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...]
College Confidential: Carson Gicewicz gives veteran scoring boost to Minutemen
If college hockey had a Comeback Player of the Year award, Carson Gicewicz of UMass would be the early favorite. After missing all but two games at St. Lawrence last season with a knee injury, Gicewicz moved on to the Minutemen as a redshirt senior this season and is shooting the lights out with … [Read more...]
College Confidential: NCAA scoring leader Odeen Tufto fuels engine for Quinnipiac
Odeen Tufto is the latest small forward — he’s listed at 5-foot-7, 175 pounds — to find success at Quinnipiac. Coinciding with the program’s rise to national prominence under coach Rand Pecknold, an impressive number of undersized players have had great careers for the Bobcats over the last … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Catamounts begin the process, stress compete level
For a rebuilding Vermont team that finally played its first games last weekend, coming home from UMass with a win proved to be too tall an order. Under first-year coach Todd Woodcroft, the Catamounts lost twice to the 10th-ranked Minutemen but learned lessons that should pay dividends down the … [Read more...]
Juniors/Midgets Report: Japan native Chiky Hanzawa flourishes with South Shore Kings
Like his teammates on the South Shore Kings of the NCDC, Chikara Hanzawa grew up playing hockey. The difference is that Hanzawa — known to his coaches and teammates as Chiky — did it on the other side of the globe, in Shimizu, Japan. “When we were kids, everyone played hockey,’’ said the 19-year-old … [Read more...]
College Confidential: For Jordan Harris and potent Huskies, power play is a distinct advantage
Northeastern has played only two games, but the word is out: Stay out of the penalty box against the Huskies. If you don’t, they can make you pay. Northeastern carved up Merrimack last weekend for six power-play goals in 14 opportunities, going four for eight in Saturday’s 8-1 home win and two for … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Straight outta preps, Alex Jefferies boosts Merrimack
There is no one-size-fits-all formula that says a player, after prep school, must spend a year (or more) in junior hockey to prepare to play in Division 1. While the overwhelming majority of players benefit from time in juniors, there are some who are ready right away. Based on his performance over … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Matt Boldy on fast track with BC Eagles
No Alex Newhook? No problem for second-ranked Boston College. Even without their superstar center, the second-ranked Eagles have plenty of weapons. At the top of the list is sophomore winger Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass.). In BC’s sweep of No. 8 UMass last weekend, Boldy and Mike Hardman (Hanover, … [Read more...]
Juniors/Midgets Report: New commish has ambitious plans for USPHL’s NCDC
Bob Turow is just getting his feet wet as commissioner of the USPHL, the job he was hired for in October. Understandably, it’s going to take time to get up to speed. After all, the USPHL is a hockey colossus with hundreds of teams, from Mite through juniors. As Turow puts it, “We’re coast to coast … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Top-notch goalie tandem boosts Minutemen
A lot of college hockey coaches ride one goalie because, to be honest, one decent one is all they have. Greg Carvel of UMass is one of the fortunate ones. In senior Matt Murray and junior Filip Lindberg, the Minutemen have a pair of capable, proven netminders … [Read more...]
College Confidential: Hockey East officiating chief Brian Murphy vows ‘consistent message’
Brian Murphy is approaching his new job as Hockey East supervisor of officials the same way he did when he worked as an NHL linesman. “My relationships with coaches and players is what got me through 32 years in the NHL. I don’t think it’s going to be any different here,’’ Murphy said on … [Read more...]
