Terriers 2010-2011 Schedule Released

BU released their schedule for the upcoming season today, and they'll start on the road in the Ice Breaker Tournament in St. Louis.

Here's a screen cap of the schedule for next season.

One of the intriguing home games is the November 3rd matchup against the U20 Team out of Sweden.  This seems a bit odd to me, but I'll definitely take it.

Also a bit of a tough stretch to start out the season against Wisconsin and potentially against Notre Dame, only to come home to get UMass.  All in all though, no big surprises here.  Just nice to get a little taste of hockey again, even in the brutal heat of Boston summer.

One of the Reasons I'm Rooting For the Bruins to Beat Philly

Whether or not JVR really ever burned the Terriers, I have a weird complex about rooting for any of these guys who played in Hockey East against BU.  Like Brooks Orpik?  Even when he put on the USA sweater for the Olympics it was tough.

NHL.COM

JVR at UNH

In any case, since no Terriers get to contend for the cup, except for the outside chance that 3 goalies get hurt and Johnny Curry gets some PT, I don't want to see JVR go any further than he has.

So go home JVR.  Or rather, stay home.

Thanks For the Memories: Vinny Saponari

This is the third of a six eight part series saying goodbye to Terriers who are moving on from Boston University. We'll look back at the best moments in the collegiate careers of each Terrier bidding adieu to Commonwealth Avenue.

Now it's time to reflect on the career of the other Saponari brother, the one who actually played, and truly showed a ton of ability and promise as he came into his own as a more important piece of the team.

Vinny Saponari came to BU as a highly touted prospect, coming from the National Talent Development Program.  Playing for the USA-18 team, Vinny had a chance to come play against his future team in the arena that was surely a hefty motivating factor for his decision to come to BU.  In that game, Vinny gave fans a taste of his ability, scoring a goal in that first trip to Agganis.

Saponari Was the 94th Overall Pick For Atlanta in the 2008 Entry Draft

Add his USA resume to the fact that he was a relatively highly touted NHL prospect (Hockey's Future ranked him as the #10 Thrashers' prospect in 2009) and you had a player that Terrier Faithful were pretty excited about.

And for a time, Vinny delivered.  After a strong rookie season, Vinny returned for his sophomore year even better, flourishing as a vital piece of an offense that lost so many pieces to the NHL.  Over the course of the 2009-2010 season, Vinny developed a litany of offensive skills, and really improved his strength while carrying the puck.  However, in a bizarre turn of events, he was abruptly released from the team, leaving a gaping hole where there should have been goals for the next two seasons.

Thanks For the Memories: Victor Saponari

This is the second of a six eight part series saying goodbye to Terriers who are moving on from Boston University. We'll look back at the best moments in the collegiate careers of each Terrier bidding adieu to Commonwealth Avenue.

As the Saponari brothers depart the Boston University hockey program for reasons not entirely known, we are forced to add two more to our growing list of departed players from the 2009-2010 team.  In this edition, we'll say goodbye to Victor Saponari.

It's Not Easy to Find a Picture of Victor in Uniform

The high point for Victor came early on in his Terrier career, when he netted a goal in an exhibition game against a team of high schoolers.  Ok, that sounded a lot meaner than I thought it would, but let's be honest, it's a fact.



Victor played in just 14 games as a Terrier, scoring a grand total of zero official goals, and recording two assists.   But hey, he got his brother to come to BU, and that was pretty moderately helpful.

Victor was also featured on an on-campus Sports TV show called Terrier Nation.



That's it.

Thanks for the memories, Victor.

The Curious Case of Victor Saponari

The Forgotten Dismissee


Over the past day plus we've talked at length about the bomb that Jackie Parker dropped on Terrier Nation when he dismissed a pair of Saponaris and suspended a Trivino.  For obvious reasons, the main point of discussion has been the booting of Vinny Sap.  Vinny was a rising star not just at BU, but was beginning to make a name for himself across the nation for his flashy goals.  His outright dismissal from the team will clearly have a bigger long-term impact than either Victor's dismissal or Corey's suspension.


An interesting point we have barely touched on here is Victor getting kicked off the team.  As far as we know, the only incident that the elder Saponari brother was involved in was drinking with several of his mates on St. Patty's day.  Trivino did that, and made an awful rap about being a puckstar, and he'll still be playing in November.

So why is Victor gone?  Did he and Vinny do something really dumb beyond what we already know about?  Or maybe he really just "displayed conduct unbecoming of a Boston University hockey player" like Parker said.   Or maybe there's another element that everybody is thinking, but nobody really wants to say.

Lyrics to "Party Like a Puckstar"

Immature and Stupid, But Grounds For Dismissal?  Not Really


So I went back and listened to "Party Like a Puckstar" in its entirety.  It wasn't easy.  My ears are bleeding, and I have a headache, but I found a way to get through it.  I also took the liberty of transcribing the lyrics, as best as I could.  I couldn't make out everything they say because beyond the awful quality, Vinny Saponari and Corey Trivino, as good as they may be on the ice, are just as bad on the mic.

If you want to read the lyrics, click Read More.

What Do We Know, What Do We Think?

A Run-Down of the Details of the Saponari Dismissal and the Trivino Suspension

 

After the surprising announcement that the 2010 Terriers would be three players lighter than we expected due to some sketchy, unspecified indiscretions, the logical thing to do is to wonder what in the hell you would have to do to get kicked off of a team that was already desperate for help offensively.

 

Let's go through the things that we know, because we have been told them by the people involved.

 

WE KNOW: Vinny Saponari broke a "drinking rule" earlier this season, as he told the FreeP.  That could mean pretty much anything, since the team rules are so strict on the issue.  The rule states that players cannot consume alcohol on any day of the week except for Saturday nights.  Even then, they are not supposed to be out drinking past a certain time.  We have seen Johnny Curry, Kevin Schaeffer and Sean Sullivan run into trouble when they were jumped by some idiots after a party.  More along the discipline line, Brian McGuirk, Brandon Yip, Boomer Ewing and Dan McGoff were all suspended for a stretch in 2007 for boozing while watching football on a Sunday afternoon.  It's a well known fact that Parker takes drinking very seriously, so it's not surprising that he would punish players for breaking this rule.

 

WE THINK: Vinny Saponari, Vinny Saponari, Corey Trivino and Adam Kraus were all drinking on St. Patty's day.  Well, no shit sherlock.  The only person in this entire city who wasn't drinking was me, because I was at work.  Otherwise, I would have been loaded too.  That's what happens in Boston on St. Patty's day.  People get drunk.  I'm talking men, women and children.  It is pure chaos.  It just may be the best part about living in Boston, and more importantly, about going to college in Boston.  So it would make sense that these guys were doing what everyone else within a 10 mile radius was doing.  The problem with that is that the team was bounced from the playoffs less than 48 hours later.  And they looked pretty bad doing it.  So yeah, Parker would be pissed if his drunken idiot players got drunk, and as a result blew their shot at the NCAA's.

 

WE KNOW: Vinny and Corey made a really dumb parody of an already bad song.  "Party Like a Puckstar" really made it big when Barstool pumped it up earlier this week. 

 

Yeah, the song is stupid, and Parker surely saw it.  He probably said, "What a bunch of idiots I have for a hockey team. "  He probably also said, "That song is a piece of shit."  But we don't know whether he said, "That song is so bad that it makes me want to take this crappy shell of a team I have and make it even worse."

WE THINK: It couldn't have helped their case with Parker.  Everyone knows that Jackie hates stupid behavior, and he presumably hates rap music.  I picture him as more of a classic rock and blues guy.  But I highly, highly doubt that this would be enough to make Parker say, "That's it! That does it!  These guys are toast!"

WE KNOW: Vinny was "late to a bike ride," as he told the Freep.  Being on time to team workouts is a pretty essential part of playing for a team.  And when your team's heart and desire is already being called into question, it doesn't send a good message to your coach when you can't show up to workouts on time.

WE THINK: Parker wants to make a serious example of anybody not dedicated to the team concept.  He publicly called his team out several times over the course of the season, and he repeatedly said his guys simply didn't have the hunger necessary to win.  Had you been late to workouts when the team was rolling to a championship, that would be one thing.  But when the team is struggling, everything is amplified.  And it makes sense that Jackie would want to show his team that he is not messing around. 

WE KNOW: “Over a period of time, there have been cumulative instances in which Victor and Vinny Saponari have displayed conduct unbecoming of a Boston University hockey player,” according to Jack Parker.

WE THINK: These guys did something really, really stupid that Parker would rather the whole world not know about.  Luckily for him, these guys have careers and repuatations to worry about as well, so if something did happen, it's unlikely any of them would come out and reveal it publicly.  The school and team wouldn't want a nasty incident on their record, and neither would the players. 

Let's review.

WE KNOW

1. Vinny got in trouble for breaking a drinking rule
2. Vinny and Corey Trivino made a really shitty rap video that went viral
3. Vinny was late to a bike ride
4. Parker thinks these guys don't represent BU well enough 

WE THINK

1. Vinny, Victor, Corey and some goalie who never plays got drunk on St. Patty's Day
2. Parker doesn't like his players making really shitty rap videos
3. Being late to a bike ride = being made an example of
4. Vinny and the boys did something much worse than we're hearing about right now

Vinny Sap "Shocked" He Was Booted From the Team

Tells Daily Free Press "I Didn't See This Coming"

Jake Seiner of the FreeP talked to Vinny Saponari today after the news came down that he was being released from the Terrier Hockey team.  Vinny claims that he was blindsided by the decision.

DayLife.Com

Vinny Pictured on the Ice When Colby Scored to Win it All

Here are a collection of quotes from the conversation Seiner had with Saponari:

“I just found out today, like all of you, and I’m pretty shocked, just as shocked as everyone else.  I didn’t see this coming. I know I’d made some mistakes as far as rules go, but I really didn’t think it would lead to this.”

“[Parker] said that he didn’t feel like he wanted me on the team anymore.  I didn’t really have a chance to argue back or give any feedback. I didn’t really have a choice. Our meeting was pretty short, didn’t last very long.”

“There was a drinking rule that was broken earlier during the year, and then I was late to a bike ride, and that was pretty much it really."

"To me, do I think it’s justified? No. I love this team, and I wasn’t ready to leave. I made a mistake or two since I’ve been here, but I didn’t feel like I was a bad thing for the team, or any kind of bad influence. To me, it’s unjust, to [Parker], maybe not.”

Just a few weeks ago, Vinny and Corey Trivino became (moderate) internet stars thanks to their re-make of "Party Like a Rockstar."  Their song, "Party Like a Puckstar," was awful.  Legitimately just brutal.  In case you haven't heard it yet, here it is.



When the news came down about the punishments, Barstool joked that their posting of the video was a factor in the players getting punished.  While I doubt that, plenty of people have raised the question of whether or not the video itself played into Parker's decision to drop Vinny and suspend Corey.  Vinny addressed that in his interview as well.

“[Parker] said that wasn’t a factor in his decision.  I can’t imagine that being true because the only other two things I’ve done was when I went out on a night we’re not supposed to and was late to a bike ride. I can’t understand how that didn’t play a part.  I think the teammate we shared it with shared it with other people, and me and Corey weren’t aware of that.  It wasn’t the teammate who posted online. I know they wouldn’t do that. Unfortunately for us, it happened that way, and really blew out of proportion from being something we were doing while we were bored in our dorm room to people taking offense to it. We’re definitely sorry about that.”

Once again, credit to Jake Seiner for talking to Vinny so extensively.  If and when we hear from Corey and or Victor, we'll bring you that as well.

Saponari Brothers Booted, Corey Trivino Suspended, BU Screwed

Drinking Incident Cited Among Several Issues Leading to Punishment

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for the Terriers going into the 2010-2011 season, we get this bomb dropped on us.

Here is the basic run-down.  Victor Saponari and Vinny Saponari have both been dismissed from the BU hockey program, and Corey Trivino has been suspended for an indefinite period of time to start off next year.  Earlier this week, the Daily Free Press reported that these three players would face punishment stemming from an incident at the tail end of last year. 

Vinny Saponari and Corey Trivino Were to be Crucial Components of the BU Offense Next Year

Jack Parker issued a statement in a news release, saying "Over a period of time, there have been cumulative instances in which Victor and Vinny Saponari have displayed conduct unbecoming of a Boston University hockey player.  In a related issue, Trivino will be suspended for the early part of next season.”


The FreeP report said the following: "Sources said the coaching staff was recently informed that the four players were drinking on the night of March 17, less than 48 hours before the Terriers’ Hockey East semifinal matchup with the University of Maine. BU’s season came to an end with a 5-2 loss in that game."

You may notice that the above quote says "four players," even though only three were disciplined.  Adam Kraus was the other player implicated in the incident.

Here's the thing.  There simply has to be more to this whole thing than one drinking incident.  Drinking before a playoff game, which the team coincidentally came out completely flat in, seems like grounds for suspension, but not necessarily dismissal. 

In his two years at BU, Vinny Sap had 20 goals and 31 assists.  He is by far the biggest loss of the three in my mind, as he really began to come into his own, especially in the offensive end, this past season.  Vinny began to make it a habit to score highlight reel goals, and on a team devoid of senior leadership and goal scoring he was poised to ascend to a very important position on this team.

Vinny's Abesnce Will Be Tough to Replace

Trivino is a big loss as well, although not quite as much on the scoresheet.  His two years in Scarlet and White saw 10 goals and 18 assists, but he was praised as an important energy player.  When he went down with an injury near the end of last season, it threw a major wrench into the then free-flowing Terrier offense.
One possibility is that Parker is simply cleaning house of any and all players who aren't completely committed to the idea of a fresh start.  He has talked at length about the importance of being more hungry, and even went as far as selecting the team captains, breaking the long tradition of allowing the players to vote on their leaders.  If these guys were negative influences on their teammates, and helped maintain a lazy attitude in the locker room, it could be as simple as Parker not wanting them around.

However, my suspicion is that this probably goes a bit deeper than that.  It's great to make a statement, but this team has already been stripped down to the bone. To release an important player outright when you're already hard up for goals for just a drinking incident seems a bit extreme.

We're going to have several more posts on this, including reaction from the players, more details and more analysis, so stay tuned.

Three BC Hockey Players Involved in Accident With the T

Parker Milner, Phillip Sameulsson, and Patrick Wey Among 8 Involved in Crash


Alright, so we never wish ill will on people here at Two Man Advantage, no matter how idiotic their actions, so let's start off by saying that it's a good thing nobody got freaking killed in this whole fiasco.


Let's break it down.  Seven or eight kids, depending on where you look, all freshmen, are in a jeep.  There's beer cans and a bottle of vodka in the jeep.  The jeep tries to make a U-Turn across the T Tracks, and in the process cuts off the trolley.  The jeep gets side-swiped by the T.  The kids toss the booze out of the car, and three of them, including Milner, bolt from the scene, while the rest of the kids are stuck inside the jeep.  The cops and fire department get there and they need the jaws of life to get the other kids out of the busted up car.




Obviously, acting like clowns is not exclusive to BC athletes.  Division I athletes all over the country seem to think they're above everyone else and do stupid shit.  (See Oregon Football not once, or twice, but three times this off-season alone.)  But this one is pretty bad.

It would have been pretty bad if these 18 and 19 years olds were dumb enough to be drinking in a car while driving around Boston, and go on to smash their car into the T.  And i'm not indicting these freshmen for drinking.  Anyone with a brain understands that college kids are going to drink.  But anyone with a brain will also realize that it's an insanely bad decision to go drive around the shit show that is the streets of Boston after, and while tossing a few too many back.

But beyond their first mistake, their actions after the crash are what make it really bad.  Milner, who played like a pimp in goal for the Eagles when he got his shot this season, apparently ran out of the car and away from the scene after the accident.  This wasn't a fender bender.  His teammates and friends were stuck inside a car that just got hit by a train, and had to be taken to the hospital.  But little Parker wasn't sticking around to make sure his buddies were alive.  He was worried about saving his own ass, so he took off.

Way to be Parker Milner.  You've just become my number one most hated Eagle.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your 2010-2011 Captains

Connolly, Pereira, Warsofsky to Wear Letters Next Season

The Terriers had their end of the year banquet and award ceremony last night, but we're not going to talk about the awards, because they were pretty freaking obvious.  If you want to know more about who won, feel free to head over to GoTerriers and check it out.

The important news from the banquet is that Jackie Parker has hand-selected next year's captains, and we found out who they will be.

Senior Joe Pereira Will Get a "C" Next Season

USCHO.COM

Chris Connolly and Joe Pereira will serve as the captains, with David Warsofsky will be the team's assistant captain.

Junior Chris Connolly Will Also be a Captain, and an Offensive Fixture for the Terriers

The Boston Herald

For those of you wondering, apparently Adam Kraus was not in the running for one of the spots.

This seems to make sense.  All three are very hard workers, and seem to be some of the guys who just never take a shift off.  Not only is Pereira the only senior with significant playing time, but he has consistently shown himself to be a 100% effort 100% of the time guy, which is exactly the type of guy that Parker wants setting the tone for next year's team.

We'll see whether Parker's decision to pick the captains himself sets a tone for a BU team that really spent a year basking in the glow of last season's championship.  They'll need good leadership to focus what will be a young team coming off of a horrendous year.

Friday's Playoff Update

The big news for BU in the NHL on Friday night was Brandon Yip scoring his first career playoff goal in San Jose in an insane 6-5 OT loss to the Sharks.

Yip Celebrates an Avs Goal In a Crowd of Sharks

via Yahoo! Sports

I love how it took the play by play guy a solid 20 seconds to figure out who got the goal.  Dude.  He's the only freakin' Asian guy on the ice.  And he's wearing number 59.  He sort of stands out.  Check your line charts pal.

Anyway, the Colorado loss means the series is even at 1 heading back to the Mile High.

In Chicago, Colin Wilson played his first career playoff game, and his Preds pulled off a shocker of their own to begin their series with the Blackhawks.  Wilson didn't get on the scoresheet in about 17 minutes of play, but his boys did score 4 third period goals in the win.

Thanks For The Memories: Zach Cohen

This is the first of a six part series saying goodbye to Terriers who are moving on from Boston University.  We'll look back at the best moments in the collegiate careers of each Terrier bidding adieu to Commonwealth Avenue.

There are very few players who can undergo as dramatic of a transformation as Zach Cohen did with the BU Terriers.  Before Zach's junior season (2008-09) faced off, Cohen had what can only be described as a tenuous future with the team.  He sat firmly in Coach Jack Parker's dog-house, and even came within moments of being dismissed from the team outright, Brett Bennett style.  But fast forward to the end of his senior year, and all those troubles are but a distant memory for Zach, who led the Terriers in goals this year, and etched his name in Terrier Lore by taking part in the best 42 seconds in BU Hockey History.

In his book Burn the Boats, Scott Weighart goes into great detail about Cohen's (as well as teammate Steve Smolinsky's) close call with getting booted from the team.  According to Weighart, only the pleas of captains Matt Gilroy, John McCarthy and Brian Strait.  In his first two seasons in Scarlet and White, Zach did not live up to expectations.  He scored just 3 goals to go with 6 assists in his first 51 games, numbers that highlighted a soft style of play.

Zach Cohen Used His Last Two Years at BU Wisely

via TerrierHockeyFanBlog

But everything changed for Cohen when he got a stay of execution from Coach Parker.  He burst back into the minds of Terrier faithful by playing a hard-nosed brand of hockey and remembering how to find the net.  After spending his first two seasons as an after-thought, Cohen would become a vital piece of BU's championship run and beyond.

Former Terriers Fighting For Lord Stanley's Cup

Let's take a look around the league at which former BU players will fight for the NHL's ultimate prize when the playoffs kick off on Wednesday.


Brandon Yip -- Colorado Avalanche

The Yipper has had an up and down rookie year, with the downs coming mostly because of his inability to stay on the ice.  He missed the first half of the season with an injury, and just recently returned from a month off thanks to a bad shoulder.  In the six games since his return, Yip has had some trouble finding the scoring touch that got him on the Avs' second line this year, putting up just 1 assist and no goals.  But his rookie year still has to be called a success to a degree, since he has 11 goals and 8 assists in 32 games this year.

Yip is Determined to Make a Difference for the Avs

via Dobber Hockey

Yip is just part of a group of young guns that make the Avs an explosive and hungry threat in the second season.  They're also an inexperienced bunch going into the playoffs as an eight seed.  They'll have the tall task of wrangling with the top seeded San Jose Sharks.  It's unlikely that the Avs can get past the first round, but if they do, you can bet that Yip and his flair for the dramatic will have something to do with it.

Other Terriers in the Avs AHL system that could get the call in the playoffs: Kevin Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen, Zach Cohen.




Colin Wilson -- Nashville Predators


Wilson, like Yip, has battled injuries throughout his first season as a pro with the Preds, getting into 35 games this season.  He's put up 8 goals and 7 assists in that time.

Wilson's Preds Are a Long Shot to Beat Chicago

via On The Forecheck

Wilson talked to The Tennessean about his first trip to the NHL Playoffs.  "Everybody says that things go up another notch in the playoffs.  I'm not really nervous, just excited. I'm excited to play in Chicago's rink there because it will certainly set a playoff tone. Their fans are pretty crazy, so there's plenty of excitement and anticipation.''

Also, like Yip's Avs, Wilson's Preds are a big underdog in their opening round tilt.  They'll get the seventh seeded Chicago Blackhawks, one of the most dynamic teams in the league.


Mike Grier -- Buffalo Sabres


Grier is one of the longest tenured Terriers still in the league, and his team is in the playoffs.  Grier has had a decent season in Buffalo, scoring 10 goals and 12 assists in 73 games.  Grier hasn't scored a goal in his last 12 games, and he hasn't exactly been an offensive star for Buffalo this season.  But Grier's strong suit isn't necessarily his knack for the net at this point; it's his playoff experience.  Grier has played in 88 career playoff games, putting up 25 points in that time.  His best run came when he and the Sabres made it all the way to game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Carolina.

Grier is About to Participate in his 10th NHL Playoff Series

via UPI

This year, Grier's Sabres earned a third seed by winning the Northeast Division.  They will spend the first round facing off against the offensively inept Bruins, a series in which the Sabres will enjoy home ice advantage.  Despite their standing, the Sabres are widely regarded as the weakest team in the top four in the East.


Tom Poti -- Washington Capitals


Among the former BU Boys making a run at the cup, Poti probably has the best chance.  Poti has 4 goals and 20 assists this year for the Caps from the blue line.  Poti is also no stranger to the playoffs, as this year's tournament will be his 8th.  The 32-year old is still looking to etch his name on the elusive cup for the first time.

Tom Poti Has Been in the League for 12 Years, But He's Still Searching for a Cup

via The Washington Post

There's a solid chance Poti will get his name on the trophy this season, thanks largely to the fact that he happens to play with the greatest player in all of hockey.  Alex Ovechkin led the Caps to the best regular season record in the league by far.  Thanks to their 121 points, the Caps will get to take advantage of their 30-5-6 home record throughout the playoffs

Other Terriers in the Caps System: Chris Bourque

Jay Pandolfo -- New Jersey Devils

Pandolfo has become less and less of a factor over the years, as the winger put up just 9 points in his 52 games this season.  In fact, he won't even dress for the Devils in Game One against Philly.  Jacques Lemaire is putting Pandolfo's 131 games of post-season experience on the shelf for the opening round.  

Jay already has two Stanley Cups to his name, both with New Jersey, in 2000 and 2003.

Other Terriers in NHL Systems of Teams still alive:
Eric Gryba -- Binghamton Senators (Ottawa)
Johnny Curry -- Scranton Wilkes-Barre Penguins (Pittsburgh)
Brian Strait -- Scranton Wilkes-Barre Penguins (Pittsburgh)
John McCarthy -- Worcester Sharks (San Jose)
Sean Sullivan -- San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix)

I Feel Sick

The punks from Chestnut Hill romped Wisconsin by a final score of 5-0 to take home another national championship.  The game was just 1-0 after one, but Muse played absolutely lights out in net, and it really never felt like the Badgers had a chance.

Well That Blew

The Boston Herald

Nobody hates BC more than me, but even I can recognize what a truly incredible run it's been for the Eagles.  They've appeared in 9 of the last 13 Frozen Fours, including 4 of the last 5.  They've been in the national championship game in all four of those appearances, winning twice and coming within minutes of a third.

This year's coast through the national tournament was a microcosm of their recent success.  They averaged six goals per game throughout the NCAA's, including a 7-1 victory over the team ranked #1 in the nation for the majority of the year.  In the Frozen Four, BC outscored their opponents by a combined 12-1 margin.  It wasn't even close.

ESPN flashed up an unbelievable stat last night about BC.  The Eagles' senior class is now 25-2 in postseason play.  Their two losses over that span came to the eventual national champions, losing in the NCAA title game to Michigan State in 2007 and in the Hockey East Semis to BU in 2009.

It pains me to say it, but BC has quite simply been the most dominant program in college hockey over the last five years.  It can be argued that they have been the best of the last decade.  Right now, the Eagles aren't just national champs, but the undisputed kings of college hockey. 

And all this makes me hate them even more.  If there was any air of entitlement surrounding the BU hockey team after their first trip to the Frozen Four and first National Championship in 15 years, it has absolutely been blown up.  The Terriers need to get hungry again and realize that they're quickly becoming second fiddle not just nationally, but on their own damn street.

For the first time in a long time, Jack Parker is selecting the captains for next season's BU team.  Whoever he picks to lead his young bunch of Terriers better have the same venom toward BC and the same chip on their shoulder that I have, and that all BU fans should have today.  

Lose/Lose

It's Either He Who Must Not Be Named....

....Or the Devil Himself

Give me Brett Bennett winning a championship one hundred times over BC winning once.  Seriously.  I can't bear the thought of the Eagles taking home another trophy.  They're horrible enough as it is.

So, as much as it pains me to say this, Go Brett Bennett, and go Wisconsin.  At least Bennett won't play, barring an injury.

Why couldn't it have been Bemidji?  Or Cornell?  Shit, I would have taken UVM over this nonsense.

The Horror

BC In Another National Title Game

Well, they only won 7-1 over the "best" team in the nation.  Awesome.

Photo: USCHO // Jim Rosvold

Videos also come from USCHO

BU Gets Another Blueliner

Avon Old Farms Big Man Patrick MacGregor to Join Terriers in the Fall

According to a US Hockey Report story (which you will need a log-in to read) Jack Parker and his band of recruiters have landed a significant freshman for the fall to take the place of the Big Three Defenseman BU lost this off-season.

Patrick MacGregor, who weighs in at 6'4" and 210 pounds, spent the past two seasons skating for Avon Old Farms.  According to the story on USHR, MacGregor brings "size, strength, and the ability to both clear out in front and get the puck out of his end efficiently."

It sounds like MacGregor could be a solid addition to a defnsive corps that often focuses too much on scoring goals as opposed to preventing them.  It seems as if te coaching staff may be looking to replace the big, stay at home presence that Gryba brought to the table.

Along with rising sophomore Max Nicastro, who also is a defense first defenseman, the Terriers seem to be suring up the defense in front of Kieran Millan fairly effectively.  MacGregor will come to BU along with fellow defenseman Adam Clendening.  That's still two to replace three departing blue-liners, but the situation just improved dramatically for BU.

What Will the 2010-2011 Team Look Like?

After the departure of two more high profile Terriers, the exodus from Commonwealth Avenue is up to a grand total of six players, three of whom had a year of remaining elegibility remaining.

BU's Captain, Kevin Shattenkirk, their leading point scorer and assistant captain, Nick Bonino, and their best scoring defenseman, Colby Cohen, all signed pro contracts instead of playing out their senior years at BU. 

Shattenkirk's Departure, Along with Cohen and Bonino Jumping Ship, Leaves a Big Hole

Add to that the guys who are graduating in May.  The undeniable heart, soul and physical presence of the team, Eric Gryba, the team's leading goal scorer, Zach Cohen, and the best penalty killer, Luke Popko have all moved on. 

Six vital pieces of a team that didn't even look all that great with all those players in the lineup.  It's the peril of college athletics, and of being in the national spotlight as one of the nation's most prominent teams.  After winning a national championship, you're bound to lose some talent, and by god have the Terriers lost plenty over the past two off-seasons.  Don't forget that Colin Wilson could have been playing at BU all the way through 2011.  Even that is a distant memory now.

So what remains for the Terriers?  Who will be there to pick up the pieces for a team ravaged by the NHL?

Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen Sign With the Avs

Terriers Defensmen To Skip Senior Season

Add Shatty and Colby to the growing list of Hockey East players to jump ship from college to the pros.  Both signed entry level pro contracts with the Colorado Avalanche saturday, and will report to the team's AHL affiliate, the Lake Erie monsters.

See Ya Later, Shatty

For the second straight season, the Terriers have lost their senior captain to be to the pros a year too soon.  This time around, they also happened to lose their best goal-scoring defensmean in Cohen. 

You Too Colby.  And I Was Just Starting to Like You.

The two star blue-liners join former Assistant Captain and leading point scorer Nick Bonino in the pros.  Bonino bolted for Anaheim, where he has already registered an NHL goal.

Losing three rising seniors to the pros from a team that often seemed desperate for leadership as it was is, needless to say, a tremendous blow to BU's chances in 2010-2011.

Plenty more perspective on this to come shortly.

Colin Scores, Fights in Preds Win

What A Baller

Associated Press

Nicky Nets His First

In Just His Second NHL Game, Bonino Scores His First NHL Goal


Playing alongside Colin Wilson and Matt Gilroy is one thing.  But playing on a line with Teemu Selanne?  That's a whole different level.

Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images

ESPN PHOTO GALLERY

On a night when Selanne was honored for becoming the 18th player in the history of the league to score 600 goals, the NHL legend didn't score, but instead helped set up Nick Bonino's first ever score as a professional.



Bonino's second period power play goal broke a 0-0 tie, and set the stage for three straight Ducks' goals en route to a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars.

Bonino Was All Over the Ice in the Win

Orange Country Register

After the game, Bonino talked to reporters.

"It's incredible. I'm happy I did it at home. Happy we got a win. [Selanne] said he still remembers his first goal," Bonino said. "I told him I'll probably remember this one as long as I'm playing and as long as I live, too."

What a way to get your first goal.  Congrats, Nick.

Crazy Day of Hockey

BC Going to 9th Frozen Four in 13 Years, Miami Advances in Double OT


The lead story here for Terrier fans is the dreadful news that the Eagles of BC have moved on to yet another Frozen Four.  That means their 4th appearance in 5 seasons, and 9th in 13.  They didn't exactly get by Yale the way you would have expected, though.

The Eagles won the game 9-7, in what looked more like a low-scoring basketball game than a hockey game.  Cam Atkinson had a hat trick in the game, and Brian Gibbons scored two of his own to push the Eagles to a 4 goal second and 3 goal third to win the game.

You can check out the highlights of the game on ESPN here.

BC Celebrates a 3rd Period Cam Atkinson Goal

Boston Herald Photo Gallery

After the game, Coach Jerry York told the media that he simply doesn't care how they win, as long as they get the job done.  “Our objective is to win and advance.  The game is always different. Would I like a 1-0 game over a 9-7 game? To me, it doesn’t matter. I just want to win games.”





The Eagles will get our old friends, the Redhawks of Miami Ohio in the Frozen Four.  Miami used their own magic to get to Detroit, winning in double overtime thanks to an Alden Hirschfeld game winner.  Miami beat the Michigan Wolverines 3-2 to advance to their second straight frozen four.

It wasn't easy for the Redhawks, as netminder Connor Knapp turned away a whopping 55 of 57 Michigan shots to keep Miami in the game and eventually win it.  That includes an incredible 20 saves in the first overtime period.

BC and Miami will join Voldemort's Wisconsin team and RIT in Detroit on Thursday, April 8th for the Frozen Four.  RIT and Wisconsin have the 5 P.M. game, and BC and Miami get the 8:30 P.M. start time.  RIT beat New Hampshire in the Albany Final to move on.

Zach Cohen Nets First Professional Goal

Cohen Scores In Lake Erie Monsters Win


From Cleveland.com:

"Zach Cohen scored his first goal as a Monster, and Lake Erie beat the host San Antonio Rampage on Saturday, 5-4.  Cohen, a 6-3, 190-pound forward who only Tuesday signed with the Monsters' NHL parent team, the Colorado Avalanche, scored in the first period to give the Monsters a 2-1 lead. Cohen assisted on Lake Erie's first goal, which Mike Bartlett potted to tie the game, 1-1, three minutes earlier."

 Zach Cohen has played in just three games for Lake Erie.  Get the spot ready, Avalanche.  He'll be there soon.

One Week Out of College, Bonino on the Top Line

With Ryan Getzlaf Injured, Ducks Turn to Nicky


Nicky Bonino made his NHL Debut for the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers, and impressed his coaches in his 14 minutes of ice time.  He got the call thanks to Getzlaf's faulty ankle, and is tyring to make the most of it.

Bonino Didn't Score, But He Was on the Ice For a Ducks Goal

Edmonton Sun Photo Gallery

The Orange County Register talked to Ducks Coach Randy Carlisle after the game, and he had high praise for his new player.

"He's a skilled player.  You can see that he knows his way around the rink. The situation we put him in, we tried to play him with our best players. Anytime a kid gets an opportunity to play with that level of player, he should feel fortunate. We feel fortunate he can slide in there and not really look out of place.  He was not overwhelmed in any situation. That's always a positive for a young player."

Bonino was welcomed to the NHL by a couple of big hits early on in the game.  He talked to the OC Register about getting knocked out by Oilers Big Man Dean Arsene.

"It was a good hit. I make a drop pass, and he finished his hit. Good to get it out of the way early. Woke me up a little. I'd imagined I'd get hit pretty good in one of these games. I'm happy it happened in my first one. I'll go from there and know what to expect."

Nick will remain on the first line for the Ducks tonight against Dallas. 

Congrats, Nick.  Keep up the good work.

I Hope You Like The Avalanche

Within a couple of seasons, the top forward line, top defensive pairing, starting goaltender and Head Coach of the Colorado Avalanche will presumably look a little something like this.

Well I guess I just found my favorite Western Conference NHL team.

All custom jersey images come courtesy of IceJerseys.com where you can customize any NHL jersey.  So get ready for your Bonino Ducks sweater, too.

All Hate B.C.

In his breakdown of the 16 teams playing for NCAA Hockey Glory, USCHO's Dave Starman had this little gem of analysis about Boston College.

"Jerry York, ‘nuff said. Then again, we’ll say more. Not the superstar-laden teams we have seen in the past but kids like Jimmy Hayes and Chris Krieder make you want these guys to win. No staff in college hockey makes you feel more at home in their rink as a visitor then theirs, and when it comes to BC it’s a family affair everywhere they go. You never get the feeling they are Boston College; you get the feeling that they are just your local team you root for, which is pretty cool. There is just something folksy about them which is unique since they play in a huge city.

Boston College as a national champion is never a bad thing."

Well, Dave let me tell you what I think.

I think that Boston College as a national champion is not just a bad thing, but it is in fact the worst thing.  There is nothing "folksy" about visiting Boston College.  It is a pretentious, self-important, arrogant, awful establishment that reeks of "We're better than you" from start to finish.

The entity that is BC is not welcoming, nor is it pleasant.  From the second you walk onto their gated, perfectly manicured, nose in the air campus, you feel as if all of the pink popped collar polo shirts are judging you for not being quite wealthy enough to fit in with the elite that stride around on Chestnut Hill.

Barstool Sports May or May Not Still Sell These Wonderful Shirts

If you want to make the case that BC could win the title because they have an experienced team and goaltender that already has a championship under their belts, or because they have one of the greatest coaches of all-time, by all means, make that case.  But don't try to push the idea that Boston College is this nice little quaint place to catch a hockey game, or to visit.

Unless you are somehow connected to the legacy that is Boston College, and by association have provided that institution with money, you will not exactly be welcomed with open arms onto the campus of Newton University.  I'm sure John Kerry and Doug Flutie right at home at their alma mater, but for the rest of us unwashed masses, we simply feel itchy when we walk through that gate. 

So no, Dave.  I do not want these guys to win.  I do not feel at home in their crappy, foggy rink.  It is not a family affair at BC.  I know immediately when I arrive at BC that I am at BC, because the pompous asses that populate the school remind you of where you are the entire time that you're there.  It is not cool to root for BC.  In fact, it is downright blasphemy.  There is nothing folksy about a $50,000 a year school with a $1.3 billion endowment.  They are not unique in any way.  Their campus is bland and lifeless.

And one more thing, Dave.  Boston College as a National Champion is always a very bad thing.

A Taste of Things To Come

The season may be over for the Terriers, but it never ends here at TMA.  Over the summer we'll have plenty of new and exciting features to transition you from 09-10 to 10-11.  Here are some of the things we're working on that you should keep an eye out for in the coming weeks and months.

-- End of the year awards

-- Re-capping the season that was

-- A look back at the season's high and low points

-- "Thanks For The Memories" : A Fond Farewell to the 2010 Seniors

-- "2010 Fresh Meat Series" : An in-depth look at the incoming freshmen

-- Position by position report card and needs

-- Keeping up with Hockey East:  An update on the Terriers' Rivals

-- Weekly Alumni Watch Segments


If there is anything else you want to see TMA tackle, feel free to suggest it in the comment section of this page, or on the TMA Facebook Page.

The NHL is Pilfering Hockey East

All-World Forward James Marcou Going Pro

So far this off-season, Hockey East has seen 5 players bolt from the ranks of college hockey in favor of getting their pro careers underway.

The latest in the growing list of talent that we won't get to watch any more is Marcou, unquestionably the biggest offensive threat on the Amherst roster.  Marcou is headed to San Jose to play for the Sharks.

 USCHO has a full listing of the players who have opted out of remaining eligibility in NCAA Hockey to head to the NHL.

Marcou is the Third Minuteman to Bolt to the NHL This Off-Season

Marcou had 40 assists and 11 goals this year for the Minutemen, and his 51 points were good enough to make him the leading scorer on the UMass Roster.  It was the latest in a steady upward progression for the explosive forward.

In addition to Marcou, Amherst will be forced to bid adieu to their second leading point scorer Casey Wellman.  Wellman will take his 23 goals to the Minnesota Wild.  Finally, UMass will have to say goodbye to their best offensive defenseman, Matt Irwin, who will join the Worcester Sharks.

In addition to BU's Nick Bonino, who skipped out on his senior year, Hockey East lost Northeastern Defenseman Jake Newton to the Anaheim Ducks. 

NCAA Tournament Faces Off on Friday

BC, UNH, UVM Representing Hockey East on the Big Stage


After an insane year in Hockey East, three teams will be in the field of 16, repping the greatest conference in all the land.  In reality, HE was lucky to get three teams into the dance.

The first Hockey East team in action will be UNH, which will face off with Cornell on Friday at 6 PM in Albany, NY.  Next up, UVM gets He Who Must Not Be Named and the rest of the #3 overall Wisconsin Badgers at 9 PM out in St. Paul Minnesota.  Finally, #4 overall Boston College will get to stay close to home in Worcester, playing Alaska Fairbanks at 1:30 PM on Saturday.

The UNH and UVM games will be televised on ESPNU, and the BC game will be televised on the inter-web on ESPN360.com

I'll be rooting for a Cornell vs. Bemidji State Final.  Just pray that the Eagles don't find their way to the Frozen Four for the 4th out of 5 seasons.

Zach Cohen Joins New BU West, Signs With the Avs

Re-United and It Feels So Good


After his senior year came to a disappointing end, Zach Cohen probably feels a whole lot better today than he did 5 days ago.

Zach has inked a contract with the Colorado Avs organization, where he will head to the AHL to play under former BU assistant coach David Quinn.  At some point, Zach should have the chance to play with former teammate Brandon Yip.

Also, in the not too distant future, current (for now) Terriers Kevin Shattenkirk, Colby Cohen and Kieran Millan will all make their way west to the Rockies.

Congratulations, Zach, and we'll see ya around.