Jim ConnellyIf 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
The Frozen Four may be in the books for another year, but the most controversial play of the tournament, a Notre Dame goal in the third period of the championship game that was overturned by video replay, is still being debated throughout college hockey. They play, which occurred at 4:56 of the third period with … Read more
It was a heroes’ welcome in Chestnut Hill on Monday night as the 2007-08 Boston College Eagles addressed their fans for the first time as national champions. The event, held on the Kelley Rink ice, was attended by thousands of Eagles faithful and capped off a whirlwind 48 hours that included BC’s victory over Notre … Read more
Entering this week’s Frozen Four, it was thought that if Boston College were to have a shot at a national title, leading scorer Nathan Gerbe would need to be a major contributor. After scoring five goals and adding three assists in two games, calling Gerbe a major contributor may be an understatement, but calling the … Read more
Boston College is 20 minutes from a national championship, as it holds a 3-1 lead over Notre Dame through two periods of play at the Pepsi Center in Denver. All-American Nathan Gerbe, who scored a hat trick in BC’s 6-1 win over North Dakota in the national semifinals, netted the first two goals of the … Read more
When Boston College’s 2006-07 campaign ended with a disappointing loss against Michigan State in the national title game, BC head coach Jerry York still had a silver lining. At that time, the prospects for the 2007-08 team were extremely high. Standout goaltender Cory Schneider was returning for his senior year. Forwards Brock Bradford and Nathan … Read more
You can call it a butt-kicking, a blow away or any combination of terms. Whichever you choose, it’s another Boston College victory over North Dakota in the Frozen Four. Things started badly and slowly got worse for North Dakota, as the Eagles ran off four first-period goals en route to a 6-1 victory in the … Read more
One of the most difficult things to have in sports is regrets. When you’re on the national stage such as Michigan was at the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night, that statement is magnified. The Wolverines’ regret came in the form of the opening 20 minutes of its national semifinal game against Notre Dame. Michigan started … Read more