Jim ConnellyIt’s not too often that NHL teams take chances on drafting collegiate goaltenders, so when you have two goalies squaring off whose rights are held by NHL clubs, expectations for a goaltender’s duel are pretty high. On Thursday, fans expecting such a duel got one and then some as Providence rookie Jon Gillies, a draft … Read more
While it has been easy to talk about Boston College, New Hampshire and Boston University this season, the fourth spot in Hockey East remains up in the air. One team that put a stake in the ground last weekend in hopes of gaining the final home ice spot — if not more in the Hockey … Read more
Remember those Hockey East standings that a few weeks back made it seem like there was a one, maybe two/three horse race, for the Hockey East title. Yeah, that’s all changed. That leads my three things I learned this week: 1. The Hockey East accordion: let’s squeeze it together The results this past weekend were … Read more
Remember those Hockey East standings that a few weeks back made it seem like there was a one, maybe two/three horse race, for the Hockey East title. Yeah, that’s all changed. That leads my three things I learned this week: 1. The Hockey East accordion: let’s squeeze it together The results this past weekend were … Read more
For much of Saturday’s game between No. 3 Boston College and No. 4 New Hampshire, penalties threatened to derail the visiting Eagles. With five minutes left in regulation, they finally did. Just 13 seconds into their seventh power play of the night – which included a five-minute major and a full two-minute 5-on-3 advantage – … Read more
No. 17 Yale did everything it could to go on the road to earn a victory. The only thing missing from it matchup with No. 2 Boston College was an actual victory. The Bulldogs outshot the Eagles 48-22 and for the most part of the game, manhandled the team that just a few weeks ago … Read more
Games played right after the holiday break can be unpredictable. As a coach, you hope your players stay in tip-top shape during a time that may include a big Christmas dinner, a few family holiday parties, etc. You also hope that a number of days without practice don’t lead to sloppy play on the ice … Read more
Two slumping Hockey East teams earned tournament titles (and a third will play for a title tonight), which leads me to ask: can winning your holiday tournament serve as a springboard to the second half? 1. Maine, Vermont win titles, hope to earn confidence Holiday tournaments are strange creatures. Your team generally is coming off … Read more
Two slumping Hockey East teams earned tournament titles (and a third will play for a title tonight), which leads me to ask: can winning your holiday tournament serve as a springboard to the second half? 1. Maine, Vermont win titles, hope to earn confidence Holiday tournaments are strange creatures. Your team generally is coming off … Read more
‘College hockey’s gentleman’ is also its winningest coach after earning No. 925, passing Ron Mason. Jim Connelly reports.
Well, it’s just about the New Year, which personally I hope translates to much improved success in picking these games. To this point, I’m six games behind my elderly elder. Seeing as there is no column this week, we decided to take a bit of an expanded look at each of the upcoming weekend’s holiday … Read more
Well, it’s just about the New Year, which personally I hope translates to much improved success in picking these games. To this point, I’m six games behind my elderly elder. Seeing as there is no column this week, we decided to take a bit of an expanded look at each of the upcoming weekend’s holiday … Read more
Only three players return from the team that missed the medal round. Jim Connelly reports.
Thirteen days ago when Providence battled to a 3-3 tie with Boston College, it was a tie that felt much more like a win. On Thursday night in a 4-4 draw with Vermont, this was a tie that felt very much like a loss. The Friars broke open a tied game in the third period … Read more
Few people around Hockey East will deny that this was one pretty crazy first half of the season. We mentioned weeks ago that the league began separating into two parts: a top three and a bottom seven. Truth be told, at some point a middle will almost inevitably be defined. And the leader of that … Read more
Massachusetts-Lowell received scoring from three different defensemen and rookie netminder Connor Hellebuyck posted his second consecutive shutout as the River Hawks skated past Harvard 5-0 in a rare Monday night affair at Harvard’s Bright Hockey Center. While the story for Lowell may have been the play of the defenseman in the lineup, for Harvard it … Read more
Kermit the Frog sang years ago that it’s not easy being green. Well, it’s also not easy being the number one team in the USCHO.com poll. New Hampshire became another Hockey East team to learn that this weekend, and that leads the three things I learned this week. 1. The King is dead, long live … Read more
Kermit the Frog sang years ago that it’s not easy being green. Well, it’s also not easy being the number one team in the USCHO.com poll. New Hampshire became another Hockey East team to learn that this weekend, and that leads the three things I learned this week. 1. The King is dead, long live … Read more
Boston College coach Jerry York was 10.5 seconds away from being college hockey’s all-time wins leader. Now, he and his Eagles will have to wait 22 days before they’ll have another crack. York’s Boston College Eagles (11-2-1, 9-2-1 Hockey East) let a two-goal third period lead slip away and surrendered the game-tying goal to Providence’s … Read more
The Boston College Eagles entered the weekend with the chance to write a Hollywood-like story for head coach Jerry York, who was one win shy of tying and two wins away from passing legendary coach Ron Mason for the most all-time wins and facing heated rival Boston University. After a lackluster effort, though, on Friday … Read more