Watching Greg Carvel and his players celebrate UMass’s first Hockey East tournament championship on Saturday night, I thought of a conversation with associate head coach Ben Barr in March 2017. It was near the end of Carvel’s first season in Amherst. When I say the Minutemen were bad that year, I’m … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Hockey East championship forecast
After watching some very entertaining hockey in the Big Ten and NCHC tournaments earlier this week, I wondered if Hockey East could match it. Hell, yes! was the resounding answer. UMass Lowell’s wild, stunning comeback win over top seed Boston College, 6-5, after 92 minutes of hockey on Wednesday … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Forecasting the 2021 Hockey East semifinals
It’s not exactly a surprise that Boston College, UMass, Providence College and UMass Lowell will battle it out in the Hockey East semifinals on Wednesday. If you are surprised, then maybe you paid no attention when the annual preseason coaches’ poll was released in November. The top four in the poll … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Forecasting the Hockey East quarterfinal showdowns
Like many people who follow college hockey, I consider the postseason the best time of the year. But in this pandemic? Not so much. I’m thankful, of course, that 51 Division 1 schools opted to play, and I’ve watched as many games as I could, in person, on TV or online. At this point, however, I’m … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Bobby Trivigno, Minutemen peaking at prime time
When UMass needed a spark after falling behind by two goals at Boston College last Friday, Bobby Trivigno delivered — and it didn’t take him long. A mere five seconds after BC took a 2-0 lead in the second period, Trivigno beat BC’s Spencer Knight to bring the Minutemen back within a goal of the … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Another Tuch is drawing notice on Commonwealth Ave
If you wonder why Luke Tuch didn’t follow his older brother Alex to Boston College, there’s a simple answer. He wasn’t recruited by the Eagles. Instead, Luke ended up a few miles up the road at Boston University and is thriving in his freshman season. “I visited several other schools, I kept my … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Aidan McDonough, Huskies break through, seek strong finish
After scoring only one goal in his previous 11 games, Aidan McDonough didn’t just break his slump last weekend, he obliterated it. Northeastern University forward McDonough (Milton, Mass.) scored twice on Friday night against New Hampshire, then potted three more against the Wildcats on Saturday, … [Read more...]
College Confidential: First collegiate win is sweet for BU’s Vinny Duplessis
The winding road that freshman goalie Vinny Duplessis traveled to get to Boston University made his win over Boston College in his first start last Saturday all the more satisfying. The 21-year-old from Quebec City stopped 40 shots as the Terriers –— missing top players Drew Commesso, David Farrance … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Yale’s Curtis Hall learns on the job with Providence Bruins
Curtis Hall's days are going to be full to the brim for the next few months. A lot of his nights, too. He will be playing his first season of pro hockey with the AHL’s Providence Bruins. At the same time, he will be taking a full load of spring semester classes online toward his political science … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Brooks Orpik savors new learning experience behind BC bench
There isn’t much, if anything, Brooks Orpik hasn’t experienced during his life in hockey, from prep school and college and all the way through 1,000-plus NHL games and two Stanley Cups. A year and a half after retiring as a player, the 40-year-old Orpik is sharing what he’s learned with the players … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Resilient BU Terriers on a swift ascent
Thirteen freshmen wore the iconic Boston University game sweater for the first time last season. The Terriers had little choice but to go young after the likes of Joel Farabee, Dante Fabbro, Jake Oettinger, Chad Krys and Shane Bowers left school early to sign NHL contracts during the previous … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Marc McLaughlin’s leadership bolsters stacked BC squad
Boston College’s Marc McLaughlin isn’t an in-your-face captain. He’s more of a lead-by-example guy. And that’s just what he did on Sunday, showing the way in a dramatic 3-2 overtime win at New Hampshire. Until the end of regulation time, there wasn’t much that was particularly noteworthy about the … [Read more...]
