“I don’t care about shots on goal…”— Maine coach Shawn Walsh “It’s never a bad idea to shoot.” Fans shake their heads in disgust when their favorite team generates a good offensive chance, only to come away without even a shot. “You can’t score if you don’t shoot.” The power play is a special irritant. … Read more
Reggie Jackson earned a reputation as “Mr. October” by always delivering in the postseason for the New York Yankees. When it comes to the Hockey East tournament each March, Blake Bellefeuille has been no less dominant. In his four years at Boston College, he’s totaled 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points in 15 … Read more
The top four teams in the Hockey East Association dominated the honors at the league’s annual awards banquet, held at the Royal Sonesta Hotel here. Boston College, Boston University, Maine, and New Hampshire, all ranked in the nation’s top seven in the latest U.S. College Hockey Online poll, will battle for the 16th Hockey East … Read more
And The Envelope, Please The official Hockey East Awards will be announced Thursday evening. Then it’ll be the real experts — the coaches — who will have done the voting. But here’s one writer’s opinion about how the honors should be dispensed. Some of these choices ignore the statistics. Ask any coach and he’ll tell … Read more
The Second Season If not for the home-ice dominance discussed last week, this weekend’s quarterfinal playoff series would appear rife with upset possibilities. The question, then, will be whether or not that factor will cool some hot road underdogs and put all the home teams into the FleetCenter. Here’s a look at the matchups. #1 … Read more
There’s No Place Like Home Home ice has always held its advantages. This year, however, those advantages appear to be particularly potent. The following are the current home and away breakdowns by team. Team Home Away Boston College 11-2-1 8-7-0 Boston University 12-0-3 7-4-3 Maine 13-3-1 7-4-2 UMass-Amherst 5-6-3 5-10-1 UMass-Lowell 5-9-1 3-13-2 Merrimack 7-5-3 … Read more
Zebra Talk Even before this week’s controversy involving Jack Parker, Hockey East fans were talking about the league’s officiating and, to no one’s surprise, it often wasn’t complimentary. Referees and linesmen are the equivalent of defensive defensemen. No one notices when they do a good job, but everyone notices when they make a mistake. "If … Read more
The Executive Committee of Hockey East issued an additional one-game suspension to Boston University coach Jack Parker on Wednesday for his failure to fully comply with a previous suspension issued last weekend. Parker Parker had been issued the original suspension by Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna on Saturday, February 19, in part for his decision … Read more
It all started last Friday night and it may not yet be over. It began with a disallowed goal in the Boston University – Providence game that escalated into a major controversy when BU coach Jack Parker sent his team to the dressing room in protest. As a result, Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna issued … Read more
Tie 2K Back in December, New Hampshire used the phrase "Ty 2K" to promote the Hobey Baker Award candidacy of goaltender Ty Conklin. But ties of a different sort have also been all the rage. After finishing with 19, 24 and 21 sister-kissers the last three years, respectively, Hockey East teams have already accumulated 30 … Read more
Boston College and Boston University may have been the two schools to celebrate wins last Monday night in the Beanpot semifinals, but that didn’t keep Northeastern and Harvard from celebrations of their own. The two schools that fell to defeat on the ice made history off it, as each had a representative inducted to the … Read more
Parker, The Player As a kid growing up on the outskirts of Boston, Jack Parker felt no particular attraction to coaching. In fact, he felt no particular attraction to hockey. “I always played basketball,” he says. “That was the sport I played the most and still play to this day. I grew up in Somerville, … Read more
Two years ago, it was unprecedented. Boston University’s Class of 1998 became the first seniors in history to graduate with four Beanpot titles when the Terriers defeated Harvard in overtime, 2-1. Last year, it was unexpected. BU would eventually record its first losing record in the ’90s, but completed the Battle of Boston sweep for … Read more
Beanpot Final: The Killer Bs This Monday, it’ll be The Killer Bs — BC and BU — meeting in a dream Beanpot championship game. The Commonwealth Avenue archrivals advanced with an unprecedented pair of first-round shutouts, Boston College blanking Northeastern, 6-0, and Boston University over Harvard, 4-0. The Valentine’s Day tilt will be the 14th … Read more
If you heard that a Boston College Eagle netted a hat trick in the Beanpot, there’d be a few likely possibilities. Brian Gionta, Jeff Farkas or Blake Bellefeuille would be the obvious candidates. Or perhaps Mike Lephart, defenseman-turned-forward Marty Hughes or Jeff Giuliano. Maybe even a member of the highly-skilled BC defensive corps. But rather … Read more
On Nov. 27, 1999, he became only the fourth coach in college hockey history to record 600 wins. In 27 years at Boston University, he’s had only five losing seasons while posting 17 (soon to be 18) 20-win campaigns, 16 NCAA appearances, 10 Hockey East and ECAC titles, and two national championships. He’s a two-time … Read more
The First Two Mondays In February The 48th Beanpot Tournament is shaping up as potentially one of the best in a long time. "This particular year, all four teams playing have a realistic chance to join the 12 teams in the national tournament in March," says BC coach Jerry York. "That makes this tournament a … Read more
Charges of severe hazing among the University of Vermont’s hockey team, raised in a lawsuit by former student Corey Latulippe against the school, were supported in a 20-page report released Thursday by the Vermont Office of the Attorney General. Latulippe, a walk-on men’s ice hockey candidate, filed charges after being cut from the team and … Read more
Strength of Schedule It was late October and UMass-Lowell had just defeated Northeastern after returning from three road losses to Michigan and Rensselaer, both teams that have spent virtually the entire season in the Top 10. “Who’s the idiot who made up this schedule?” asked one writer, tongue-in-cheek. “That would be me,” answered River Hawk … Read more
Double Dipping Looking at the action across the country this week, four games involve Top 10 teams playing each other. All four are in Hockey East. #1 UNH faces #6 Boston University in a home-and-home series, while #5 Maine hosts #9 Boston College for two at Alfond Arena. VCRs should be whirring since the three … Read more