Terriers top pairwise rankings; Millan honored --UPDATED

Following its sweep of Providence College by a combined 14-1 margin, BU finds itself atop the PairWise Ranking. In the two college hockey polls, BU remained in second place in the USCHO poll . BU also is ranked second in the USA Today poll, which had BU ranked 3rd last week. Four of the top 11 in the USCHO poll are Hockey East teams. Besides the #2 Terriers, Merrimack is #5, BC #7 and UMass-Lowell #11.

The double-drubbing of the Friars was BU’s first weekend sweep of a Hockey East opponent this season. Saturday night’s 8-0 shutout provided the biggest margin of victory BU has had in a shutout since beating Northeastern 8-0 on Feb. 14, 1994.

Terriers are currently tops in scoring in conference games with 3.88 goals per game and second in goals against with a 2.47 GAA. In their past 15 games (12-3-0) Terriers have outscored opponents by a 58-33 margin.

In Hockey East’s Weekly Release, Kieran Millan’s .984 save percentage --along with his eighth career shutout--during the Providence series earned him conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Making the Top Performers list were Sahir Gill, Wade Megan, Matt Nieto, Garrett Noonan and Alexx Privitera. Millan (photo) leads the conference’s Army ROTC Three Stars Award competition while Megan is tied for second. Adam Clendening’s 12 points during his current six-game point streak and Coach Jack Parker’s 400th Hockey East win were among the milestones recognized.

As of January 1, the Terriers ranked 35th in the country in power-play percentage, but they’ve leaped up to fifth thanks to a 13-of-33 (.394) effort thus far in the month of January and 8 for 15 (.533) in the two games with Providence.

●Daily Free Press feature on BU’s revitalized power play
●WTBU Sports recap of PC series
●USCHO’s Dave Hendrickson looks at Hockey East teams going in different directions
●NBC Sports “Back to Class”

Looking back
Brian Strait’s shorthanded goal was the game-winner in Wilkes Barre/Scranton’s 4-3 win against Syracuse.

Looking ahead
Defending Mass. Super 8 champs Malden Catholic remains in first place in the Boston Globe schoolboy hockey poll following an 8-3 win against Xaverian in which 2013 recruit and Lancers captain Brendan Collier registered four assists.

Fellow 2013 recruit Sam Kurker scored a goal and added two assists as St. John’s Prep beat BC High, 3-1. Kurker, recently ranked #41 among North Americans for the 2012 NHL draft, has 12 goals in his first 11 games this season, after scoring 15 goals as a junior. He joined ESPN’s Scott Barboza for a Q&A interview.

Yet another 2013 recruit, Kevin Duane of The Brunswick School is off to a strong start and along with Luke Esposito, a nephew of Mark Messier, leads the Bruins in scoring. Early in the season, the 6-4, 214 forward scored a hattrick in a 5-1 win against Millbrook. In the recent rematch with Millbrook, Duane scored top shelf to knot the score at 2-2, but the Bruins fell in overtime. Duane will hone his skills in the USHL with Des Moines next season.

Terriers roast Friars, 8-0

BU completed a convincing weekend sweep of Providence with an 8-0 rout of the Friars behind four-point efforts by Wade Megan (2 goals, 2 assists) and Matt Nieto (1+3) and a career-best three points from Max Nicastro (1+2). At Schneider Arena, BU scored three times in each for the first two periods and then twice in the third, with six goals coming on nine power play tries. Sahir Gill added a pair of goals while Garrett Noonan scored for the third consecutive game, bringing his conference leading total for defensemen to eight goals. BU’s 8 goals came on just 24 shots, for a .333 shooting percentage for the night.

Ten different Terriers made the scoring sheet with captain Chris Connolly assisting on two goals for a total of 19 helpers, tied for the team lead with Adam Clendening. Megan leads BU in goals with 12, followed by Nieto (10), Gill (9) Alex Chiasson (8) and Noonan (8).

Kieran Millan’s eighth career shutout put an exclamation point on a weekend in which he stopped 62 of 63 shots over the two games.

The victory, combined with another BC loss, gave the Terriers a four-point lead over the Eagles in Hockey East with a game in hand. Next up for BU is a two-game series with another hot team, third-place Maine. Both games are at Agganis with Friday’s matchup being a nationally televised one by CBS Sports Network.

●GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
●Boston Hockey Blog recap
●USCHO recap
● Providence athletics recap

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Sean Maguire stopped 23 shots in Powell River's 5-1 win against Cowichan Valley. The victory gave him four consecutive wins during which he stopped a total of 101 shots while yielding just four goals.

Looking back
Colin Wilson scored his ninth goal in a 5-2 Nashville win against Chicago. Brandon Yip, acquired this past week from Colorado, made his first start for the Predators wearing the same #18 as he wore at BU.

Former Terrier captain Joe Pereira scored a first-period goal against former Michigan netminder Billy Sauer for the South Carolina Stingrays in their 3-1 victory against Florida in ECHL action.

Game Day: BU vs Providence at Schneider Arena

Terriers and Friar wrap up their home and home series tonight in a 7 p.m. start at Schneider Arena. At stake is the season series as each team has won twice. BU lost its season opener at Providence, but overall is 30-28-6 (.516) in the 64 meetings at Schneider Arena.

A victory would give BU its first weekend sweep of a single opponents this season. Terriers have swept three previous weekend series, but each of them involved games with two different teams.

Sophomore Garrett Noonan (photo), who leads BU's blueline corps in goals with seven, scored in both the season opener and last night's win.

Terrier line-up:

Wade Megan – Chris Connolly – Alex Chiasson
Matt Nieto – Sahir Gill – Evan Rodrigues
Justin Courtnall – Cason Hohmann – Yasin Cissé
Ross Gaudet – Ben Rosen – Ryan Santana
Garrett Noonan – Patrick MacGregor
Sean Escobedo – Adam Clendening
Max Nicastro – Alexx Privitera
Kieran Millan

► Melissa Wade’s photogallery of last night’s BU win.

► WTBU Sports’ recap of last night’s win.

► Junior defenseman Sean Escobedo gave NESN viewers a tour of his game day routine in this video.

●Game notes
●Listen on WWZN radio Webcast
●Gametracker
●Hockey East weekend preview, live scoreboard
●College Hockey News’ Tale of the Tape/Top scorers and goalies , Tweetcast
●Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog

Women’s team
Terriers took on the Vermont Catamounts and came away with a 6-2 win led by captain Jenn Wakefield’s hattrick. Isabel Menard, Kayla Tutino and Jill Cardella also found the net for BU.

Terrier race away from Friars, 6-1

Sophomore Adam Clendening’s three assists and a goal and an assist each from junior Alex Chiasson and second-year players Matt Nieto and Garrett Noonan powered #2/3 BU to a 6-1 thumping of Providence College at Agganis Arena. Terriers rode a four-goal first period to a commanding league and then added a pair of power play goals in the final period. Other goal scorers were Sahir Gill, Alexx Privitera, and Ryan Santana (first of the season) as BU drove Alex Beaudry, a Terrier nemesis in the past, from the cage. Kieran Millan stopped 36 shots in the victory.

With BU's 11th victory in the past 13 games, Coach Jack Parker now has 400 career wins in Hockey East play.

Clendening 12 points (1 goal, 11 assists) in his past five games. Chiasson’s goal gave him 20 points on the season.

Terriers won the faceoff battle, 32-26, with Gill and Ben Rosen having strong nights.

●GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score , video highlights
● NESN highlights
●Boston Hockey Blog recap, analysis, feature on Clendening/Noonan
●Hockey East Online recap and NESN highlights
●USCHO recap
●College Hockey News’ The Take Away and box score
●Boston Globe recap
●Boston Herald recap

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored his 6th and 7th goals—the second a shorthander—while 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon added a pair of assists in Indiana’s 3-2 win against Chicago. Baillargeon now has 28 points in 29 games for the Ice.

2012 recruit Matt O’Connor stopped 32 of 34 in Youngstown’s 2-1 OT loss to Des Moines.
● Phantoms' recap and O'Connor photo

2012 recruit Sean Maguire turned aside 22 shots in Powell River’s 2-1 win against Cowichan Valley in BCHL action.

Looking back

Chris Bourque's 21st goal of the season was the game-winner in Hershey's 4-3 win over Binghamton. Bourque is second in AHL scoring behind Bears' teammate Keith Aucoin. Eric Gryba tallied an assist for the Senators.

Former BU All-American Colby Cohen assisted on the game-winner in the Providence Bruins' 3-2 win against Worcester.

Former BU center Luke Popko scored his seventh goal of the season in Bloomington’s 3-2 win over Missouri in CHL action Friday night.

NESN explored the question “Who is the best former Hockey East position player now in the NHL?” The reports' answers include several ex-Terriers.

Game Day: Terriers vs. Friars at Agganis

The #2/3 Terriers will be seeking to remain in first place in Hockey East and also avenge a 5-3 loss in their season-opener when they begin a home-and-home series with Providence College tonight at Agganis Arena. The game, which starts at 7:30 p.m., will be broadcast live by NESN.

Following last weekend’s two come-from-behind wins, BU is keeping its lineup virtually unchanged. Freshman Evan Rodrigues (photo), who scored his first collegiate goal in the 4-3 win against Northeastern, will again skate on right wing with Matt Nieto and Sahir Gill.

Terrier line-up:
Wade Megan – Chris Connolly – Alex Chiasson
Matt Nieto – Sahir Gill – Evan Rodrigues
Justin Courtnall – Cason Hohmann – Yasin Cissé
Ross Gaudet – Ben Rosen – Ryan Santana
Sean Escobedo – Adam Clendening
Garrett Noonan – Patrick MacGregor
Max Nicastro – Alexx Privitera
Kieran Millan

The Friars, following a fast start under new coach Nate Leaman, have a 9-9-2 record overall and are 3-6-1 in the past ten games. Alex Beaudry, always a challenge for BU, is expected to start in goal for Providence.

BU and Providence are the national co-leaders in shorthanded goals with 8.

Terrier head coach Jack Parker enters the weekend with 399 Hockey East victories on his resume.

●GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, game tracker
●Listen on WWZN radio Webcast
●Hockey East weekend preview, live scoreboard
●Daily Free Press preview
●College Hockey News’ Tale of the Tape/Top scorers and goalies , Hockey East weekend preview
●Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
●WTBU Sports preview
● Inside College Hockey feature on Terriers’ support of Autism Speaks
In an Oct. 2009 THFB post, former BU Sports Information Director Ed Carpenter related how the Terrier hockey team began its commitment to Autism Speaks
● Excalibur Sports feature on surging Terriers
● USCHO: Dave Starman commentary, Hockey East picks

Looking back
ESPN Special Presentation: Content of Character--Mike Grier

Looking ahead
Q&A interview with 2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon who will play in next Monday’s USHL Top Prospects game.

BU captain featured on INSIDE BU HOCKEY--Episode 13

Episode 13 of Inside BU Hockey is now available for listening online. Featured segments include Bernie Corbett’s conversations with Terrier head coach Jack Parker and Captain Chris Connolly, who scored twice to kickstart BU in Saturday’s 4-3 win against Harvard. Joining Bernie for the “Old Dogs” segment is Dan Ronan, a blueliner for two BU Frozen Four teams (1996 and 1997), brother of current Terrier Matt Ronan and cousin of former Terrier (and Stanley Cup winner) Ed Ronan.

Junior forward Ben Rosen is featured in a segment of the BU All-Access Radio show.

Head coach Jack Parker posted this thank you note on BU athletics Twitter applauding Terrier fans for their vocal support during away games at Northeastern and Harvard last game.

●College Hockey News’ Scott McLaughlin has posted the latest Hockey East Power Rankings.
●USCHO’s Jim Connelly’s This Week in Hockey East column explains why those who wrote off the Terriers following the loss of two key centers were sorely mistaken. There’s also information about the fifth annual Charity Beanpot Challenge, hosted by former Terrier Travis Roy.
●USCHO’s TMQ also addresses the Terriers’ recent success.
●Providence Athletics preview of the weekend home-and-home between BU and the Friars.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Jarrid Privitera, younger brother of freshman Alexx Privitera, led the The Gunnery School to a 7-1 win Tuesday against Trinity Pawling. The 5-6 forward, who was a 25-goal scorer during his junior season, is averaging 1.64 points per game (12-12-24 in 15 games) and leads the team in goals scored. The Highlanders have a 13-2-1 record this season. His coaches call him an "excellent two-way player---blocks shots, backchecks hard, good positioning."

The USHL has announced a free live Webcast of its 2012 NHL Top Prospects Game on Tuesday January 24 at 7:15 ET. Played in Muskegon, Michigan, the game will be Webcast by FASTHockey. 2012 recruit Robert Polesello and 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon, both skating for the Indiana Ice, will participate in the Prospects Game.

2012 recruit Mike Moran’s path from prep captain at Taft in 2010-11 to BU next fall has taken yet another turn. Moran participated in the Indiana Ice tryout camp this past summer—along with Polesello and Baillargeon—but eventually signed on with Penticton in the British Columbia Hockey League. His stay with the Vees was a short one as he was traded to the Victoria Grizzlies where he quickly established himself as a potent scorer recording 41 points in 33 games, including seven power play goals and four game-winners. A team decision to rebuild for the future sent several of the Grizzlies' top players to new clubs and Moran’s rights were acquired by the AJHL Spruce Grove Saints, the top team in the Albert Junior Hockey League and currently ranked #2 in Canadian Junior A. If the Saints name sounds familiar, it’s the program that developed BU netminder Kieran Millan and sent him to Commonwealth Avenue. Moran’s linemate on the Grizzlies’ 3M Line, 2012 recruit Wesley Myron, escaped the team’s trade deadline fire sale, but only because he’d suffered a season ending shoulder injury that required surgery. Myron and Moran will be back together next fall at BU.

Looking back
Former Terrier standout Brandon Yip has been acquired on waivers by the Predators from Colorado. Joining Nashville, he’ll be reunited with his Terrier linemate on the 2009 national championship team, Colin Wilson. The Predators had long coveted the right wing who had a strong rookie season with the Avalanche before injuries slowed his second and third pro seasons. Yip scored the championship-winning goals in both the 2006 and 2009 Hockey East Tournaments.

Nick Bonino registered two assists and earned second star honors in Anaheim’s 6-2 win against Phoenix. The former 50-point scorer for BU is skating on the Ducks’ third line, an all-college trio, with former Michigan forward Andrew Cogliano and former North Dakota star Jason Blake.

Women’s program
The Terriers seek to rebound from last weekend’s losses to Maine as they visit New Hampshire tonight. BU is 2-0-2 in its past four games against the Wildcats at the Whittemore Center. The 11-11-1 Terriers’s offense is led by captain Jenn Wakefield (27 points), freshman Kayla Tutino (19) and junior Isabel Menard (18). Sophomore Marie-Philip Poulin, who returned to the lineup last week, after missing first semester with a spleen injury, is on the shelf again, this time with shoulder problems.
●GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, Live Stats, WTBU Webcast, pay-per-view Webcast
● Daily Free Press preview, feature on Poulin.

Looking ahead: adding skill and muscle for the blueline

BU has a commitment for 2015 from Kimball Union freshman John MacLeod, a 6-2, 165 right shot defenseman. In 16 games for KUA, MacLeod, a Dracut, Mass. native who previously played at the Cardigan Mountain school, has an 0-9-9 line for the Wildcats who are the third-ranked prep hockey team in the Northeast. A standout at last summer’s USA Hockey Select 15 camp, he skated earlier this season for the Cleveland Barons Midget Minor team, recording three goals and two assists in 10 games.

U.S.Hockey Report quotes Mike Levine, his coach at KUA, as saying MacLeod “is a special talent because at 6’2” he can really skate, shoot the puck, and think the game at a high level, plus he’s tough and the loves the physical aspect of the game at such a young age – and that’s unique. He’s actually the toughest kid I have ever coached – and that includes the college level.”

MacLeod, who also visited Michigan, is expected to receive an invitation to the NTDP 40-man camp next March. If selected for the U17s roster, he could accelerate and join BU’s 2014 class.

Another KUA blueliner, 6’5”, 220 lb. junior Doyle Somerby will visit BU this week. He already has offers from Maine, UNH, UMass, and St. Lawrence. A ’94 birthdate, he was ranked #127 in NHL Central Scouting’s Midterm rankings—four spots ahead of 2013 recruit Brendan Collier.

Speaking of Malden Catholic’s captain, Collier talked with the Boston Herald about playing with pressure.




In this past weekend’s 5-3 Malden Catholic win against St. John’s Prep, Collier went head-to-head with Prep’s co-captain and 2013 recruit Sam Kurker who scored his 11th goal of the season. Collier tallied the game’s final goal.

Last night, Kurker, who was ranked #41 among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting’s midterm rankings for the 2012 draft, was on the BU campus—at Walter Brown Arena—showing why he’s so highly regarded—and scored a hattrick to lead the Eagles to a 5-1 win against Catholic Memorial, the alma mater of his future Terrier coaches, Jack Parker, Buddy Powers and Mike Bavis and future teammates Garrett Noonan and Marc Hetnik, Jr.

► Please note that we've added a link to U.S.Hockey Report to our sidebar list of links. USHR is recognized as one of the most authoritative sources of information about college hockey recruiting and U.S. junior and prep hockey players. It has been a key source for many of our posts about Terrier recruits. USHR is a subscription site.

Working with the BU and Northeastern coaching staffs, USHR recently held its first International Hockey Showcase at Walter Brown Arena and Matthews Arena. Featured teams included the Boston Junior Bruins, Boston Advantage and Ontario midget AAA teams Vaughan Kings and Toronto Marlboros. Among the top players at the event were several reportedly high up on BU’s recruiting radar: High-scoring Junior Bruins forward Jack Eichel, regarded as the top ’96 U.S. forward, and Vaughan power forward Michael Dal Colle, who previously had visited BU and whose sister plays for Niagara.

In an article about top Canadian junior prospects this past fall, USHR wrote that the 6-2, 180 Dal Colle is a “big, strong goal scorer who has drawn comparisons to Rick Nash. Brings some intangibles to the table as he is the captain of the Vaughn Kings. Considers himself a hybrid power forward/sniper, but admits that his footwork needs improvement.”

Expected to be a high OHL draft choice, Dal Colle also has played a number of games this season with the OJHL St. Michael's Buzzers. Last summer he was one of 24 top Canadian bantam players chosen by the NHLPA to a take part in the Allstate All-Canadians Mentorship program. He also has played for the East Coast Selects tournament team, whose alumni include former Terriers Colby Cohen, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Corey Trivino, current Terriers Alex Chiasson and Matt Nieto and future Terriers Robert Polesello (2012) and Kevin Duane (2013). He was the ’96 East Coast Selects Player of the Year in 2009.

Polls, Pairwise and Honors
BU’s pair of comeback wins this past weekend—4-3 against Northeastern and 4-3 OT against Harvard—vaulted the Terriers to the #2 spot in the USCHO weekly poll and #3 in the USA Today poll. BU also moved into third place in the Pairwise Rankings.

HockeyEastOnline named the Terriers its Team of the Week and recognized four Terriers— Chiasson, Adam Clendening, Chris Connolly and Wade Megan—in its list of weekly top performers.

Sophomore blueliner Noonan who scored the overtime game-winner against Harvard and had a plus-4 rating on the weekend, raised his team-best rating to plus-13, which is tied for third in Hockey East.

●USCHO Hockey East blog
●Boston Herald feature on college hockey a s breeding ground for referees including former Terriers John Melanson, a member of BU's 1978 national championship team, and Dick DeCaprio, Hockey East's Supervisor of Officials.

Terriers Overcome Another Deficit, Defeat Crimson in Overtime 4-3 -- UPDATED

For the second night in a row, the Terriers trailed by two after one period. However, three point nights for sophomore defenseman Adam Clendening (3 assists), junior forward Alex Chiasson (3 assists) and senior co-captain Chris Connolly (2 goals, 1 assist) were enough to force overtime where sophomore Garrett Noonan (photo) scored the game-winner. Connolly's first period goal was also his first of the season.

Harvard got on the board early in the first period courtesy of Alex Fallstrom, and BU's tying power-play goal by Chris Connolly late in the period was overcome quickly by two Harvard goals. BU finally pulled within one in the third period when Connolly got his second of the night, and Ben Rosen managed to tie the game late after a video review. Noonan ended the game 2:08 into sudden-death overtime with his game-winning goal.

• GoTerriers.com recap, box score
  
• Hockey East Online recap, box score
• Boston Hockey Blog recap, Connolly feature
• Boston Globe recap
• Boston Herald recap
• The Harvard Crimson recap
  
• Coach Parker post-game comments
  

Looking ahead

2012 goalie recruit Sean Maguire (2012) stopped all 36 shots he faced in the Powell River Kings 7-0 shutout victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in BCHL action last night.

Looking back

Eric Gryba netted his third goal of the season in a 6-4 loss for Binghamton against Hershey.

Game Day: BU Visits Harvard

The Terriers make the short trip to Harvard's Bright Hockey Center for a game against the Crimson, seeking their third straight victory. BU fell to the Crimson in the Beanpot Consolation Game last season despite two goals from Alex Chiasson (photo); the Terriers will also will face Harvard in the first round this season.

• WTBU preview
• Listen to WWZN radio broadcast
  
• Boston Hockey Blog live blog, Megan feature, Saponari interview

Women's team

The women's hockey team took on Maine once again, this time with two 3 pm games at Walter Brown Arena. Maine took the first game this afternoon, 3-2, but the two Terrier goals both game from sophomore forward Marie-Philip Poulin, who made her return today from injury that had kept her out since Oct. 1.

Terriers Defeat Huskies, 4-3 -- UPDATED

BU overcame a 2-0 first period deficit, scoring four straight goals and finishing with a 4-3 victory tonight at Matthews Arena against Northeastern. Junior forward Wade Megan paced the Terriers with two goals, and Kieran Millan stopped 31 of 34 shots.

The Huskies opened the scoring in the first period, with first two even-strength strikes from Alex Tuckerman and Ludwig Karlsson. BU answered in the second period with 3 goals less than 4 minutes apart. Adam Clendening's second goal of the season and Megan's first of the night collectively even the score at two apiece. To cap the second period scoring came the first collegiate tally for Terrier freshman Evan Rodrigues (photo), on the power play. In the third period, Wade Megan's second goal of the night and 10th of the season gave BU a two-goal lead. The Huskies managed to pull within a goal late in the game with a power play and extra attacker, garnering an assist for former Terrier Vinny Saponari, but BU came away with the win.

The next game for the Terriers will be tomorrow night against Harvard at Bright Hockey Center, 7 pm. Harvard will be fresh off a 2-0 loss to Union during the Frozen Fenway event tonight.

• GoTerriers.com recap, boxscore
• Boston Hockey blog recap
• Hockey East Online recap, boxscore
• USCHO recap
• Boston Globe recap
• Boston Herald recap
• Video highlights below, courtesy of Hockey East/NESN
  

Looking ahead

The USA U-18 team was defeated 4-3 by the Indiana Ice of the USHL, but future Terriers on both sides had a hand in the final score, as Matthew Lane scored a goal for Team USA and Robert Polesello and Robbie Baillargeon each had a helper for Indiana.

Meanwhile, 2012 goaltending recruit Matthew O'Connor and Youngstown fell 2-1 to the USA U-17 team, despite him saving 33 of 35 shots on the night.

Looking back

Adrian Aucoin's 2nd goal of the season didn't stop the Coyotes from falling 4-3 to Columbus, but it did confuse the play-by-play guy.

Game Day: Terriers Visit Matthews Arena

#6 BU will face off with Hockey East opponent Northeastern for the first time this season at Matthews Arena tonight. This will offer an opportunity to see former player Vinny Saponari (pictured), now with the Huskies after being dismissed from the team in May 2010. The Terriers went 2-1 against the Huskies in the 2010-2011 regular season, but it was Northeastern who defeated BU two games to one in the Hockey East quarterfinals, ending their season.

Tonight's contest will be broadcast on NESN, with BU looking to stay atop the Hockey East standings.

• GoTerriers.com preview, game notes
• Listen on WWZN radio broadcast
• Follow on NU Live Stats
• Hockey East live scoreboard
• Boston Hockey Blog preview
• NESN article on bouncing back from departures

Looking ahead
Central Scouting Service has released their midterm rankings, with several Terrier recruits appearing on the list.

• 41 - Sam Kurker (2013)
• 43 - Rob Baillargeon (2013)
• 112 - Danny O'Regan (2013)
• 123 - Kevin Duane (2013)
• 131 - Brendan Collier (2013)
• 133 - Matthew Lane (2012)

Looking back
A two assist night for Bryan Miller in a 3-0 Alaska victory has him third in scoring for defensemen in the ECHL.
Chris Bourque picked up yet another point in Hershey's 4-3 win over Charlotte, but he remains 2nd in AHL scoring behind current teammate Keith Aucoin.

Thursday Linkorama: Millan Honored Again

For the third time this season, Kieran Millan has been named the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week (league release). Millan stopped 42 of 44 shots faced last Friday against Merrimack College. Sahir Gill and Alexx Privitera were also honored.

• Boston University moved up to number 6 in both polls as a result of the victory against the Warriors (USCHO poll, USA Today poll).
• CHN Hockey East power rankings - BU moves up to #2
• USCHO Hockey East column

Women's team

Following the women's hockey team's 2-1 victory over Maine at Alfond Arena on Sunday, the team was named Team of the Week and freshman forward Kayla Tutino was honored as Rookie of the Week for the second time this season (GoTerriers release, Hockey East release).

Terriers Tie U-18, 3-3

Former U-18 player and current sophomore forward Matt Nieto (photo) led the way for BU with a goal and an assist as the Terriers and USA Under 18 team played to a 3-3 tie. Freshman Evan Rodrigues also recorded two assists in the effort for BU.

The U-18 opened the scoring with a goal from BU 2012 recruit Matthew Lane before three consecutive Boston University goals in a span of just over 5 minutes from freshman Alexx Privitera, Nieto, and junior Sean Escobedo. Team USA answered midway through the second period with a goal by North Dakota recruit Stefan Matteau, assisted by BU recruit Matt Grzelcyk. Finally, a third period goal by Nikolas Olsson of U-18 finished the scoring.

Grant Rollheiser started in net for BU and made 30 save on 33 shots faced. BU also put 48 shots on goal, including 17 in the 1st and 3rd periods, but a 45-save effort from USA netminder and University of Michigan commit Jared Rutledge kept the game to a tie.

• GoTerriers.com recap, box score, and video highlights
• Boston Hockey Blog recap and Ben Rosen feature
• WTBU Sports recap
• USCHO recap

• As the AHCA considers rule changes in college hockey once again, the Boston Herald asked Jack Parker for his opinions on 4 on 4 overtime as well as stricter penalty interpretations.

Looking back

College Hockey, Inc. has listed all former collegians in NHL front office positions. The list includes 13 names for Boston University: Ron Anderson, Joe Sacco, Bob Crocker, Mark Mullen, Jack Ferreira, Chris Kelleher, Paul Fenton, Jeff Kealty, Scott Lachance, Chris O'Sullivan, Mike Sullivan, Rick Meagher, and John Lilley.

Kevin Shattenkirk led the way offensively with a goal and assist for the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night en route to a 4-0 victory over his former team, the Colorado Avalanche.

Game Day: Exhibition vs. USA U-18

Tonight the #10/11 Terriers will play host to the USA Under 18 team in an exhibition matchup at Agganis Arena. BU last faced the U-18 team in October of 2009, in a game that saw the raising of banners in celebration of the 2008-09 NCAA championship. The Terriers have won the previous two games by 3-2 scores.

Of particular interest will be the play of two Boston University recruits, defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (pictured) and forward Matthew Lane, expected in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

The game is slated to start at 7 pm, and can be seen on BU All-Access (subscription).

TONIGHT'S LINEUP
Megan-Connolly-Chiasson
Nieto-Gill-Rodrigues
Courtnall-Hohmann-Cisse
Gaudet-Santana-Gilory
Nicastro-MacGregor
Noonan-Privitera
Escobedo-Ruikka
Rollheiser

● GoTerriers.com preview, WTBU, game-tracker
● Hockey East live scoreboard

Looking ahead
In last month’s Kasabuski Christmas Classic, 2013 recruit Brendan Collier scored four goals in Malden Catholic’s 8-1 thumping of Bishop Fenwick in the semifinals. The next night in the championship game, the BU- bound Malden Catholic captain added a goal and an assist in a 4-3 overtime win against St. Mary’s of Lynn.

2013 recruit Sam Kurker scored twice and added an assist in St. John’s Prep’s 5-3 loss to BC High.

Looking back
Once again Chris Bourque found the scoresheet against Adirondack, this time netting a goal and assist in a 5-2 win for Hershey Saturday night.

One former BU captain in Sean Sullivan scored a goal for Worcester assisted by another, John McCarthy, but they fell 5-2 to Colby Cohen and the Providence Bruins.

Eric Gryba assisted on a 3rd period tying goal for Binghamton, but they ultimately fell, 3-2 to Rochester.

Defenseman Bryan Miller scored his sixth goal of the season in Alaska’s 2-1 shootout win over Utah. Miller, who has averaged 40 points for each of the past three seasons, has 27 points in 36 games for the Aces.

Pete MacArthur’s five-point night—2 goals, 3 assists—led the Las Vegas Outlaws to a 7-4 win over Colorado in ECHL action. MacArthur’s second goal—and 10th of the season—was the game-winner. He has 28 points in 21 games.

Terriers double-up Warriors, 4-2--UPDATED

Three first-period goals and sharp goaltending by senior netminder Kieran Millan put the Terriers in the win column for their first outing of 2012 with a 4-2 win against Merrimack. After the Warriors drew first blood early in the opening period, BU struck twice inside of a minute. Justin Courtnall converted his own rebound in close after a Cason Hohmann entry pass. Then, on a power play, captain Chris Connolly found Alex Chiasson for a redirect. BU scored on another man-advantage late in the period when Matt Nieto’s pass connected with Alexx Privitera streaking in from the point to score his second goal of the season and stretch the lead to 3-1.

Merrimack narrowed the margin to one with a power play marker, but Sahir Gill’s one-timer off a Max Nicastro pass restored the two-goal edge. Merrimack turned up the pressure in the final period, but Millan turned aside all 20 shots (and 42 for the game).

For the Terriers it was their 8th win in the 10 games since a tough 3-2 overtime loss to the Warriors in early November.

The win also slides BU into first place in Hockey East, a point ahead of BC, although the Eagles, who play at Merrimack Sunday, have a game in hand.

►A visitor to Agganis Arena—and Bernie Corbett’s on-air guest between the second and third periods—was former Terrier Dave Tomlinson. “Sniper,” who later played 15 years of professional hockey in the NHL and in Europe, is in his second season as color analyst on Vancouver Canuck radio broadcasts. Last winter, Tomlinson did a Q&A interview with The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog.

● Go Terriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Post game comments (video): Parker, Chiasson/Gill
● Boston Hockey Blog recap
● USCHO recap
● CHN’s Takeaway
● WTBU Sports recap
● Boston Herald recap
● Boston Globe recap

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Sean Maguire stopped 30 shots and earned first-star honors in Powell River’s 3-1 win against Surrey.

2012 recruit Mike Moran scored the game-winner (his 4th GWG and 18th goal overall) in a 4-3 Victoria win against Vernon. 2012 recruit Wesley Myron assisted on Moran’s goal and also scored his 17th goal of the season.

2012 recruit Matthew O’Connor stopped 21 of 22 shots in Youngstown’s 7-3 win against Muskegon, earning his 15th win of the season.

2012 recruit Robert Polesello assisted on the game-winner in Indiana’s 3-2 win against Waterloo.

Looking back
David Van der Gulik scored his first goal of the season—and second career NHL goal—in Colorado’s 4-0 shutout of Chicago.

Chris Bourque had a hand in all three Hershey goals, scoring once (his 19th) and assisting on two, but the Bears fell, 4-3, to Adirondack.

Dave Warsofsky assisted on the game-winning goal in Providence's 4-1 win over Portland.

John McCarthy scored his ninth goal of the season in Worcester's 4-3 loss to Springfield.

Game Day: BU vs. Merrimack

#10/11 Terriers resume conference play tonight hosting #7/6 Merrimack at Agganis Arena in a 7 p.m. start. This is the teams’ second meeting of the season. On Nov. 11, BU lost a hard-fought game to the Warriors, 3-2 in overtime (video), when a highly questionable penalty call in the final minutes of regulation gave the ‘Mack a power play during which it tied the game.

BU welcomes Adam Clendening back into the lineup after spend two weeks with the U.S. Junior National Team at the World Junior Championships. Junior Ryan Ruika will sit out tonight for BU. On the forward lines, Chris Connolly will move to center on BU’s top line, with Wade Megan and Alex Chiasson, while Sahir Gill becomes the second line pivot with wingers Matt Nieto and Evan Rodrigues. Yasin Cissé is right wing on the third line with Cason Hohmman and Justin Courtnall. Ryan Santana, recovered from a shoulder injury, makes his first start of the season.

Tonight's lineup

Megan-Connolly-Chiasson
Nieto-Gill-Rodrigues
Courtnall-Hohmann-Cissé
Gaudet-Rosen-Santana
Noonan-Privitera
Nicastro-MacGregor
Escobedo- CLendening
Milan

Tonight’s game is Web accessible on BU All-Access (subscription).

BU has a second game this weekend, an exhibition Sunday night against the U.S. NTDP U18s, giving Terrier fans a look at a pair of future Terriers: 2012 recruit Matthew Lane, a forward, and 2013 recruit, Matt Grzelcyk, a defenseman.

►USCHO’s Jim Connelly found a bright spot for BU in the Terriers’ loss to Notre Dame last Saturday. In his This Week in Hockey East column, he wrote:

Though the Terriers lost 5-2 to Notre Dame on New Year’s Eve, it seemed that Sahir Gill (photo) was auditioning to become the team’s most potent scorer. Gill played like a man possessed, certainly one of the best offensive players on the ice for the Terriers.

● GoTerriers.com preview, gametracker, All-Access Webcast, WWZN Radio Webcast.
● Boston Hockey Blog preview and Parker comments about injured Minnesota prep player.
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog

● Warrior Rink Rat preview/tale of the tape

● Hockey East Online live scoreboard
● College Hockey News Tale of the Tape, Tweetcast

►Inside BU Hockey-Episode 11- features Bernie Corbett’s interview with Coach Jack Parker, assistant captain Justin Courtnall and Jacques Joubert, captain of BU’s 1994-95 national championship team, who scored the game-winner in the title game against Maine, 6-2 (video).

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Robert Polesello and 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon, both currently with the Indiana Ice, have been selected to play in the USHL Prospects Game . The game, set for Jan. 24 in Muskegon, showcases the top USHL players eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

2012 recruit Matthew O’Connor stopped 19 shots in regulation and three more in the shootout as Youngstown edged Muskegon, 4-3, in USHL action. O’Connor now has 14 wins, second best in the USHL, to go with a 2.57 GAA.

It’ll be a Three Future-Dog Night in Vernon, B.C. at the Vipers hosts the Victoria Grizzlies. Vernon D-man Marc Hetnik, Jr., will likely find himself defending against his future teammates, Wesley Myron and Mike Moran, two of the Grizzlies top-scoring forwards. All three are 2012 recruits.
● Victoria Chamber of Commerce feature on Myron and teammate Wade Murphy, a Merrimack recruit.

Looking back
Former Terrier Mark Bavis, killed aboard United Flight 175 in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, had his jersey number retired by the Hyde Park Youth league yesterday at Bajko Rink in Hyde Park.. The ceremony preceded the annual Mark Bavis Memorial Cup game in which Catholic Memorial, Bavis’ alma mater, defeated Xaverian, 4-0.

Sports Illustrated’s Pierre Maguire, evaluating the trade last season that sent Kevin Shattenkirk from Colorado to St. Louis, notes that “most scouts and coaches view the 22-year-old Shattenkirk as perhaps the best player in the deal and a key force for the Blues going forward.”

Former BU co-captain Joe Pereira scored for the South Carolina Stingrays in a 6-3 loss to the Florida Everblades.

Wednesday Linkorama

● National polls: Following the loss to Notre Dame, Terriers fell in both polls--to 10th in USCHO and 11th in USA Today.
●USCHO Weekly Hockey East blog
●CHN Hockey East Power Rankings

World Junior Championships
Team USA won its relegation round semi-final game against Latvia, 12-2 at the World Junior Championships. Adam Clendening scored his first goal of the tournament and added an assist. The U.S. plays Switzerland today for seventh place in the event.
● United States of Hockey recap, preview of Switzerland game

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr., is the current featured profile on Vernon Vipers TV. Like current Terrier Garrett Noonan, Hetnik followed up his career at Catholic Memorial with a year in the BCHL on the Vipers' blueline.


Looking back
The annual Mark Bavis Memorial Cup game will be played tomorrow. This year's game matches Bavis' alma mater, Catholic Memorial and Xaverian.

Terrier Trivia
Ten days ago we posted six trivia questions about the 1978 BU national championship team. The answers:
1. John Melanson refereed in the ECAC for 21 years.
2. Four transfers were Dick Lamby (Salem State), Scott Nieland (North Dakota) John Corriveau (UNH) and Jim Craig (Massasoit Community College).
3. Six who played in the NHL: Lamby, Craig, Jack O'Callahan, Dave Silk, John Bethel, Paul Miller.
4. Post-9/11 rescue and recovery: Darryl McLeod.
5. Four U.S. Olympians: Lamby, Craig, O'Callahan, Silk
6. Two NCAA coaches: Brian Durocher (BU Women), Bill O'Neill (Salem State)

No luck against the Irish

Terriers fell to Notre Dame, 5-2 in an uneven effort marked by defensive lapses and turnovers. Assistant captain Justin Courtnall (photo) gave BU it’s only lead of the night late in the opening period converting a rebound after Cason Hohmann had put a shot on goal right from the draw in the faceoff circle.

The game turned early in the second period when Notre Dame scored three times in the first seven minutes, tying the score on a power play, then extending the lead to 3-1, despite a two-period shot advantage of 23-15 for BU. In the final period, Notre Dame outshot the Terriers19 to nine, adding two more goals before junior Wade Megan’s shorthanded goal closed out the scoring.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● The Boston Blog recap; analysis
Post game comments: Jack Parker; Megan/Chris Connolly
● Video highlights

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored a power play goal and 2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon added two assists in Indiana's 3-0 win against Youngstown, whose goalie, 2012 recruit Matt O'Connor, stopped 29 shots. Polesello's goal was his sixth of the season to go with eight assists.

Delivering a second strong effort in three nights, 2012 goalie recruit Sean Maguire stopped 26 shots in Powell River's 5-1 win against Alberni Valley.

Looking back
Former BU blueliner Colby Cohen's slapshot produced the Providence Bruins' only goal in a 2-1 loss to the Manchester Monarchs.

Former Terrier Chris O’Sullivan—a second team All-American and high-scoring forward on BU’s 1995 national champions—is a member of the Boston Police Department hockey team that beat the Philadelphia P.D. 9-2 in a Winter Classic game at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. O’Sullivan, who played 62 NHL games and now is an Islanders scout, helped the BPD will a silver medal at the World Police & Fire Games in San Jose this past September.

World Junior Championships
Team USA dropped a 3-2 decision to Canada on Saturday as preliminary round play came to an end. After Canada established a 3-0 lead, Charlie Coyle scored his fourth goal of the tournament to initiate a U.S. comeback that fell a goal short.