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?

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.

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.

Bonino Done At BU

Junior Assistant Captain Nick Bonino has inked his entry level deal with the Anaheim Ducks.  It's a two-year contract, and obviously, it means that Bonino's time at BU has come to an end.

It almost seemed like a foregone conclusion, as unlike the juniors at the end of 2008, there wasn't a nagging sense of unfinished business for Bonino's class.  Nick already brought home a national title, in which he scored the incredible game-tying goal, a moment that will live forever in Terrier lore.

The next logical question would be whether or not Captain Kevin Shattenkirk will opt out of his senior year as well in favor of the NHL.

As of right now, the count of departed Terriers is 4, with Bonino joining the likes of seniors Eric Gryba, Zach Cohen and Luke Popko.

Odds, Ends and Honors

Max Nicastro and Colby Cohen Honored

On the eve of the biggest weekend of the year so far for BU Hockey, we've got some honors and awards to get to for BU and Maine.

Colby Cohen was the only Terrier named to the Hockey East first team, and no Terriers were selected to the second team.  Nick Bonino was selected to the honorable mention team.

HOCKEY EAST FIRST-TEAM ALL-STARS

G: Brian Foster, New Hampshire (Sr., Pembroke, N.H.)

D: Justin Braun, Massachusetts (Sr., Vadnais Heights, Minn.)

D: Colby Cohen, Boston University (Jr., Villanova, Pa.)

D: Blake Kessel, New Hampshire (So., Verona, Wis.)

F: Bobby Butler, New Hampshire (Sr., Marlboro, Mass.)

F: Brian Gibbons, Boston College (Jr., Braintree, Mass.)

F: Gustav Nyquist, Maine * (So., Malmo, Sweden)

* unanimous selection

HOCKEY EAST SECOND-TEAM ALL-STARS

G: Carter Hutton, UMass-Lowell (Sr., Thunder Bay, Ont.)

D: Jeremy Dehner, UMass-Lowell (Sr., Madison, Wis.)

D: Jeff Dimmen, Maine (Jr., Colorado Springs, Col.)

F: Cam Atkinson, Boston College (So., Greenwich, Conn.)

F: Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack College (Fr., Paris, France)

F: James Marcou, Massachusetts (Jr., Kings Park, N.Y.)

HOCKEY EAST HONORABLE MENTION ALL-STARS

G: Alex Beaudry, Providence College (So., Cumberland, Ont.)

D: Carl Sneep, Boston College (Sr., Nisswa, Minn.)

D: Mark Fayne, Providence College (Sr., Sagamore Beach, Mass.)

F: Nick Bonino, Boston University (Jr., Unionville, Conn.)

F: Brian Flynn, Maine (So., Lynnfield, Mass.)

F: Casey Wellman, Massachusetts (So., Brentwood, Calif.)

Max Nicastro was also honored, being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie team.

2009-10 PRO AMBITIONS ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Chris Rawlings (North Delta, B.C.)	Northeastern	Goaltender
Brian Dumoulin (Biddeford, Maine)	Boston College	Defense
Jake Newton (San Jacinto, Calif.)	Northeastern	Defense
Max Nicastro (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)	Boston University	Defense
Stephane Da Costa * (Paris, France)	Merrimack	Forward
Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.)	Boston College	Forward
Sebastian Stålberg (Gothenburg, Sweden)	Vermont	Forward

Congratulations to Colby, Max and Nick.

Bonino, Warsofsky Postgame Interviews

Nick Bonino -- RHH Post Game Comments






David Warsofsky -- RHH Post Game Comments

Terriers Desperate For Offensive Spark

Nick Bonino's Busted Shoulder Hurting BU

When Nick Bonino skated off the ice clutching his right shoulder on October 24th, you could almost hear a collective groan from the BU faithful watching the Terriers at Aggannis Arena.  The team was already 0-2 to start their National Title defense, and they were staring at a tight game against a solid Michigan team.  They squeezed out a victory that night, and managed to escape Lowell with an overtime win the next weekend.

Since then, it has been ugly for BU.

WTBU Sports With Parker, Shatty, Bonino

BU Student Radio Surpasses FreeP, Hockey East Online in Hockey Coverage

As you know, I bitched and moaned yesterday about the fact that Hockey East Online wasn't legitmate enough to post an embeddable video on their website from their own media day.


Well what do you know, the boys at my former stomping ground came through in the clutch.  Props to the WTBU Men's Hockey Beat Writer Chris Aliano and the rest of the WTBU Sports crew for doing work, and showing the other sites in town what it's like to live in the 21st Century.  Exclusive video interviews with Coach Parker, Nick Bonino, Kevin Shattenkirk AND UML Coach Blaise McDonald.


Boston University Head Coach Jack Parker from Tyler Murray on Vimeo.



Boston University Center Nick Bonino from Tyler Murray on Vimeo.



Boston University Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk from Tyler Murray on Vimeo.

I'm so proud, it almost brings a tear to my eye.

WTBU Sports.com is officially a legitimate source for BU Sports!  Congrats

So start taking notes Daily Free Press.  THIS is how you get it done!!!

Check out the whole post here, and be sure to visit WTBU Sports, once you're done here at TMA, of course.