After getting back from baseball practice this morning, I was rather surprised to find out that assistant coach Mike Bavis had resigned at BU. This is according to a USHR report. He had held the same position for the last 15 years. Bavis played at BU in the early '90's and was on three Frozen Four teams.
Personally, I think the best replacement for Bavis would be Albi O'Connell. O'Connell was the lone captain of the 1999 BU squad. Currently, he is the assistant coach at Harvard. Before, he was at Northeastern, were he was able to land players like John Gaudreau and John Gillies, before both of them decommitted after then NU head coach Greg Cronin left the program.
Anyone who watched the Bruins-Leafs game last night and knows anything about BU hockey should easily make the connection to the 2009 National Championship Game. Trailing by two goals in the last minute... I think you know how this ends.
Anyway, last night I was lucky enough to be in the Garden for Game 7. Throughout the third period, I kept having flashbacks to that unforgettable game in Washington.
I'll start with the Nathan Horton Goal. The emotion that went through my body was a mirror of what I did when Zach Cohen scored in the National Championship Game to make in 3-2 Miami with 59 second left. I just kinda sat there and was though to myself "what if they hadn't given up the 4th (in Zach's case the third) goal?"
The scene far above the ice after Begeron's game winner in
overtime. (Photo by Matt Dresens)
Then Lucic scored with 1:23 left and the first thing that came to mind was "oh, Ive seen something like this before, this cant possibly be happening again!"
Then bang. The image that has been going through my mind all day: the puck hitting the back of the net as a result of Bergeron's perfectly placed long ranger wrist shot with 50 second left on the clock. My reaction, well I just jumped into the arms of guy next to my in section 314, row 12. I have no clue who the guy was, but it did not matter. The place was so loud that the fog horn that goes off when the Bruins score could not be heard over the crowd. It was truly unbelievable to see that all unfold right in front of my eyes.
In '09 I distinctly remember my dad almost knocking the person next to him off the balcony after Nick Bonino scored the tying goal with 17 seconds left. We were sitting in row one of the balcony at the Verizon Center, then.
Maybe the coolest part of the night was the intermission between the third period and overtime. The Garden played "Don't Stop Believing" similarly to the BU band in 2009 did with about five minutes left in the third. The entire Garden faithful was sining along to not only that song, but a few others.
I had a strange calm feeling heading into the overtime that the Bruins would score. Not dissimilar to 2009. The last comparison I'll make to the National Title game is after the OT goals were score and everyone was departing the stadiums and the walk down the stairs to street level. In DC, it was the "When BU Goes Marching In" chant all the way down the Verizon Center stairs. Last night, Bruins fans were yelling and I mean YELLING "We Want The Cup!" not only down the stairs, but out into the streets. My ears are (and I'm not making this up) still ringing as I type this.
Again, the only word to accurately describe how it felt to be able to attend both of those games would be: Unbelievable.
Terriers In The First Round
Nick Bonino was far and away the best Terrier in Round One. He tallied three goals and one assist in the seven game series with Detroit. His goal, the first Anaheim goal, in the Ducks 4-0 shutout of the Redwings in game three proved to be the game winner. He later won game five in overtime on a redirection.
Eric Gryba probably is the creator of the most controversial play of the playoffs to date. Here it is, you be the judge, did he contact the head?
Brian Strait, New York Islanders... Lost in six to Pittsburgh... 1 goal, 0 assists, 12 penalty minutes, and a +1 rating.
Matt Gilroy, New York Rangers... won in seven over Washington... Did not Play.
Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues... Lost in six to LA... 0 goals, 1 assist, 6 penalty minutes, and a -1 rating.
Charlie Coyle, Minnesota Wild... Lost in five to Chicago... 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 penalty minutes, -4 rating.
Today it was announced that BU has picked up a commitment from Maine decommit Nick Roberto. Roberto was one in many who avoided their commitment to Orono after the program's head coach, Tim Whitehead was fired two weeks ago.
Roberto is a 5-9, 170 pound forward, who previously called Kimball Union Academy home. Before that, he played at Malden Catholic. Last year with KUA, he put up 14 goals, 15 assists for 31 assists in 29 games. Roberto was named USHR's "Prep Forward of the Year."
Roberto now joins former teammate at MC Brandon Collier, Robbie Baillargeon, Jarrid Privitera, Tommy Kelley, and Kevin Duane as the forwards in BU 2013 recruit class.
Terriers in the NHL Playoffs
Nick Bonino - Anaheim Ducks
Charlie Coyle - Minnesota Wild
Kevin Shattenkirk - St. Louis Blues
Brian Strait - New York Islands (on IR)
Jay Pandolfo - Boston Bruins
Matt Gilroy - New York Rangers
Tom Poti - Washington Capitals
Frozen Fenway Coming Back
Last week it was announced that BU will again take part in the Frozen Fenway, an event in which they beat BC 3-2 back in 2010. This January, they will take on Maine in America's most beloved ballpark. The game will be scheduled as the night cap on 1/11/14. Lowell and Northeastern will be the first game.
For my journalism class at Medfield High, I compiled a pretty complete and in depth look at the history of hockey at Medfield. If anyone is interested, here is my article:
"They started like every other early twentieth century-hockey team: on the ponds. Today, Medfield stands on top of the Tri Valley League and is jumping up a division.
Lets start with the humble beginngs. Medfield High School first offered hockey as a varsity sport in the 20's. The team played other schools from around the area and called Kingsbury Pond home ice. This only lasted for a couple of seasons, as ice conditions were not always the best and the sport was too expensive.
Hockey was brought back to Medfield in 1964, but took until 1977 to be officially recognized as a varsity sport, according to Richard Desorgher.
It was not be until 1995 that the program really got off the ground. That season saw the team head as far as any Warriors team has ever gone. It also marked the first Tri Valley League title in program history.
Current social studies teacher, Mr. Panciocco took over the head coaching job in the winter of 1999. The Warriors finished second in the TVL and made the state tournament in his first year as bench boss, but fell in the Quarterfinals to Cape Cod Tech, 7-4.
"Not only was it my first year coaching, but I was coaching the team I once played for, which was unbelievable," said Panciocco."It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun at the same time."
Read the rest here at the Kingsbury Chronicle.
Last night was the 50th annual Friends of BU Hockey Banquet and for the first time I was actually in attendance. Overall I thought it was a really cool experience and something I regret not going to in the past. Anyway, on to the awards.
Clifford P. Fitzgerald Scholarship: Presented to the outstanding junior or senior defenseman. - Garrett Noonan Regina Eilberg Scholarship:Awarded to the player who combines the highest standards of Terrier athletics and academic performance.
- Matt O'Connor
Ed Carpenter Award: Given to the team's leading scorer. - Danny O'Regan
Bettett Mcinnis Award For Spirit: Given to the player who best typifies the spirit of a Boston University hockey player on and off the ice.
- Ryan Santana
Mike Boyle Terrier of Steel Award: Awarded to the player who most exemplifies character, strength, dedication and discipline in the weight room and off-ice training.
- Ryan Ruikka
Most Improved Player: Awarded to the player who has most improved from October to April or the player who has improved the most from last year to this year. - Casson Hohmann and Jake Moscatel
The Friends Albert Sidd Unsung Hero Award: Awarded to the player who contributes much during his four years and does not garner the proper recognition.
- Evan Rodrigues George V. Brown Most Valuable Player Award: Awarded to the player who would be missed the most if he was not in the lineup. It goes to the most valuable player, not necessarily the most outstanding player. - Wade Megan *All award descriptions are straight out of the evenings program.
It was not the awards or even that the team did NOT name next year's captain that caught everyone's attention. No. What did that is when Master of Ceremonies Bernie Corbett and Athletic Director Mike Lynch announced that BU will be retiring the Number Six in honor of Jack Parker. Of course, Parker wore six back in his playing days at BU.
The number will be raised to the rafters right next to Travis Roy's Number 24 banner. Parker said he was "honored"to be next to Roy in the rafters.
"Week in review" is something that I want to do over the summer to keep up with things better that I have in the past. So, every Wednesday I will recap the week (kinda how the name suggest) all things BU hockey. The will include recruits, current team news, college hockey news, and former players.
Alex Chiasson (Photo by Matt Dresens)
Alex Chiasson
This past week, the former Terrier made his NHL debut with the Dallas Stars, the team that drafted him 38th overall in the 2009 entry draft. Chiasson wasted no time finding the back of the net, as he scored in just his second NHL game. Two days letter, he scored two goals in the Stars' 5-4 (so) win vs San Jose. In his first four NHL games, Chiasson has racked up four points.
Matt Nieto...
saw time in his first pro game. So far since leaving BU a week or so ago, Nieto has 2 goals and 2 assists in five games for the AHL Worcester Sharks. Nieto wears number 40 for those keeping track at home.
Frozen Four
Tomorrow night kicks off College Hockey's final weekend. In the early game out in Pittsburg, Lowell will take on Yale in their first ever Frozen Four game. Later Thursday night, St. Cloud State and Quinnipeac will do battle. QU, Lowell, and SCSU all never have made the Frozen Four and Yale last made it in 1952.
After getting back from baseball practice this morning, I was rather surprised to find out that assistant coach Mike Bavis had resigned at BU. This is according to a USHR report. He had held the same position for the last 15 years. Bavis played at BU in the early '90's and was on three Frozen Four teams.
