Quinn dishes on coaching philosphy

USCHO’s BU Hockey beat reporter Scott Weighart interviewed new Terriers Head Coach David Quinn, gaining some insights about the 46-year old Rhode Island native’s coaching and decision-making philosophies. Here are a few excerpts:

On his growth as a coach since 2009

“Without question, when you’re able to coach 80 games a year for three years, that’s 240 hockey games,” he said. “That’s almost six or seven college seasons. You just learn an awful lot. You go through all of those experiences, making decisions — making decisions that don’t work and learning from it.

“Without question, I’m a much better coach than I was four years ago because that’s all I’ve done for four years. When you’re an associate coach or assistant coach at the college level, so many of your responsibilities are recruiting. You’re getting your coaching in around the recruiting.”

On what his AHL and NHL experience will mean to current and future Terriers

“It certainly will help as we recruit high-level kids who aspire to play in the National Hockey League. They need to realize how difficult it is to be an NHLer. A lot of guys assume they’re going to make it because they’re drafted in a certain spot. They need to realize they have a three- or four-year window to make it because in that time you have more drafts and more prospects.’

● Full article

►Freshman Danny O’Regan was named Hockey East Rookie of the Month   after scoring 11 points (4g, 7a), including three game-winning goals, to lead BU to a 6-2 record in March. The Terriers top scorer for the season with 38 points, O’Regan claimed the same honor in January with identical numbers.  Previously he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and the College Hockey News All-Rookie Team.
● GoTerriers.com report.

Looking back

Matt Nieto scored his first professional goal, banging a rebound past Rick DiPietro on a power play, in Worcester’s 6-3 loss to Bridgeport. DiPietro stopped 27 shots en route to his seventh win for the Sound Tigers. Recap

Kevin Shattenkirk’s goal in the sixth shootout round gave St. Louis a 4-3 (recap and video) over Chicago.

Women’s Team

Terriers past and present continue to power Team Canada in the IIHF World Championships. In Wednesday’s 13-0 thrashing of Switzerland, BU co-captain Marie-Philip Poulin’s four goals equaled a Canadian women’s hockey team record for most goals in a world championship game. Former Terrier captain Jenn Wakefield scored the game-winner and added two assists, while Catherine Ward contributed an assist. Canada takes on Finland tonight.

●GoTerriers.com recap

●Hockey Canada recap

Linkorama

Sophomore Evan Rodrigues has received the New England Hockey Writers Association’ 2012-13 Paul Hines Award as Most Improved Player. The second team All-Hockey East forward saw his point total improve from 12 as a freshman to 34 (14g, 20a) this year. The writers also selected retiring coach Jack Parker for the Parker/York Award for Contributions to New England Hockey.

Freshman Danny O’Regan, who led BU in scoring with 38 points, was named to College Hockey News’ All-Rookie Team.

Like Wade Megan a few days ago, Matt Nieto made the score sheet in his first pro game, notching an assist in the Worcester Sharks’ 4-2 loss to Bridgeport

● Sharks’ signing announcement

Looking back
Alex Chiasson became the latest former Terrier--and the 68th coached by Jack Parker--to make his NHL debut, skating for the Dallas Stars in a 5-2 loss to Anaheim. 

Kevin Shattenkirk scored his third goal of the season in the Blue’s 4-1 win against Minnesota.

● Video

Corey Trivino was named ECHL Rookie of the Month for March, after scoring 10 goals and 11 assists to lead Florida to an 11-3-1 record. WIth 51 points overall, he's fifth in scoring among ECHL rookies. 

Happy 38^th birthday to Shawn Bates, who scored 159 points in four season for BU and played in the Frozen Four each of those seasons. He went on to play 465 NHL games, scoring 198 points, including this goal.

Women’s Team

Junior co-captain Marie-Philip Poulin and two former BU standouts, 2011-12 captain Jenn Wakefield and defenseman Catherine Ward are skating for Team Canada in the IIHF World Championships beginning April 2 in Ottawa. The trio were part of last year’s gold-medal Canadian squad.

In Saturday’s exhibition game against Sweden, they combined for a BU hat trick, with each scoring one of the final three goals in an 8-0 win. Then, in a first-round game against Team USA, Ward scored the tying goal with less than two minutes remaining in the third period. In the ensuing shootout, Wakefield notched the game-winner. 3-2 final.

Poulin and junior blueliner Shannon Doyle were named New England Women's Division I All-Stars by the New England Hockey Writers Association.

One departs, one staying?

Junior wing Matt Nieto will give up his final year of eligibility to sign with the San Jose Sharks. The Long Beach, California, native who scored 102 points (44g, 58a) in three varsity seasons, signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth a reported $833,000 a year, and will join the Sharks’ AHL team in Worcester. He’ll find a familiar face there in former BU co-captain John McCarthy, now in his fourth professional season and captain of the Worcester Sharks.

Nieto talked about his new challenge and his decision process with The Boston Hockey Blog’s Annie Maroon. Nieto, who was a Sharks second round draft choice (#47 overall) in the 2011 entry draft, could find himself facing a former teammate tomorrow night when Worcester hosts Bridgeport, where Ben Rosen is skating under an amateur tryout contract.

BU’s other junior who might be considered a “flight risk,” blueliner Garret Noonan, has told WTBU Sports Radio that he will return for his senior season and why. An assistant captain this past season, the defenseman, drafted by Nashville in the 4^th round of the 2011 draft, has a 26-35-61 line in three varsity seasons.