Best of 2009

The Year in Review

The year is ending, and what a year it was.  Let's go over the best things in the world of BU hockey, and otherwise, that went down in the tenth year of the first decade of the new millenium.

BEST MOVIE OF 2009:
THE HANGOVER



Seriously, is this even a question?  The Hangover was an epic, epic comedy.  And it was a no thought at all required comedy to boot.  Plus it put Zach Galadsjkfheruwfnakis on the map, and the dude is hilarious.  To be fair, I didn't see The Hurt Locker or Avatar.  But I heard the story in Avatar blew.  And don't try to sell me on Up in the Air, even if Zach G was in it.  I hate movies that are made solely to try to win an Oscar.  That's horseshit in my book.  So shut up about it already.  Star Trek was awesome too though, and to me challenged the Hangover solely because it took a pretty geeky thing and not only made it mainstream, but freakin' awesome. 



BEST GOAL OF 2009:
GILROY TO BONINO TIES IT AT 3



Another no-brainer.  I picked this video because it shows my section in the upper deck going absolutely ape-shit once the goal goes home.  This goal is impressive in so many ways.  Gilroy's patience and presence of mind is completely un-real.  A collegiate player who gets a pass in the slot, dekes around a defender to get free and doesn't  take the shot.  No panic at all.  Instead, a perfect backhand pass that probably even surprised Nick Bonino.  But he didn't panic either.  Nor did he hesitate.  He ripped a perfectly placed one-timer over a sliding defender that somehow snuck between the goalies glove and his left leg.  Simply, the perfect play at the perfect time.


BEST ROCK SONG OF 2009:
"USE SOMEBODY" -- KINGS OF LEON

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The first Kings of Leon song I heard was "Sex on Fire."  I don't suck, so needless to say, I hated it.  But when I heard "Use Somebody," I was like "damn, I don't hate these guys."  And then I heard it again.  And Again. And then I heard it 700 Million more times.  In the car, at the gym, at the bar, on my ipod, in my sleep.  I heard it everywhere.  Matter of fact, I'm still hearing the damn thing on the radio.  But by some miracle, I don't hate it.  At all.  I like it.  It's a great song, and it wins the rock honor for song of the year.


TURNING POINT OF 2009:
"WAIT, WHO SWEPT WHO?"
(THIS MOMENT HAPPENED IN 2008.  DEAL WITH IT.  IT MATTERED IN 2009)

When I ask you how the championship was won, there are some obvious answers.  But one that's not as often discussed is the low point of the season.  Way back on November 21 and 22 of 2008, those horrible Catamounts from UVM came into Agganis for a two game set.  And they embarassed BU.  Twice in a row.  First, they did it on the strength of 38 saves by goaltender Rob Madore.  Then they did it thanks to a 32 save effort from Mike Spillane.

At the end of the weekend, Vermont had not only toppled the #1 team in the nation, but had supplanted them as the best team in Hockey East.  They sat at 7-3-2 while BU was 7-4-0.  Not to mention that they had just taken care of the Terriers handily. 

If ever there was a wake up call, this was it.  BU went 7-0-1 in their next 8 games, and lost a grand total of two (YES TWO) games the rest of the season, including the playoffs.  They went 28-2-4 after getting shut down by UVM.  So thank you Catamounts, for poking the bear.  Who knows how the year would have turned out if BU hadn't been so pissed at you.

Oh yeah, and The Terriers got their revenge.

BEST HIP-HOP SONG OF 2009:
"EMPIRE STATE OF MIND" -- JAY-Z and ALICIA KEYS

The moment I heard this song, I knew the Yankees were going to win the World Series.  Just like the '07 Sox hitched their wagon to the Dropkicks, the Yanks grabbed on to Jay-Z in '09.  He even performed the damn song on the field before Game 2.  He was in the stands for almost every playoff game, and he even hopped on a parade float.  But beside that, it's just an awesome song.


BEST SAVE OF 2009:
KIERAN MILLAN SAVES THE SEASON vs UNH


                                  AT THE 6:15 MARK

UNH out-played BU in the NCAA Regional Final in Manchester.  I don't deny that for a minute.  But they did not out-play Kieran Millan.  The freshman goaltender played the game of his life for the Terriers, capped off by this simply unbelievable save on Mike Sislo of the Wildcats.  That save got BU to DC.  So try to think of it when Millan is giving up 1500 rebounds to a mediocre UMass team on Saturday.


BEST MELTDOWN OF 2009:
TIGER WOODS



Christian Bale was the leader in the clubhouse earlier this year thanks to his insane rant at a light operator on set for Terminator Salvation.  Then we found out he could be a domestic abuser.  So yeah, he was a good candidate.

But nobody in the history of the world has ever fallen from grace as fast as Tiger Woods.  When you ate your turkey a month ago, Tiger was the best golfer on the planet, the most recognizable athlete on the planet, one of the richest atheletes ever, full of fancy endorsements in everything from insurance to razors to cell phones to cars to sports drinks, with a super hot wife and two cute little kids.  Nothing more, nothing less.

Now he is a laughing stock, a man-whore, he's lost most of his major deals, and he's taking an indefinite sabbatical from golf.

That, my friends, is an epic meltdown.  But just for good measure, here is the runner up.

Don't play it at work, or if profanity offends you.




BEST PLAYER OF 2009:
MATT GILROY

This is obvious, so I will just bullet point it really quick.

• 
  
  Captain
  
  
  
• 
  
  Hobey Baker
  
  
  
• 
  
  Set up the biggest goal in program history
  
  
  
• 
  
  37 points and just 12 penalty minutes.  As a defenseman.
  
  
  
• 
  
  +12 on the year, +67 overall
  
  
  

I'm sure there are more things to mention, but these are the big ones in my book.  Happy 2010, folks.

Baby We're Back

2009 Out, Hiatus Over, TMA Back

I know, I know it was a sparse December for Two Man Advantage.  And I know you're all hurting because of it.  But as the Terriers get back on the ice, TMA is coming back at you with a venegance.

In my mind, it's hard to be mad at 2009.  The first half of the year was so incredible that it makes it tough for me to be mad at September to December.  2009 was still the greatest sports year in the history of my life thanks to all the incredible games I got to see the Terriers play in, and win. 

From bringing the Beanpot back home, to two incredible games to win the Hockey East championship, to J-Lo's game winner in Manch Vegas over UNH to send BU to DC, to Colin Wilson's heroics over UVM, to of course Matty Ice, Nick Bonino and the rest of the Terriers staging the most miraculous comeback I have ever seen in any sport, to a freakin' duckboat parade down Comm Ave, 2009 was a hell of a year.

So as much as this season has sucked, and my god it has sucked some serious ass, let's forget it.  Let's call 2010 a fresh start.  There are still 18 games to play, including the Beanpot.  They've only played 16 games so far this year!  And only 11 conference games, for that matter.  This all means, that after a nice long winter nap, the sleeping beast can still awaken.

So tonight, raise a glass to a prosperous Terrier '10.

Hey, it can happen.

A Bit Of Good News

BU's Season In The Dumps, But Alums on the Way Up

Matty Ice got called back up to the Rangers, but that wasn't the best news fr BU alums this week.

Brandon Yip got on the board with his first NHL goal in a 4-2 loss to the Ducks last night.





He also talked to reporters after the game.


Congrats Brandon.  That makes three '09 Terriers with NHL goals.

Vote For Gilroy

Matty Ice One of the Top 10 Breakout Athletes of the Decade

Matt Gilroy has been named one of the most surprising bursts onto the scene of the sports world in the new millenium by USA Today.

Other Boston Nominees include Tom Brady and the '04 Red Sox. 

Go vote for Matty  Ice!

Hello Darkness My Old Friend.....

The 2009-10 Season is Dust in the Wind

R.I.P. BU, Thanks to RPI

The Boston Herald

Any moderate degree of faith or cautious enthusiasm I had about this team is gone after they fell last night to Puckman and friends from Troy, NY.

Ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly and ugly are the words I would use to describe it.

More later, if I don't jump out a window first.

Gryba Watch: December 11

And The Winner Is.....

When Eric Gryba was growing up, I'm sure he dreamed of this night.  But I doubt he ever thought such an incredible goal would ever actually be attainable. 

Immediately after taking a two-minute penalty for holding, Eric Gryba set the BU record for career penalty minutes in the only way he knows how.  With an epic 10 minute misconduct penalty.  He even got to sit in the box while one Terrier served his two-minute minor, while Kevin Shattenkirk scored a short-handed goal, and while Sean Escobedo and Kevin Gilroy came to join him in the box with penalties of their own.

His Teammates, and the Crowd, Went Wild

With the 12 minutes, Gryba stands alone at the top of the mountain with 295 career penalty minutes.

Congratulations Eric.  You are a man among men, a god among mortals, and an ant-eater among ants.

In an otherwise awful season, Gryba has given us all something to be thankful for.

Know Your Enemy: The Engineers Edition

The Boys From Troy Come to Agganis


Tonight's almost sure let-down will be televised for all of New England to see on NESN.  That's nice considering the Terriers have been a constant disappointment, and it seems the rest of the Western World just caught on this past week.

ESPN  and the New York Times both took a minute to say, "Hey, those guys who played that exciting game last April.....Remember them?  They really suck!"

Tonight BU has a chance to feel a little better about their sucky season when they play a home game against an average ECAC team.  Like Harvard.  That was easy right?

But these guys are names after physics students, and their mascot is something called puckman.

To be fair, it appears that puckman's presence around RPI has been scaled back in recent years, but embarrassing nonetheless.

Strong Words From A Strong Man

Parker Rips Team In FreeP Interview


The Daily Free Press talked to Coach Parker earlier this week, and he certainly had some choice words for his Terriers.


Let's review some of the highlights.

On the deep hole The Terriers have dug themselves:

"I don’t know if they’re yet to realize why they’re in the boat they’re in,” Parker said Wednesday. “It remains to be seen –– we’ll see if they come out of it this weekend. We had a team meeting before practice on Tuesday to take an inventory of where we’re at and why we’re at there and see if we can change that. In general, this team is not hungry enough. This team is not determined enough. This team has not got themselves ready to play games.”

On the sub-par performances in net:

“Before the season, I thought we’d have as good of goaltending as there was in college hockey –– we haven’t gotten near that,” Parker said. “Before the season started, I thought we’d have a real good power play –– we haven’t gotten near that. Before the season started, I thought we’d be solid killing penalties because of our overall defensive capabilities and our goaltending –– we haven’t gotten that.”

On who will get a chance to skate against RPI:

“I told them [Tuesday], ‘We’re having tryouts this week for who’s playing on Friday,’” Parker said. “We’ll make our decisions after tomorrow’s practice on who’s going to be our six defenseman dressed and who’s going to be our 12 forwards dressed.”

On a lack of preparation:

“All we’ve gotta do is get guys to work harder,” he said. “In order to work harder, you have to be willing to focus and start getting ready for a game [on Wednesday], not at seven o’clock at night on Friday night. We’ve been inept in that area so far.”

The key point there that is most disturbing is  Parker highlighting their lack of desire.  What the hell are these kids playing for if they don't care?

One thing I know is that Jack isn't just going to let kids skate through BU on their way to the NHL.  If they want to play for him, they're going to have to step it up and actually care about winning a few games here.  I hope Parker ripped into them a lot more in private than he did in public.

At this point, I really wouldn't mind seeing Adam Kraus get a start.  Shake things up, Jackie.

Christmas Wish: Denied

Joey P Undegoes Hernia Surgery, Out For One Month


The Daily Free Press is telling us that on the eve of tonight's game with RPI, Joe Pereira underwent a procedure he has been putting off to minimize the time away from the team.

"Friday night, when BU plays host to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Terriers will be without the services of Pereira, who is expected to be out a month after undergoing hernia surgery Wednesday, Parker said.

Pereira is aiming to return to the Terriers’ (4-8-3) lineup for their Jan. 8 matchup with Boston College at Fenway Park, Parker said. 

The junior has needed the operation for some time, but chose to put off the procedure until this week in hopes that he’ll only miss two games –– Friday’s game with RPI (8-8-1) and BU’s Jan. 2 contest against the No. 15 University of Massachusetts-Amherst."

Well this figures.  One of the few guys it hasn't been painful to watch goes under the knife.  So much for staying healthy.


Let's hope the estimate of missing just two games is correct.

Christmas Wishes: Part 1

Wish #1:  Extended Good Health to All, And to All A Good Night

My first Christmas Wish focuses on the rampant injuries that have plagued the Terriers to begin the 2009-10 season.  If BU is going to get back into the Hockey East race at all, they are going to need their players to perform better, and the first step to performing better is....well, it's to stay on the damn ice.

Gryba Watch: December 5

A night after inching within five penalty minutes of the BU record, Eric Gryba stood pat Saturday night against Boston College.

He certainly did try though, as the big man played his most physical game of the year, flying around the ice and knocking people's heads off all night long.

On the play pictured below, Gryba was looking for boarding, roughing and hitting from behind, but the refs have buckled down as he has come closer and closer to setting the historic and significant record.

Can I Have A Penalty?  Please?

Will Gryba break the record before 2010?  He's got one more chance to do that against RPI on Friday night.

To Pick a Goalie

How Long Should Jack Parker Stick With Kieran Millan?

The BU Terriers carry three goalies, but over the past season and a half, there has really only been one goalie in town.  Kieran Millan had just about the best year a freshman possibly can, patrolling the pipes for the best defensive team in the nation, and helping his club to a national championship.  Loyalty is great, and Kieran Millan will still be a solid goaltender long term.  But none of that changes that fact that right now, the kid is struggling. 

Kieran Won Everything Last Year, But Not So Much This Time Around

He's only saved .865% of the shots he's faced, and he's giving up 3.48 goals per game.  But the most important statistic is his 3-8-0 record, and his 1-7-0 record in Hockey East play.

At some point, the question of whether or not Jack Parker should seriously entertain his other options needs to be raised.  It seems that Parker has already considered this possibility, judging by the fact that he gave Sophomore Grant Rollheiser a stretch of two out of three games against UNH and Cornell.  The third game of that stretch was a significant game for the program, the Red Hot Hockey match-up in front of 18,200 fans and a larger national audience at Madison Square Garden.  Keeping Kieran out of that one was very likely designed to be a message to the goalie to get his act together.

The fact is that in sports, college as well as professional, nothing is simply given out.  For better or worse, a great yesterday does not guarantee you a job tomorrow if you cannot perform today.  And Kieran Millan has not performed as well as he needs to in order to keep this team in games.  This is not to say that any of his goaltending colleagues would fare any better.  But they might.  Let's consider the options.

Not The Beasts of the East

Terriers Weak in Conference Play

Last season, the Terriers were perfect outside of Hockey East.  They were 8-0 against teams outside of Hockey East, including powerhouses like Michigan, Michigan State and North Dakota.  They were also outstanding against their familiar foes of Hockey East.

This season has been a different story for last year's national champs, who have been unable to solve anybody at all in Hockey East. 

Bonino, Shatty and Gryba Can't Get Terriers Rolling

Photo From The Daily Free Press

BU Bested By BC

Is This Rock Bottom?

Can it get any worse for the Terriers?  The ninth place team in Hockey East looked strong for two periods, and like a pee wee team from hell in the third against their hated rival on Saturday night.

After a back and forth first, the Terriers drew first blood with a goal two minutes into the second period from Nick Bonino.  For a glorious 15 minutes or so, it felt as if BU had finally found its stride and righted the ship from its early season struggles.  A couple of scrappy games for ties, then a big win over the Eagles would have gone a very long way toward nudging BU back into national relevance.

But the momentum and the game shifted completely on a right handed wrister from the blue line. 

In fact, that one fateful snap shot could have been the body blow that knocked the Terriers to the mat this season.

Carl Sneep let one fly from dead center of the top of the Terriers' zone, and it continued to sail right over Kieran Millan's left shoulder into the back of the net.  There was traffic in Millan's general area, but he didn't appear to be screened.  Just a long shot that beat last year's world-beater for a monumental goal.

Kieran's focus and poise evaporated, and after a BU goal was disallowed about a minute later, the rest of the goalie's teammates lost their edge as well.  BC came out flying and firing in the third, and after drilling a shot off a post, Millan got beat by a dribbling deflected puck that crawled through the crease and into the cage from Edwin Shea just 38 seconds into the frame.  The Eagles' third goal came from Joe Whitney exactly 5 minutes later.  Whitney gained the zone with the puck, lined up an uncontested slap shot, and ripped it directly on net.  Once again, perhaps Millan was surprised by the long shot, and it flew high over his right shoulder into the net.  BC put the Terriers on ice 7 minutes later with a goal from Brian Gibbons.

The Terriers and Eagles Play Next on January 8 At Fenway Park

This is about as deflating to a team and a fan base as a loss in December can possibly be.  BU has played just 11 of their 27 games in Hockey East, but it certainly feels as if the season is already over.

BU has now seen 8 of the 9 teams in its conference.  They have been defeated at least once by all but one of those teams, undefeated against Vermont thanks to a tie.  They've been better out of Hockey East, posting a 2-1-2 record in those games, but the Terriers have been simply dreadful against the teams that they know best.

This was BU's chance to jump back into the fray and make a statement against one of the most talented teams in the league.  But even when it mattered most, the Terriers could not dig deep enough to make a surge and save face.

There is time for BU to recover for their horrendous start, but at this point the question has to be whether or not BU even has it in them to fight for this.

Ugh.

Gross

Know Your Enemy: The RIvalry Edition

Boston College Shipping Up To Agganis


The 08-09 Boston College season and the 09-10 BU season to this point are eerily similar.  Win a national championship, lose a bunch of players to graduation and early departure to the pros, have a forced re-building year, disappoint an expectant fan base.

I Hate This Clown

But you can consider the Eagles re-built now, as they now sit in second place in Hockey East with 10 points in 10 games.

So what will the Eagles bring to the table in the renewal of the rivalry this year?

Gryba Watch: December 4

FIVE MINUTES TO GO!


On a night when Eric Gryba showed the world he knows how to knock the puck home, that was not the biggest news for big number 2.

At 17:06 of the second period of a tight game with UVM, Gryba got into it with David Pacan of Vermont after the whistle.

The penalties offset in a best case scenario for BU, one in which Gryba gets penalty minutes, and BU doesn't have to play a man down.  This means that Eric is just one major penalty away from tying Freddy Meyer for the club record for career penalty minutes at BU.

SCOREBOARD:

MEYER -- 288

GRYBA -- 283

My Top Five BU BC Games

Because Everybody Loves Lists

I'll be honest.  I'm fairly new to the BU BC rivalry.  I didn't follow college hockey until I came to BU as a student in 2005.  That makes this my fifth year as a Terrier season ticket holder, giving me four plus years of rivalry under my belt.  And my god, have there been some games since I have been here.

SEE THE LIST AFTER THE JUMP!

The Eagles Are Coming!

Hey I Remember You....

So it's that time of year again, the first weekend in December.  If you go to BU or BC that means only one thing.  Home and Home Rivalry Weekend!

Oops....

Actually this year, since the two teams will skate at Fenway later on in the winter, there is only going to be one game to whet your BU BC appetite this weekend.  But my god, I don't care if these two teams play for ten minutes and then have to shut it down because the ice melts, I love this rivalry.

Why Is It Foggy at Conte Forum???

We'll have the full pre-game report very soon, but first, watch some BU BC videos and get pumped!

BU Scores Three Goals in 44 Seconds to End BC's Season

More After The Jump

Another Night, Another Tie, Another Point

BU Stages Another Late Comback to Record Third Tie in Four Games

Watch The Highlights -- Read the Box Score

Let me begin by saying that it had been a while, so I completely forgot how much I despise Vermont and their fans. 

I hate this team.  I hate the players  I hate these fans.  I hate their cheers.  I hate their names.  I hate their perceived right to be arrogant douches.  I hate their mascot.  This may not be BU's biggest rival, but it is definitely up there in terms of the hatred factor.  It's one of those matchups where the intensity in the stands lets you know that the fans just flat out do not like each other.

No Cats NO

Know Your Enemy: The "You Sound Like Kittens" Edition

Vermont Comes to Town Tonight

That's a picture of the back of Vermont Goalie Rob Madore's helmet at a practice last April.  See that sticker?  Does it look familiar?  That's because it's the same logo on all your National Champions gear.  But wait a second... I know BU played in DC, and they beat Miami.  And I remember that other weird little team Bemidji made a crazy run to get there.  But didn't BU just have a first round bye in the Frozen Four after such a ballin' win over UNH?

Actually, no.  They played an absolutely amazing game with the Vermont Catamounts.  The game against UVM was the second in a string of tense, heart-wrenching, terrifying games for BU. 

Gryba Watch: November 28

Elbow = 2 Minutes Closer

BU stormed back to tie Cornell in Red Hot Hockey, but that wasn't the story at Madison Square Garden Saturday night.

Resident basher Eric Gryba took two steps closer to history by throwing a bow with 5:30 to play in regulation.

The penalty brings Gryba to just 7 minutes shy of the record we all know he so desperately wants.  With games against UVM and BC next weekend, I see no reason why this can't be done by December 5. 

SCOREBOARD

MEYER -- 288

GRYBA -- 281