Hockey East (and Midwest)

Notre Dame was officially accepted into Hockey East at yesterday’s press conference in South Bend, with the Irish beginning conference play in 2013-2014. By the time that happens, BU will have played Notre Dame three seasons in a row.

The Irish visited Agganis Arena in October 2009 and came away with a 3-0 win. A year ago, the Terriers edged the Irish, 5-4, in the Icebreaker Tournament. This season, the teams will meet on New Year’s Eve at Notre Dame’s new Charles “Lefty” Smith, Jr. Rink.
Prior to the recent games, the two schools had only met twice previously, both games won by the Terriers by a 7-3 score: Dec. 1971 at the Boston Arena Christmas Tournament and Dec. 1995 in the Badger Showdown.
One more BU connection with the conference’s new Western outpost: Jacques Joubert, captain of the 1995 national championship team, is a South Bend native.

Coverage links:
● Hockey East Online (with transcripts and video)
● The Boston Hockey Blog
● Notre Dame announcement
● College Hockey News: analysis, what’s next?
● USCHO

During the press conference, it was revealed that Versus (soon to be rebranded as NBC Sports Network) will air some Hockey East games. Earlier this month we posted the schedule of eight conference games set for CBS. NESN also will be in the picture, airing a number of conference games. We’ll post a full schedule of BU’s television schedule when it becomes available.

Daily Free Press Special Hockey Preview Insert
BU’s campus newspaper, The Daily Free Press has published its annul hockey preview insert. It’s available here, with hockey content beginning on page 9. Some direct links to a few of the articles: Terrier team preview, Captains’ Corner, Corey Trivino, Justin Courtnall (photo)

Looking back
Former Terrier forwards Chris Higgins and Joe Pereira, who had looked into playing in Sweden’s Hockey Allsvenskan League this season, have been signed by the ECHL South Carolina Stingrays.

Peter MacArthur and Ryan Weston are on the pre-season roster of the ECHL Las Vegas Wranglers.

Despite a strong showing in Pittsburgh Penguins training camp, Brian Strait will begin his season in Wilkes Barre/Scranton. Prior to his assignment to the AHL, Strait talked to the Times Leader about his three games played in the NHL last season and his hopes to stay at the top level.

Women’s team
Hockey East named Senior Jenn Wakefield Player of the Week for her three-point (2g, 1 a) effort against North Dakota, while sophomore goalie Kerrin Sperry took Defensive Player of the Week honors, stopping more than 30 shots in both games.

Tuesday Linkorama--updated

Expect Notre Dame to make official its decision to join Hockey East in 2013-14 at a press conference 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in South Bend. BU Athletic Director Mike Lynch and Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna will join Irish officials for the announcement (Live stream link).

More coverage of Saturday’s exhibition game
● College Hockey News: game recap
● Daily Free Press: game recap
● Daily Free Press: freshmen impress

Conference and team previews
USCHO’s two Hockey East writers have picked BU to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively, while the Eagle Tribune’s Mike McMahon has picked BU to finish first on his Warrior Rink Rat blog.
● USCHO: BU, Hockey East (for other teams, scroll down)
● Inside College Hockey: Hockey East
● Warrior Rink Rat: BU, other HE teams

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored his first regular season goal in the Indiana Ice’s opener, a 4-3 overtime win over Cedar Rapids. He registered three goals and two assists in four preseason games. In its review of the USHL Fall Classic, USHR posted:

5’6”, 170 lb. Robert Polesello is the key to Indiana’s attack, and could compete for the league scoring title. He’s a lot of fun to watch, shifty, and very dangerous down low. He sees it, and has the hands to make it happen. Very clever, very high skill, tough to defend against. BU fans will like him.

Looking back
Nick Bonino helped the Syracuse Crunch begin its preseason with a win, scoring a goal in a 4-1 victory over Toronto.

Former Terrier captain Jay Pandolfo,who was in the Islanders’ training camp on tryout basis, has been signed to a one-year contract. His next goal will the 100th of his NHL career.

Another former captain, John McCarthy, who made 37 starts for San Jose last season, will be the season with AHL Worcester.

Women’s team
Recap of opening series split with North Dakota

The Daily Free Press talked with junior transfer Isabel Menard, who scored a goal and three assists against the Sioux. An All-CHA forward at Syracuse last season, her role in the Terrier offense will be even more important due to an abdominal injury suffered on Saturday by sophomore Marie-Philip Poulin. The Hockey East Rookie of the Year could be sidelined for the rest of first semester.

The Boston Globe’s Jake Seiner previewed the Women’s Hockey East season and chronicled the quick march to success of the Terrier program now in its seventh season.

Rally falls short as X-Men upend Terriers

Showing considerable rust--maybe even some barnacles--the Terriers got off to a shaky start in their exhibition game with St. Francis Xavier, giving up three goals on six shots in the first ten minutes. Despite a better effort in the second period, BU was behind, 5-0 heading to the final period. Terriers put four goals on the board, nearly knotting the score in the final minute, before an empty-netter produced the final 6-4 margin for the X-Men.

Ben Rosen, who has moved back to defense after playing center much of last season, scored the Terriers' first goal on a slapper from the point. Then, freshman defenseman Alexx Privitera converted a rebound to make it 5-2. Junior Wade Megan (photo credit Matt Dresens) scored the next two: a nice backhander from below the right circle on the rush, and a pretty finish in tight following an Alex Chiasson centering pass. Megan earned kudos for his play at both ends of the ice from Coach Jack Parker who also praised the efforts of freshman forwards Cason Hohmann and Evan Rodrigues.

It was an uncharacteristically shaky night for goalie Kieran Millan who played the first two periods, although numerous errors on the blueline contributed to BU falling behind. Senior Grant Rollheiser was sharp in the third period, stopping all seven shots he faced.
● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Scott Weighart’s USCHO recap
● Boston Hockey blog recap
● WTBU Radio recap

Women’s team
After a strong opening night, the Terriers found their fortunes reversed as North Dakota dominated them, 5-1, to split the weekend series. Junior transfer Isabel Menard scored her first goal for BU while goalie Kerrin Sperry stopped 37 shots. Next up for the Terriers is a home game against Niagara next Friday.
● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● WTBU Radio recap
● Coach Brian Durocher post-game comments

Game Day: Terriers take on the X-Men

Terriers hit the ice at Agganis Arena tonight in an exhibition game against St. Francis Xavier, ranked seventh last season among CIS teams. The X-Men, who beat St.Thomas, 4-2, on Thursday and played the Terriers to a 2-2 tie two seasons ago, are a physical team with a strong goalie, Joey Perricone and CIS Rookie of the Year Jason Bast.

Senior goalie Kieran Millan (photo) is expected to play at least two periods in goal for BU, which will dress extra skaters for the exhibition game. Game time is 7 p.m. The contest will be streamed on BU All-Access (subscription).
● Boston Hockey Blog's live blog

● Daily Free Press game preview

● Gametracker

Check back for further game information

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Marc Hetnik Jr. scored a goal and an assist last night in Vernon’s 5-2 victory over Westside. Hetnik has a 1-3-4 line in his first three BCHL games.

2012 recruit forward Mike Moran, who was the first star in a Penticton win last week, was traded to the Victoria Grizzlies on Wednesday when an injury forced the Vees to seek another frontline defenseman.

Three 2013 recruits, Danny O’Regan, Sam Kurker and Kevin Duane, participated in last weekend’s Junior Bruins Shootout, earning praise from U.S.Hockey Reports. O’Regan skates for the Cape Cod Whalers in the Mass Select Midget U18 League, coached by former BU standout forward Ed Ronan, a member of the 1993 Stanley Cup champion Canadians. O’Regan, who leads the Whalers in scoring, is the son of former BU captain Tom O’Regan. His Whalers teammates include Ronan’s son, Corey, touted by USHR as a budding elite prep player, and Mark Fidler, whose dad is former Terrier Mark Fidler, a 30-goal scorer on the 1978 national championship team.

2013 recruit Brendan Collier, also playing in the Elite Midget U18 league, leads the GBL Bruins in scoring following a 2-goal, 3-assist effort in a 7-0 shutout of the Springfield Rifles.

Women’s team
A pair of goals by senior captain Jenn Wakefield, three assists by junior transfer Isabel Menard and 31 saves by Kerrin Sperry led the #2-ranked Terriers to a 4-1 opening-game win against #7 North Dakota. The teams play again this afternoon at 3:00 p.m. at Walter Brown Arena.
● Comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Coach Brian Durocher comments

Q&A with Chris Connolly: a dozen for number 12

As Chris Connolly approaches his senior season, he is the total points leader among current team members with 89 and, for a second season, team captain. When he arrived at BU in 2008 after a standout USHL season scoring 55 points and leading Omaha to the Clark Cup title, he joined a freshman class that included three NHL draft choices and so was flying somewhat under the radar of BU fans.

That changed quickly. His dynamic offensive play, speed, and effectiveness breaking up opponents' power-play rushes before they could begin made Connolly an instant fan favorite. He rang up 30 points, including a goal and an assist in the 2009 NCAA championship game overtime win against Miami. While the team hasn't matched that success the past two seasons, Connolly's offensive production has remained consistent with 31- and 28-point campaigns. He's expected to be a key cog in the Terrier attack this season. With the 2011-12 opener a week away, Chris answered our questions about leadership and what to expect from the Terriers. MORE

Looking back
Despite scoring 34 points in his first full NHL season, former BU All-American Colin Wilson saw limited action for Nashville is last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The Predators are looking to rely more on younger players this year and Wilson is using the playoff benchings as motivation to step up his game this season. He’s scored five points in four pre-season games, earning first-star honors in a 4-1 Preds’ win against Washington.

Several other former Terriers will begin the season in the AHL after competing in NHL camps: Colby Cohen and David Warsofsky (Bruins), Chris Bourque (Capitals), Eric Gryba (Senators), Dave van der Gulik and Zach Cohen (Colorado).

Brian Strait remains in Pittsburgh’s training camp, competing for a spot on the Pens’ blueline. He's scheduled to be in the Pittsburgh line-up tonight against Chicago in a game on the NHL Network at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Jay Pandolfo remains in contention for a roster spot with the Islanders. He'll be in the lineup when the fishsticks visit Pando's former team, the Devils, tonight. So will former Terrier Rick DiPietro, returning from another injury-plagued season.

Women’s team
The #2 Terriers open their season at home with a two-game series against #7 North Dakota. Tonight’s game at Walter Brown Arena begins at 7 p.m. Captain Jenn Wakefield and forwards Marie-Philip Poulin and Jennelle Kohanchuk are back from Canadian National Team camp and will be in the lineup; however, senior defenseman Tara Watchorn is sidelined with a concussion.
● GoTerriers.com season preview , game notes
● BU Today: Skating for a championship
● Daily Free Press game preview

High hopes

Whenever pre-season polls are announced, most coaches will reflexively point out that these rankings are just talking points until on-ice action begins. However, what this week's national and conference polls do reveal is that college hockey coaches and media expect BU to be among college hockey’s elite programs this season.

USCHO’s first national poll—comprised of coaches from the Division I conferences and 22 beat writers and sports professionals from across the country— ranks the Terriers #10 with two first-place votes. Meanwhile, the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll, ranks BU sixth with three first-place votes. This poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six Division I conferences, plus composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey Magazine. Notre Dame has the top spot in the USCHO poll, while Miami is ranked #1 by USA Today.

The Daily Free Press reports that juniors Alex Chiasson and Justin Courtnall will be the Terriers’ assistant captains this season. Senior Chris Connolly, a co-captain last season, is this year's team captain.

The Boston Hockey Blog reports that the injury bug has again struck two Terriers who lost time to injuries in previous season. Red-shirt freshman Yasin Cissé, recovering from knee surgery, suffered a concussion in practice; a lingering ankle injury from his junior days in Des Moines is also limiting his ice time.

Ryan Ruikka, who suffered season-ending injuries in his first two seasons, but rebounded to become a solid blueliner last year, has hairline fracture of his right foot and will be out for at least three weeks.

USCHO also has posted pre-season rankings of the nation's top college players by position. Senior Kieran Millan is listed at #6 among goalies, while sophomore Adam Clendening was picked as the #8 defenseman.

Tuesday was Hockey East Media Day, which included release of the preseason coaches' poll. The Terriers were ranked #2 behind defending champion BC. The Hockey East Writers & Broadcasters' poll, released a day earlier, reversed those rankings, with BU ranked first with 16 of 19 first-place votes and BC second. The writers and broadcasters preseason all-conference team included Chiasson.

● Go Terriers.com coverage
● Hockey East Coaches’ video interviews (Jack Parker begins at 2:20)
● Video Interview with Millan
● 2011-12 men’s hockey prospectus

Hockey East also announced a schedule of eight games that will air on CBS College Sports including four featuring the Terriers: two against BC and another pair against Maine. Additional televised games will be announced at a later date.

►In the wake of the realignment of college hockey's Western conferences this summer, expansion of Hockey East in 2013-14 has become a genuine possibility. Notre Dame reportedly will decide shortly whether to accept an invitation to join Hockey East or to become part of the new NCHC. College Hockey News editor Adam Wodon offers insights into the decision facing the Fighting Irish, while Warrior Rink Rat's Mike McMahon spoke with Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna about expansion. If Hockey East expands, it will add two teams. Rensselaer, which previously considered moving over from the ECAC, is a likely candidate for another invitation.

Future Terriers and alums in action

BU doesn't hit the ice for its exhibition game against St. Francis Xavier until next Saturday, but numerous former and future Terriers are already involved in games.


Looking back
Former BU standout defenseman Brian Strait, contending for spot on the Penguins’ blueline, scored on slapper in Pittsburgh’s 4-1 win (video) over the Wild.

Brandon Yip’s third season with the Colorado Avalanche is on hold while he recovers from a broken arm, suffered in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Blues. David Van der Gulik, who suited up for six Colorado games last season, is seeking to make the Avs roster and Yip’s injury could open an opportunity for him.

Jay Pandolfo, trying out with the Islanders after 13 seasons with New Jersey, had an assist in his first exhibiton game start . He later talked with The Star-Ledger about his hopes to extend his career.

After spending last season with teams in Russia and Switzerland, Chris Bourque is back with the Washington Capitals, the team that had drafted him.

Prior to retiring this past summer, former BU All-American and Hobey Baker Award winner Chris Drury ranked first among active NHL players with 17 career game-winning goals in the playoffs.

Looking ahead
BU’s newest recruit, Mike Moran, earned first star and “hardest worker” honors in the Penticton Vees’ season-opening 5-2 win over the Coquitlam Express. Moran, scored a goal and added two assists.

2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr., registered an assist in each of the Vernon Vipers’s two season-opening wins over Salmon Arm.

The USHL preseason Fall Classic was played during the past few days with several future Terriers seeing action. 2012 recruit Robert Polesello, scored a goal in each of the Indiana Ice’s two wins and now has 3+2 in four exhibition games. His teammate Rob Baillargeon, a 2013 recruit, has a goal and two assists in five games.


2012 recruit Matt O’Connor, stopped 24 of 28 shots in Youngstown’s 5-4 win against Cedar Rapids.

Blueliner Matt Grzelcyk, a 2013 recruit had one assist for the NTDP U18s in three Fall Classic games

Women’s team
The number two-ranked Terriers used a pair of short-handed goals by Taylor Holze and Jill Cardella to defeat University of Ottawa, 3-1, in an exhibition game yesterday at Walter Brown Arena. BU played without its top returning forwards, Jenn Wakefield, Marie-Philip Poulin and Jennelle Kohanchuk, who are at Canadian National Team evaluation camp.

A forward for 2012

According to Chris Heisenberg’s recruiting site, BU has added a third forward to its 2012 recruit class. Mike Moran, a 6-1, 200, left-shot, was captain at The Taft School last season, leading the Rhinos in goals with 13 and co-leading in scoring with 23 points. A Marshfield, Mass., native who is a nephew of Terrier Associate Head Coach Mike Bavis, Moran will spend this season in the BCHL with the Penticton Vees. He’s the second 2012 recruit playing in the BCHL this year. Marc Hetnik, Jr., is a blueliner for the Vernon Vipers.

►Earlier this summer when the first of the predictions of the top teams for 2011-12 were published, both Inside College Hockey and The College Hockey Blog foresaw a #7 ranking for the Terriers. Now, College Hockey News has posted its projections with BU slotted at a heady #2 behind Miami University.

Looking ahead
Terrier 2013 recruit Matt Grzelcyk, a defenseman on the NTDP U18s received a strong assessment on the United States of Hockey blog, written by former USA Hockey communications director Rick Peters.

Some might look at Grzelcyk’s size and write him off as a legitimate defensive prospect. To do that would be foolish. Despite coming in at 5-9, 168, Grzelcyk’s ability on the ice will turn more than a few heads this year.

His poise with the puck in all zones separates him from some of his fellow 1994s. Not only does he have poise, but also skills. His puck skills might be unrivaled on this blue line. I was told by someone who watches Grzelcyk regularly that there’s a whole bunch we haven’t even seen from his bag of tricks.

If he can build more strength to go along with his solid skating and puck-moving abilities, he’s going to be a player rising up draft boards rapidly. Skill may just outweigh size in this instance. Grzelyck is committed to Boston University. Terrier fans familiar with Adam Clendening’s game might get a little overexcited when they see what Grzelyck can do.

Looking back
Keith Tkachuk will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on December 12 in Chicago. He’ll become the eighth Terrier inducted, joining 1956 & 1960 Olympian Dick Rodenheiser, former BU head coach Jack Kelley, 1980 Olympians Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan and Dave Silk, and Tony Amonte.

Women’s team
In a preseason poll of Hockey East coaches, the Terriers were picked to finish first in the conference. BU earned six of eight first place votes with BC, picked for second, receiving the other two. Head coach Brian Durocher previewed the season in Hockey East’s first teleconference of the season.

In USCHO’s first national poll, the Terriers are ranked second behind Wisconsin, the team that beat BU in last Spring’s NCAA title game.

Linkorama

The “off-season” is nearly over. Two weeks from tomorrow, the Terriers take on St. Francis Xavier in a 7 p.m. start at Agganis Arena.

BU sophomore Matt Nieto (photo), who scored 23 points in his first season, is featured in Inside College Hockey’s annual A-to-Z series of player profiles. The speedster from California rebounded from a slow start last fall to become a key performer in the second half of the season.

In a Muskegon Lumberjacks interview, Freshman blueliner Alexx Privitera looks forward to his initial season as a Terrier and to seeing find some familiar faces wearing opponents’ sweaters.
As we gear up for the season, we’ll post a series of profiles of the three freshman on this year’s Terrier squad.

Looking back
Ten years ago this past week, Darryl MacLeod, a power forward on BU’s 1978 NCAA championship team and now a firefighter in Melrose, Mass., was among the out-of-town firefighters who volunteered at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. For the MelrosePatch, MacLeod and Melrose Fire Captain Jim Winslow recalled their still-fresh memories of sifting through the rubble and looking for survivors of the 9-11 attacks and the camaraderie with other responders.

David Warsofsky, who has moved up from Bruins rookie camp to the team’s main camp, talked with NESN about how his brief AHL experience last Spring has given him a leg up. A co-captain of last year’s Terrier squad and all-rookie Hockey East selection in 2009, Warsofsky is seeking to become the ninth member of BU’s 2009 NCAA championship team to suit up in the NHL.
● NHL.com feature ● Patriot Ledger feature

Former Terrier captain and 1996 Hockey East Player of the Year Jay Pandolfo, who spent 14 seasons with the New Jersey Devils organization, will attend the New York Islanders training camp on a tryout basis.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored twice in USHL/Indiana Ice's first exhibition game, a 5-4 win against Chicago. He added an assist the next night as did 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon in a 3-1 Indy win.

The Slightly Chilled blog, which covers the USHL, offered its take on the league’s top five netminders for the coming season and suggests that 2012 recruit Matt O’Connor could lead the Youngstown Phantoms to the playoffs in the franchise’s second season.

According to the VipersDieHardFan Blog, 2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr., has impressed at the Vernon Vipers' training camp during intersquad games.

Just four minutes later some nice three-way passing between, Mike Zalewski, John Knisley and Marc Hetnik setup a highlite reel goal by Hetnik at 10:20 for his second of the night giving Team White a 7-4 lead.

Marc Hetnik "92" (2 goals) - For the second straight night I was
impressed with Hetnik. Last night he looked very good on the blueline, tonight he jumped up into the play more and looked very good on the offensive side of the game.

Women's team

The 2011-12 BU women’s team, coming off a 27-7-4 season, plays an exhibition game with the University of Ottawa on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m.

Three standouts from last season’s national finalist team that set a program record for most wins were selected in Canadian Women’s Hockey League draft. Catherine Ward, who played a single season at BU as a grad student, was picked by the Montreal Stars while Holly Lorms and last season’s captain Jillian Kirchner were drafted by the Boston Blades.

Never forgotten

The names of former Terrier Mark Bavis (right) and his Los Angeles Kings colleague, Garnett “Ace” Bailey, a former Bruins forward, were among the first names recognized at today’s 9-11 Remembrance ceremonies in New York City. BU Associate Head Coach Mike Bavis (left) talked with BU Today about the horrific day ten years ago when he lost his twin brother.

College Hockey News looked back on the loss Bavis, Bailey and two members St. Lawrence’s 1988 national finalist team. CHN also posted a link to an exceptional 9-12-01 article by editor Adam Wodon about the events’ impact on the close knit college hockey and New England hockey communities including many of Mark’s BU and Catholic Memorial teammates.

One of the ironies of that tragic day was that Mark Krys, a BU defenseman and teammate of the Bavis brothers for two seasons, was working in the South Tower on 9-11, but was able to escape to safety before the tower fell.
● USHR 9/13/01

● Boston University, which lost 34 alumni on 9-11, is holding a memorial service today at Marsh Chapel.

The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation awards scholarships of $3,500 to $5,000 to Massachusetts high school students who have made a difference in their communities or demonstrated leadership at their schools

Looking back

At Bruins rookie camp, David Warsofksy discussed his opportunity to make the big club.

● Black and Gold Journal

2009-10 BU captain Kevin Shattenkirk, who led all NHL rookie blueliners last season with 43 points, looked at ahead to his first full season with the St. Louis Blues in a discussion with St. Louis Today.

Former BU standout Clark Donatelli will be an assistant coach of the Wheeling, W.Va., Nailers, the Pittsburgh Penguins' ECHL affiliate. Donatelli, 43, was a volunteer assistant coach at Providence College last season. Another former Terrier, John Hynes is head coach of the Pens' AHL team in Wilkes Barre/Scranton.

Women's team

The 2012 Hockey East championship tournament will be played on Cape Cod at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center (HYCC) on Friday, March 3rd and Sunday, March 4th in the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Skating Rink.

Terriers “go large” again

BU has added another forward with size and skill to its 2013 recruit class, receiving a verbal commitment from 6’4”, 215, right-shot wing Kevin Duane. The New Canaan, CT, native was the top goal-scorer and second in points (15-18-33) at The Brunswick School as a sophomore. He'll accelerate and graduate from Brunswick next season, then play a year of junior with the Des Moines Bucs who drafted him this past Spring.

Duane went to the Bucs' main camp this past summer, earning a spot on the USHL club roster, but elected to return to prep school for another season. He also was drafted by the Quebec Remparts in the 9th round of the QMJHL draft this past spring.

According to U.S.Hockey Report:” [Duane’s] strong suits are his size – he’s tough to clear out in front of the net – along with his hands. He has a nice shot and sees the ice well. The main aspect of his game that needs work is his skating.” [Ed.—That skill set and the area for improvement recalls former BU standouts Mike Grier and Mike Pandolfo.]

Duane played Midget hockey with the Mid-Fairfield Blue and has been a member of the Junior Bruins organization, where he was a teammate of recent BU commit Sam Kurker on the Little Bruins and 2013 recruit Matt Grzelcyk on the Junior Bruins.

Duane also had offers from Vermont, Union, Providence, Merrimack, and Cornell.

Assuming that Kurker also will play a year of junior hockey, the Terriers' 2013 class now includes five forwards—Duane, Kurker, Malden Catholic’s Brendan Collier, St. Sebastian’s Danny O’Regan and Rob Baillargeon, now with the Indiana Ice—along with one defenseman, Grzelczyk who is in his second season with the US NTDP.

►Eagle Tribune hockey writer Mike McMahon is in the midst of previewing Hockey East teams in his Warrior Rink Rat blog. Starting from the bottom, he has profile three teams thus far with more to be added this week.

Looking back

Sunday's Boston Globe Hockey Notes column examined former BU captain Jay Pandolfo's efforts to prolong his NHL career that includes two Stanley Cups won with the New Jersey Devils. Pandolfo has also been supporting College Hockey Inc.'s efforts to promote the value of a college education to young players. He spoke to some 70 of New England's top 1996-born players at a CHI clinic in Marlborough, Mass., last month.

Women’s team
Senior Jenn Wakefield scored the game-winner for Canada in a 3-2 win against host Finland in the IIHR Twelve Nations Invitational Tournament. Wakefield scored 3 goals and 4 assists in six tournament games.

A power forward for the Terriers

BU has received a commitment from St. John’s Prep’s rising senior forward Sam Kurker, a 6-2, 205 right shot winger from Reading, Mass. His father, Paul, played for Union College in the 1980s. Kurker, who trains at Mike Boyle’s strength and conditioning facility in Woburn, will arrive on Commonwealth Avenue in either 2012 or 2013. (photo credit-Mark Teiwes/Salem News )

Kurker recently returned from Europe where he was a member of the U.S. Select U-18 team that played in the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament along with 2013 recruit Danny O’Regan. He earned a spot on that squad with strong showing at the Select 17 development camp in Rochester (7-1-8, tied for sixth in scoring). He also tallied two assists in the Select 17 all-star game.

Kurker, who will be St. John’s Prep’s captain next season, scored 20 goals and 17 assists last year and has 66 points over three seasons. In the 2011 Massachusetts Super 8 tournament, his two-goal performance in a 3-1 win against Catholic Memorial lifted the Eagles into the championship game. St. John’s fell in the final to Malden Catholic on 2013 recruit Brendan Collier’s overtime goal.

Kurker, who also skates for the Little Bruins midget team and the Beantown Bullies tournament team, is one of three future Terriers who made the NHL Central Scouting 2012 futures list. He received a B ranking, as did Collier. 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon received an A ranking.

According to U.S.Hockey Report, Baillargeon, who scored 64 points as as a sophomore last season at Cushing Academy, will play for the USHL Indiana Ice next season along with 2012 recruit Robert Polesello. USHR calls Bailargeon “a potential top three rounds pick for next June’s NHL draft.”

USHR also reports that NTDP forward Cam Darcy, who recently decommitted from Northeastern, will make a final choice for his new committment between BU and BC during the next month. The South Boston native recently attended the NHL RDO camp in Toronto for top 2012 draft prospects. Before joining the USA NTDP program where he scored 9 goals and 13 points last season, Darcy skated for former Terrier Dan Donato at The Dexter School.

Women’s team
Three Terriers are participating in this week’s IIHF Twelve Nations Tournament in Finland. Senior Kasey Boucher is on the U.S. roster while senior Jenn Wakefield and Catherine Ward, who played for last year’s NCAA finalist BU squad, are skating for Canada.

Drury announces retirement

One day shy of his 35th birthday, former Terrier, NHL and Team USA standout Chris Drury made his retirement from hockey official. Earlier this summer, Drury and the New York Rangers agreed to a buyout of the final year of his contract and he considered continuing his career despite a lingering knee injury .However, today Drury made his decision public through a media release from the NHL Players Association.

The only player to win both the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player (1998) and the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie (1999), Drury also won a Stanley Cup with Colorado early in his 12-year NHL career and the NCAA championship as a BU freshman in 1995. His NHL totals include 255 regular season goals and another 47 in the playoffs where he often delivered his best efforts.

In four years at BU, "Captain Clutch" became the school's all-time goal scoring leader with 113 to go with 101 assists. He played in three Frozen Fours and two national championship games and was a two-time All-American. He was elected to the BU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003.

Drury suited up for the U.S. in three Olympic games, winning silver twice, and was part of the U.S. squad in 2004's World Cup of Hockey. He first came to national attention as the winning pitcher for Trumbull, Conn., in the 1989 Little League championship game, ending a five-year U.S. drought.

Describing why Drury was able to deliver so often in key moments throughout his career, BU Head Coach Jack Parker said:

“I think the reason why Chris has been so successful is he always manages to stay cool, calm and collected in the most competitive of situations. That’s why guys can rise to the occasion in big moments, because they don’t get rattled. “It’s a fine line to walk between being really intense and being really calm. He can do that better than anybody. What defines Chris is: ‘Did I play hard tonight? Did I do my best?’ He’s a hockey player. A real good hockey player.”

-Retirement coverage: ESPN; New York Times
-2007 Sports Illustrated feature: The Winner
-1997 NCAA Regional Final: game-winning goal (video)
-Avalanche highlights (video)
-USA Today slide show

Dallas Stars draft pick (2009/2nd round) Alex Chiasson talked with ESPN Dallas about his second summer attending Stars' development camp and his plans for his junior year at BU.
-Chiasson photo gallery by Melissa Wade.

Looking back
Jason Lawrence, who led the 2008-09 national champion Terriers in goal-scoring with 25, has signed on with the Manglerud Stars of the Norwegian Elite League. Last year, he played for Eindhoven Kemphanen in the Netherlands Elite League, producing a 30-28-58 line in 45 games.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr., talked with the Vernon Morning Star about his decision to play a season of junior with the BCHL Vernon Vipers.

Linkorama

Adam Clendening and Charlie Coyle made this week's roster cut at US Junior National Evaluation Camp (photos). Matt Nieto did not. USA Hockey will hold a final camp in December and players who didn’t make the cut or were not at the evaluation camp could be invited to the final camp. Former Terrier captain and current New York Rangers Associate Coach Mike Sullivan is one of the special evaluation camp coaches. Camp ends Saturday following Team USA's game against Sweden.

Looking ahead
Despite losing just one game, the U.S. Select U18 team finished fifth in the Ivan Hlinka Tournament. 2013 recruit Danny O’Regan was among the top U.S. scorers, with 2-3-5 in four games. He scored a goal and an assist in the team’s final game a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic, duplicating his effort in team’s 5-4 OT win over Russia.

Looking back: “Mr. Consistency”
Former All Hockey East blueliner Bryan Miller will return to the ECHL Alaska Aces for a fifth season. Miller, who quarterbacks the team’s power play, helped lead the Aces the leagues’ Kelly Cup this past Spring.

Women’s team
Isabel Menard, who has transferred from Syracuse to BU, talked with the Ottawa Citizen about her decision to become a Terrier. This week she is at development camp for Canada’s U-22 team, along with three BU teammates, Marie-Philip Poulin, Tara Watchorn and Jennelle Kohanchuk. In an intersquad game Thursday, Menard, a distant relative of Mario Lemiuex, recorded two assists for the blue team while Watchorn scored a goal. Menard, Watchorn and Kohanchuk won gold medals with Canada’s U-22 Team at the 2011 MLP Cup in Switzerland.

Blog notes

A few additions to the blog sidebar:

-- Terrier Tales: The Vagabond Champions is Scott Weighart's chronicle of BU's first NCAA championship team, forty years ago in 1971.

--Links: United States of Hockey focuses on USA Hockey, U.S. National Teams, American hockey prospects, college and junior hockey, and the growth of the game.

Coyle, Clendening help US to wins at Jr. National Evaluation Camp

On the first day of international competition at U.S. Jr. National Team evaluation camp, sophomores Adam Clendening (photo) and Charlie Coyle —and members of last season’s Hockey East All rookie team, played important roles in U.S. wins. In a 4-3 win for USA Blue over Sweden, Clendening scored his team’s second goal midway through the game and later assisted on the overtime game-winner. Coyle registered a pair of assists in USA White’s 5-3 win against Finland. Sophomore forward Matt Nieto also skated for USA White.

Also in international play, 2013 recruit Danny O’Regan is a member of the USA Select U-187 team playing in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Another standout from last year’s freshman class, Sahir Gill, is serving as an instructor at The Champions Hockey School in British Columbia.

Playing for the Providence Bruins last year, former Terrier Colby Cohen was reunited with Carter Camper, his junior hockey teammate with the Lincoln Starts. Camper, a star forward with Miami Univ., was a Terrier opponent in the 2009 NCAA championship game that BU won on Cohen’s OT slapshot.

The College Hockey Blog has begun a series of article previewing its choices for the top 16 teams for the upcoming season.

College Hockey News reports that Versus cable, which will soon be rebranded as NBC Sports Network, is negotiating to air a package of college hockey games that would include Hockey East games.

Women’s team
Goalie Kerrin Sperry and defenseman Kasey Boucher will be in Blaine, Minn., this week to participate in USA Hockey’s Women’s National Festival.

Terriers announce 2011-12 roster with four newcomers

BU has announced its roster for 2011-2012, which includes four newcomers: forwards Cason Hohmann and Evan Rodrigues (photo), defenseman Alexx Privitera and goalie Anthony Moccia. All are freshmen, except for Moccia, a sophomore who was a practice goalie for the Terriers last season. Prior to BU he was the starting goalie for Massachusetts prep school Buckingham, Browne & Nichols.

The announcement includes thumbnails of the first-year players and comments on each from head coach Jack Parker. Returning as a red-shirt freshman is Yasin Cisse, who injured in the first game he played and missed the rest of the season.

Former BU standout Keith Tkachuk has been named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2011 class and becomes the 8th former Terrier selected. Previous selections were Jack Garrity, Jack Kelley, Tony Amonte and 1980 Olympians Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Jack O’Callahan and David Silk. A member of BU’s 1991 national runner-up team, Tkachuk scored 538 goals and 527 assists in 1201 NHL regular season games.

Binghamton Senators assistant coach Steve Stirling, recuperating from emergency heart surgery, had his opportunity to spend some time with the Calder Cup, which the Senators won in the AHL playoffs. A former college coach at Providence, Stirling captained BU’s first NCAA championship in 1971, 40 years ago this past Spring.

Former Terrier captain Kevin Shattenkirk, traded from the Avalanche to the Blues during his standout rookie season, will live guest between 6:30 to 8pm Wednesday, August 3, at Hotshots in Maryland Heights, MO, to kick off Verizon Wireless Hockey Nights.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette looked back on the career of former Penguins and BU star John Cullen, who celebrated his 47th birthday yesterday. Cullen, a Terrier from 1983 through 1987 is BU’s all-time scoring leader with 241 points (98-143).

2013 recruit Brendan Collier (video) is participating in the annual Hockey Night in Boston tournament before beginning his senior season at Malden Catholic. Collier scored the game-winning goal in this past season’s Super 8 championship game.

As many observers expected following the QMJHL draft, Adam Erne has decommitted and will play major junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts.

Chowdah!

Pro-Am Hockey’s annual Chowder Cup tournament is underway South of Boston and at least seven players with BU connections are participating. The Beantown Bullies Jr. Major roster includes current Terriers Charley Coyle and Garrettt Noonan (photo) along with 2012 recruit Marc Hetnik and 2013 recruits Danny O’Regan and Matt Grzelcyk. 2013 recruit Brendan Collier is skating for the New England Nordiques Blue, while 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon is with Wildcats Elite.

More news about Terriers from NHL development camps:
• Charley Coyle: Sporting News, Twin Cities.com
• Alex Chiasson: ESPN Dallas
• Matt Nieto: Sharks Web site
• Corey Trivno Islanders Web site
• Ben Rosen: Syosset Patch

Predators' GM Dave Poile and Ass't GM Paul Fenton discussed their selection of Noonan in the recent NHL entry draft.

Nick Bonino has signed an new one-year deal with Anaheim.

Former BU captain Albie O’Connell has been named an assistant to Harvard head coach Ted Donato.

Camp season

Senior Corey Trivino (photo) and junior Ben Rosen are in Islanders development camp along with a few rivals from Northeastern.

The Denver Post talked with Kieran Millan, who is attending his first Colorado Avalanche development camp. The Goalie Guild interviewed Millan and a another goalie in a podcast (2nd interview)

We have a pair of video interviews with Charley Coyle at Minnesota Wild camp: ESPN Wild TV

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Matt O’Connor, who will tend the nets for Youngstown again this season, was in Ottawa’s camp and made a strong impression.

2013 recruit Danny O’Regan, who scored 8 points in the Select 17 camp and played in the tournament all-star game, was named to USA Hockey’s U-18 Select squad which will play in the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Slovakia and The Czech Republic next month.

Thanks to the blog reader who forward this WickedLocal Brookline story on 2012 recruit Marc Hetnik.

Looking back
Colby Cohen’s junior team, the Lincoln Stars, interviewed him about his Stanley Cup experience.

John Laliberte, who has re-upped for a third season in the German DEL with Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams, has been instrumental in organizing a charity hockey event in his hometown, Saco, Maine, to benefit the Michael T. Goulet Foundation, which raises funds and heighten awareness about traumatic brain injuries and epilepsy disorders. Goulet's sister, Candace, is married to Laliberte. Details.

Keith Tkachuk, who scored 1065 points in 1201 NHL games, is following the exploits of oldest son Matthew, who played in this year's USA Hockey’s Select 14 camp and finished among the top five scorers.

Linkorama

• 
  
  
  David Warsofsky, who turned pro following his junior year at BU, is attending his second Bruins development camp. Coverage from NECN, NEJH, Boston Herald, Enterprise News
  
  The Minneapolis Star Tribune caught up with Charley Coyle, whose rights were acquired by the Wild in a trade from San Jose, in advance of this week’s development camp. The Wild’s assistant GM also offered thoughts on Coyle’s development.
  
  Alex Chiasson, who led the 2010-11 Terriers in scoring with 34 points , continues to impress at the Dallas Stars' developement camp.
  
  Hockeysfuture.com evaluated the Sharks’ 2011 draft including top pick Matt Nieto (video).
  
  Justin Courtnall was in the Canucks’s development camp, seeking to follow in his father’s skates.
  



• Looking ahead
  2013 recruit Danny O'Regan (Team Gold) scored a hattrick and added an assist during the first day of action at USA Hockey's Select 17 Development Camp in Rochester, N.Y. Playing for the gold team, the son of former BU co-captain Tom O'Regan has since added two more assists for a total six points. 2012 recruit Jarrid Privitera (Team Grey), also playing in the annual USA Hockey event, has registered two assists.

Gilroy lands in Tampa; Bourque returns to D.C.

Former Terrier co-captain and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Gilroy, an unrestricted free agent following two seasons with the Rangers, signed a $1-million, one-season deal with Tampa Bay.

Chris Bourque, who played one season at BU before turning pro, has re-signed with the Washington Capitals, after playing the 2010-11 season in Russia and Switzerland. In 2010, Bourque was MVP of the AHL playoffs.

The Boston Hockey Blog traces Colby Cohen's first pro season which included his first NHL goal, a trade that brought him back to Boston and a call-up to the Bruins for their playoff run culminating in a Stanley Cup for Boston and never-to-be-forgotten celebrations.

New England Hockey Journal reports that former Terrier Nick Bonino has received a qualifying offer from the Anaheim Ducks and that former co-captain John McCarthy is expected to receive one from the San Jose Sharks. Mike Grier, an All-American during BU's 1994-95 championship season, has indicated he'll either return to the Buffalo Sabres or retire. He has played 1060 NHL games during 14 NHL seasons.

Vancouver native Justin Courntall, will be attending the Canucks development camp. Alex Chiasson was in Dallas Stars camp this past week (video).

Looking ahead
Three future Terriers were among the players on the NHL's initial players to watch list for the 2012 draft. 2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon, who starred for Cushing Prep last season, received an "A" ranking, while fellow 2013 recruits Brendan Collier (Malden Catholic) and Danny O'Regan (St. Sebastian's) each received "B" rankings.

O'Regan and 2012 recruit Jarrid Privitera (Gunnery Prep) will participate in USA Hockey's Select 17 development camp in Rochester, N.Y., beginning this Thursday. Another 2013 recruit, Adam Erne (Indiana Ice), was named to the U.S. Under 17 Select Team that will play in the 2011 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament, August 9-13, in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Looking back
Bob Sylvia, a co-captain of BU's 1964-65 squad, retired in 2010 as Quincy, Mass., High School head hockey coach after 44 seasons. Friends, colleagues and former players recently gathered for a roast and tribute to the long-time coach who retired from his teaching position at Quincy H.S. this year. Syliva scored 64 points in three varsity seasons at BU, and led the Terriers to their first winning season under Coach Jack Kelley.