Oettinger preps for Prospect Game in Philly; Grizzy in B's rookie camp

The Terriers' first exhibition-game opponent, the University of Prince Edward Island, is in the process of trimming its roster to a league-allowed 22. For BU, the Oct. 1 exhibition at Agganis Arena will be its first-ever meeting with the Panthers, who will have played two games against CIS opponents. Last season UPEI played two NCAA exhibitions, losing to Harvard and Dartmouth.
● UPEI men's hockey home page

Before freshman goalie Jake Oettinger suits up against UPEI, he'll be facing shots from a pair of future Terriers in Thursday night's CCM All-American Prospects Game in Philadelphia. The 6-4 netminder from Lakeville, Minn., is on the Team Leclair roster, while 2017 recruits David Farrance and Logan Cockerill will skate for Team Howe.  The game, which begins at 7 p.m. ET, will be live streamed--free of charge--on FastHOCKEY. A link to the live broadcast will be available here at 6:45 p.m.

Oettinger, who is projected to be one of the first goalies taken in next June’s NHL entry draft, talked with Red Line Editorial about his learning experience in the NTDP program and his first weeks at BU.

“Learning how to prepare was big for me. It wasn’t just getting your body physically ready, I think I learned how to better prepare mentally. [NTDP Coach Kevin Reiter] helped me learn how to prepare and also how to practice. That’s really important, you want to make your practice time useful.

“The last few weeks have been really smooth. I think that’s a credit to the older guys. We have a lot of good leaders here and good upperclassmen who have been there for us and helped us get acclimated. It’s been fun. I’m eager to get going and competing for playing time.”

The new Northeastern Hockey Blog, which has been previewing each of the Huskies’ opponents, gives the Terriers the nod as the team to beat in Hockey East, despite the loss of five of last season’s top eight scorers.

● NUHB preview of BU

The ECAC released its 2016-17 coaches poll and BU opponents held two of the top three spots. Quinnipiac was picked to win the conference while Harvard was third. Terriers will face three other ECAC teams: Yale (#5), Union (#7) and Colgate (#11).

Looking back

Two-time All-American Matt Grzelcyk is in Bruins rookie camp, competing for a berth on Boston’s blue line corps. The Charlestown native, who captained the past two Terrier squads, shares the advice he received from Coach David Quinn.

● Boston Globe report

● Bruins/NHL report on defense prospects

In the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Team North America fell to Russia, 4-3, last night, but in the team’s first game, against Finland, Jack Eichel got the North Americans on the board first, leading to a 4-1 win. The Sabres’s center also was mic’d up during the game.

● WCOH recap and box score

● Sabres recap

With a Stanley Cup championship to go with the NCAA title he won as a Terrier in 2009, Nick Bonino is looking to continue his role as an important cog in the Penguins offense this season.
● Post-Gazette report 

Looking ahead

2017 recruit David Farrance scored a power play goal and Brady Tkachuk assisted on a pair of scores as the NTDP U18s defeated Dubuque, 8-2. For Farrance, a left-shot defenseman from Victor, N.Y., it was his second power play score in five games. Left wing Tkachuk leads the team in scoring with five points (1G, 4A).

● USA Hockey recap and box score

2017 recruit Ty Amonte scored a goal and an assist in Penticton’s 3-1 win over Powell River.  After registering an assist in the Vees’ 4-3 OT win, the Thayer Academy grad leads Penticton in scoring with a 3-4-7 line.

2018 recruits Tyler Weiss (photo) and Jack DeBoer each recorded an assist in the NTDP U17s’ 5-1 win over the Johnstown Tomahawks. Weiss has four points in four games while DeBoer’s helper was his first point of the season.

● USA Hockey recap and box score

Women's Team
Coach Brian Durocher's Terriers were picked #2 in the Women's Hockey East Coaches Poll, with 72 points and two first-place votes.

.@BC_WHockey picked to finish atop regular season standings in 2016-17 https://t.co/5oe1X170cl pic.twitter.com/U4ZaPZ8HRi

— Hockey East (@hockey_east) September 20, 2016

 

Q&A With the Captain; NCAA freshman rankings

With BU’s exhibition game against Prince Edward Island just two weeks away, THFB presents its annual captain’s Q&A, this year with senior defenseman Doyle Somerby. 

The Marblehead, Mass., native, who captained the 2012-13 Kimball Union Academy squad and was its top-scoring defenseman, is a New York Islanders draft pick (5^thround, 2012 NHL draft). Somerby, a journalism major, was second in shots blocked (77) in Hockey East last season and twice was named a Hockey East Top Performer.

 

Q. As the captain of yet another very young team, with nine freshmen and eight sophomores, what are you and your assistants doing to build team  chemistry?

 A. To build chemistry in my mind, it doesn't matter what you are doing as long as you are together. The comfortability each player has with each other goes a long way throughout the season. So far, we just try and spend as much time throughout the week together, whether that comes from watching football on Saturdays and Sundays together or hanging out after practice. I am lucky enough to live close to campus, so this summer I was able to spend a good amount of time around the incomong freshmen when they were here for summer school.

Q. Since your arrival at BU, not only has your speed improved, but your agility as well. How did you achieve this and what areas are you looking to improve upon personally this season?

 A. Skating is a huge part of our teams success. The forwards that I am able to face on a daily basis are a huge part of my ability to improve year by year. Every summer I work with a guy named Adam Nicholas who has done a lot for me. I skate with him frequently throughout July and August and he is a major factor in my development. Also, the second that coaches are allowed on the ice with us, coach David Quinn has really pushed me throughout the year. His knowledge and experience in every defensive situation is beneficial for my growth as a player. The situations that he puts our defensemen in throughout practice allows us to improve our footwork and defensive play.   

CONTINUE READING

►The ISS Scouting Service has issued its ranking of the top NCAA rookies for the 2016-17 season and five of the top 20 are Terrier freshmen. Forwards Clayton Keller and Kieffer Bellows (photo) and defenseman Dante Fabbro were numbers 2,3 and 4 in the ranking. Blueliner Chad Krys (11) and goalie Jake Oettinger (20) round out the five, which was the most of any program.

● College Hockey Inc. report

Looking back—Where are they now?   

Rhode Island Native John Bradley was a Terrier netminder on the 1990 and 1991 Frozen Four teams, who made 47 starts and won 25 games for BU, including the 4-3 overtime win over Maine in the 1991 Hockey East championship game. 

A Sabres draft pick, he played five seasons of minor league hockey, finishing with the Johnstown Chiefs. After serving as an assistant coach at Bishop McCort high school, Bradley assumed the head coaching spot and now begins his 23^rd season behind the Crushers’ bench. During that span, he led the team to two Penguin Cup titles and two Pennsylvania state championships.

Bradley, who also owns Ziggy’s Sports in Johnstown, recently purchased—at auction—former Terrier and 1980 Olympic goalie Jim Craig’s leg pads from the “Miracle on Ice” Lake Placid games. The pads are part of a memorabilia display at Ziggy’s.

● Tribune-Democrat feature article

● Bradley career stats

● Bishop McCort bio

Looking back

All-American and two-time BU captain Matt Grzelcyk is on the Bruins roster for the rookie Prospects Challenge tournament in Buffalo, beginning today. In the games against the host Sabres, he’ll be defending against former teammates Evan Rodrigues and Matt Lane. ERod spent most of his first pro season with AHL Rochester, but was called up for Buffalo’s final two games and registered his first NHL goal and assist.

Another rookie tournament, hosted by Toronto in London, Ontario, also begins today and  will feature Pittsburgh and Ottawa rookies. Four former Terriers will participate: Sean Maguire (Pittsburgh), Cason Hohmann and J.J. Piccinich (Toronto) and Matt O’Connor (Ottawa). Former BU All-American and captain Steve Stirling is on the Senators coaching staff.

► College Hockey Inc.s list of all 160 former college players currently in rookie camps

Women’s Team

Former BU standouts Marie-Philip Poulin and Jennifer Wakefield are among four top NCAA players who will be partnering with Bauer Hockey Equipment.

Hit the pool at 6am this morning. New year, new workouts

🐾 @BUwhockey pic.twitter.com/v2YXPyczzO

— Alexis Crossley (@acrossley5) September 15, 2016

Quinn takes a look at future Terrier talent

As noted by ScoutingPost blogger Kirk Luedeke, BU Head Coach David Quinn was in Omaha this past weekend for the USHL Fall Classic. There, Quinn had a chance to observe several future Terriers—as well as other prospects—skating in the tournament. Among them was Sioux Falls center Matt Quecia, who picked up two assists in three games.

Was glad to see & meet @sfstampede F Matt Quercia this weekend. BU recruit & Andover, Mass. native (former NH Jr Monarch) repped Mass well!

— Kirk Luedeke (@kluedeke29) September 11, 2016

LT- Quercia is draft eligible & does a lot of little things right. Guessing Coach Quinn (in attendance) gave him high marks @Quercia_2

— Kirk Luedeke (@kluedeke29) September 11, 2016

● Video: Quercia (#19) assists on a power play

2017 recruit Brady Tkachuk (photo) scored a goal and assisted on another in the U18s 6-2 loss to host Omaha. The son of former Terrier Keith Tkachuk, who has sprouted up to 6’2”, 194 lbs., had 25 points last season for the U17s.

● USA Hockey recap and box score

Also at the Fall Classic were 2017 recruits Hank Crone (Fargo) and David Farrance (photo). Left wing Crone scored a late game-tying goal for the Force in a game eventually won by Sioux Falls in overtime. In the U18s’ opener, defenseman Farrance scored a power play goal and later assisted on a shorthander in a 3-2 loss to Tri-City.

In Michigan, 2018 recruit Jake Wise scored his first NTDP goal as the U17s fell to Muskegon, 4-1. The center from North Andover had scored 83 points in 46 games over two seasons at Central Catholic High School.

● USA Hockey recap and box score

Photo by Emanuel Sequeira/Penticton Western News

2017 recruit Ty Amonte (photo) launched his BCHL career with a four-point night, scoring twice and adding two assists for Penticton in a 4-1 win against Prince George. The son of former Terrier Tony Amonte is coming off a 70 point season (17G, 53A) for Thayer Academy, leading the Tigers to the NEPSAC Large Schools Championship. Amonte also received the 2016 John Carlton Memorial Trophy, given annually to the top Eastern Mass. Player “who combines exceptional hockey skills with academic excellence.”

● Penticton Western News recap

● Penticton Vees recap and box score

● Prince George Citizen recap  (Note: initial scoring summary gave Amonte just one assist)

Linkorama

Terrier head coach David Quinn, Women's Team head coach Brian Durocher, and BU Athletic Director Drew Marrochello will appear at a special reception in New York City for alumni, friends and parents on Thursday September 15. The event at the Chrysler Building will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 8 p.m.

● Details/registration

Freshman Jake Oettinger’s goalie helmet made its debut on Twitter this week.

At the World Cup of Hockey:

● Jack Eichel tallied an assist in Team North America’s 4-0 win over Team Europe in a tournament exhibition game. The teams meet again on Sunday in a game that will air on ESPN3 at 6 p.m. ET.

● Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan and Devils head coach John Hynes are assistant coaches for Team USA, which edged Canada Friday night, 3-2.

Looking ahead

2017 recruit David Farrance scored a power play goal and assisted on a shorthander for the NTDP U18s, who fell to the Tri-City Storm in their USHL opener. The 5-11, left-shot defenseman from Victor, N.Y., had 23 points (8G, 15A) during his U17 season.

● USA Hockey recap

● USHL box score

2018 recruit Tyler Weiss assisted on a pair of goals in the NTDP U17s’ 6-3 loss to Muskegon.  The left wing from Raleigh, N.C., had 63 (28G, 35A) points last year for the Don Mills Flyers Minor Midgets.

● USA Hockey recap and  box score

2018 recruit Matthew Quercia (photo) scored his first USHL point, assisting on a goal for Sioux Falls as the Stampede defeated Fargo, 5-4, in overtime. 2017 recruit Hank Crone had sent the game into overtime with a goal in the last minute of regulation. A left-shot forward from Cedar Hill, Tex., Crone split the 2015-16 season between Omaha and Fargo, scoring a combined 41 points (17G, 24A). Quercia, a left-shot forward from Andover, Mass., 50 points (22G, 28A) for the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs last season.

● USHL box score

Women’s Team

Terriers have added graduate student Mary Parker to the 2016-17 roster. The Milton, Mass., native played three full seasons at Harvard before a knee injury limited her to five games last year. In 2014-15, Parker, a forward, led the Crimson with 39 points (17G, 22A), helping Harvard reach the NCAA title game.