Escobedo was traded from the TriCity Storm to the Sioux Falls Stampede in return for two blueliners. Escobedo, who tallied four assists with 30 PIMs in 21 games for the Storm, had been to the Stampede’s summer camp in 2007 prior to returning to the EJHL's New York Apple Core.

His new coach, Kevin Hartzel said “We’re very excited to have Sean join the team. He was in our camp a year ago and we are very familiar with his game.” Hartzel explained that the Stampede “had too many stay-at-home defensemen and needed someone who can handle and pass the puck well on the blue line.”

Redwingscentral.com discussed the development of 2009 recruit and Detroit draft choice (3rd round-2008) Max Nicastro, now in his second season with the Chicago Steel/USHL. Red Wings' amateur scout David Kolb assesses where Nicastro has improved—on offense--and where further improvement is needed—physical play.

12-6-08 BU-BC Video Highlights

Thanks to blog follower and USCHO poster Candycanes99 who created this highlights clip from Saturday night's 3-1 victory over Boston College at Conte Forum and posted it on YouTube. ESPN has also posted a highlights clip from its broadcast featuring some of big hits and goalpost clangers, as well as the goals.

We now have the game recaps from The Daily Free Press and The New York Times and will add today's poll rankings when they become available.

Hockey East announced its weekly award-winners and both Chris Connolly and Kieran Millan were recognized. Connolly, whose penalty-shot goal was Saturday's game-winner and who assisted on Corey Trivino's goal, was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week. Millan, who gave up two goals in 125-minutes of play vs. BC, was Pure Hockey Co-Defensive Player of the Week.

UMass Head Coach Don Cahoon, a member of BU's 1971 and 1972 national championship teams, picked up his 300th career coaching win. Cahoon previously was head coach at Princeton and associate head coach at BU.

TSN.ca's Darren Dreger offers a feature on two of college hockey's most-coveted undrafted standouts, Terrier All-American Matt Gilroy and Denver Pioneers' high-scoring forward Tyler Bozak.

Terriers’ road win completes 3-point weekend vs. BC

The Terriers continued their strong play with a 3-1 victory over arch-rival BC last night at the Eagles’ Conte Forum. Freshmen led the way as Corey Trivino scored his first college goal, Chris Connolly (photo) scored the game-winner on a highlight-reel penalty shot and goalie Kieran Millan turned in another poised, clutch effort in goal, raising his record to 7-1-1 and lowering his GAA to 1.77.

We have game recaps from USCHO, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald and the BU Athletics Web site, along with a detailed boxscore. When video highlights become available we’ll add them.

► The win was Head Coach Jack Parker’s 70th against Boston College (70-55-12). It also was his 791st career, all at BU.

►BU’s penalty kill during the two games was particularly effective yielding no goals and only seven shots on goal in nine power plays.

►One of our readers points out that on Friday night, there were 28 NHL draft choices on the ice between the two teams--plus undrafted two-time All-American Matt Gilroy. And the two stars of the game were the two undrafted goalies, Millan and John Muse.

►Corey Trivino's parents, visiting from Toronto, were on hand to see the freshman center's first career goal. He nearly had a game-winner on Friday night, pouncing on a rebound but was robbed by Muse.


Bonus coverage of Friday night’s 1-1 tie :
► Video highlights

►Jack Parker’s post-game press conference (coming soon—check back)

Thriller at The Greek

The two hockey behemoths of Commonwealth Avenue put on a show last night with all the up-and-down-the-ice action anyone could ask for. But after 65 minutes, the result was a 1-1 OT tie between the Terriers and Eagles. All the scoring came in one 19 second span. Senior co-captain John McCarthy (photo) converted a brilliant backhand pass by Brandon Yip from the right boards to the left post. BC's top scorer Brock Bradford countered almost immediately on a breakaway.

Terriers had the majority of "A" chances--including a pair of posts by Chris Higgins--and were thwarted all night by Eagles goalie John Muse. Kieran Millan came up huge on a number of BC shots, especially when his quick glove robbed Cam Atkinson on a 2-on-1 in the third.

BU's second line of McCarthy, Yip and Nick Bonino enjoyed a strong game and accounted for a nearly a third of the team's shots on goal. Terriers--especially Colin Wilson--did an excellent job winning faceoffs, particularly in the second and third periods and were quite good in the defensive zone, helping to minimize BC offensive chances.

We have recaps with the details. Scott Weighart's USCHO recap. Nancy Marrapese-Burrell for The Boston Globe and the BU Athletics Web site. Game highlights should be available later today on the BU site.

Blog contributor CDRAL reports that as often is the case at BU-BC games, there was a strong turnout of former Terriers including: Blaine Maus, Brian Collins, Andrew Warren, Darryl MacLeod, Bob Murray, Travis Roy, Chris Mays, Jim McCann, Tom O'Regan, Mike Eruzione, Dennis O'Connell, Frank D'Orio, Brad Zancanaro, Stephan Siwiec, Steve Greeley, Rob Davies, Paul Giandomenico, Tony Ruvolo, Coach Jack Kelley, and Coach Ben Smith. Former Eagles and New England Whalers standout Tim Sheehy also was on hand for the game.

Gameday: THE Game(s)

BU vs. BC Games #243 and 243. No doubt that these games have been marked on your calendars for some time. So let's get to it. First a reminder that tonight's game at Agganis Arena is a 7:30 p.m. start, while tomorrow's matchup at Conte Forum begins at 7:00 p.m.

The BU Athletics Web site has links to watch online via All-Access, to listen to the radio broadcast by Bernie Corbett and Tom Ryan and to follow online with gametracker. A USCHO feature looks at college hockey's greatest rivalries; along with BU-BC, that "other rivalry," Michigan-Michigan State, is renewed this weekend. Both The New York Times and The Daily Free Press preview the two-game set, while BU Today offers a tongu-in-cheek video investigation to determine where "BU territory" in Boston and "BC territory" meet.

Last night, 2009 recruit Alex Chiasson's power play goal got slumping Des Moines/USHL untracked and the Bucs ended an eight-game winless streak with a 4-2 win over Fargo.The 6-3 forward from Quebec now is tied for the team lead in goals with eight.


On the road again--sort of

• Ex-Terrier Kevin Schaeffer, who began the season at the Senators' Binghamton farm team, then spent a while with ECHL Reading and now is with the Bruins' affiliate in Providence, had his ECHL rights traded to Phoenix.
  
• Chris Dyment returned to Trenton Devils's blueline after an injury that had sidelined him since the second week of the season. The return of Dyment, who is team'captain, helped make expendable Dan McGoff, whom we reported had been traded to Stockton.

Revving up for the Comm. Ave. rumble

We’re getting an early start on pregame coverage of the upcoming home-and-home series with BC. InsideHockey.com offers some perspective on the rivalry from BC coach Jerry York.

On the BU Athletics site, stat-rich game notes cover just about everything you could ask for. A few notable items:
■ BU has four shorthanded goals thus far, double last season’s total.
■ In 13 games, BU has yielded only 14 even-strength goals.

Both games will be televised. Friday’s game (a 7:30 p.m. start) at Agganis Arena is part of BU’s CN8 package and will be carried by both the New England and Mid Atlantic divisions of CN8. Saturday’s game (7 p.m.) at Conte Forum is being broadcast by ESPNU.

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Sadness

Once again, we have sad news within the BU hockey family. Bob Crocker Jr., 47, passed away on November 24 in Texas. Services locally are pending. He was the son of former BU Assistant Coach, New England Whalers Assistant GM, and currently Los Angeles Kings scout Bob Crocker, considered the “dean of New England scouts” and one of hockey’s truly good guys. Sincere condolences to Bob and his family.

Shattenkirk and Wilson named to US WJC squad

Sophomores Kevin Shattenkirk and Colin Wilson will be putting on the red-white-and-blue again, as they were named to Team USA for the World Junior Championships in Ottawa, beginning Dec. 26. Team USA plays two exhibitions with Latvia in Kingston, Ontario on Dec. 21 and 23. A USA Hockey news release includes the full roster. USCHO article. New England Hockey Journal. Video clip of Team USA in the 2008 WJC.

Prior to their arrival at BU, the duo spent two seasons playing for USA Hockey’s NTDP program and led the team to the World U18 championship game in 2007. Last year, Wilson played for the U.S. WJC team and led the squad in goals, scoring 6 of the team’s 21.

If Team USA advances to the medal round, Shattenkirk and Wilson will likely miss the Terriers’ post-New Year’s Day trip to Colorado for The Denver Cup tournament (Jan. 2-3). In Ottawa, they’ll be reunited with many of their NTDP teammates, including UNH forward James Van Riemsdyk and BC forward Jimmy Hayes.

Shattenkirk becomes the 44th Terrier to participate in the WJCs. Former NHL player Scott Young is one of just 16 players to have participated in three WJC tournaments.

Updating things…

1. Yesterday we reported that it is too early for pairwise ranking. Not so fast. An alert blogreader—and longtime Terrier fan— forwarded a link to the RPIHockey.net site that shows all the major ranking systems—and some lesser known ones—and explains each one. Terriers are listed at third in PWR, RPI and KRACH, and, second in something called E-ratings.

The new USCHO rankings are out and the Terriers’ two wins moved them up to #7 with a home-and-home weekend series against #2 Boston College looming.

2. Former All American goalie John Curry’s Penguin teammate weren’t about to let his first NHL win escape the traditional recognition for such a milestone.



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Tkachuk's "Grand" Goal

Keith Tkachuk’s power play goal in the second period of today’s Blues' 4-2 win over Atlanta was his 1,000th NHL career point. The former Terrier left wing becomes the sixth U.S. born player to reach that milestone. The former Winnipeg Jets first round draft choice in 1990 and three-time Olympian has scored 511 goals and 489 assists in 1,077 games. For a list of NHL 1,000 point scorers going into this season, click here.

Former Terrier All American blueliner Freddy Meyer registered his first two-goal NHL game leading the Islanders past Ottawa last night, 4-2. His shot for the point was deflected home by Andy Hilbert to tie the score in the first period. Then, Meyer jumped up into a rush and put home a snap shot to put the Isles on top to stay with 35 seconds remaining in the second. Just two minutes into the final stanza, his power play slapper increased the lead. (Video links) .

Former BU captain and Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan has returned to the Tampa Bay Lightning as an associate coach to interim coach Rick Tocchet.

Dan McGoff is on the move again. After beginning the season in Europe, the former BU blueliner joined ex-Terriers Chris Dyment and Matt Radoslovich with the ECHL Trenton Devils. Now he’s gone to the left coast, traded to the Stockton Thunder.

Terriers Slay SLU

BU won its second non-conference game of the week, 4-1 over St. Lawrence, with an effort that pleased head coach Jack Parker far more than Tuesday’s 3-2 win against Holy Cross. Junior Zach Cohen, scoring his second goal in as many games, deflected a Matt Gilroy shot from point for the game-winner. Senior Chris Higgins' (photo) goalmouth pass to set up Colin Wilson’s second-period goal gave him 100 career points, making him the 75th Terrier to reach that milestone. Senior co-captain John McCarthy assisted on Brandon Yip's first-period goal and later set up a shorthander for Kevin Shattenkirk. Kieran Millan stopped 24 shots, yielding only a powerplay goal, earning his sixth win in seven starts. We have recaps from BU Athletics, USCHO and The Boston Globe, plus a detailed boxscore and video highlights.

• It's too early for Pairwise Rankings (PWR) but College Hockey News has posted rankings using the KRACH system and the Terriers are currently fifth, due to their record and strength of schedule.
  

Gameday: Skating Saints Visit Agganis

BU concludes its Thanksgiving two-game non-conference sojourn tonight with a home ice matchup with St. Lawrence University. The game marks the first Agganis Arena appearance for the skating Saints. The teams last met two seasons ago in the Ledyard National Bank Classic at Darmouth with the Saints scoring an OT win, 4-3. The overall series between the two programs is knotted at 26-26-2. BU Gamenotes, including links to listen and watch online, as well as to gametracker are here.

Curry's start comes up short
John Curry lost his first NHL start to the Buffalo Sabres and ex-Michigan State All-American Ryan Miller, 4-3. Curry stopped 28 shots, including several exceptional stops. Despite the four goals, Curry was solid in goal (link to video), according to media reports and the Pens Web site report:

What Worked: John Curry. The rookie made his first-career start and can’t be blamed for this loss. He made a number of key saves late in the game to keep it a tie game. Curry made two spectacular glove saves down the stretch. He played deep in his crease and had quick reactions to shots. Curry played poised and never looked
rattled.

What Didn't Work: Territory Protection. The Sabres caused a lot of havoc in front of Curry. The Buffalo game plan was to create traffic in front of Curry and get rebound opportunities. The Sabres’ first two goals were a result of Buffalo players who were positioned at the doorstep. The Sabres notched the game-winning goal late in the third period when Paul Gaustad was unchecked in the crease. The Penguins had trouble clearing Sabres out of the slot and crease
and paid for it with a few pucks in their net.

Brother Act

NHL.com's Bob Snow takes a close-up look at one of BU's two brother tandems: Senior captain Matt Gilroy and freshman winger Kevin Gilroy.

Curry makes first NHL start tonight

John Curry, who picked up his first NHL win in relief on Wednesday night, will make his first NHL start tonight against the Sabres in Buffalo. This photo from the Penguins' Web site shows Curry in a Penguins jersey--either Pittsburgh or Wilkes Barre-Scranton--with his BU helmet featuring Rhett. We'll report on the game later tonight. Good luck, John.

Curry gains first NHL win

Congratulations to former Terrier All-American goalie John Curry on his first NHL appearance and first NHL win. The 2007 Hockey East Player of the Year entered last night’s Penguins-Islanders game midway in the second period with Pittsburgh trailing 3-0. In just over 30 minutes, Curry turned aside all 11 shots he faced, while the Pens rallied with five unanswered goals, three from Evgeni Malkin.

Curry later told the media,” "I didn't have time to think. All I could do was just go in and play. Believe me, it was very nerve-racking." Recaps from the Post-Gazette and ESPN.com. Video. Plus a feature on Curry prior to last night’s game.

Curry became the sixth Terrier netminder to play in the NHL, joining Rick DiPietro, Jim Craig, Cleon Daskalakis, Michel Larocque and John Aiken.

BU tops Crusaders; Yetten retires

The bounceback win the Terriers were expecting last night was a little short on bounce but BU hung on to defeat a determined Holy Cross squad, 3-2, at Agganis Arena. It was the teams’ first meeting since 1948. Brandon Yip (photo), Zach Cohen and Colin Wilson had the Terrier markers and Grant Rollheiser, who was fighting the puck a bit, stopped 19 shots. The Terriers converted two of four power play chances, but gave up a shorthanded goal to allow the Crusaders to keep it close. Chris Higgins assisted on Wilson’s goal, giving him 99 career points. Wilson now leads the team in scoring with 19 points. Recaps: BU Athletics, USCHO. Video highlights

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Yetten hangs up the whistle and clipboard

Peter Yetten, a three-sport athlete at BU and a defenseman on the Terriers’ first national championship team, has retired as head football coach at Bentley College. In 21 seasons as the Falcons’ gridiron leader, his teams compiled a record of 154-60-1. He coached football for 37 years overall.

Yetten spent three years on the Terrier blue line, including 1970-71 when BU went 28-2-1 winning the NCAA title. As a quarterback, he led the 1969 BU football team to a 9-2 record and a berth in the Pasadena Bowl against San Diego State. His football teammates at BU included numerous future NFL players including CBs Bruce Taylor and Fred Barry, LB Pat Hughes and WR Reggie Rucker. He also was a versatile member of the BU baseball team.

Bob Crocker, now a scout for the Los Angeles Kings, coached Yetten as BU’s assistant hockey coach and head baseball coach. He offered these recollections of Yetten’s BU career:

Peter Yetten was a tenacious competitor, and what he lacked in talent and skill, he made up with desire, mental/physical toughness, grit and enthusiasm. His strength in hockey was his physical presence and his willingness to pay any price to get the job done, In baseball he was one of those players that could play any position--whatever was needed on that particular day. He could pitch, catch, play first base and the outfield, had a heart as big as his body, feared no one, was a great team player. Peter was one of those athletes who came to do battle every day. For me, he was a joy to coach. He became an excellent football coach, producing the longest unbeaten streak ever at Bentley.

Québec to BU via Des Moines

Just three weeks after USHL power forward Alex Chiasson committed to BU for 2009, the Terriers turned to Des Moines again to secure another big winger from Québec . Yassin Cissé, a 6-2, 200 right-shot verballed to BU on Sunday and will become the third member of the Terriers’ 2010 recruit class, joining Tri-City defenseman Sean Escabedo and South Kent School forward Wade Megan.

Reportedly, Des Moines head coach J.P. Parise, a former NHL player and father of Zach Parise, is “very high” on the young winger. Cissé, who won’t turn 17 until next March, has played just six games for the Buccaneers, scoring three assist, due to a injury. But he made an immediate impact when he returned to the lineup, scoring the game-winner in a shootout victory over Indiana on November 1.

This past Saturday, after attending a weeklong tryout camp, Cissé was named to Québec's U17 team for the World U17 Challenge in British Columbia next month.

Last season, Cissé, played for the Lac St. Lions in the Québec AAA midget league, and started strongly, with 5-7-12 in his first month and winning the league’s Rookie of the Month Award. For the season, he rang up 20 goals and 38 assists in 44 games, tops for all rookies and sixth best overall. His efforts earned him The TELUS Hockey Québec Mario Lemieux Trophy (photo) as the league’s top 15-year-old and also the number four ranking from International Scouting Services for last Spring’s QMJHL draft.

"Yasin has very good skills and good skating acceleration," said Pierre Leduc, director of central scouting for the QMJHL. "He's strong on the boards, loves to forecheck and completes his checks. Maybe he likes to give more than receive, but he's big and has great skills."

Cissé and Harvard recruit Louis Leblanc, now his USHL rival playing for Omaha, led the Lions to the Québec AAA midget finals last Spring. We have two video clips of Cissé in action. 1, 2.

The previous season, Cissé, who patterns his game on Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, led the Lac St. Louis Bantam Double-A league in goals with 24 in 25 games, playing with the Verdun-LaSalle Cobras. He finished sixth overall in points with 36.

Lost weekend

BU dropped both weekend games to Vermont by identical 4-3 scores. In both games, the Terriers came from behind to knot the score at 3-all, only to see the Catamounts reply with the game-winner. In doing so, the Catamounts became the first team in 16 years to pull off a weekend sweep on BU's home ice.

Chris Higgins’ team-leading seventh goal to open the scoring on Saturday was his 13th point of the year, bringing him within two points of the career 100-mark. Game one recaps: BU Athletics, USCHO. Game two recaps: BU Athletics, USCHO.

With the two losses, BU, now 7-4-0, dropped to eighth in the USCHO/CBS College Sports national poll. The Terriers are back on the ice tomorrow, playing Holy Cross in their first-ever matchup with the Crusaders.

Congratulations to the Terrier Women’s team that stretched its unbeaten streak to ten games with a 4-1 win against Boston College at Conte Forum. The win propelled the Terriers to the 4th spot in the national rankings.

Looking back:
Former Terrier defenseman Ryan Whitney, sidelined since the summer following foot surgery, began skating, but remains about three weeks away from rejoining the Penguins. Whitney met with the media to discuss his recovery, the Pens' power play and the upcoming Steelers-Patriots game (video).

Ex-Terrier John Grady was honored with the Thomas H. Fitzpatrick Award during Saturday's BU-Vermont game. The Fitzpatrick award is is presented annually to an alumnus of Boston University for inspirational presence offered unselfishly to Terrier Athletics. Grady, a former co-chairman of the Friends of BU Hockey, was a volunteer coach for the Women's club program that preceeded the current varsity and is a member of the BU Athletic Director's Council.

Gameday: Dogs & Cats play a pair

BU resumes its season series the the Vermont Catamounts with games tonight and tomorrow night at Agganis Arena. Earlier this month the Terriers traveled to Burlington and brought back a 7-2 win against UVM, in a game that was close until BU goals at the end of the second period and beginning of the third. We have game previews from The Daily Free Press, BU Athletics, and UVM Athletics along with Dave Hendrickson's weekly Hockey East Column on USCHO. Links to watch or listen to the games online and to gametracker are here.

Rink Rat Elliot Olshansky, now a media editor for the New York Daily News provides another profile piece on sophomore center Colin Wilson. Ex-Terrier forward and current Nashville Predators' assistant GM Paul Fention, who was a teammate of Wilson's father Carey in Calgary, provides some observations comparing Colin and his dad.

Looking Back: Flame On

Former Terrier standout and MVP of the 2006 Hockey East Tournament David Vander Gulik (photo) scored a goal and an assist to lead the AHL Quad City Flames past the Iowa Chops, 6-2, on Tuesday. He has four goals and four assists this season. Fellow Flame and former BU teammate and All-American defenseman Dan Spang was interviewed by the Quad City Times and weighed in on such "critical" subjects as Boston accents and VDG’s spikey hair.

Staying with the Flames organization, ex-Terrier blueliner Adrian Aucoin netted the game-winner last night in the Calgary Flames’ 4-1 win over the Avalanche.

Former All-American goalie John Curry was recalled by Pittsburgh yesterday, due to an injury, and dressed for the Pens-Wild game in his native Minnesota. [Edit. The game was played in Pittsburgh]

Further down in the Penguins' organization, Boomer Ewing is thriving with the ECHL Wheeling Nailers, where the native West Virginian has 13 points in 12 games and recently recorded his first two-goal game as a pro.

We missed INCH's profile piece on sophomore center Colin Wilson last week, but a reader forwarded the link. Many thanks.

For the first time, both BU's men’s and women’s teams are ranked in the top five nationally. The men dropped from first to second in both polls, following its one-win, one-loss weekend. The women, after sweeping Princeton and Quinnipiac, moved up to fifth in the USCHO poll. They’re sixth in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.

Terriers, Millan blank Huskies

BU put Friday night’s disappointing performance in the rear-view mirror and delivered a thorough and hard-earned, 3-0 victory over Northeastern last night at Agganis Arena. In recording his first career shutout, freshman Kieran Millan (photo; credit Brooks Canaday) made 18 saves, but they included several critical ones, including a first-period shorthanded attempt. Another freshman milestone was Andrew Glass’s first goal, which was sandwiched between goals by Nick Bonino and Chris Higgins. Game recaps are from The Boston Globe, USCHO and The Daily Free Press. Detailed boxscore.

Some game-sheet facts and observations:

• BU had the edge in faceoffs (Bonino was 14 of 19) and consistently won the loose puck battles behind both nets. When Northeastern beats BU, the Hounds usually have the edge in both those areas.


• On Northeastern’s four powerplays—no shots on goal


• Game sheet shows that the game was played in 1:59; not a televised


• Andrew Glass opened some eyes. Besides his goal—and nearly a second, he showed some nifty stick moves and strong forechecking.


• Kieran Millan’s positioning and economy of movement between the pipers serve him well. His excursions behind the net may be another story.


• A very solid, bounce-back effort by the Colby Cohen-Kevin Shattenkirk combo that struggled on Friday.


• Zach Cohen has assumed Ryan Weston’s spot as BU’s best at grinding in the corner and keeping the puck moving.


• Someone who played well last night will have to sit when injured first-year center CoreyTrivino returns.
  

Terrier alums in the crowd:
Former Terrier Coach Jack Kelley, Rich Green, 1965-66 All-American and L.A.Kings exec. Jack Ferreira, 1949-50 All-American Walter Anderson, recent BU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Larry Davenport, Paul Giandomenico, Mark Hetnik, Steve Greeley, Peter Marshall, Tony Ruvolo, Dick DeCaprio, Brad Zancanaro, Brian Collins, Jim Connors, Brian Durocher, Darryl MacLeod and Chris McCann.

Looking ahead? Also seen at last night’s game was potential 2009 recruit Jeremy Morin, a 6-1 left wing, who is the top goal-scorer on the NTDP U18 team. He attended with his brother, Chad, a junior defenseman at Harvard. Morin recently was quoted in The Ithaca Journal as having made BU, Denver and North Dakota his final three college choices. However, he also is being pursued by the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.

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UMass Upends Terriers

On a weekend when upsets were dominated the national scoreboard, the Terriers were one of the victims, falling 5-1 to UMass in Amherst on Friday evenng. Zach Cohen was the only Terrier to put a puck past Minuteman goalie Paul Dainton, scoring early in the third period. Recaps from USCHO and HockeyEastOnline.

BU is back in action Sunday night, hosting Northeastern.

Gameday: Mass Pike Rivalry

Terriers (6-1-0) head West on the Mass Pike tonight to take on UMass (4-2-1), coached by former BU assistant head coach, Don Cahoon, a member of BU’s 1971 and 1972 national championship teams. The GoTerriers site preview has links for game notes, gametracker and the radio broadcast. The Daily Free Press previewed the game and USCHO’s Dave Hendrickson looks at each Hockey East team’s progress in his weekly column.


BU Sports Information Director Brian Kelley will be blogging live throughout tonight’s game. Access it here.


Brian Durocher's 7th-ranked women's team returns to the ice today in New Jersey, taking on Princeton at historic Hobey Baker Rink. They are currently riding a seven-game unbeaten streak.

All in the Terrier Family
Rob Davies, a Terrier forward from 1978-1982, is now in his 9th season as head coach at Curry College. The Colonels are expected to be a top contender for the Division III ECAC North Conference title. Assisting Davies is Adam Warsofsky, brother of current BU freshman blueliner, David Warsofsky. A third brother, Ryan, plays for Sacred Heart.

Linkorama

Hockey East held a midweek press conference with several league coaches commenting on early-season action. Terrier Coach Jack Parker discusses the team’s success to date and the weekend’s matchups with UMass and Northeastern. The full transcript is here.

A USAHockey.com feature looks at senior wing Jason Lawrence’s development during his two seasons in the NTDP program in Ann Arbor.

Colin Wilson’s 4-point game vs. Lowell earned him a spot on The Hockey News’ Hot List.

USCHO Extra (subscription required) features Terrier defenseman--and Avalanche top draft choice in 2007--Kevin Shattenkirk

Red Wings Central, assessing top prospects in the Detroit organization, commented on 2009 recruit Max Nicastro, a third round draft pick in 2008.

D Max Nicastro, Chicago (USHL). He's billed as a jack-of-all- trades, master-of-none, and that's a great compliment for any defenseman. Nicastro is one of the top blueliners in the United States Hockey League, and he could emerge as one of the organization's best prospects at Boston University.

Nicastro, rejoined the Chicago Steel after a successful stint with gold-medal winning Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta. He served as an assistant captain on the U.S. squad. He helped the Steel to a 5-4 win over Waterloo last night.

California Dreaming
DJ Powers of Hockeysfuture.com examines the rise of college hockey talent from California. The Golden State currently has 41 Division 1 players and more on the way, including the aforementioned Nicastro,who is a product of the the Los Angeles Jr. Kings' organization. The NTDP U17s, coached by ex-Terrier John Hynes, show four of twelve forwards on the roster from California. College hockey thrived in California in the 1920s and 1930s. For a brief history of college hockey in California, check this site.

• Finally, from The Daily Free Press, two good reads: Coverage of the Jack Falla Memorial Fund benefit held last night at Agganis Arena, and a look at the balance between academics and athletics for BU's varsity athletes.

Top spot!

The Terriers’ sixth win of the season, combined with losses by Colorado College and Boston College, has vaulted BU to the top of both national polls. The BU athletics Web site release notes that “BU last held the top billing in the country in the final poll before the 2006 NCAA tournament.” That poll followed BU’s 2-1 overtime win over Boston College in the Hockey East championship game.

Hockey East’s weekly news release reported that Colin Wilson earned RBK Player of the Week honors for his four-point effort against Lowell. Kevin Shattenkirk and Jason Lawrence previously won the award this season.

In the NHL, a pair of 1998 BU All-Americans found the back of the net. Tom Poti’s second goal of the season got Washington on the board early in a 4-2 win over Tampa. Chris Drury knocked in the tying goal with just one hand for the Rangers, who lost in a shootout to Edmonton, 3-2.

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Looking ahead

2009 recruit Alex Chiasson scored his fourth goal in the past five games as Des Moines dropped a 3-1 decision to Lincoln on Saturday. Chiasson is the Buc's leading goal-scorer.

2009 reruit Max Nicasto (photo, #2) helped Team USA, made up of USHL Selects, to the World Junior A Challenge title in Camrose Alberta. In the title game Sunday evening, USA beat Canada East, 7-1. Nicastro, a Red Wings’ third round draft choice, finished at 1-3-4 in 5 games--including a powerplay goal in the championship game, good enough for 3rd place among all defensemen.

Rallying past the River Hawks

A year and four days after BU rallied from three goals down to beat UMass-Lowell, the Terriers needed to come from behind twice to beat the River Hawks, 6-4. Colin Wilson’s (photo) second consecutive two-goal game included the game-winner with 14.5 ticks left in the third period. Senior Chris Higgins also bagged a pair.

We have detailed recaps from USCHO and the BU Athletics Web site. Freshman goalie Kieran Millan improved his record to 4-0. Wilson’s 12 points puts him in a tie with fellow sophomore Nick Bonino atop the scoring leaders chart in Hockey East. Four other Terriers, Higgins, Brandon Yip, Jason Lawrence and Colby Cohen, are in the top 14 and Kevin Shattenkirk, with five assists in the past three games, is tied for 15th.

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Gameday: Terriers take on River Hawks

Third-ranked BU (5-1-0) is on the road tonight, taking on UMass-Lowell at Tsongas Arena. Lowell, coached by former BU assistant Blaise McDonald and assisted by former Terrier standout and Hall of Famer Shawn McEachern (photo), is 3-2-0 after five games, but has yielded just six goals this season. BU gamenotes include links to gametracker and the audio Web cast. The Daily Free Press previewed the contest and USCHO’s weekly Hockey East column looks at all conference games.

Looking Back:

It’s hard to believe that, prior to last night, Rangers captain Chris Drury had scored just one NHL hattrick. But that’s a fact. His second came against Tampa and included a shorthanded breakaway that left the Lightning goalie sprawled on the ice and the net wide open.

Keith Tkachuk took another step toward the 1,000-point milestone with his 10th goal of the season last night as the Blues were edged by the Sharks, 5-4. He's now at 994 points. Ex-Maine Black Bear Ben Bishop was in goal for St. Louis.

Falla Memorial Fund event on Nov. 12

Message from the fund organizers:


Please join the Boston University community for the Jack Falla Memorial Fund Fundraiser on Wednesday, November 12th at BU's Agganis Arena. Jack Falla, who passed away unexpectedly in mid-September, was a BU alumnus, Sports Illustrated writer, BU professor, and a long-time member of the hockey community. We will celebrate Jack with the screening of the documentary Pond Hockey (which was inspired by Jack's book Home Ice), a reception, silent auction, and an open skate on Jack Parker Rink. The event will be held on Wednesday, November 12th from 6-9:30 PM. Doors open at 5:30. You must RSVP if you wish to attend.


Please go to www.bu.edu/com/jackfallafund to RSVP, donate, or for more information and details. Additionally, we have some terrific auction/raffle items including autographed hockey jerseys from Wayne Gretzky and the 2008-09 BU Men’s Hockey Team, Red Sox tickets and autographed items, Celtics tickets, Chicago Cubs tickets, and much more!


The Jack Falla Memorial Fund will benefit future Boston University, College of Communication sports communicators and sports journalists.



Update on Starr of the Game bracelets

For those interested in acquiring bracelets and/or making a donation but unable to attend a game at Agganis Arena, please contact Peggy Gilroy at fpgilroy@aol.com.

“Starr” of the game

Led by their captains, the Terriers have established a charitable fund-raising vehicle to honor the contributions and memory of Meryl Starr Herman, the tireless, enthusiastic and much-beloved supporter of BU Hockey who passed away in September. Red bracelets bearing Meryl’s initials and “BU Hockey” (see photo) are available at Agganis Arena for donations of any amount. During home games, parents of the players are manning a table on the visitors’ bench side of the arena where the bracelets can be obtained. A video message, featuring co-captains Matt Gilroy and John McCarthy and assistant captain Brian Strait and announcing the bracelet program, is shown on the arena scoreboard during games. Each package includes this note from the hockey team:

****** “Starr” of the Game Bracelet ******
Meryl Starr Herman was the Co-Chairperson and long time Board
Member of the BU Friends of Hockey organization. This September she passed away from thyroid cancer. The Men’s ice hockey team is asking that you wear this bracelet, especially to games, in memory of a person who worked tirelessly on our team’s behalf.

The money raised from the sale of this bracelet will help benefit
research being done at the Massachusetts General Hospital
Thyroid Cancer Center. More importantly wearing this bracelet,
will help us all remember Meryl Starr Herman, who asked for
nothing, gave everything, and will always be the first star of the
game— the one that really counts. Thank You.

2008-09 Men’s Ice Hockey Team

Looking ahead

• Update on Chiasson: U.S.Hockey Report, covering Alex Chiasson’s commitment, points out that many colleges had been following Chiasson and that BC, Michigan and Vermont were among the finalists for his verbal. USHR quoted Northwood Prep coach Jeff Matthews saying “He’s great along the half-wall and in the corners,” and also suggests he’ll be an early round NHL draft choice next June.


• World Junior A Challenge: Max Nicastro, another 2009 recruit and Chiasson’s rival in the USHL, is playing for Team USA in the World Junior A Challenge in Camrose, Alberta. In last night’s 5-3 win over Canada East, Nicastro had an assist.

Terriers recruit a top power forward

BU has received a verbal commitment for 2009 from one of the top power forwards in junior A hockey, Alex Chiasson of the Des Moines Bucs of USHL. A native of Quebec, Chiasson, a 6-3.5, 187 lb., right wing and center, was recently given an “A” rating on NHL Central Scouting’s players to watch list for the 2009 draft.

An NHL scout, who has Chiasson as one of the top players on his 2009 draft list, says:

While his skating needs to gain a step, he has really nice hands and puck skills. Alex has to mature a little in gaining some strength, but he is a solid competitor who comes to play every game, every shift. He’s very good on faceoffs, has creative puck skills, works the corners, and goes hard to the net. He has all the assets to make a very good college player and solid potential to play at the next level. He is a great kid, is having a solid year in the USHL; if Bonino and Wilson stay, BU will be endowed with three outstanding centers.

Chiasson’s coach in Des Moines is former NHL star J.P. Parise, father of Devils’ forward—and former North Dakota standout—Zach Parise. Following September’s USHL Fall Classic in Sioux City, U.S. Hockey Report evaluated top NHL draft prospects and reported “The two forwards we liked the most in terms of their total game were Louis Leblanc and Alex Chiasson.” Leblanc, also from Quebec, had made his final choice between Harvard and BU, electing to skate for the Crimson in 2009.

USHR had first reported on Chiasson last January when he was playing prep hockey at Northwood Prep in Lake Placid (Pete MacArthur’s prep school):

Right now, the college guys are closely following junior Alex Chiasson, a 6’3”, 175 forward from Quebec City. As an Oct. ’90 birthdate, he won’t be eligible for the NHL draft until ’09.

“He’s gotten a lot better over the course of the season,” says [Head Coach Jeff] Matthews [who had coached BU assistant captain Brian Strait at Northfield Mount Hermon]. “And from what I’ve seen, and others have concurred, there’s not a better ’90 birthdate in the East. He’s leading the team in scoring. He’s every bit of 6'3". He's crafty. He protects the puck really well. He has really good hands. He’s similar to Krys Kolanos but bigger.”

Matthews says Chiasson wants to keep his college options open until the end of the school year. He’s a good student and should have his pick of schools.

Last month, as his stock as a top college prospect continued to rise, Chiasson was interviewed by McKeen’s Hockey Prospects editor Kevin Wey about his development as player, growing up in Quebec and moving on to Northwood, and his college interests. Also last month, another McKeen’s editor, Vincent Montabalo, ranked him the top 1990 uncommitted prospect.

In Chiasson's most recent game, a 2-1 Des Moines shootout win over Indiana, he scored the Buc’s tying goal and then added another in the shootout.

Terriers notch first road win

The Terriers earned their fifth goal in six starts last night, 7-2 over Vermont in Burlington. BU was clinging to a one-goal lead late in the middle stanza when senior Brandon Yip (photo) scored off a clean faceoff win by sophomore Nick Bonino, who co-leads all conference players with eleven points. Three goals in the final period sealed the win. Yip also nailed Catamount forward Peter Lenes with an apparently clean open-ice hit, but drew a penalty anyway. Colin Wilson got the Terriers off to a fast start with a pair of goals in the first period.

We have links to game recaps from USCHO, Hockey East Online and College Hockey News. The BU athletics recap noted a milestone achievement on the defensive side of the puck. "With the 7-2 final, the Terriers have held their first six opponents to two goals or less - a feat that never happened in the program's previous 87 seasons."

NHL News
Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro underwent knee surgery and will miss 4-6 weeks...Devils forward Jay Pandolfo got off the schneid and scored his first goal of the season in a 6-1 win.

Gameday: Dogs & Cats in Burlington

Terriers take on the always tough Vermont Catamounts at Gutterson Rink tonight. BU gamenotes and links to gametracker and the radio broadcast are here. The Burlington Free Press offers a game preview article. Dave Hendrickson's weekly HockeyEast column on USCHO looks at the weekend's schedule and early season trends in the conference.

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