Feature stories
Being ranked in the top 30 coming into the NHL entry draft initiates high expectations and hope for the young players who might just hear their name called in the first round. But what if you were projected to be picked and with all of that pressure ended up waiting, and waiting? Well the U.S. … Read more
The Edmonton Oilers made one of the most interesting selections on Saturday when, in the third round, they called the name of Troy Hesketh. Hesketh is committed to attend Wisconsin but won’t do so until September of 2011. He is heading next year to play junior hockey in the U.S. Hockey League. Hesketh was not … Read more
Think of your favorite hockey team. Okay, now imagine yourself playing for that club. Sounds like a dream, eh? Well for most it is, but for two 18-year-olds — Nick Leddy, who will attend Minnesota this fall, and Louis Leblanc, who’s heading to Harvard — that dream is a reality because the number 16 and … Read more
While the NHL Entry Draft is the first time young players are on trial for their career future, the judge and jury of that trial is the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau. The CSB and its team of 11 scouts worldwide under the direction of E.J. Maguire attempts to view and rank every potential NHL Draft … Read more
In a dimly lit ballroom, a light shines down on some very well known people who are surrounded by reporters, video cameras and photographers snapping hundreds of photos. These stylish looking people in suits are in the spotlight, both literally and figuratively, but no, it’s not a movie premier with popular actors and paparazzi, it’s … Read more
For the second time in three years, there’s a strong possibility that the opening round of the NHL Entry Draft will have 30 teams pick only forwards and defensemen, leaving goaltenders on the outside looking in. In 2007, Joel Gistedt from Finland was the first goaltender selected as the sixth pick in the second round, … Read more
What do the Chicago Blackhawks, President Barack Obama and the Chicago Cubs have in common? Well, the obvious answer is the city, but the more important relation here is John Moore. This 18-year-old is undoubtedly going to be snatched up in the first round of the NHL entry draft, as he’s Central Scouting’s top-ranked defensemen … Read more
The debate has raged on and on in recent years between which is better: Junior A hockey or U.S. college hockey. This weekend in Montreal we may find out the answer, at least in the eyes of those most important to the game — NHL executives. As this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft kicks off, beyond … Read more
Dave Starman sums up the Frozen Four and looks ahead to next season in a series of letter to coaches and players.
Fans of the national champion Boston University Terriers turned out to help the team celebrate, Melissa Parrelli reports.
As the consensus number one team in the country, Boston University was expected to win the NCAA championship. The Terriers had claimed six titles already this year: the NCAA Northeast Regional, the Hockey East tournament, the Hockey East regular season, the Beanpot, the Denver Cup, and the Ice Breaker. They were the odds-on favorite to … Read more
The nation’s capital exemplifies a common duality between hockey and pro hockey. Like April’s cherry trees, D.C.’s interest in the professional team, the Washington Capitals, has been blooming all over, but the region’s hockey awareness tends to stop at the letters N.H.L. That presented a challenge to the Greater Washington Sports Alliance (GWSA) and the … Read more
During the postseason, coaches often spout platitudes about how goaltending and special teams make the difference between winning and losing in the fierce battles of the playoffs. What is so interesting about this year’s championship game is that ultimately, neither goaltending nor the power play made as big an impact. While Boston University scored two-extra … Read more
The nation’s capital exemplifies a common duality between college hockey and pro hockey. Like April’s cherry trees, D.C.’s interest in the professional Washington Capitals has been blooming all over … but the region’s hockey awareness tends to stop at the letters N, H, L. Thus was the challenge presented to the Greater Washington Sports Alliance … Read more
They got so close to the Frozen Four last year that they could taste it, Miami RedHawks’ forward Justin Mercier has been telling anyone who’ll listen these last few weeks. The taste now that Miami practically had one hand on the national championship trophy, only to have it snatched away by a gritty Boston University … Read more
Secret Revealed All season long, Boston University sported t-shirts bearing the phrase “Burn the Boats.” The team swore itself to utter secrecy, only promising to divulge the meaning and origin of the slogan after the season ended. Well, the season ended, all right. “Coach (Jack Parker) read us a story at the beginning of the … Read more
On a team with this year’s Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy and another Hobey finalist, Colin Wilson, Boston University sophomore defenseman Colby Cohen seemed an unlikely candidate to score a game-winning goal for a national championship. In his first season last year, Cohen had three goals and 13 assists, putting him 10th among BU’s scorers. … Read more
When people talk about Boston University’s superior talent, the objects of their affection are the same names over and over. Colin Wilson and Matt Gilroy, the Hobey Baker Hat Trick Duo. Wilson and Nick Bonino, the two dominant centers and leading scorers who anchor the Terriers’ “two number-one lines.” Kieran Millan, the freshman goaltender who … Read more
Brent Brekke joined the Miami staff last offseason knowing the challenge that lay before him. He would be working with four freshman defensemen on a team that lost plenty on that side of the ice, and would be charged with keeping the RedHawks’ identity intact. That Miami will play for the national championship on Saturday … Read more
He’s considered one of the deans in a game filled with legendary coaches. Even Jack Parker’s counterpart in Saturday’s national-title game jokes about the elder coach’s age. “A couple of guys asked me how old [Parker] was,” said Miami coach Enrico Blasi, himself 37 years young. “I said somewhere between 80 and 100.” Truth be … Read more