Jim ConnellyThere are plenty of words you can use to describe Boston College senior forward Andrew Orpik. The most appropriate one after Friday’s victory for the No. 3 Eagles over 11th-ranked Vermont is honest. When asked about his goal with 4:35 remaining that gave BC a two-goal cushion at 3-1, a picturesque shot that sniped the … Read more
Friday night at Boston College’s Kelley Rink, it was a classic teacher versus student clash as Boston College bench boss Jerry York faced former Eagles assistant coach and current Bowling Green head coach Scott Paluch. In the end it was the wisdom of York that prevailed over the youth and enthusiasm of Paluch as the … Read more
The Beast of the East? Late afternoon this past Saturday, yours truly penned a short sidebar that appeared alongside the Massachusetts-North Dakota game story on USCHO.com. I asked the question, mostly tongue-in-cheek, whether we could judge a semi-domination for Hockey East over the WCHA. At that point, Boston College had beaten Wisconsin, and both Boston … Read more
On a night when the top ranked Boston College Eagles were celebrating the past, it was the future of the program that provided the heroics. Rookie Cam Atkinson broke a 4-4 tie with 6:30 remaining as the Eagles came from behind to defeat No. 14 Wisconsin, 5-4, to cap off a night of celebration at … Read more
Last year, the Vermont Catamounts took a major step forward in reaching the goal of becoming a perennial powerhouse. A late-season charge saw Vermont catapult to third place in the Hockey East standings, win a hard-fought quarterfinal series over Northeastern and then upset Boston University at the TD Banknorth Garden to earn the school’s first … Read more
When the Hockey East preseason coaches’ poll was released, it looked similar to most years, with Boston College, Boston University and New Hampshire all sitting at the top. But missing from that group of usual suspects were the Maine Black Bears, whom the coaches picked ninth out of ten teams, most likely the lowest preseason … Read more
If the college hockey regular season ended in the first week of February rather than March, last year’s campaign for the Providence Friars would likely have been considered a glowing success. It was those final 30 days, though, that took things from a banner year for the Friars to one of mediocrity. The turning point … Read more
If anyone told you on the final night of the regular season last year that the Boston College Eagles could win the national championship, you’d likely have had them committed to a mental institution. An inconsistent team all season, the Eagles stumbled into the playoffs, barely earning home ice, before unbelievably putting the pieces together … Read more
In each of his first three seasons at Merrimack, head coach Mark Dennehy’s team took steps forward. After winning just six games in his first campaign in 2005-06 and three games the year following, last year’s club posted 12 wins total and surpassed the win total of a year prior by November 1. Seems like … Read more
So final thoughts from the 2008 NHL Entry Draft: College hockey still made out well As bad as the opening round of the Draft might have been for collegians, the final six rounds certainly proved to be fruitful. In all, 62 players who are either currently enrolled in college or will be making their way … Read more
To say that Colin Wilson was excited when he was selected seventh overall in Friday’s opening round of the NHL Entry Draft is probably an understatement. But it was possible that it was later in the first round when Wilson really got excited. Nashville selected Wilson with the seventh pick but also had a second … Read more
The world order of college hockey was partially restored on Saturday morning when the second round of the NHL Entry Draft kicked off at Scotiabank Place, just outside of Ottawa. One day after just four collegians were selected in the opening round of the NHL Draft, down from 11 last season, nine college or college-bound … Read more
After enjoying success in the early rounds of the NHL Entry Draft for the past two seasons, U.S. college hockey was dealt a dose of reality on Friday as just four players with college ties were selected in the opening round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place. Leading the way was the … Read more
When walking into the Scotiabank Place on Saturday, this writer actually admits his confidence in college hockey had been a tiny bit shaken. It wasn’t the fact that only four college players were selected in the opening round on Friday; I’d been there before and seen the 1999 Draft, when there were only three collegians … Read more
When you’re a college player about to be drafted, the first thought that comes to mind is committing to the college’s “party line.†“My first commitment is to (school of choice). I have every intention of returning there in the fall with the hopes of winning a national championship.†It’s rote. It’s what every kid … Read more
If there is any doubt that Colin Wilson’s career at Boston University is over, Wilson’s father, Carey, summed things up in a single sentence. “He’d be prepared to leave tomorrow,” said the elder Wilson, himself an NHL veteran who played 13 years for the Calgary Flames, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers. Surrounded by a … Read more
At one time, there was a popular ad campaign that touted the state of Massachusetts using the slogan, “Make it in Massachusetts.” For a while, you might actually have thought that slogan referenced a successful path to the NHL with the likes of Tony Amonte, Keith Thachuk, Jeremy Roenick and Chris Drury all either growing … Read more
If you’re a top 10 pick in the NHL Entry Draft, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be playing in the “show” someday. Make it into the top five and there’s money abound. And if you’re lucky to get picked number one overall, you’re name will forever be associated with your draft year. The top … Read more
If Boston College is to repeat as National Champions, it will have to do so without arguably the nation’s best player. The school announced on Tuesday that senior-to-be Nathan Gerbe will forego his senior season at Boston College and sign an NHL contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Though Gerbe’s signing will significantly impact the Eagles … Read more
It’s likely that this will be a thin year for U.S. college players in the NHL Entry Draft, at least if you believe the National Hockey League Central Scouting Service (CSS). Just one college or college-bound player ranks in the top 10 among North American-born skaters in the final CSS rankings released on Thursday. Boston … Read more