Rink Tour

I know I said I was done here, but as a final wrap up, I leave you with a visual of every rink I've ever seen BU play at, in chronological order.

Section 9, Row T, Seats 1 and 2 at Walter Brown
the place where I saw my first hockey game

The Garden, fitting I ended high school hockey career
on the same bench Jack Parker did 

Tsongas Arena, my first road game (2001)

Matthews Arena (2002)

BU played at DCU in 2002, '03, '05, and '06 in the NCAA
Tournament.

Conte Forum, Boston College (2003) 

Schneider Arena, Providence. First Time I went was in 2003 in
the Hockey East Quarterfinals.  

Agganis Arena opened it's doors in January of 2005, I was
at Opening Night, a 2-1 win over Minnesota. This is the view
from my season tickets in second 114 

Bright Center, Harvard. (2006). Harvard is one of two rinks
on this list that I have actually played a hockey game on.
The other is Boston Garden

Lawler Rink, Merrimack (2007)

Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester NH (2009 NCAA Regionals) 

Verizon Center, Washington DC (2009 Frozen Four). My first
and only Frozen Four.

Mullins Center, UMass (2010)

Madison Square Garden, New York City.
Been here for three of the four Red Hot Hockey
games with Cornell, the first of which I saw in
November 2009.  

Scott Trade Center, St. Louis, Missouri (Icebreaker 2011) 

Gutterson Field-House, Vermont (2012)

Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota (2012 West Regional)

The Wittemore Center, New Hampshire (2013)

Yost Ice Arena, Michigan (2014)

Munn Arena, Michigan State (2014)

Alfond Arena, Maine (2014)

So This Is The End

By now I'm sure anyone who reads this blog knows that BU's season came to an end last Saturday night with a 3-2 loss at Notre Dame in round one of the Hockey East playoffs. For the first time since 1992, BU failed to win at least one game in the HE tournament. That year (as the 4 seed) they lost to (5) Boston College 4-2 in the one game, single elimination quarterfinal format used that year.

As I said at the start of the year, this would be the last year of the blog and the last year I could cover the team. It is sad to see it go, but it may be back in a few years. Hopefully if everything works out I will actually attend BU as a student and not just an avid hockey fan. As a lot of you know I play hockey myself, and next year I am going to prep school in Maine (Bridgton Academy) to further my hockey career. Where that takes me, right now, I don't know. But I do hope I have the chance to come to BU for school (and maybe hockey, eh, coach Quinn? haha) but for now I really just don't know.

So this is the last post. Never did I think I would do this for five seasons when I started back in 8th grade. Back then I didn't even really know how to type and I actually made the site completely by accident. I was attempting to post a comment on a post on the Terrier Hockey Fan Blog when I clicked this big orange button saying "Create your own Blog" and thought to myself,  "What the hell, why not?" From there it took off and I never thought I would actually cover the games, but I stuck with it. The first year I would wake up before school to write about the team.  Five years later as a senior in high school, I have a class in school (independent study) solely devoted to the blog and covering my high school's sport teams.

Looking Toward Next Year
I don't know when the next game I will be able to go to is and it's a strange feeling because for the last whatever amount of years I always have gone to opening night. As for next year's team, it will definitely  be one to watch.

Granted this year's squad didn't win a great deal of games, but all of them (with the exception of the Maine games) were very close, at least scoreboard wise. Next year the team returns a ton of talent and also sees one of the most highly regarded recruit classes to pull on the scarlet and white. Jack Eichel headlines the class with other notable recruits including A.J. Greer and John MacLeod. Here's the complete class: Link.

I never imagined that I would stick with it that long but I'm really glad I did. It never has seemed like "work" to me, it was always something I truly enjoyed and I'm going to miss it. So I leave you with the inspiration for starting this whole thing back in the summer of 2009...


)

Hockey East Round One: Notre Dame

With a four point weekend, the first of its kind this year, BU pulled themselves out of a potential last place finish in the league standings. As it is, this year is the worst finish for BU ever in Hockey East. Thankfully with Notre Dame joining the league this season, the playoff format was changed from the top 8 teams, to all 11 making the tournament.

From the Vault
BU celebrates Sean Escobeo's game winning goal with 1:07
left in the 2010 Icebreaker Championship game vs Notre Dame
in St. Louis. 

Obviously, in past years, BU would not have qualified for the league tournament. That is something that has never happened. 2004 was about as close as you could possibly imagine to not making it. BU needed a win in UNH (who finished 4th) on the last day of the season to finish 8th and just sneak in; otherwise they would have finished last and Merrimack would have taken the 8 seed. In that must win with UNH, the Terriers took a 2-0 lead before the 'Cats scored two of their own to tie things up in the third. The teams traded goals midway through period three and the game went to overtime tied 3-3. Almost halfway through the extra session, BU's David  Van der Gulik got off a shot from the circle, crashed the net and took about four whacks at the rebound before finally forcing the puck past Mike Ayers and into the goal sending BU to Hockey East Playoffs.

In the tournament, BU played number one seed Boston College and to everyone's surprise, won Game One 3-2 despite getting out shot 28-7. BC blanked BU 4-0 the next night, before BU pulled off one of, if not the biggest upsets in the HE tournament with a 4-2 win in Game Three. The Terriers advanced to the Garden to play Maine, where one last third period goal ended the 2004 BU hockey season. Sean Fields made 31 saves in the 1-0 loss, his last game as a Terrier.

So enough with the history lesson and onto this weekend....

Tomorrow BU will play league newcomer, Notre Dame in a one game playoff to advance to the quarterfinals, where (if all the higher seeds win out, except BU) , the Terriers will once again face Boston College. There are a lot of comparisons with 2004, hence why they have been brought up all year.

Two weeks ago, these two teams played in South Bend, seeing Notre Dame win a pair of 2-0 games. BU was plagued with some unfortunate travel struggles as their flight out to Indiana was re-routed and grounded twice before landing in South Bend.

Notre Dame is led offensively by TJ Tynan, who has 8 goals, 23 assists for 31 points in 34 games. Behind him is Mario Lucia (son of Minnesota head coach Don Lucia) who leads the team in goals with 15 and also has 13 assists for 28 points. WJC standout Vince Hinostroza also has 28 points with 7-21-28 line.

In goal, BU will again see Steven Summerhays. The senior from Anchorage, Alaska is the owner of an 18-11-2 record. In his time in goal, Summerhays has posted a .929 save percentage and a 1.87 goals against average, along with a stunning seven shutouts.

Unfortunately the game will not be on TV, but those interested can buy that game though the ND Athletics website.

I will not be able to make it out to Indiana because my high school team is still in the playoffs and I have a game on Sunday.

Catching Up

It's been a few weeks since I posted and that has nothing to do with how the team is playing. Personally it's been a really busy time of year and I have only been able to make it to one game since the Beanpot, so it's been a little difficult to keep up with things on the blog.

Friday night, Jack Parker's number

That being said, I was at the game Friday night. That was a different team that has played in the second semester. It has seemed since the Beanpot that things have slowly been progressing. The team played UNH pretty tough and despite getting shutout two nights in a row by Notre Dame, they hung right with the Irish.

Speaking of the Irish, with the sweep of Northeastern last weekend and Notre Dame's overtime win against Boston College, the Terriers and Irish will meet in the first round of the Hockey East tournament. The new format this year sees the bottom six teams play a one game playoff to get the field of 11 down to 8.

Sixth seeded Maine will host Merrimack, 7th place Vermont have a date with 10th seeded UMass in Burlington and BU will travel back out to South Bend to face Notre Dame. UVM and UMass play Friday night on NESN and the other two games are on Saturday.

Weekend With the Wildcats

Danny O'Regan and BU will look for
their first road win of the year tonight
in Durham.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Coming off a disappointing fourth place finish in the Beanpot and a 6-2 loss to Harvard in the consolation game, BU will look to get back on track in a tough weekend series with New Hampshire. The ‘Cats come into this weekend tied with Maine for fourth place in the Hockey East Standings. BU is in 10^th with just 9 points.

This weekend is not only critical for the league standing, but it will also see the formal retirement of former Jack Parker’s number 6 to the rafters. The ceremony will take place prior to Saturday’s game at Agganis.

Scouting the Wildcats

Last weekend UNH was swept at home by Vermont by scores of 5-2 and 2-1. The weekend before they swept Notre Dame, again at the Whitt. 

Offensively New Hampshire is led by senior Kevin Goumas with 37 points, 13 goals and 24 assists. Right behind him is fellow senior Nick Sorkin, who has posted a team leading 16 goals along with 16 assists for 32 points in 32 games.

In goal junior Casey DeSmith is 14-13-0 in 28 appearances with a .920 save percentage and a 2.35 goals against average. Senior Jeff Wyer has seen action in 7 games with a 2-2-1 record.

Unfortunately I can’t make it to either game this weekend due to my own hockey conflicts. Hopefully I will get to both Northeastern games and the first round of the Hockey East tournament, but right now I really don’t know. This year there have been a lot more conflicts that in past years for whatever reason but I’m going to try and keep up the sight as much I can.

They Deserved Better

Last night was a lot closer than most people ever thought it would have been. BU was in the game all night but there is a certainly a difference between being in the game and actually winning.

BU never caught a break last night. They never got a bounce. They simply had no luck. One play in the third period perfectly sums this all up. A pass came from the corner by (I believe) Cason Hohmann to Matt Lane who was all alone in front of the BC goal. The puck somehow got deflected and went straight up. At this point, BC goalie Thatcher Demko was sprawled out and the entire net was open. The puck continued the pinball around the crease, hitting off of everything but somehow staying out of the net. It was just one of those nights.

BU played well out of the gate, but it was BC who struck early and looked like they would run away with the game. Pat MacGregor was in the box for tripping just 3:50 into the game, 15 seconds later the Eagles had a 1-0 lead. Teddy Doherty and Scott Savage helped set up Ryan Fitzgerald in the low right circle and from there, Fitzgerald beat Matt O'Connor (29 saves) top left up under the bar. It was a nice setup and a better shot.

From this point on, BU actually had some of the better chances in the frame, but again just couldn't get a break... and BC did.

On a John Gaudreau rush into the zone, BU defenseman Garrett Noonan lost an edge, falling down and allowing Gaudreau to walk right into the slot. There, he was cleaned out by another BU skater but the puck went right to Bill Arnold. Arnold wasted no time sliding a pass over to Kevin Hayes who was wide open at the top of the crease and staring at an empty net. Needless to say he didn't miss, and despite how well BU had played to that point, all they had to show for their efforts was a 2-0 deficit, 1:20 into the second period. 

Things went from bad to worse around halfway through the period. Doyle Somerby laid a solid check on Kevin Hayes at his own blue line. Hayes turned towards the boards in the middle of the hit and fell awkwardly. At first glance, it looked like a pretty bad hit, but after seeing a replay there is no reason Somerby should have been thrown out for the hit. 

The five minute power play for BC could have buried the Terriers, but honestly they had the best scoring chance. A shorthanded break saw Danny O'Regan and Nick Roberto get in behind the D deep in the BC zone. O'Regan made a cut back move that opened up Demko but yet again somehow did not find the back of the net. 

Finally after everything, every close call, every almost goal, BU finally broke though with 13:17 left. Danny O'Regan created the whole play after he got into the zone. The sophomore forward carried the puck all the way behind the net and created a passing lane to a streaking Robbie Bailargeon in the slot. Robbie caught the pass and ripped one past Demko glove side.

The Terriers continued to press and had some opportunities to tie things up, but much as the game played out all along, BU was unable to get a bounce.

Gaudreau put the final dagger in the Terrier's side by adding an empty net goal with 33 seconds left.

It was one hell of a hockey game and it was much more than anyone expected. If BU plays that way down the stretch, they will win hockey games which is all we can ask for at this point.

BU will face Harvard in the consolation game next Monday.

Beanpot Monday

Now that the Super Bowl is over, it's time to focus on the real sports entertainment for the week: the Beanpot. Yup, believe it or not, it's that time of year again. BU faces Boston College in the late game tonight, while Harvard and Northeastern square off in game one.

2012 BU-BC Final
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

 BC has taken the first two meetings this season, 5-1, 6-4 and since losing to Holy Cross back on November 29, BC is 11-0-1. Johnny Gaudreau continues to lead Boston College (and the nation) in scoring. In 26 games, the junior from Carneys Point, New Jersey has 23 goals, 28 assists for 51 points... He had 51 points all of last season. The last time Gaudreau was held pointless in game was October 27th at Minnesota.

Tonight, BC will start Thatcher Demko in goal. Demko backstopped the Eagles in the first Battle for Comm Ave this year. On the year, Demko has an 8-1-2 record in 11 appearances with a .927 save percentage and a 1.98 goals against average.

Matt O'Connor will be in net for BU after his impressive performance at UMass on Friday night. He was also the goalie in the first matchup with BC.

History
Since 1999, BU and BC have met five times on the first night of the Beanpot. BU won the first three, BC the last two. In '99 Russ Bartlett scored in overtime for the Terriers on a diving play on a two on one (video). 2002 was the most convincing win of the five games played, as BU topped the Eagles 5-3. The 2005 meeting was definitely the improbable win for the Terriers. Starting goalie (and now BU Hall of Famer) John Curry was out with an injury and so long time backup Sephan Siwiec got the start. Siwiec made 36 saves as BU stole a 3-1 win...they were out shot 37-18. John Laliberte scored two goals for BU that night.

2008 saw BC win their first semi final matchup with BU since 1981. Nathan Gerbe netted the overtime winner to give BC a 4-3 victory. BC beat Harvard 6-5 in overtime in the championship game to win their first title since 2004. The most recent First Round meeting was 2011 and once again it went to overtime. BU's Ryan Ruikka took a penalty less than three minutes into overtime to put BC on the power play. Tommy Cross stuck from the point to send BC to the final.

The last six meetings (both rounds included) between the two schools have been one goal games. The last multi-goal decision was 2005.

Predictions
BC 4, BU 2
NU 5, Harvard 2

Final: BC 3, NU 1

Seven Minute Struggle

With about 16 minutes left in tonight's (eventual) 3-3 draw at UMass, things were looking pretty good. Mike Moran had just scored to make it 3-1 BU on a turnaround shot, upstairs, from the low circle... And then it all fell apart.

With about seven minutes left, BU was definitely sitting back and had no real pressure in the offensive zone dating back to the Moran goal. Conor Sheary made BU pay for their lack of aggression, as he picked up a loose puck in the high slot, turned around and slammed it home five hole on Matt O'Connor (46 saves). It was his 5th of the year.

That goal (as if it wasn't already) sung the momentum greatly into the Minutemen's hands. UMass dominated the rest of the frame and after calling a time out and pulling goalie Steve Mastalerz, they tied it with less than a minute left. Ray Pigozzi got credit for the goal as a shot got through from the point and deflected off his stick, past O'Connor to tie it 3-3 with just 50 seconds left.

Before the collapse took place BU actually played a pretty decent game. They took a 1-0 lead midway through the first on Cason Hohmann's 8th of the year. Nick Roberto dished to the Texas native from behind the net and at the bottom of the crease, Hohmann beat a sprawling Mastalerz.

With less than a minute to play in the first period, Umass leveled the game on a power play. Brandon Gracel banged home his 11th of the year just outside the crease to tie it before the period ended.

BU regained their lead on an odd man rush in the second. Matt Lane and Cason Hohmann set up Ahti Oksanen for an absolute bomb from the top of the circle. Mastalerz had zero chance to stop it.

In overtime BU carried the play in the begining, but much like the game, Umass took over late. In the end though, nothing was decided and the final score was 3-3.

Matt O'Connor played out of his mind tonight and really gave his team a chance to win. As mentioned before, he made 46 saves as BU was outshout 49-22. He will get the start against BC in Beanpot Round One on Monday.

Terriers Travel to UMass

Tonight, BU will head out to Amherst and try and get back on track and also attempt to pick up their first road win of the year. The Terriers are 0-8-0 in opponents' barns this year. The one time they have won in Red was facing Cornell at Madison Square Garden in the Red Hot Hockey Game. Lucky (looking ahead a bit here) BU won the draw and will be the home team in Monday’s Beanpot game vs. Boston College.

Evan Rodrigues scores against UMass in the season's first
 meeting.
(Photo by Matt Dresens) 

Onto tonight’s matchup… UMass (7-16-3, 3-8-2) finds themselves ahead of BU by just one point in the Hockey East standings with 8. BU won the first game of the season series back on opening night at Agganis 3-1. Matt O’Connor will be in net for BU tonight; Sean Maguire was between the pipes the last time the two teams met.

Scouting the Minutemen
UMass is led in total points by Conor Sheary, who in 26 games has posted a 4-16-20 line. The team’s leading goal scorer is a dead heat right now between freshman Steven Iacobellis and Brandon Gracel, who both have ten. Iacobellis has one more point than Gracel at 17.

In goal, UMass has seen Steve Mastalerz play the bulk of the time. In 23 appearances, the junior from North Andover has a 7-13-2 record to go along with a .913 save percentage and a 2.70 goals against average. Two freshmen, Max Haight and Alex Wakaluk have both seen time as well. Haight has a 0-1-1 record in four appearances, while Wakaluk is 0-2-0 in his two times in the cage.

History

BU has traditionally dominated the Minutemen since UMass brought back their program in the mid '90s. Overall dating back to 1920, BU leads the series 53-11-3. Since 2010 the series has been much closer, at least at the Mullens Center where the teams are 4-4-1 against each other.  

Ups and Downs

Finally this weekend BU got off the mat and was able to win a hockey game for the first time since November 30th, a 4-2 win over UVM. A night later, Vermont took it to the Terriers and handed them a 6-2 loss.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to any of this weekends action so I really don't have much to say. Hopefully I can get out to UMass on friday night, but if not I will 100% be at the Beanpot on Monday night.

Same Old Story

Stop me if this sounds familiar: BU gets horribly out shot, goalie stands on his head, lose close game they were never really in. Without mentioning any specific player on either team, that is exactly how the game went.

Sean Maguire battled though another tough night in goal
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Sean Maguire made 39 saves, again standing on his head to give his team a chance. He is doing all anyone can ask if a goalie and more, just simply not getting the run support. He is now 1-8-0.

Lowell struck first at 12:09 of period one. Scott Wilson skated in over the line and let go a shot that made its way past Maguire's blocker side just inside the right post. It was Wilson's fifth of the year from Josh Holmstrom and Adam Chapie.

BU was out-shot 19-2 in the first and did not get one on goal in the first 17 minutes of the period. That was by Garrett Noonan.

Lowell doubled their lead at 7:41 of period two. A long stretch pass from Michael Kapel sprang Terrence Wallin in alone from the Terrier blue line. From there he broke in and snapped off a quick wrister from inside the dots to beat Maguire low.

BU got on the board less than two minutes into the third. Kevin Duane was able to go upstairs on Connor Hellebuyck for BU's lone goal of the game. It was Duane's fourth of the year, unassisted.

Joe Pendenza added an empty net goal inside two minutes to play to cap it.

BU's winless streak is now at 8 games. They will play Vermont in a two game series next weekend at home.

A Good Fight Falls Short

Sean Maguire made 38 saves last
night and if not for his stellar play
this game could have been 9-1.
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

To say BC was the better team would be a total understatement. For stretches in last night's 6-4 loss at Conte Forum, it felt like watching the Soviets run circles around Denmark. But at other points, specifically the end, BU showed some real fight and comeback, as they made things far more intense.

Robbie Baillargeon got the scoring started in the first and gave BU their only lead of the game, roughly 10 minutes in. Brendan Collier and Doyle Somerby picked the assists on the play.

BC struck back on the power play with less than a minute left in the frame. Adam Gilmour slipped one through Sean Maguire's legs for his first of two on the night.

BC dominated the second period. This was the height of that Soviet-Denmark game referred to earlier. Maguire absolutely stood on his head in the stanza and despite allowing two goals, he stopped 17 shots, 7 of which were (as Jack Edwards would put it) "10 bell" saves. One that really stood out was a sprawling glove save that he gave the old Patrick Roy windmill to on a point blank shot from the slot.

BC's first goal of the second period came just after that spectacular save. Danny Linell tossed a shot on goal that Maguire handled but could not control the rebound and Quinn Smith was able to bury it, giving BC a lead they would never relinquish.

John Gaudreau increased the lead on the power play midway through the frame. Graudreau drew a holding called after falling down in the corner. On the resulting man advantage, BC's clockwork power play set up the junior standout for his 20th goal of the year. Passing from Bill Arnold and Kevin Hayes resulted in the assists.

The third period saw six goals scored, three by each team. It seemed like every time BU could inch back in the game, BC was there to quickly extinguish the threat with a quick goal.

TJ Ryan gave BU fans something to cheer for just 2:50 into the stanza. Kevin Duane slipped a pass through a crowd from the far corner to Ryan, who was stationed at the top of the crease. Ryan got a lot on his shot from close in and beat Brian Billett, who had no chance. It was Ryan's first collegiate goal.

Chris Calnan and Adam Gilmour both scored, three minutes apart to give BC their biggest lead of the game and it looked like BC was going to run away with it.

Mike Moran changed all of that with just under 10 minutes left. He threw a "what the hell" shot on goal from a bad angle in the far circle. The shot somehow snuck through Billett's pads and dropped into the goal behind him to make it a two goal game. The goal was very similar to Zach Cohen's goal in the 2009 Hockey East Semis vs BC. That was the first of BU's three goals in 45 seconds.

BU found themselves on a five on three power play with less than five minutes to play. BC killed off the two man advantage, but the Terriers scored on the leftover time on the second penalty. Baillargeon and Ahti Oksanen set up Cason Hohmann for something I have never seen Hohmann take: a one timer. Hohmann drilled it and the puck flew into the top corner.

About 30 seconds after the goal, a shot from the point was tipped in front and Billett never saw it until it just hit him.

Oksanen also had a golden chance to tie the game with the extra attacker, but his rocket soared just a few inches over the net.

Gaudreau added an empty netter to seal the deal at 6-4.

The ending was very exciting and for the first time since probably the Cornell game, it really felt like there was something to root for. At this point in the year, I really think that's all we can ask for especially considering all the injuries.

The Terriers are back at it tonight as they trek up to Lowell in the snow.

Battle of Comm Ave (Part Two)

For the second time this year BU and BC will face off, this time at the Heights. Boston College took the first meeting 5-1 in a game where the score didn't accurately depict how close the game really was.

Nick Roberto celebrates after scoring BU's lone goal against
BC in the game back in November.
(Photo by Matt Dresens) 

BU comes into the game banged up. They will be with out injured forwards Jake Moscatel and Evan Rodrigues. Worst of all, Matt Grzelyk is done for the year after suffering a separated shoulder injury in practice. BU will have just 16 skaters dressed for the game tonight.

Sean Maguire is in goal.

Scouting the Eagles
BC comes into this game with a 14-4-3 record and in first place in the Hockey East standings. John Gaudreau not only leads Boston College in points, but the entire nation. The junior from Carneys Point, New Jersey has 40 points (19g, 21a) in just 21 games played. Not too far behind is senior Kevin Hayes; in 21 games, Hayes has 13 goals and 22 assists for 35 points. BC's best defenseman is probably Michael Matheson who has notched 13 points from the blue line.

In goal BC will start junior Brian Billett. Billett is 1-0-0 in his BU-BC rivalry career with his lone start coming in 2012. This year he has a 10-3-1 record in 13 games, and in that time has posted a .925 save percentage and a 2.27 goals against average.

 Clearly is not the favorite to win the game but if you want beSo You're Say'n There's a Chance
optimistic, read my post from earlier in the week:

So You're Say'n There's A Chance...

Sean Fields makes a save in Game 3
 vs Boston College in the 2004
Hockey East Playoffs.
(photo by Phoebe Sexton, BU Bridge)

After another tough weekend in which BU was run over by Maine at Fenway 7-3, it's time to look forward. BU is staring down the barrel of their toughest weekend on the schedule to date. Friday night, the Terriers will take the Green Line up Comm Ave. and face off with Boston College. Saturday night sees BU head to Lowell.

BU is just 3 points behind Lowell in the Hockey East standings, but the River Hawks have played one less game in league play.

Playing as the underdog

Clearly BU is not the favorite heading into this game with Boston College (and if you think they are, you are on crack), but not all is lost.

Remember 2004?

BU was the 8th seed in the Hockey East playoffs, far and away the lowest they have ever finished in the league. The team had a dismal 12-17-9 record and had to beat UNH in overtime on the last day of the schedule just make the HE tournament. They were to play Boston College at Conte Forum best two out of three, and no one gave them any chance. BU lost all four regular season matchups with the Eagles that year… BU stole Game 1 before getting badly out-played in Game 2 and seeing BC even the series.

In Game 3 BU got on the board late in the first on a power play goal by Brad Zancanaro. BC tied things shortly into the second, before BU scored three goals in less than five minutes midway through the second. Kenny Roche, Brian Miller and Eric Thomassian all found the back of the net to give BU a shocking 4-1 lead going into the third period. Sean Fields, who stood on his head that entire season despite the win/loss record, allowed a late power play goal, but his 35 save effort was more than enough to propel the Terriers to one of the biggest upsets in Hockey East history.

What does this all have to do with this weekend? Nothing really, all I'm saying is there is a chance Friday night. I just hope it's close and from there who knows? Maybe we get a strange bounce, a fortunate call, great goaltending and BU can steal their first road win of the season.... At Boston College of all places.

Big Green Roll Over Terriers

Tonight was another tough night to be a Terrier hockey fan, as two win Dartmouth had their way with the sinking Terriers down the stretch.

Cason Hohmann put the Terriers on the board less than halfway through the first. Garrett Noonan took a shot that pin-balled around the crease and eventually made it's way over to Hohmann who had practically the entire net to hit in his fifth goal of the year. It was Hohmann's second goal in as many games. In the last three games the Texas native has played, he has scored that night's game's first goal.

BU's penalty kill was strong in the first frame. They were called to the task three times and other than a few long shots that Sean Maguire easily handled, Dartmouth never was able to really set up.

Dartmouth evened the game in the dying minutes of the stanza. Ahti Oksanan got caught trying to be a little too cute and payed for it. He had his pocket picked by Jack Barre at the BU blue line. The Big Green's Charlie Mosey jumped on the loose puck, burned Tommy Kelly through the neutral zone, and then solved Maguire, blocker side high. It was Mosey's fourth goal of the season.

BU regained their lead midway through the second. Dartmouth's Taylor Boldt and Rick Pinkston were both in the box and the Terriers (all-of-a-sudden) red hot power play took over. Robbie Baillargeon and Ahti Oksanen worked it to Matt Grzelcyk in the middle of the slot. Grzelcyk's made it through some traffic and it looked to have been tipped by Danny O'Regan. After a second look, it was in fact Grzelcyk's goal, his third of the year. It's good to see he's picking up where he left off in Malö at the World Juniors.

Less than two minutes later, Dartmouth tied the game again. Brad Schierhorn banged home his third of the year on a rebound to Maguire's left. Andy Simpson and Rick Pinkston picked up the assists on the play.

Before the period ended, Nick Lovejoy potted a loose rebound, again to Maguire's left. It was his first collegiate goal with just 1:29 left in the frame.

Dartmouth added a shorthanded tally in the third to round out the scoring. A costly turnover at the blue line allowed the Big Green's leading scorer to walk in alone from the the red line. Eric Neiley beat Maguire with a forehand/backhand move just outside the crease and slid it five hole for his 10th of the year.

Dartmouth looked to have scored a fifth goal on a two on one, but it was taken back after review. Maguire was slightly interfered with, at least enough to have the goal called back.

BU had a few chances to net an extra attacker goal, but it was not to be and the Terriers remained winless in the second semester. Their next game is Saturday night at Fenway Park against Maine.

Dartmouth Preview

Tonight BU will play its last non-conference game until the Beanpot, as they host Dartmouth at Agganis for just the second time in the building’s history. The game tonight is a story of two struggling teams. Dartmouth is just 2-11-12, after starting the year a miserable 0-8-0, before finally beating Harvard 2-1 on November 30th. Their other win was at Yale the next weekend 4-1. BU on the other hand has not won a game since beating Cornell at MSG ironically on November 30th.

Scouting the Big Green
Junior Eric Neiley is far and away the team leader in goals and points. In 15 games the Warminster, Pennsylvania native has nine goals, 4 assists for 13 points. The next closest point-getter is Brandon McNally who has nine (2g, 7a).

In goal, Dartmouth has seen three different netminders man the crease. Sophomore Charles Grant has seen the bulk of the time, appearing in 10 games with a 2-6-2 record. Grant has posted a .895 save percentage and a 3.60 goals against average. Senior Cab Morris has seen time in 5 games with a 0-4-0 record, and in that time is the owner of a 4.74 GAA and a .826sv%. James Kruger has seen time in one game and has a 0-1-0 record.

The Last Time They Met…
January 15, 2008: The Big Green won their first-ever game at Agganis 3-2 with just 1:42 left in the third period on a last second goal by J.T. Wyman. Jason Lawrence and Bryan Ewing picked up the goals for BU that night.

- Evan Rodrigues and Jake Moscatel are both out tonight due to injury.

Harvard Preview

And we're back.

It been nearly a month from the time BU last set foot on the ice to play another school's hockey team. That was a rather disappointing 4-1 loss to Bentley.  Since that game, two players almost (maybe?) left to go to the USHL in Brandon Coiler and Sam Kurker. Neither actually left and and both will be in the lineup tonight.

Matt Grzelcyk and Danny O'Regan both headed to Sweden for the World Juniors. Grzelcyk was a standout on the US team and was named the squad's MVP. It is unknown still if the two will be in tonight's lineup.

Tonight the Terriers will take on Harvard at the Bright Center in Cambridge.  Harvard on the year is 4-7-2 with notable wins over UNH (6-3) and RPI (2-0).

Scouting Harvard
Jim Vesey, a former standout member on the USA WJC Team, leads the Crimson in scoring. In 13 games played, Vesey has posted 8 goals and 3 assists. Right behind him is fellow sophomore Kyle Criscuolo, who in 13 games has 10 points (7g 3a).

In goal, senior Raphael Girard and junior Steve Michalek have split time. Girard has a 3-4-1 record in 480 minutes played. He has posted a .948 save percentage and a 1.88 goals against average to this point. On the other hand, Michalek has a 3.17 GAA and a .908 GAA.

The Last Time The Met...
was in the Beanpot Consolation Game. Harvard won that game 7-4.