Jim Connelly

The Month of Smith continues for Boston College. Sophomore left winger Quinn Smith scored on a rebound at 2:23 of overtime as Boston College defeated Merrimack 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd of 2,489 at Lawler Arena. The goal is the sixth of the season and seventh of the career for Smith. More impressively, … Read more

When Massachusetts-Lowell head coach Norm Bazin was a student at Lowell, he was a criminal justice major. When he got his master’s degree, it was in educational administration. But when it comes to hockey and facing Boston University, Bazin is clearly a history major. In 1994, Bazin was a senior on the team that beat … Read more

On Sunday, at least one big storm in New England lived up to its billing. A day where a predicted Nor’Easter in Boston turned into a whimper, an explosive offensive storm at Boston College’s Kelley Rink between the No. 4 Eagles and No. 5 New Hampshire delivered plenty of entertainment to the 6,649 in attendance. … Read more

I picked up a game on the old man last week, but at this point that’s not going to help much. Let’s see if Dave plays prevent defense this week as I’m the one picking first. Jim last week: 3-2-1 Dave last week: 2-3-1 Jim’s record to date: 84-64-17 Dave’s record to date: 90-58-17 Friday, … Read more

I know that Dave talked a lot about Merrimack’s recent success in last week’s column, but with Sunday’s victory over Massachusetts, this season for the Warriors has taken on an entirely different different meaning. That leads the three things I learned in this (albeit) abbreviated weekend in Hockey East: 1. Merrimack now can focus on … Read more

Many around the TD Garden on Monday night were buzzing about the thought that 60 years of Beanpot history could finally be rewritten. And then Boston College went and ruined it all. After Northeastern’s 3-2 upset of Boston University in the opening game, many wondered if for the first time in the 61-year history of … Read more

Seriously, I’m not sure what is worse at this point: my ability to pick games or the fact that I can’t make any head way on the old man. Miserable week all around last weekend. Jim last week: 3-5-2 Jim’s record-to-date: 78-57-15 Dave last week: 3-5-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 85-50-15 Friday, Feb, 1 Vermont at Boston … Read more

The upset of the year, the comeback of the year and a rash of injuries. Those comprise three takeaways from this weekend in Hockey East: 1. Maine’s sweep of Boston College is far-and-away the upset of the year Yes, some people may have had high hopes for Maine entering this season. I was among that … Read more

Boston University overcame an early 2-0 deficit, scoring the game’s final three goals, to edge Providence 3-2 on Friday at Schneider Arena to take the front half of a home-and-home series. The game’s offensive hero, unfortunately for BU, also turned out to be its biggest casualty. Evan Rodrigues tallied twice, but then left the game … Read more

Though I had a pretty good week, Dave held right with me. Jim last week: 8-1-1 Dave last week: 8-1-1 Jim’s record-to-date: 73-47-12 Dave’s record-to-date: 80-40-12 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Jan. 18 Massachusetts at Boston College Jim’s pick: With the way these two teams are headed, I can’t pick against BC. BC 4, … Read more

It’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