Merrimack defenseman Uens signs with NHL’s Panthers, gives up senior year with Warriors

Merrimack junior defenseman Zach Uens has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Uens is set to begin his professional career with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. The Belleville, Ont., native was a fourth-round pick (105th overall) of the Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft. “We are proud of Zach,” … Read more

Carlile leaves Merrimack blue line, forgoes senior season to sign NHL deal with Lightning

Merrimack junior defenseman Declan Carlile has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, and will forgo his senior season with the Warriors. Carlile will start his professional career with the Lightning’s AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. A Hartland, Mich., native, Carlile was an undrafted free agent and concludes his Merrimack career … Read more

This Week in Hockey East: TD Garden excitement awaits conference’s final four with ‘good atmosphere’ looming this weekend

When Massachusetts senior forward Anthony Del Gaizo said he hopes his team will eventually play on a “bigger stage” than the one it will play on this weekend, he wasn’t speaking literally. This weekend’s Hockey East men’s semifinals and final will be held at TD Garden, home of the NHL’s Boston Bruins and the biggest … Read more

Ducks sign Helleson to NHL contract as defender gives up senior season at Boston College

The Anaheim Ducks have signed Boston College junior defenseman Drew Helleson to a three-year, entry-level contract. Helleson will give up his senior season with the Eagles. Acquired with a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft from Colorado for Josh Manson on March 14, Helleson recorded four goals and 25 points in 32 games as … Read more

Boston University blueliner Vlasic leaves Terriers after three seasons, signs NHL contract with Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Tuesday that the team has agreed to terms with Boston University junior defenseman Alex Vlasic on a three-year, entry-level contract that runs through the 2023-24 season. Vlasic will forgo his senior season with the Terriers. A native of Wilmette, Ill., Vlasic is scheduled to arrive in Chicago tomorrow and will join … Read more

UMass’ Trivigno tabbed Hockey East player of year, Northeastern’s Levi top rookie, Huskies’ Keefe voted best coach for ’21-22 campaign

Hockey East announced Tuesday that Massachusetts senior forward Bobby Trivigno has been awarded the honor of 2021-22 Hockey East player of the year. Alongside Trivigno, Northeastern sophomore goaltender Devon Levi, who missed all of the 2020-21 season, was named rookie of the year, while the Huskies’ Jerry Keefe was voted coach of the year by … Read more

Hockey East announces trio of all-star teams for 2021-22 season with Northeastern placing three players on first team

Hockey East announced Friday its 2021-22 men’s all-star teams as voted by the league’s 11 head coaches. First-Team All-Stars G: Devon Levi, Northeastern D: Jordan Harris, Northeastern D: Scott Morrow, Massachusetts F: Aidan McDonough, Northeastern F: Bobby Trivigno, Massachusetts * F: Ryan Tverberg, UConn Second Team All-Stars G: Owen Savory, UMass Lowell D: Declan Carlile, … Read more

Hockey East unveils eight-player 2021-22 all-rookie team, plus six individual awards

Hockey East announced Wednesday the 2021-22 all-rookie team and six other season-long awards as voted by the men’s league’s 11 head coaches. ALL-ROOKIE TEAM G: Devon Levi, Northeastern * D: Ty Gallagher, Boston University D: Scott Morrow, Massachusetts * D: Ryan Ufko, Massachusetts D: David Breazeale, Maine F: Matt Crasa, UMass Lowell F: Justin Hryckowian, … Read more

This Week in Hockey East: Few teams can breathe easy with 2022 postseason beginning in earnest

With the single-elimination Hockey East tournament set to begin Wednesday, there’s only one absolute certainty — one team will win it, hoist the Lamoriello Trophy at TD Garden on March 19, and earn the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. And while it’s unthinkable that Hockey East will wind up with the tournament winner … Read more

Merrimack men’s hockey coach Borek staying with Warriors, agrees to multi-year contract extension

Scott Borek has signed a multi-year contract extension to remain the head coach of the Merrimack men’s hockey team. Borek first went behind the Warriors’ bench starting with the 2018-19 season. “Scott’s relentless leadership has been a cornerstone of Merrimack Hockey’s return to the top of the ranks in Hockey East,” said Merrimack director of … Read more

This Week in Hockey East: Hockey is in outgoing New Hampshire athletic director Scarano’s blood, says ‘UNH is hockey royalty’

While Marty Scarano treated all sports under his watch equally in his more than two decades as athletic director at New Hampshire, there’s no question that hockey holds a special place in his heart. In fact, it was hockey that brought Scarano to New Hampshire at the turn of the millennium. Then the AD at … Read more

Hockey East suspends Maine’s Villeneuve-Houle one game for head contact penalty Feb. 25 at Providence

Hockey East announced Saturday that Maine sophomore forward Donavan Villeneuve-Houle has been suspended for one game stemming from an incident at 3:22 of the first period on Friday, February 25 at Providence. On the play, Villeneuve-Houle was assessed a major penalty for contact to the head and a game misconduct. Villeneuve-Houle will miss the game … Read more

Due to weather, Maine-BC women’s Hockey East quarterfinal game moved to 7 p.m., Feb. 25; BU-BC men’s game changed to 4 p.m., Feb. 27

Hockey East announced Friday the following schedule update: Due to inclement weather, the Hockey East women’s tournament quarterfinal, Maine at Boston College, scheduled for Friday, February 25, will now begin at 7 p.m. The game will air on NESN. As a result, the Boston University at Boston College men’s game, originally scheduled for the same … Read more

This Week in Hockey East: Power play proving to be strong point for Merrimack entering season’s stretch run

There’s a famous scene in the 1986 movie “Hoosiers” where a small-town basketball team enters Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis and is immediately awestruck. The coach, played by Gene Hackman, uses a tape measure to assure his players that despite the high ceilings and the large number of seats, the court dimensions are the same as … Read more

Mike Richter Award watch list increases from 28 to 32 goaltenders for 2022 college hockey award

After originally announcing an initial watch list of 28 goalies for the 2022 Mike Richter Award, the list has been expanded to 32. The award is given to the top Division I goalie in men’s hockey, named after the former Wisconsin netminder. Minnesota’s Jack LaFontaine earned the award in 2021. 2021-22 Richter Award Watch List … Read more

This Week in Hockey East: Streaking UConn looks to make its move up conference standings

It’s safe to say Connecticut men’s hockey coach Mike Cavanaugh likes to use sports metaphors. He dropped a few of them during a recent press availability. On his team’s 2-0 loss to Quinnipiac on Jan. 30, its only setback in an otherwise unblemished eight-game stretch, Cavanaugh evoked golf. “We hit every green in regulation,” he … Read more

Boston University captures Beanpot title, but result has notable PairWise implications for Terriers, Northeastern

I am an interested observer who lives in Beanpot land and to be honest, the Beanpot seems like such a meaningless tournament to much of the country every year. And as someone who has lived in Massachusetts his whole life, why should anyone care about a Beanpot? I will tell you why: The Beanpot is … Read more