David H. HendricksonWhen he was a little boy, he watched hockey on TV and dreamed the dreams of so many kids his age. Could that be me? Could I do that? For Michael Filardo, though, the challenges of seeing those dreams reach fulfillment extended beyond the usual ones of size, skill, quickness and agility. He faced the … Read more
Maybe there is something about that Friday the 13th hooey after all. Check out how the USCHO Top 10 fared that night. Playing 10 unranked opponents, the group won only four games. And the Hockey East contingent — Boston College, Maine and New Hampshire — didn’t manage a single victory. Unlike BC and UNH, Maine … Read more
On the bright side, Maine and Merrimack had great weekends, sweeping series with other Hockey East foes. On the sobering side, Black Bear alum Jeff Libby sustained a terrible eye injury in a recent Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) game. Our thoughts are certainly with him. Hockey East Player of the Month: Mike Mottau (D, Boston … Read more
BU will turn around its 0-4 start and go undefeated the rest of the regular season. But the Terriers won’t finish first because UMass-Amherst will. And Merrimack will win the national championship. Ya gotta believe. Why? Heck, if former pro wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura can become the governor of Minnesota, anything can happen. Gov. … Read more
Their own John Campbell took Player of the Week honors with two goals and two assists against the Engineers and an assist against the Minutemen. Maine Black Bear defenseman David Cullen earned the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week award for the second time in two weekends of action. He’s looking poised for the … Read more
Okay, enough already with the exhibition games against Canadian teams. Boston College outshooting Toronto 27-1 in one period? Methinks we’re ready for the real thing. Of course, there have been "real" games already, starting with BC winning the Icebreaker Invitational. But all such contests have been on the road. In these parts, we’ve still been … Read more
Boston College gave credence to its number-one national ranking by taking the Ice Breaker Cup with an overtime 4-3 win over then-fourth-ranked Ohio State, followed by a 3-2 victory over upstart St. Lawrence. Brian Gionta earned Hockey East Player of the Week honors for his hat trick and game-winner over OSU. In the four exhibition … Read more
Thursday, the New England Hockey Writers honored the region’s top Division I, II and III men’s and women’s hockey players and coaches at their annual banquet, led by Hobey Baker Award winner Chris Drury. Drury took the Leonard Fowle Award for New England’s Most Valuable Player, the Herb Gallagher Award for top forward and the … Read more
“I think we can win it.” Win what? Hockey East? Further than that? “Further than that.” — Brian Gionta, Oct. 17, 1997 On the face of it, Gionta’s prediction, made with a grin and a sparkle in the eye after the first game of the season, appeared so outlandish as to be laughable. Win it? … Read more
In a mind-boggling upset that has rivaled the Beanpot in the mass media attention it has garnered, the Warriors pulled off the biggest David-over-Goliath upset since, well, they beat Northeastern in the NCAA Division I tournament 10 years ago. Although a number-eight seed has knocked off number one before — Northeastern over Boston College in … Read more
They’re the little waterbugs that drive an opposing defenseman nuts, darting elusively this way and that, always staying out of arm’s reach, posing the ultimate threat to his dignity. You let that midget beat you? Put a puck on their sticks and you can hear the extra buzz of anticipation in the crowd. Something exciting … Read more
In this space three weeks ago, I promised Wildcat followers an unconditional trip to the Final Four in April. Since then, the team that seemingly had everything has appeared hexed. UNH now has lost four of its last five games. Like a character with special powers in a Stephen King novel, I should have known … Read more
The title doesn’t quite have the same ring as taxation without representation, and you won’t be finding Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna dumping tea, or its equivalent, into the Boston harbor. Nonetheless, Hockey East will next year become the first major conference without a member on the NCAA tournament selection committee, and Bertagna is none … Read more
I don’t have anything to complain about this week. Neither does Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder, whose team swept UNH in yet another Husky stunner. Everyone keeps waiting for the NU Cinderella season to turn midnight, but it seems these kids can’t tell time. Their own Roger Holeczy took the KOHO Player of the Week award … Read more
From 1984 through 1989, the two leagues played games against each member of the opposing conference, with the games counting in both leagues’ standings. In those days, wags in Hockey East press boxes would announce, "WCHA rules tonight. Two assists for every goal." I find myself wondering sometimes if we’re back to "WCHA rules" again. … Read more
When the NCAA announced that this year’s East and West Regionals would be available in a pay-per-view package, the instinctive reaction was, “What are they thinking? This sport needs more exposure, not less.” Fears that college hockey’s governing organization had sold its soul for a few pieces of silver, however, turned out to be groundless. … Read more
Well how about Hockey East’s Deadbeat President, Merrimack College’s Richard Santagati? Smilin’ Santagati flashes his pearly whites at the front of every Merrimack media guide, but flashes nothing but a stiletto into the underbelly of the hockey program all year long. In case you missed it, Smilin’ Santagati chose not to look in the mirror … Read more
BC and Northeastern were the week’s runners-up, and not just because they faced each other in the Beanpot consolation. The Eagles’ win in the early game on Monday positioned them nicely for an NCAA at-large bid, moving them up to eighth in the Pairwise Rankings. The Huskies, despite their loss in the consolation game, went … Read more
Speaking of which, BU has advanced to its 14th championship game in 15 years in the annual battle for Boston bragging rights. Only a dramatic Harvard comeback over BC avoided another Battle for Comm Ave. The league pecking order is starting to take form now. It’s always dangerous to try handicapping such a race, but … Read more
Had a bad day? I can top it. For starters, a tape recorder malfunction destroyed three interviews. After that came all the trivial little disasters that by themselves don’t amount to a hill of beans, but put together make you afraid to go near sharp objects. And the piece de resistance to top it all … Read more