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