Jim ConnellyThe UMass-Lowell River Hawks used superior special teams and collected two goals from their defenseman to earn a much needed 4-1 decision over UMass-Amherst on Saturday night. The win was the tiebreaker in the season series between the two Massachusetts schools, earning Lowell the Alumni Cup for the fourth straight year and more importantly giving … Read more
Boston College defenseman Bobby Allen pick a perfect time to join the century club. The senior defenseman notched his 100th career point, scoring a power-play goal with 13:15 remaining, as the No. 2-ranked Eagles edged UMass-Lowell, 4-3, Friday night at the Conte Forum. The goal came on the seventh of eight power plays on the … Read more
Stealthy UConn finds itself in the thick of the race; weekly awards; facilities in the spotlight; and Jim Connelly runs down the MAAC’s new tiebreaker criteria.
Brian Gionta scored a record five goals in an electrifying first period, and did it on only five shots, as BC rolled to a 7-2 win over Maine. In the process, Gionta tied David Emma for the all-time BC career goals record (112), and put himself right in the thick of the Hobey Baker race.
Brian Gionta set what’s believed to be a modern Division I record with five goals in the first period against Maine on Saturday night. Gionta’s opening frame performance embedded his name in both league and team record books. The five goals in a single period not only set the Hockey East record for goals in … Read more
Most anyone knows that hockey is a 60-minute game. But in case any of the 7,770 fans at Conte Forum forgot, Boston College sent out a clear reminder. Striking three times in the final 11:12 of the third period, the Eagles broke open a 1-1 deadlock against Maine, taking a 4-1 decision to solidify BC’s … Read more
While Mercyhurst and Iona have distinguished themselves, Quinnipiac has suddenly fallen on hard times in the MAAC. Jim Connelly — back from technical difficulties — rounds up the last two weeks.
“Old-time hockey” was the expression that Northeastern coach Bruce Crowder used to describe his Huskies’ 3-1 victory over Merrimack on Thursday night. Though the game was missing players who resembled anything near Eddie Shore or Bobby Hull, and there wasn’t much rough stuff, Crowder used the reference to talk about the importance of the game … Read more
It may be a cliche, but “it’s worth the wait” could be Northeastern’s favorite line. After waiting five minutes for referee John Gravellese to determine whether Scott Selig’s rebound of a Joe Mastronardi shot at 12:17 of the third period would be counted as a goal, Selig and the Northeastern Huskies, along with most of … Read more
Entering Friday’s night contest, the Boston College Eagles had not lost two games in a row since Feb. 14 and 19, 2000. After a 6-3 loss on Tuesday night at Merrimack, the Eagles stated with authority, that streak would not end on this night. Senior captain Brian Gionta notched two goals and added an assist … Read more
A giant has fallen … again. The giant was No. 2 Boston College and its slayer was Merrimack, the unlikeliest of heroes entering the night in last place in Hockey East. In the end, Merrimack convincingly sent the Eagles home with a 6-3 defeat. The knights in shining armor for the Warriors were, offensively, the … Read more
On an afternoon that was definitely the Rick Massey show, the rookie goaltender for Holy Cross nearly stole the show, literally. As possibly the year’s biggest underdogs, the Holy Cross Crusaders used a solid defensive effort and great goaltending to hang in a tight game against No. 10 Providence before finally succumbing, 2-1, in a … Read more
Bentley claims moral victory following a hard-fought loss to conference-leading Mercyhurst on Saturday.
If the UNH Wildcats were salesmen, they’d be the best closers around. Well, at least they are on the ice. Leading 2-1 on the road at Merrimack through forty minutes of play, the Wildcats took the play to the Warriors in the final twenty minutes, adding two goals early in the period to account for … Read more
The top teams in the MAAC duke it out; AIC’s Gary Wright keeps waiting; and Holy Cross and Canisius tally up the upsets. Jim Connelly reports.
All’s fair in love and war. Saturday, BC coach Jerry York was miffed that BU arranged for the early return of John Sabo and Freddy Meyer from the World Junior team, as they contributed to a 3-2 Terriers win. Sunday, revenge was sweet, as BC’s J.D. Forrest returned with the rest of the U.S. squad and helped the Eagles to a 5-2 victory.
Saturday night’s loss can be summed up in one word for Merrimack — mistakes. In a game in which Merrimack was riddled with poor play, missed passes and lost opportunities, the Warriors had to be shocked to be within a goal at 3-2 with 1:36 to play when Ryan Kiley’s one-timer found the back of … Read more
Suspensions Threaten Quinnipiac’s Chances Against Cornell Entering one of the bigger weekends of the year, it’s an obvious disappointment for Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold to be without Dan Ennis, who has been out with an injury since early in the season and is not expected to return, and Ryan Olsen, who broke his leg earlier … Read more
With half the season gone, it’s time for bouquets and brickbats. Professor Jim Connelly hands out midseason report cards.
Though the game didn’t count in the MAAC standings, Bentley was happy to get its first win of the year, in a neutral-ice game at Boston College’s Conte Forum.