BC edges BU, 3-2, for Beanpot title

In a game that had the feel of post-season tournament play, Terriers fell to BC, 3-2 in overtime, in last night's 60th Beanpot championship. Both BU goals were scored on power plays by sophomore Garrett Noonan, while BC's two goals in regulation were a shorthander and a power play goal. The game winner, scored by Bill Arnold, came with seven seconds left a 20-minute overtime that saw both Wade Megan and BC's Brian Dumoulin hit iron.

Terrier goalie Kieran Millan stopped 44 BC shots--15 in the first period--and earned the tournament's Eberly Award ( top save percentage in tournament) In his final two Beanpot appearances, the senior netminder stopped 73 of the 77 shots for a .948 save percentage.

● GoTerriers.com recap, comprehensive box score, photo gallery
● Video highlights
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, analysis, slide show
● USCHO recap , feature
● HockeyEastOnline recap

● BU Today recap

● Boston Herald recap and Millan feature
● Boston Globe recap
● College Hockey News’ The Take Away

Looking back
Thanks to the blog reader who pointed out that John McCarthy was recalled by San Jose and has skated in nine games in recent weeks.

Game Day: BU vs. BC for all the Beans!

#2 BU takes on #3 BC at 7:30 tonight at TD Garden in the 60th Beanpot Championship. The two team have met for the venerable silver trophy seven previous times since 2000, with BU winning in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Terriers are playing in the championship game for the 26th time in the past 29 seasons.

Terriers have previously taken two out of three regular season Hockey East meetings.

Kieran Millan holds the record for most Beanpot starts by a BU goalie with seven and is one win away from tying for the record for most wins (5) with John Curry, Sean Fields, Scott Cashman and Brian Durocher. Among active Terriers, Alex Chiasson leads in Beanpot points with four including three goals. Wade Megan also has three goals.

BU's lineup

Nieto-Connolly-Chiasson

Megan-Rosen-Gill

Courtnall-Hohmann-Rodrigues

Gaudet-Santana-Gilroy
Escobedo-Clendening
Noonan-MacGregor
Nicastro-Ruikka

Millan

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, Gametracker
● Listen to WWZN radio Webcast
● NESN.com: Justin Courtnall video interview, 60 Top Beanpot moments
● Boston Globe preview
● Boston Herald feature on goalies
●Hockey East live scoreboard
● Daily Free Press preview
● NHL.com feature on Beanpot final
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● Wall Street Journal feature
● College Hockey News’ Tale of the Tape/Top scorers and goalies
● ESPN Beanpot preview
● BU Nationwide 2012 Beanpot Champions Watch Parties

Looking ahead
2013 recruit Sam Kurker scored three times in St. John’s Prep’s 4-3 win [Note: Scroll down for Kurker video interview]against Catholic Memorial. It was Kurker’s second hattrick this year against CM, whose alumni include Terrier head coach Jack Parker and assistants Mike Bavis and Buddy Powers.

2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored his 10th goal and 2013 recruit Rob Baillargeon assisted on three goals in Indiana’s 6-5 win against Muskeon.

2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr., recorded his 11th assist for Vernon in a 3-1 loss to Chilliwack.

Looking back
Colin Wilson and Brandon Yip, now with Nashville, were in Boston to play the Bruins this weekend. Wilson talked with NESN about his Beanpot memories.

Women's program
Terriers completed a weekend sweep of Vermont by beating the Catamounts, 4-1, yesterday at Walter Brown Arena. Captain Jenn Wakefield scored twice and Shannon Mahoney and Tara Watchorn also added goals. On Saturday, BU doubled up Vermont 8-4 behind two goals apiece by Isabel Menard and Wakefield.
● Go Terriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● Coach Brian Durocher post-game comments

Minutemen trap Terriers, 3-2

UMass combined strong goaltending from freshman Kevin Boyle with aggressive forecheck that disrupted BU's offensive flow to earn a 3-2 victory over the Terriers at Agganis Arena. The loss dropped BU into a second-place tie with BC, a point behind Lowell, which beat Merrimack.

Despite being outshot 15-6 in the first period, UMass was even with BU at 1-1, having scored on a power play rebound before Chris Connolly tapped home a loose puck in the crease.

In the second period, the shots were nearly even, with the visitors holding a 14-13 edge, but their defensive tactics kept BU out of sync. After another power play goal put UMass on top, Ben Rosen, on a strong individual effort , got past a defender for a close-in chance on Boyle, but flipped the puck over the cage.

UMass continued to styme the Terriers in the third period and only Kieran Millan's acrobatics kept the score close. Meanwhile, Boyle stoned Matt Nieto on a breakaway. With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, BU pressed to tie the score, but a pass glanced off a Minuteman skate, leading to an empty net goal with 55 seconds left. Alex Chiasson banged home an extra attacker goal with 4.5 seconds remaining, but the best BU could do after that was a long shot on goal as the buzzer sounded.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Jack Parker post-game comments (video)
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, analysis, slide show
● USCHO recap
● Boston Herald recap
● Boston Globe recap

● College Hockey News’ The Take Away

CHECK BACK FOR MORE COVERAGE

Game Day: BU-UMass and a 40 year anniversary

Terriers take on UMass in the ever-dangerous game between Beanpot outings. Tonight's game will be punctuated by ceremonies marking the 40th anniversary of BU’s second NCAA Championship team in 1971-72. See details below.

UMass makes its second visit of the year to Agganis Arena on a four-game skid, following a four-game unbeaten streak that included a 4-0 shutout of BC. Both BU-UMass games back in October went to overtime, with a 2-2 tie the first night in Amherst and a 5-4 BU win the second night on Matt Nieto’s power play goal. TJ Syner and Mike Pereira lead the Minutemen with 11 goals each, while Conor Sheary and Daniel Hobbs each have nine.

Nieto (photo) and assistant captain Alex Chiasson lead BU with 27 points each while captain Chris Connolly is just behind them at 26. Wade Megan, following his two-goal outing against Harvard, tops the Terriers with 14.

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, Gametracker
● Listen to WWZN radio Webcast
● Watch BU All-Access Webcast (subscription)
● Hockey East live scoreboard
● Daily Free Press preview
● USCHO Hockey East picks
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● College Hockey News’ Tale of the Tape/Top scorers and goalies
● College Hockey News: Hockey East Weekend
● Hockey East Online weekend preview

Looking Back at BU’s Repeat National Champions
Between the first and second periods, BU will honor the 1971-72 squad, which won the NCAA title in Boston Garden on March 18, 1972. The 1970-71 team, which won BU’s first national title, also will be recognized.

Eighteen players skated for both teams, including All-Americans John Danby, Bob Brown and Dan Brady, as well as tonight’s opposing head coach, Don Cahoon. The two championship seasons also were the final seasons of Head Coach Jack Kelley's BU coaching tenure

1971-72
● Repeat Champions—Season Highlights
● Team stats
● Terrier Locker Room Confidential by David Warner (BU ’73)
● Voices of the 1971-72 Terriers
● 1972 NCAA Championship Game Program Cover
● Terriers first on-campus hockey home turns 40
● National Championship Game video highlights
● Sports Illustrated recap

1970-71
● The Vagabond Champions by USCHO's Scott Weighart
● Team stats
● National Championship Game highlights
● Sports Illustrated recap

Thursday Linkorama

Junior Assistant Captain Alex Chiasson, who co-leads the Terriers in scoring with 27 points, was the subject of this week’s Hockey East One line “Five Minute Major” video interview.

Hockey East Online also is inviting fans to watch and vote on the best “moves of the week.” Wade Megan’s second goal in Monday’s Beanpot win against Harvard is one of this week’s choices.

BU may be in the top spot in the national rankings and pairwise, but College Hockey News has them at #2 in its Hockey East power rankings.

Episode 16 of Inside BU Hockey, now available here, features Bernie Corbett’s interviews with head coach Jack Parker, sophomore defenseman Patrick MacGregor, and, in the “Old Dogs” segment, Steve Stirling, captain of the 1970-71 squad. A former head coach at Providence College and for the New York Islanders, and now assistant coach for the AHL Binghamton Senators, Stirling was an All-American his senior year, scoring 70 points ( 27-43) to lead the Terriers to their first national championship. He is a member of the BU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Along with tomorrow’s Game Day post, look for a number of special features in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the 1971-1972 national championship team, which will be marked at Agganis Arena during Friday's UMass game. The 1970-71 squad, BU’s first national champs, also will be recognized during the game.

Looking ahead
BU 2013 recruits Brendan Collier and Sam Kurker, respectively the captains of Malden Catholic and St. John’s Prep, are the top two Massachusetts high school scorers. Collier line is 18-24-42 and Kurker has put up 21-20-41. Both are seniors and will play a season of junior hockey before arriving at Commonwealth Avenue.

Powell River Kings goalie Sean Maguire, a 2012 recruits was runner up for BCHL goalie of the week after his two-win, 0.94 GAA, .969 save % performance.

The U.S. NTDP U18s are in Finland for the 2012 Five Nations Tournament and United State of Hockey blogger Chris Peters profiles several team members he feels could have breakout showings there, including 2012 recruits Matt Grzelcyzk and Matthew Lane.

Looking back
Former Terrier and NHL standout Scott Young talked with The Boston Globe about his first two seasons as head coach at his alma mater, St. Mark’s School, where he has led a turnaround.

Nick Bonino’s fourth goal of the season (video) earned him second-star honors in the Ducks’ 3-2 overtime win against Carolina.

NHL.com discusses Ryan Whitney’s return to the Edmonton Oilers’ lineup after his latest injury.

Colin Wilson scored his 11th goal of the season Tuesday night to get the Predators on the board against Vancouver. The game went to a shootout and Wilson, who earned second-star honors, had a chance to keep Nashville alive, but his shot that beat goalie Roberto Luongo slid wide of the net.

Terriers overcome Crimson, skate into Beanpot title game

Photo credit, Aram Boghosian, The Boston Globe.

A pair of second-period goals by junior Wade Megan and stellar netminding by senior Kieran Millan propelled BU past Harvard in the Beanpot opener, 3-1. For the 16th time in 18 years—and 49th time in 60 years—Terriers will skate in the Beanpot championship game, taking on BC, which easily dispatched Northeastern.

Terriers got on the board in the first period on sophomore Matt Nieto's wrap-around goal, his 11th of the season. Assists went to Alex Chiasson and Sean Escobedo. Meanwhile Millan kept the Crimson at bay with several slick saves, including one on a shorthanded breakaway by freshman Colin Blackwell.

7:30 into the middle period, Megan took a Sahir Gill pass at the right post and slipped the puck past goalie Steve Michalek for a power play goal. Escobedo picked up his second assist. Six-and-a-half minutes later, Megan walked out of the left corner into the crease and backhanded a shot past Michalek for his team-leading 14th marker of the campaign. Gill assisted on the goal, which recalled a Nick Bonino score against Harvard in the 2009 Beanpot semi.

Harvard got on the board on a power play late in the second period after Chiasson partially fanned on a clearing attempt. Millan turned away ten Crimson shots in a penalty-free third period for game total of 29 saves. Senior Kevin Gilroy nearly extended BU's lead early in the third when his shot clanged off the post.

Captain Chris Connolly on Megan's two-goal game:

"He's not afraid to go in front of the net and bang home greasy goals. Somebody's got to do that. I think that's the key to a good power play and the reason why we've been pretty successful as of late. You don't see a lot of pretty goals on the power play. Wade stands in that crease
area and isn't afraid to get his nose dirty, and he's obviously been rewarded with a lot of time out there.

● GoTerriers.com recap, comprehensive box score, photo gallery
● Video highlights
● Daily Free Press recap, analysis, slide show
● USCHO recap and Megan feature
● BU Today recap
● New England Hockey Journal recap
● Hockey East Online recap
● Boston Globe recap
● Boston Herald recap, notebook
● College Hockey News’ Megan feature, The Take Away
● ESPN Boston recap

► The game was the 100th career game for Megan, whose 14 goals are one more than his freshman and sophomore totals combined.

► Six years ago last night, BU beat Harvard in the Beanpot semi, 5-3, when then-freshman Chris Higgins scored a highlight-reel goal. (video)

► Top ranked-BU improved its overall record to 17-8-1

►One blog reader pointed out that for 60th year, there will be no Harvard-Northeastern matchup in a championship game.

Back to the Garden--UPDATED

The #1 ranked Terriers will seek to take the first step toward a 30th Beanpot title when they take on Harvard tonight in the first game (5:00 p.m.) of the Beanpot semis at TD Garden. The 60th renewal of college hockey’s iconic in-season tournament will air on NESN.

BU’s all-time record in Beanpot games is 84-34 (.712). The Terrier’s last Beanpot title came in 2009 when they beat Northeastern, 5-2, on the strength of a goal by MVP Nick Bonino and two shorthanded goals on the same penalty.

In last month’s meeting between BU and the Crimson, the Terriers registered a come-from-behind win, capped by Garrett Noonan’s overtime winner.

Captain Chris Connolly, and juniors Alex Chiasson and Wade Megan (photo) lead BU in scoring with 26 points apiece. Alex Killorn is the top Crimson scorer with 29.

Defenseman Max Nicastro, injured during the Maine series, returns to the BU blueline tonight.

Connolly told BU Today:

You want the team to have the same outlook game-in and game-out and create consistency, but it’s hard not to have a little more excitement for a tournament like that. You’re playing on national TV and in front of very big crowds that you’re not used to, so I think all the teams are pretty jacked up to play.

BU'S LINEUP
Nieto-Connolly-Chiasson
Megan-Gill-Hohmann
Courtnall-Rosen-Rodrigues
Gaudet-Santana-Gilroy
Noonan-MacGregor
Escobedo-Clendening
Nicastro-Ruikka
Millan

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, Gametracker
● Listen to WWZN radio Webcast
● Hockey East live scoreboard
Boston Hockey Blog in-game blog and Beanpot luncheon videos
● Daily Free Press preview
● BU Today preview
● Beanpot Web site
● Patriot Ledger preview
● Boston Globe feature on Connolly/leadership
● Boston Herald preview and Travis Roy feature
● USCHO Hockey East Blog
● College Hockey News preview and feature

Terriers took over the top spot in USCHO's weekly poll, just ahead of Minnesota, although the Gophers have more first-place votes. They are second in the USA Today poll. BU, which is now third in INCH’s power rankings, has regained the top spot in the Pairwise rankings, too.

Four Terriers were named to HockeyEast's top performers list for the week: Connolly, Chiasson, Matt Nieto and Kieran Millan.

Broadcast Schedule update
Hockey East announced that the Feb. 18 BU home game against Lowell has been added to the NESN broadcast schedule. The matchup between the teams now first and second in Hockey East standings begins at 7 p.m.

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Mike Moran scored a goal and an assist for the Bay State Breakers in an 8-4 loss to Boston in EJHL action. It’s been a Long and Winding Road this season for the former Taft School captain. After attending an Indiana Ice tryout camp this past summer, Moran spent four-and-a-half months in the BCHL, briefly with Penticton, then with Victoria where he became a top scorer, often skating on the top lineline with 2012 recruit Wes Myron. Moran rang up an 18-28-46 line in the BCHL, but his Canadian Jr. A rights were traded to AJHL Spruce Grove in the Grizzlies’ fire sale last month. The Marshfield, Mass., native instead returned home and joined the Breakers and has four points in seven games.

2012 recruit Robert Polesello scored his ninth goal of the seaon, but it was the only Indiana score as the Ice fell, 6-1, to Dubuque.

2012 recruit Matt O’Connor stopped 35 of 28 shots in Youngstown’s 4-3 win against Cedar Rapids, with his fifth win in his past six starts, O’Connor is tied for the USHL lead in wins with 20.

2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr., picked up his 10th assist of the season as Vernon thumped Alberni Valley, 5-2.

Powell River Kings goalie coach Jeff Battah tweeted that “Since Jan 10, [2012 recruit] Sean Maguire @PRKingsBCHL / Boston Univ. NCAA has posted a 7-0 record with a 1.39 GAA and a .947 Save %.”

BU Recruiting Class stats : Maguire (2.34/.912) Myron (17g-25a) Polesello (9g-12a) Matthew Lane (9g-8a) Jarrid Privitera (15g-15a) O'Connor (2.68/.911)

Women’s team
Behind a goal and four assists from junior Isabel Menard, the streaking Terriers headed North to the Whittemore Center Saturday night and came home with a 5-1 win against New Hampshire.

BU also received goals from captain Jenn Wakefield –her 19th—Kayla Tuttino, Tara Watchorn and Louis Warren. Kerrin Sperry stopped 22 Wildcat shots. Terriers are now tied for third in the conference, four points behind second-place BC, and six points behind Northeastern, whom BU will face on Wednesday in the Women's Beanpot championship game at Walter Brown Arena.
● GoTerriers.com recap
● Comprehensive box score
● HockeyEastOnline recap
● Daily Free Press recap

Captain leads the way to 4-1 win

Terriers returned to the winning side of the ledger, defeating Merrimack, 4-1, in a victory fueled by a new top line. Matt Nieto, joined with Chris Connolly and Alex Chiasson to produce three goals. Connolly gave BU an early lead just a minute and a half in, assisted by both his linemates.

In the middle stanza, Sahir Gill snapped home an Adam Clendening slap-pass to double the lead. Then Connolly, on a 3-on-2 rush, set up Chiasson for a one-timer from the right circle. The captain closed out the scoring with a third-period power play goal, his second of the night. Kieran Millan kept the Warriors off the scoresheet for 58+ minutes before Mike Collins converted a rebound left unattended by BU’s defense. He stopped 28 Merrimack shots.



The 60-minute effort pleased Coach Jack Parker:

I was really happy with how we played tonight. We were very, very thorough in all three zones. In this rink, things happen first, and we were very, very alert to that. I thought we got great goaltending. When you get four goals on Cannata, you had a real good night. That was a real good effort for us, in every phase.

Connolly, who was BU’s active career points leader against Merrimack going into the game with 10, had three more and earned first-star honors. Nieto also had three points—all assists—while Clendening continued to pile up assists, recording his 21st and 22nd.

Both Chiasson’s and Gill’s goals were their 10th of the season.

With the victory, BU wins the season series against Merrimack, 2-1, and moves the Terriers into sole possession of first place in Hockey East, two points ahead of BC.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Connolly post-game comments (video)
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, analysis,
● USCHO recap
● Hockey East Online recap
● Boston Globe recap
● College Hockey News’ The Take Away

60th Beanpot Tournament
Monday evening, Terriers meet Harvard in the early game, a 5 p.m. start, as they seek their 30th Beanpot title.
● The BU Alumni Association is staging Beanpot Watch parties throughout the country. Click here for locations and details.
● ESPN feature on The Beanpot

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Sean Maguire earned first-star honors, turning aside 38 of 39 shots in Powell River’s 2-1 overtime victory over Nannaimo. Maguire lowered his GAA to 2.27, second best in the BCHL.

2012 recruit Matt O’Connor stopped 24 shots in Youngstown’s 5-3 win against Dubuque, picking up his 19th win—second best in the USHL.

Game Day: BU vs. Merrimack

#3 BU takes on #4 Merrimack in North Andover tonight in a crucial Hockey East matchup. Currently, BU is in first place, two points ahead of fourth-place Merrimack, however, the Warriors have two games in hand. And the winner of tonight’s game will win the season’s series, that being the first criteria in case a tiebreaker is needed for the final standings.

Merrimack won the first game in November, 3-2 in overtime, while BU took the second game in January, 4-2.
The game pits two of the nation’s top goalies, BU’s Kieran Millan and MC’s Joe Cannata, against each other. The two are the active national leaders in career wins with 74 and 55 respectively.

BU captain Chris Connolly (photo) leads current Terriers in career scoring against Merrimack with 10 points (5+5), while Alex Chiasson has 6 (1+5). Connolly has a seven-game point-scoring streak. Ryan Flanigan is Merrimack’s scoring leader this season with 20 points.

The 7 p.m. game will air locally on WBIN and nationally on Fox College Sports-Pacific.

Max Nicastro and Alexx Privitera are out with injuries. Terriers will again rotate five defensemen, with Ben Rosen available to shift back to the blueline if needed.

BU Lineup
Nieto-Connolly-Chiasson
Megan-Gill-Hohmann
Courtnall-Rosen-Rodrigues
Gaudet-Santana-Gilroy
Noonan-MacGregor
Escobedo-Clendening
Ronan-Ruikka
Millan

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, Live Stats
● Listen to WWZN radio Webcast
● Hockey East live scoreboard
● Daily Free Press preview
● Warrior Rink Rat preview
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● College Hockey News’ Tale of the Tape/Top scorers and goalies

Looking ahead
The Hockey News has posted its rankings (with comments) of the top high school players eligible for the 2012 draft. Two BU 2013 recruits are among the top 10.
#6 Sam Kurker -- Wicked shot, great size; skates well for a big man.
#8 Brendan Collier -- Undersized and edgy; a leader with passion.

Looking back
After several trips back to the AHL, Anaheim's Nick Bonino has claimed a spot as the Duck’s third-line center.

Thursday Linkorama

Inside BU Hockey—Episode 15 is now available for listening. Bernie Corbett interviews Coach Jack Parker, senior goalie Kieran Millan and Dennis O’Connell, captain of BU’s 1965-66 team, the first Final Four squad of the Jack Kelley era.

Parker issued this apology for the actions resulting in his ejection from Saturday's game against Maine.

● WTBU Sports: Three Things We Learned Last Weekend
● USCHO’s This Week in Hockey East blog: games in hand a big factor
● HockeyEastOnline’s Weekend preview

Looking ahead
College Hockey Prospective profiles 2013 recruit Sam Kurker, captain of St. John’s Prep.

Wednesday night, 2013 recruit Kevin Duane (3g,1a) led The Brunswick School to an 8-2 drubbing of Portledge. The 6'4" wing has 16 goals and 13 assists on the season. He’ll join with 6'2" Kurker and 6'5" Doyle Somerby to give BU an injection of size to go with Danny O'Regan, Brendan Collier and Robbie Baillargeon in the 2013 class.

Women’s team
On the strength of eight goals and seven assists in January,Captain Jenn Wakefield was named Hockey East Player of the Month. Freshman Kayla Tutino was runner-up for top rookie.
● GoTerriers.com report
● HockeyEastOnline report

Hockey Humanitarian Award

Five finalists for the 2012 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management, have been announced: Norwich (D-III) defenseman Shawn Baker, Yale women's forward Aleca Hughes, Colgate defenseman Kevin McNamara, St. Anselm (D-III) forward Tucker Mullin, and Miami goaltender Cody Reichard. The winner will be revealed in Tampa on April 6, during the Frozen Four.

Women storm into Beanpot Final

The Terrier Women’s team thumped Harvard, 5-2, in the Women’s Beanpot first round, earning the chance to do what no BU squad—men or women—has done: win a Beanpot title on home ice. Terriers will matchup next Wednesday at Walter Brown Arena against Northeastern, which claimed a shootout win over BC following a 1-1 overtime tie.

Terriers received goals from Jill Cardella, Karleigh Fratkin, Marie-Philip Poulin, Isabel Menard and captain Jenn Wakefield, to build a 5-0 lead before the Crimson scored two third-period goals. Taylor Holze and Kayla Tutino each contributed a pair of assists. Kerrin Sperry made 25 saves for BU, which had 38 shots on the night.

In the space of seven days, the Terriers have beaten all three other Beanpot schools when each was ranked in the top ten: BC #4, Northeastern #6 and Harvard #8. The three wins were by a cumulative 14-4 margin.

● GoTerriers recap, comprehensive box score, photogallery
● Video highlights
● Coach Brian Durocher/Wakefield post-game comments
● Daily Free Press recap and analysis
● Boston Herald recap
● Boston Globe recap
● WTBU Sports recap

Men’s Team
Friday night’s game at Merrimack will be telecast live on WBIN locally and nationally on Fox College Sports Pacific as part of a doubleheader with Denver-Colorado College to follow.

Tomorrow’s Episode 15 of INSIDE BU HOCKEY will feature interviews with Coach Jack Parker, goalie Kieran Millan, and, in the Old Dogs segment, Dennis O’Connell, who captained the 1965-66 squad that went 27-8-0 and was Jack Kelley’s first team to go to the NCAA Final Four. Check back tomorrow for a link to this Webcast.

In Hockey East's monthly awards for January, Alex Chiasson was a runner-up for player of the month, Kieran Millan was runner-up for top goalie and Alexx Privitera was a runner-up for top rookier.

The Boston Hockey Blog: Hockey East Power Rankings
Beanpot Luncheon: Travis Roy remarks (video)
NESN asks: “What is the best Hockey East team of all time?

Looking ahead
In matchup of the two top-rated Massachusetts high school teams, defending champion Malden Catholic defeated second-ranked St. John’s Prep, 5-2, behind two goals from 2013 recruit Brendan Collier. According to the Salem News, 2013 recruit “Sam Kurker, who assisted on both goals to give him 37 points in 14 games, had another big game and created time and space for himself and his linemates.” Kurker had recently tallied his 100th career point for the Eagles.

Looking back
Nick Bonino assisted on two goals in the Ducks’ 4-1 win against Phoenix

Tuesday Linkorama

Terriers fell one spot from 2nd to 3rd in both the USCHO and USA Today hockey polls. The losses to Maine also dropped BU to second in the current pairwise rankings.

In the Hockey East weekly release, Alex Chiasson, Chris Connolly and Kieran Millan earned top performer recognition.

● Daily Free Press Saturday recap and feature on injuries to Alexx Privitera and Max Nicastro
● College Hockey News Blog: Privitera injury, conference race
● USCHO Hockey East Blog: Weekend games

Looking ahead
More information on BU’s newest recruit, Doyle Somerby (photo) of Kimball Union Academy, where he is on a defensive pairing with Alex Carle, brother of NHLer Matt Carle. His coach, Mike Levine says the 6’5” blueliner “is a good skater who has good stick skill and has a great understanding of the game.”

Prior to KUA, he played for St. Mary’s in Lynn, Mass. Like fellow 2013 recruits Sam Kurker and Matt Grzelcyk, Somerby also skated for the New England Nordiques tournament team and played in last summer’s Senior Chowder Cup, he. Last Friday, after committing to BU, Somerby tweeted: “best day of my life.”

Looking back
New England Hockey Journal looks at Carl Corazzini’s transition to coaching.

Women’s Team
Terriers host the 34th annual Women’s Beanpot tonight. BC and Northeastern meet in the opening game at 5 p.m., followed by BU-Harvard at approximately 8 p.m.

BU is led by Senior captain Jenn Wakefield with 37 points, freshman Kayla Tutino with 23 and junior Isabel Menard with 22. The last two will be making their Beanpot debuts.

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, gametracker, WTBU Radio Webcast, All-Access (subscription) Webcast
● BU Today: Coach Brian Durocher feature, preview

Maine tops Terriers to sweep series--UPDATED

As Yogi Berra might have said, it was “déjà vu all over again.” For the second night in a row, Terriers and Black Bear played a close, low-scoring game at Agganis Arena, but it was the visitors who broke the tie and then added an empty-netter.

This time Maine scored first. After failing to convert on several power plays in the first period, Maine connected at even strength with just seven seconds left in the period. BU pulled even early in the second on a power play as Garrett Noonan (photo) redirected an Adam Clendening shot for his ninth goal of the campaign. Just three minutes later, following an offensive zone faceoff win, Maine’s Nick Pryor blast a shot off the pipe and past Kieran Millan for what would be the game-winner.

Terriers had some golden opportunities late in the second period and in the final period—including an attempted redirect by Alex Chiasson, who played well all weekend—but couldn’t put the equalizer past Dan Sullivan, who made a career-high 38 saves.

Coach Jack Parker was pleased with his team’s effort despite the loss:

I was extremely happy with how hard we played. I thought we did a great job killing penalties [7 for 8]. I thought we did a pretty nice job in an awful lot of areas. Kieran played great and Sullivan played great. It’s not surprising that both those guys were the first two stars [of the game]. I was happy with my team.

BU played without two starting defensemen. Junior Max Nicastro had suffered a shoulder injury in Friday’s game, which freshman Alexx Privitera suffered a broken hand that should sideline him four to six weeks. Ryan Ruikka returned to the line and the Terriers rotated five blueliners with Ben Rosen taking a few shifts.




Parker was ejected with five seconds left in the game after giving game officials an earful. He was upset about a questionable embellishment call against Noonan, who’d been hooked. The call denied BU a power play for the final two minutes of regulation, which would’ve become a 6-on-4 with the goalie pulled. For more regarding the officiating, see the Boston Hockey Blog story linked below.

USCHO’s Scott Weighart points out that Pryor’s goal marked the 17th time this season that an opposing player has scored his first collegiate goal against the Terriers.


CHECK BACK FOR MORE COVERAGE AND NEWS OF A NEW RECRUIT

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, Connolly on officiating, analysis,
● USCHO recap
● Boston Globe recap

● College Hockey News: The Takeaway

Recruiting News
Terriers have their second commitment this month from a Kimball Union Academy blueliner. 6-5, 220, right-shot defenseman Doyle Somerby, a KUA junior, has verballed to BU for 2013. Earlier this month, his teammate John MacLeod committed to BU for 2014. A Marblehead, Mass., native who had a 2-4-6 line for KUA in 2010-11, Somerby was ranked #127 among North American skaters in the recent NHL Central Scouting Midterm rankings. USHR recently reported that Somerby also had offers from Maine, UNH, UMass, and St. Lawrence.

Somerby, who is on a defensive pairing with Alex Carle, brother of NHLer Matt Carle, previously played for St. Mary’s in Lynn, Mass., and in last summer’s Senior Chowder Cup, he skated for the New England Nordiques. On Friday after committing to BU, Somerby tweeted “best day of my life.”

Women’s team
Held scoreless for two periods, the Terriers found the net three times in the final period to edge #6 Northeastern, 3-2. BU came from behind twice on goals by Jill Cardella and Isabel Menard before Captain Jenn Wakefield converted a rebound with 1:49 remaining in regulation with assists to Louise Warren and Marie-Philip Poulin.
● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Post-game comments: Coach Brian Durocher, Wakefield
● WTBU Sports recap

Game Day: BU and Maine, again

Terriers will seek to salvage two points tonight in their rematch with Maine at Agganis Arena in a 7:30 p.m. start that will air live on CBS College Sports.

● Listen to WWZN radio Webcast
● Watch on BU All-Access (subscription)
● Hockey East live scoreboard
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog
● Boston Herald recap of last night's game

Black Bears top Terriers, 4-2

BU’s five game-winning streak and its seven-game conference winning streak ground to a halt as Maine beat the Terriers, 4-2, at Agganis Arena last night. The Black Bears broke a 2-2 tie in the final period, then added an empty-netter for the final margin.

Maine’s potent power play proved the difference as the Black Bears scored twice in four chances, including the game-winner midway through the third period. Fourteen of Maine’s 25 shots came on its final three power plays.

Terriers took a 1-0 first period lead on Alex Chiasson’s ninth of the season on a power play late in the first period. Maine scored twice in the first 8:22 of the middle period. Following a delay due to a partial power outage in the arena, Ross Gaudet knotted the score at two apiece when he banked a shot in off Maine goalie Dan Sullivan, who stopped 28 Terrier shots. Terriers carried the play during the remainder of the period, but couldn’t retake the lead despite several grade-A chances.

Kieran Millan finished with 21 saves.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights
● Jack Parker post-game comments
● Boston Hockey Blog recap, analysis,
● USCHO recap
● College Hockey News’ The Take Away

Looking ahead

2012 recruit Matt O’Connor stopped 40 shots in a 3-2 Youngstown win against Dubuque.
Phantoms coach Anthony Noreen said. “Bottom-line, flat-out, Matt O’Connor stole us that game.”

2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon scored a power play goal in the final minute of regulation to tie help Indiana tie Chicago, 4-4, but the Ice lost in a shootout, 5-4. He also recorded a pair of assists. Baillargeon’s Team MVP performance in the USHL Top Prospects on Tuesday game led to this strong assessment on The United States of Hockey site.

Game Day: Terriers vs. Black Bears--UPDATED

Two of Hockey East’s hottest teams, #2 BU and #20 Maine, go head-to-head for a pair of games this weekend at Agganis Arena. Tonight’s action begins a 7 p.m.

Since moving into their state-of-the-art arena, the Terriers are 7-0-2 against the Black Bears in regular season games and 9-1-2 overall; however five of those wins were by a single goal. When the teams met in Maine last month, BU won, 5-1, but Coach Jack Parker points out that the game was far closer than the score indicated.

Maine is led by seniors Brian Flynn and Spencer Abbott and junior Joey Diamond, the top three scorers in conference games. BU’s Matt Nieto (photo), Chris Connolly and Sahir Gill are the next three on the top scorers’ list.

Penalties are likely to have much to do with the games’ outcomes. BU and Maine are conference leaders in both penalties and power play efficiency.

Terrier Lineup
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

● GoTerriers.com preview, game notes, game tracker
● Listen to WWZN radio Webcast
● Watch on BU All-Access (subscription)
● Hockey East live scoreboard
● College Hockey News’ Tale of the Tape/Top scorers and goalies
● Boston Hockey Blog live in-game blog, game preview
● USCHO Hockey East picks
● WTBU Sports Three things we learned last weekend
● Bangor Daily News preview
● Inside College Hockey Friday Four-cast
● Boston Globe feature on BU defense corps
● Boston Hockey Blog feature: Beanpot teams take stand to end violence against women

Looking ahead
2012 recruit Matt O’Connor stopped 29 of 32 shots in Youngstown’s 4-3 win against Waterloo. The 6-5 netminder’s 17 wins are second best in the USHL.

BU’s other 2012 goalie recruit, Sean Maguire has won six of his past seven starts and at 2.32, his GAA ranks third in the BCHL.

Hockey Humanitarian Award
Nominees for the 2012 Hockey Humanitarian Award have been announced by the foundation, which for 17 years has recognized those college hockey players—both men and women--whose efforts to better their communities continue to stand out. The inscription on the HHA trophy, first awarded in 1996, reads “"Presented annually to the hockey collegian who best exemplifies the qualities of character, sportsmanship, and devotion to the game, the team, and the community."

While this year’s nominees do not include any Terriers, the concept of the award, now presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management, was born in October 1995 at BU’s Walter Brown Arena. John Greenhalgh and Jeff Millman, two fathers watching their sons’ squirt team practice at WBA were talking about one of the volunteer assistants, BU All-American goalie J.P. McKersie, who, in addition to his studies and his varsity practice commitments, had recently recovered from a life-threatening accident that had left him speechless and in a coma, and supposedly with little hope of ever walking or talking again. Noting McKersie’s selflessness and dedication, the two dads decided it was necessary to recognize college hockey players who best demonstrate those qualities now listed on the trophy.

Former BU Sports Information Director Ed Carpenter was one of the foundation’s first three board members and early on met with the co-founders at T Anthony's—BU Hockey’s unofficial (barely) off-campus eatery— to talk about the Award and to frame the organization’s goals. On Feb. 25, 1996, during a BU home game, the foundation announced McKersie as the first Hockey Humanitarian Award recipient in recognition of his volunteer work with the squirt team—frequently staying after practice to work with the goalies and providing a positive role model for the youngsters—as well as his year-long struggle to recover from his near-fatal bicycle accident and return to action for the Terriers. Daily Free Press article.

Terrier Tidbits

With the #2-ranked Terriers preparing for a crucial pair of home games against Maine— winner of six of its past eight games—we have much for fans to read, watch and listen to.

Inside BU Hockey’s 14th Episode is now available for listening here. As noted yesterday, guest interviews are Jack Parker, Adam Clendening and former Terrier Bill O’Neill whose son is a standout bluliner for Maine. We hope to soon post a list of links to all episodes.

● Defenseman Garrett Noonan, who is third in the nation in goals by defenseman with eight, is the first guest on today’s edition of BU All-Access.
● Bay State Road Sports interviewed former Belmont Hill skaters Matt Ronan and Jake Moscatel, now walkons to the Terrier hockey team.
● The two-game home series with Maine is part of BU’s annual Winterfest Weekend featuring 10 sporting events over three days.
● Dave Hendrickson’s USCHO Weekly Hockey East column
● College Hockey News Hockey East weekend preview
● HockeyEastOnline weekend preview
● Maine Campus previews this weekend’s series between the Terriers and Black Bears

Looking back
Dave Warsofsky scored a goal and added an assist for Providence as the P-Bruins edged Wilkes Barre 4-3. Brian Strait recorded an assist for the Baby Pens.

Luke Popko scored twice for Bloomngton, but the Blazers fell, 7-4, to Missouri in CHL action.

Women’s Team

Terriers blanked rival Boston College 6-0 on Wednesday night behind a 30-save performance by Kerrin Sperry who recorded her first shutout of the season. Six different skaters found the net for BU: Jenn Wakefield, Marie-Philip Poulin, Taylor Holze, Louise Warren, Tara Watchorn and Caroline Campbell. Junior Isabel Menard had two assists and reached the milestone of 100 points as an NCAA player.
● GoTerriers.com recap, comprehensive boxscore, video highlights
● Post-game highlights: Coach Brian Durocher, Menard
● Daily Free Press recap and Menard feature

Wednesday Linkorama

►Daily Free Press hockey notebook: fan support, moving up in national stats.

► College Hockey Weekly named BU its Team of the Week, edging out this weekend’s opponent, Maine, while INCH's Power Rankings are consistent with the national polls. Terriers ranked #2

►We’ve got a sneak preview of tomorrow’s Episode 14 of Inside BU Hockey. Terrier play-by-play announcer will be talking with Coach Jack Parker and sophomore blueliner Adam Clendening (photo), who has scored a goal and 11 assists in his past six games. In the “old dogs” segment, the guest will be Bill O’Neill, a member of the 1978 BU national championship team, current head coach at Salem State and the father of Maine Black Bears standout defenseman Will O’Neill. Bill is closing in on his 500th win as a college head coach. Check back tomorrow for a link to Inside BU Hockey.

Looking ahead
2013 recruit Robbie Baillargeon scored the first two goals—one unassisted—for Team East in the USHL’s Top Prospects Game played in Muskegon and won by the East, 5-3. Baillargeon earned Team East MVP honors. 2012 recruit Robert Polesello assisted on the East’s third goal.
● Baillargeon, ranked 43rd among N. American skaters for the 2012 draft, talked with NHL.com about his experience in the Prospects games.

In BCHL action, 2012 recruit Marc Hetnik, Jr.’ s second goal of the season gave Vernon an early 1-0 lead, but the Vipers fell, 3-1, to Westside.

Women’s program
Terriers take on BC at Walter Brown Arena tonight in a 7 p.m. start..
● GoTerriers.com preview, gametracker , All-Access Webcast (subscription)
● WTBU Webcast
● Daily Free Press preview
● Message from the Terriers (video)

Senior Jenn Wakefield was the Hockey East Player of the Week following her hattrick and six points in BU’s 6-2 win against Vermont. Goalie Kerrin Sperry and forward Kayla Tutino earned spots on the top performers list for the week.