And We're Back

From The Vault
Alex Chiasson attempts to chase
down a loose puck at the side of the
Denver net before goalie Adam
Murray covers up in a game play
in Boston last October.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

If you coundln't tell already, I, like the team, took a much needed break for the holidays. Tonight BU will travel to Denver and take on the Pioneers in the annual College Hockey Hall of Fame Game.

Scouting the Pioneers 
Denver started the year on a tear, winning 9 of the first 10 games. Their only loss in that stretch was a 3-0 blanking at home by St. Cloud State. Following a quick Thanksgiving break, Denver came out like a new team. A really bad one. The Pioneers have yet to win a game since November 17. Since the 17th, DU is 0-4-4. One of those four ties came against North Dakota, a game that I watched not knowing that DU was on such a slide. Denver actually had the lead deep into the second period, before NoDak tied things at 2-2 on the power play and that was the final score. Denver looked competitive, but a night later they were beaten 6-3.

Junior Nick Shore, brother of former Pioneer great Drew, leads the team with 20 points (7g, 13a) in 18 games played. Close behind him is sophomore Chris Knowlton who has a team high 10 goals to go along with 8 assists for 18 points. Defenseman Joey LaLeggia, who just so happens to be in third in the points race with 16 (7g, 9a) was a standout for the Pioneers in the North Dakota game that I watched earlier this year.

In goal, Sam Brittain has seen the most action, holding a 4-4-0 record with a 2.78 goals against and a .908 save percentage. Sophomore Juho Olkinuora has a 3-1-3 record. He has a rather impressive 1.91 GAA and .936 save percentage. Olkinuora really caught my attention in the North Dakota game. He stood on his head and was the lone reason the Sioux did not run away with that game.

---> Matt O'Connor will be in the net for the Terriers tonight.
---> Matt Grzelcyk will not be in the Terriers lineup even though was the last cut from the USA World Junior Roster. He will be back for next Saturday's game vs RPI.