Breaking The Ice

Tomorrow BU will officially open its season in St. Louis at the Icebreaker Invitational. Game one of the Tournament will see Notre Dame and Holy Cross, while BU takes on Wisconsin in the night cap.

This will be the second time in three years that BU has opened their season at the Icebreaker. Back in 2009 BU hosted the tournament at Agganis Arena. The #9 Terriers upset #5 North Dakota in game one. The following night they beat Michigan State for the tournament championship. It was one of five tournaments the Terrier's won that season, including the national championship (in case you forgot). Also, in 2002, BU won the Icebreaker in Madison Wisconsin. Beating Northern Michigan in a shootout, thanks in large part to Brad Zancanaro's first two goals as a Terrier. One being the game winner in the shootout. The next night BU beat RPI 5-1.

BU's head coach Jack Parker, who had bypass surgery over the summer, was cleared by doctors to make the trip to St Louis.

Kieran Millan, who missed the exhibition game against Toronto, due to a family conflict will start game one against Wisconsin.

There is no TV coverage of the tournament but there is pay-per-view coverage of the tournament from Hockey Prime Time.

Scouting the Badgers 
Last season Wisconsin rolled through the NCAA regionals and past RIT in the first round of the Frozen Four. They were crushed by BC in the National Championship game, 5-0. Like BU last season, Wisconsin lost alot of leadership and talent over the offseason.  Hobey Backer winner, Blake Geoffrion left as a senior,  but they also lost Derek Stepan to the NHL. Stepan last season scored 12 goals in 41 games, one being on the short hand. 


Good news to any BU fan is that Wisconsin will likely have a goalie rotation with Scott Gudmanson and former Terrier Bret Bennett. This is according to a Wisconsin blog, Sixty Minutes. No Alibis. No Regrets. I quote from the blog "DO NOT write off Brett Bennett". This should be music to BU fan's ears. Bennett played one full season with BU, 2007-2008. He was by far the worst goalie BU has had this decade. He had a Hockey East low .888 save%. 


The Last Time They Met 
Was in the the 2001 season. BU lost 3-2 in the Championship game of the Badger Showdown.  

In other News

According to the Boston Hockey Blog, former Terrier Vinny Saponari, who was kicked off the team back in march will go to Boston College next season. Thanks for the memories Vinny!!!