Jim ConnellyDesperate times certainly call for desperate measures, and the approach Providence coach Tim Army took in Saturday night’s game against No. 17 Vermont proved that things are reaching a dire state for the Friars. Â After a lackluster effort in a 5-1 loss to the Catamounts on Friday, the third straight blowout loss for Providence, … Read more
When the final buzzer sounded at the TD Garden to end the nightcap at the 58th annual Beanpot, there were still 66 minutes before Groundhog Day began. Unless, of course, you’re with the Northeastern Huskies. Beanpot king Boston University used an Alex Chiasson goal with 5:47 remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 tie as … Read more
Harvard looked on pace for one of the worst seasons in program history, but the Crimson are 3-3-1 since the holiday break going into the Beanpot.
If anyone worried that the No. 14 Boston College Eagles might be looking past a last place Providence team in anticipation of Monday’s Beanpot matchup with cross-town rival Harvard, nerves were calmed early. The Eagles used an explosive, five goal opening period and dominated the Friars territorially to skate to a 5-2 victory in front … Read more
Not-So-Dire Situation After All A week ago, my colleague and friend Dave Hendrickson painted a bleak picture in this exact space for Hockey East prospects for bids to this year’s NCAA tournament. At the time, Dave had every right in the world to feel that way. Hockey East had just three teams inside the top … Read more
Paul Kelly may have an uphill battle ahead of him when it comes to raising college hockey’s profile, especially in comparison to Major Junior, but with the contacts he has in the game, don’t rule it out. Jim Connelly reports.
Saturday night was ‘Star Wars’ night at the Tsongas Arena, which seemed appropriate, given the fact that the game between No. 11 Boston College and No. 19 Massachusetts-Lowell seemed like it was played in a galaxy far, far away. Â In the end, the talk was more about non-goals than goals along with non-icings, bouncing … Read more
Hockey is a game where Murphy’s Law seems to make a sneak appearance at the strangest time. Friday night’s game between No. 11 Boston College and Boston University was yet another occurrence. On a night where picture-perfect hockey was king at Kelley Rink — a game filled with highlight reel goals and back-and-forth, edge-of-your-seat action … Read more
Boston College’s trio of Brian Gibbons, Joe Whitney and Cam Atkinson have done everything they can over the last four days to make head coach Jerry York look brilliant. After the Eagles hit their first major bump in the road, losing three straight games upon returning from the holiday break, York broke up his line … Read more
Reliving Gold The events of Frozen Fenway last week, in which Boston University upset Boston College 3-2 in front of a massive capacity crowd at the old ball grounds, somewhat overshadowed on these pages one of the most remarkable international efforts in recent memory. The United States World Junior Championship victory may be nearly two … Read more
Facing a three-game losing streak entering Tuesday night’s game against the Providence Friars, Boston College knew the best solution to its problem would be a quick start. Â Getting just that, the Eagles dominated the Friars in the opening frame and withstood a near comeback, skating to a 4-1 victory in front of 3,162 at … Read more
It wasn’t pretty, but in the end for the Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks, Saturday’s victory over the Northeastern Huskies was simply a much-needed win. Â After surrendering a three-goal lead in the final 13:10 of regulation, Lowell’s Michael Scheu scored his second goal of the game with 25.9 seconds remaining in overtime as the River Hawks … Read more
When the Boston College Eagles and Harvard Crimson squared off on Wednesday night at Bright Hockey Center, the story line was goaltending. Much like the outcome, it was a happy story for the Eagles and a sad one for the Crimson  Behind a solid 25-save effort by BC netminder Parker Milner, the Eagles (9-3-2) … Read more
Marcou, Minutemen Putting Best Foot Forward As December has arrived, I think the feel-good story of the year in Hockey East is Massachusetts. Few gave the Minutemen a chance preseason, including yours truly, who picked them to finished eighth in Hockey East. But with the holiday break right around the corner, the Minutemen have shocked … Read more
Boston College goaltender John Muse had a game he might like to forget on Friday afternoon against Clarkson. All except the final 60 seconds. In a game where Muse (13 saves) was less than sharp, he came through when the pressure was on, robbing Clarkson’s Mark Borowiecki, who already had two goals on the afternoon, … Read more
A major storyline of this season in Hockey East has been the solid play of both Merrimack and Mass.-Lowell, so when the two clubs faced off Saturday night at Tsongas Arena, there was a lot of curiosity on which team would prove the better.  By game’s end, there was little doubt: Lowell answered in … Read more
Splitsville We’ve just about reached Thanksgiving, and amazingly every single league series in Hockey East has been split. And I mean split. No team has taken four points in a two-game series. Similarly, no team has taken three points from the same team. Granted, Hockey East plays less two-game series than, say, the WCHA and … Read more
After a disheartening 7-1 loss on Saturday night to Boston College, Vermont head coach Kevin Sneddon knew his team needed to put the opening game of a two-game road series against the Eagles behind them quickly. Easier said than done, most certainly, unless you receive a heroic performance from your goaltender. A night after the … Read more
The Mass.-Lowell River Hawks exploded for four third-period goals that broke a 2-2 tie to knock off the New Hampshire Wildcats, 6-3, Sunday at the Tsongas Arena. Lowell capitalized on three power plays in the game, including two with the game in the balance in the final frame, to break open a game that, for … Read more
The cliché that “it’s amazing what a difference a day can make” was brought to full life Saturday night when Boston College and Northeastern, two teams coming off polar opposite games one night earlier, squared off at Kelley Rink. Boston College entered the game on a massive low, having surrendered three third period goals to … Read more