9-28-2017

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY YEAR XLVI. VOLUME XCII. ISSUE IV.

The Terriers have made their intentions loud and clear:

THEY’RE COMING FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE 2017-18 HOCKEY PREVIEW

FROM LEFT: BOBO CARPENTER, NIKOLAS OLSSON, DAVID QUINN, BRANDON HICKEY, JORDAN GREENWAY PHOTO BY: CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

2 HOCKEY

Men’s hockey enters 2017-18 season with much on the line

Players on the bench during practice are preparing for their first game of the season. Below: Chad Krys, Nikolas Olsson and Patrick Harper

BY LIAM O’BRIEN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

For the past few seasons, fans of the Boston University men’s ice hockey team have time and time again suffered the same result. They have seen their Terriers teeter on the edge of a championship, coming oh-so-close to crossing the elusive benchmark of holding up the sacred NCAA Championship trophy that BU has not won since 2009.

Now with head coach David Quinn’s fifth season at the helm, BU is stocked with a considerable amount of NHL-caliber talent and ready to make a run past the obstacles that have precluded them from taking home the title.

“We come to the rink ready to work hard,” Quinn said. “We have passion. [Our players] have fun doing it.”

The Terriers have knocked on the door multiple times over the past few years, getting as close as the NCAA Championship game.

This journey came in Quinn’s second season during a 2014-15 campaign in which BU swept the triple crown of Northeast Division I hockey, swiping the Beanpot title while garnering Hockey East regular season and tournament championships.

BU continued this run in the NCAA

Tournament as Quinn became the fourth head coach in NCAA men’s hockey

history to emerge victorious from his first three NCAA Tournament games.

The team rolled their way past the Northeast Regional and stymied the University of North Dakota in 2015 before suffering a heartbreaking loss at the conclusion of the title game against Providence College.

Quinn received Hockey East Coach of the Year honors that season, and now just two years later, the head coach is not seeking any more individual awards to add to his collection. Rather, the focus for the Terriers is on taking care of business in Saint Paul, Minnesota — the site of the 2018 Division I Men’s Hockey Championship — and returning home to Boston in early April with another trophy to add to the cases on Harry Agganis Way. This quest starts on Sept. 30 as BU hosts Union College at Agganis Arena.

“There’s more pressure in this preseason to get [our] systems down a little bit quicker,” Quinn said. “At the end of the day, there’s two nets, two blue lines and a center red line.

We’re working on playing at a pace, being physical, paying attention to detail and doing all the little things that are going to allow us to have the success that we think we are capable of having.”

The Terriers strut into 2017-18 touting seven of the top 25 NHL prospects in college hockey according to SB Nation and features a bevy of players who placed their impend ing NHL careers on hold for another shot at capturing a championship with Quinn.

“I really like the core of guys that we have coming back,” Quinn said. “[The guys] that sur-

round the freshmen coming in. I feel really good about our senior class. I thought we had a really good junior class. The guys that are here coming back as sophomores, you can just see their development and how much more mature they are.”

Returning to the program at the for ward spot is a powerful, NHL- bound duo made up of junior forward and assistant captain Jordan Greenway and sophomore forward Patrick Harper.

Greenway, the No. 50 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, is entering his third season with BU having notched 10 goals and 21 assists just a season ago.

He piloted the group with four game-winning tallies while netting a +11 plus-minus rating over the course of the year, which was good for third on the team.

Harper, who was selected by the Nashville Predators in the the No. 138 pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, packs a considerable punch despite his 5’9”, 160-pound frame.

During his inaugural season with the Terriers, he garnered Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors and tied for the team lead with 24 assists, and tallied 13 goals as well.

Harper was key in the Terriers run to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament last season. He assisted on the game-winning overtime goal in a 4-3 win over the University of North Dakota in the Round of 16 before putting in a goal to send the Round of 8 matchup against University of Minnesota Duluth to overtime. BU ended up losing the contest, 3-2, but the experience will serve Harper will as he enters 2017-18, now a seasoned veteran.

Joining these two at the head of BU’s offensive rush will likely be freshman forward Shane Bowers, who can already boast the moniker of having been a first-round NHL Draft pick before even

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

touching collegiate ice.

Barely 18 years old, the Ottawa Senators draftee dedicated his past two hockey seasons to dominating in the U.S. Hockey League with the Waterloo Black Hawks.

In 116 regular season games, Bowers racked up 37 goals and 47 assists, catching the eye of Quinn and a spot on the Terriers front lines.

“Our freshman class has a little bit of everything in it,” Quinn said. “It [has] some size, some skill, some speed. The thing that really jumps out is the maturity [and] how much they love hockey. They come here with a smile on their face every day and they put in a great effort. We are off to a great start from that perspective.”

In net, Quinn is set. Sophomore goaltender Jake Oettinger showcased his immense talent during his first season with the team in 2016-17, and his play earned him a first-round selection by the Dallas Stars in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Named a Hockey East Second Team AllStar, Oettinger sported the 10th best save percentage in college hockey (.927) while his astoundingly low 2.11 goals against average was good for 12th in Division I. Defensively, the Terriers are threatening as well.

Expect the defensive pairing of senior captain Brandon Hickey and sophomore Dante Fabbro to be a suffocating one as the season begins.

Hickey netted four goals and 11 assists last season. Fabbro, who could accompany Harper in the Nashville organization following his time with the Terriers, recorded six goals and 12 assists in a successful freshman campaign.

“We are trying to go over the basics right now and build that foundation for the year,” Fabbro s a i d . “ [ W e a r e going to] take i t g a m e by game.

I t ’s been a great atmosphere so far at the rink.”

HOCKEY 3

Brandon Hickey PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Brandon Hickey looks to lead the Terriers to the Frozen Four.

Senior captain readies himself to take reins of men’s ice hockey

BY LIAM O’BRIEN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Boston University defenseman Brandon Hickey might have just been a freshman during the Terriers’ journey to the NCAA championship game in the 2014-15 season, but he was not too young to make his name known throughout Hockey East and the college hockey ranks.

In the Hockey East play of that season, Hickey led the league in blocks while notching six goals and ranking third in plus-minus ratings with +18. The Leduc, Alberta native even pitted a goal in the NCAA national semifinal, helping lead the Terriers to a defeat the University of North Dakota and gain a spot in the title game.

Since that weekend at TD Garden, Hickey has been waiting in for the chance to compete in the Frozen Four. Now, in his last opportunity to do so, he is prepared to lead the Terriers into battle when they host Union College at Agganis Arena in the season opener on Sept. 30. “[Being a captain] definitely changes up your role [compared to] being an underclassman,” Hickey said. “It is something that you can either take and run with or shy away [from]. I have been trying to really take advantage of it and show the guys the culture around here, get them acclimated to what BU hockey is and what [we] stand for.”

Having served as an assistant captain on the squad in the final half of last season, Hickey has emerged as the premier leader for the Terriers heading into his senior year.

His calming presence in the locker room was rewarded heading into this season, as Hickey was named the team captain following the graduation of defenseman Doyle Somerby.

“I know it has only been three weeks, but I really love our leadership,” BU head coach David Quinn said. “These guys have really set the tone, and they are not letting a lot of the little things slip this early in the season. These guys get a lot of respect from our underclassmen. There are a lot of things that you need to win. There are characteristics that you need to acquire as

a group to have success. Leadership is one of them [and] we have that.”

While Somerby will begin his NHL career with the Columbus Blue Jackets this fall, Hickey has one last box to check off before leaving Boston University and beginning his own professional career.

Although he was drafted by the Calgary Flames at the beginning of the third round in 2014 NHL Entry Draft and his rights were handed over to the Arizona Coyotes this June, Hickey has stayed at BU over the past three years with the hope of hoisting an NCAA championship trophy pushing him every step of the way. “[The past captains] showed me what BU hockey is about,” Hickey said. “The way you conduct yourself each and every day.”

Last season was arguably the best of Hickey’s lengthy collegiate career. He upped his point total from eight to 15, garnering four goals while showcasing his passing prowess with 11 assists.

One of these assists came in a crucial situation in Game 1 of the Hockey East quarterfinals. With the Terriers trailing 2-0 to Northeastern University, Hickey facilitated a critical goal by his linemate sophomore defenseman Dante Fabbro midway through the second period.

This assist landed a surplus of momentum onto the side of the Terriers, who rebounded to beat the Huskies 3-2 in overtime and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Hickey was also impressive on the road, with three of his four goals coming when he was away from Agganis Arena.

His first goal of the season came on the road in a power play situation against the University of Denver in a narrow 4-3 loss.

In Hockey East play, Hickey was a reliable offensive option on the road, putting home goals in road victories away from Agganis Arena against the University of Vermont and the University of Maine.

When BU entered a hostile environment, Hickey remained unfazed and someone who the Terriers’ younger performers could look to for instant stability. “[Hickey] was my [defensive] partner last year,” Fabbro said. “[He’s] great. He treats everyone so well and he is such as great leader … He is a tremendous person

off the ice. He works hard. No matter what day it is, he is leading by example.”

For Hickey, the raucous fan base of the BU program is a major reason why he has decided to keep his talents in Boston for his final season, he said.

“We always have a really good crowd,”

Hickey said. “When you go to [the] Beanpot, it shows you how much BU loves hockey. Everyone goes out there and shows their support. Even your professors are supportive too. It has been a really special experience. I am back here because I did not want to leave.”

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4 HOCKEY

Men’s hockey fills assistant coaching job with Quesnelle

The Terriers welcome Len Quesnelle to the bench for his first season as a coach on David Quinn’s staff.

BY LIAM O’BRIEN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Just a year ago, Len Quesnelle was preparing for the college hockey season, ready to witness a plethora of Hockey East contests as a NHL amuetur scout throughout the winter.

This year, the situation is the same.

The only difference? Quesnelle will be on the Boston University men’s hockey bench coaching the Terriers rather than scouting out the next NHL prospect.

After spending four seasons as an amateur scout with the Detroit Red Wings, Quesnelle was announced as the newest member of the coaching staff earlier this month.

A grizzled veteran in the hockey ranks, Quesnelle is the replacement for former assistant coach Scott Young, a valuable member of the Terriers senior leadership for three seasons.

“We lost a great person and a great hockey guy in Scott Young,” BU head coach David Quinn said. “But we are very fortunate to get a great person and a great hockey guy in Quesnelle. When you work at BU, you have a tendency to attract great people.”

Young, a 16-season NHL veteran who captured two Stanley Cups over the course of his playing days, decided to head back to

the professional league. He succeeds Mark Recchi as the director of player development for the Pittsburgh Penguins while Recchi was promoted to the role of assistant coach of the team under BU alumnus Mike Sullivan.

This opened up the gates for Quesnelle to join the second Hockey East coaching staff of his career.

“This was a special opportunity at the college hockey level,” Quesnelle said. “It also gave me a chance to get back into a coaching role where you’re working with players day-to-day, you’re preparing for games on the weekends.”

Quesnelle comes to BU with the expectations of capturing a collegiate championship for the first time in his coaching career.

“You’ve got teams that throughout Hockey East have a chance to make the national tournament,” Quesnelle. “Here at BU it’s all about competing for national championships.”

Quesnelle’s first Hockey East coaching opportunity came when he served as an assistant coach from 2004-2013 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

It was there that Quesnelle’s career began to evolve. Prior to his arrival, UMass had failed to reach a NCAA Tournament despite being a Division I program since

1993. However, Quesnelle helped turn the Minutemen program around with his recruiting prowess.

Quesnelle helped the UMass program land goaltender Jonathan Quick, who later became a two-time Stanley Cup champion.

In 2006-07, Quick’s glove work was instrumental in the Minutemen earning their first NCAA Tournament berth while reaching the quarterfinals.

Prior to his lengthy tenure with UMass, Quesnelle was a staple player at Princeton University.

He served as a defenseman on the Tigers’ squad from 1984-1988, which featured a NCAA Tournament appearance and All-Ivy League honors in his senior season. In that 1987-88 campaign, he garnered four goals and ten assists despite entering the season having not netted more than one goal or five assists in any of his previous years with the team.

“Lenny’s got a lot of experience,” Quinn said. “He’s got a lot of respect in the hockey world. He is a bright guy and he is a tireless recruiter. We really lucked out in getting him.”

After his playing career ended, Quesnelle did not stray from the Princeton campus. He remained with the program as an assistant coach, where he helped to facilitate one of

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

the Tigers’ most successful seasons ever in 1997-98.

That season, the Tigers won 18 games for just the second time in program history while capturing their first ECAC title and NCAA Tournament berth.

Three seasons later, Quesnelle took the reins of the Tigers and assumed the first head coaching job of his career. His first two seasons at the helm were ho-hum as the team mustered a .403 winning percentage in 2000-01 and a .387 winning rate the following season.

The squad’s success plummeted in 2002-03 as Princeton went 3-26-2, placing Quesnelle on a hot seat that he was eventually removed from following a dismal fivewin 2003-04 campaign.

Quesnelle’s struggles at Princeton concluded with a silver lining, as his hockey legacy has been nurtured ever since joining UMass the following offseason.

It’s a legacy he hopes to build on with his new position.

“The best coaches in the game continue to evolve and get better,” Quesnelle said.

“Once they feel as though they’ve stopped learning anything about the game and then I think that’s when they get complacent as a coach … It’s all about continuing to learn and get better every single day.”

Women’s hockey reloaded, looks to improve on last season

BY MATTHEW MARTIN DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

This last season for the Boston University women’s hockey team ended with a heartbreaking defeat in the Hockey East semifinals on their home rink against one of its crosstown rivals, Northeastern University.

For eight Terriers, that game closed the book on their collegiate careers, leaving a gap for the coaches to fill.

A new crop of players was welcomed to BU head coach Brian Durocher’s squad this year — six freshmen and two transfers.

The road to joining the lineup is different for each player, and Durocher said when it comes to recruiting players, he tries to go down the “pyramid” to figure out which

players he would like on his team.

“It starts … from the top of the pyramid,” Durocher said. “There’s a couple of places such as national camps in both United States and Canada and maybe even some European countries.”

Durocher said he starts with these more well-known places, national and regional camps, when he’s looking for new players.

After scoping out the field, Durocher said the formal recruiting process begins.

“Sometimes you get a kid who absolutely wants to come here, or you have to convince some to come here,” he said. “Sometimes they’ll come look at Boston University, but they may be better placed in a Clarkson [University] or St. Lawrence [University] or Dartmouth [University] because they aren’t looking for an urban setting.”

Durocher, who is embarking on his 13th year as the head coach of BU’s women’s team, said that there are often difficulties when recruiting players he wants for his team. He cites the difficulty that comes with scouting players from diverse geographic locations of North America.

“It can be hard,” Durocher said. “Kids who live in Minnesota don’t gravitate towards the East as often. The kid who lives up in parts of Ontario have great schools like Clarkson, St. Lawrence, Cornell, Colgate that are much more geography friendly.”

Despite working through geographic challenges when it comes to recruiting, Durocher said he looks for players who have a few specific skills.

“We tend to gravitate towards kids that are four or five tools type of players, so can

you skate, can you handle a puck, can you think, do you have some size,” Durocher said.

“If you get kids who have three of those skills, or four, you’re going in the right direction.”

Durocher noted that he doesn’t just look to recruiting centers since those players are the best skaters and the ones who play a bigger role on the team. Rather, Durocher said he looks for more niche players who want to be wingers or who have the size to be defensive players.

This season, both of the transfers for the Terriers play defense.

Junior Reagan Rust spent her last two seasons at Rochester Institute of Technology and finished third on the team in points, with 14. She also led the Tigers in assists with 11.

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HOCKEY 5

Goaltender’s mentality: sticking to what he knows

Jake Oettinger PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Sophomore goaltender Jake Oettinger focuses on the game against Union and the season ahead.

BY NICOLE HAVENS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

When sophomore Jake Oettinger steps between the pipes and makes save after save, he looks experienced beyond his age.

After playing 35 games for the Boston University men’s hockey team against top goaltenders such as Boston College’s Joseph Woll, it’s safe to say he has learned a lot.

Within his first season, Oettinger gained a lot of attention from BU fans and members of the hockey world. This comes as no surprise because among his long list of accolades include a spot on the 2017 Hockey East AllRookie Team and the No. 26 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. It’s easy to see the numbers: the goal save percentage, the rankings and the shutouts, all of which are very high, but Oettinger said he knows playing hockey is more than just a numbers game.

It takes a mentality and a certain type of person to continue to bring their all even as the opposing team’s fans boo them for letting in a goal that they will feel terrible about once they leave the spotlight of the rink. Oettinger is still young, but he’s cultivated a mentality beyond his years that has served him well as he sits at the end of the ice, waiting for a puck to fly at him.

With or without a mask, pucks rushing

near anyone’s face would be cause for alarm, and last season during the opening round of the NCAA West Regional against North Dakota, 56 shots flew at the Oettinger as the game went into double overtime. In a matchup like that, Oettinger remained stable and calm in the net.

BU head coach David Quinn said the 18-year-old’s maturity in goal set him apart from other goaltenders. It was what struck him the first time he saw Oettinger play in the Five Nations Tournament.

“He came halfway through the game and in the first three minutes, he had to make about five great saves after sitting on the bench for a game and a half,” Quinn said.

“Obviously his physical skills speak for themselves, but answered a lot of questions about the mental toughness that he has.”

This mental toughness doesn’t come easily and Oettinger has endured his fair share of tough moments, but he said knows that he is going to let up some goals.

“For me the biggest thing is just bouncing back and never letting a bad goal go in twice,” Oettinger said.

It’s an easy thing to say, but a difficult thing to learn, let alone do on a game-bygame basis. Oettinger said his mentality has evolved through getting older and just playing more.

Originally standing in front of the net as a

defenseman, the Lakeville, Minnesota native made the transition to goalie after being occasionally called upon by his coach to play the position. It was a role he willingly accepted and even before that he said he recalled taking a keen interest in goaltenders when he watched professional games as a child.

Now, rather than sitting in the safety of the stands, Oettinger appears under the spotlight of the rink. Unlike other members of the team where their small errors can go relatively unnoticed by the inexperienced eye, a small error by the goaltender could have the lamp light up behind him.

Though, it’s reassuring to Oettinger that even NHL goaltenders make mistakes.

“Everyday during the NHL season, I watch all the highlights,” Oettinger said.

“Vezina Trophy goalies, Stanley Cup Champion goalies let in bad goals so it kind of helps me sleep better at night seeing those guys let in bad goals too.”

The sophomore’s mentality has served him well in crucial games and hectic environments from the Under-18 World Junior Championship to the annual Beanpot tournament.

In those situations, he stated simply that he sticks to what he knows.

“No matter how many people are in the stands or how big a game it is, it’s still the same game,” Oettinger said. “All the stuff

that make me successful in practice, make me successful in the game so I just try to stick to the stuff that I know and focus on doing what I need to do to help us win.”

While Oettinger has cultivated a mindset that has withstood countless goals, a certain mentality is also necessary to stay out of the hype of the diehard fans and the statistics and stay focused on the game.

As a member of last year’s freshman class that included three first round draft picks, the 6-foot-4 goaltender stayed grounded in the fact that there are ways he can always keep improving.

“I know there’s always a ton more work to be done, and just being never really satisfied with yourself and your game and always be willing to come to the rink and put your work boots on,” Oettinger said.

He also noted that the real measure of his work remains in wins and losses, and has a personal goal of winning 30 games this upcoming season. During his first season, Oettinger posted a 21-11-3 record.

This steadfast attitude had Quinn calling him “not just a goalie,” but a “real student of the game” and someone who deeply understands the game.

“He doesn’t overreact,” Quinn said. “I think he’s very calm. He knows where the net is and I know that may sound a little crazy, but I think too often goalies get panicky and they overreact where he doesn’t. When you get a guy that size who understands the game of hockey, he can make the game look pretty easy.”

This ability to make the game seem easy remains anything but that. Oettinger said he knows how a mentality can also affect a performance.

“The only [thing] that’s stopping us from winning all the championships this year is ourselves and I think there are a lot of really good things ahead for this team,” Oettinger said.

Over the past year, the goaltender said he has learned a lot more about college-level hockey and said he’s excited to host the reigning NCAA champions Denver University on Oct. 27.

Early last season, the underclassmen-heavy team was swept at Denver with Oettinger between the pipes. The sophomore sees this contest as a measuring stick to where the team stands in comparison to last year.

While the goaltender can stay in his head about the past or the future, Oettinger is currently focused on the present namely the Terriers’ first game.

“Right now I’m focused on Union,” Oettinger said. “I’m getting myself ready and just doing all the little things right and trying to make sure come puck drop on the 30th that I’m ready to go.”

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6 HOCKEY

MEET BOSTON UNIVERSITY’S

3 | TY AMONTE

1 | NICO LYNCH

2 | SHANE SWITZER

4 | BRANDON HICKEY (C)

5 | CAMERON CROTTY

8 | RYAN CLOONAN

9 | LOGAN COCKERILL

10 | GABRIEL CHABOT

11 | PATRICK CURRY

12 | CHASE PHELPS

13 | NIKOLAS OLSSON (A)

Sophomore Goaltender Barnstable, Massachusetts 5’11” | 175 lbs

Senior Defenseman Leduc, Alberta 6’2” | 205lbs

Junior Forward East Longmeadow, Massachusetts 5’10” | 186lbs

Sophomore Forward Schaumburg, Illinois 5’11” | 187lbs

14 | BOBO CARPENTER (A) Junior Forward North Reading, Massachusetts 5’11” | 193lbs

Junior Defenseman Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 6’2” | 200lbs.

Freshman Defenseman Greenly, Ontario 6’2” | 188lbs

Freshman Forward Brighton, Michigan 5’9” | 164lbs

Senior Forward Edina, Minnesota 6’1” | 201lbs

15 | SHANE BOWERS Freshman Forward Halifax, Nova Scotia 6’2” | 186lbs

Freshman Forward Norwell, Massachusetts 5’11” |175lbs

7 | CHAD KRYS Sophomore Defenseman Ridgefield, Connecticut 6’0” | 185lbs

Sophomore Forward Quebec City, Quebec 5’8” |180lbs

Senior Forward Escondido, California 6’0” | 210lbs

16 | JOHN MACLEOD Senior Defenseman Dracut, Massachusetts 6’2” | 192lbs

HOCKEY 7

2017-18 MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM

17 | DANTE FABBRO 18 | JORDAN GREENWAY (A)

Sophomore Defenseman New Westminster, British Columbia 6’1” | 192lbs

20 | BRIEN DIFFLEY Senior Defenseman Burlington, Massachusetts 6’2” | 192lbs

Junior Forward Canton, New York 6’5” | 238lbs

21 | PATRICK HARPER Sophomore Forward New Canaan, Connecticut 5’9” |160lbs

19 | HANK CRONE Freshman Forward Cedar Hill, Texas 5’9” 165lbs

22 | JAKE WITKOWSKI Freshman Forward Melrose, Massachusetts 5’10” | 173lbs

23 | DREW MELANSON

24 | DAVID FARRANCE 26 | KASPER KOTKANSALO

27 | BRADY TKACHUK

29 | JAKE OETTINGER

31 | MAX PRAWDZIK

DAVID QUINN

ALBIE O’CONNELL

LEN QUESNELLE

Graduate Transfer Forward Paramus, New Jersey 5’11” | 182lbs

Sophomore Forward Schaumburg, Illinois 5’11” | 187lbs

Head Coach 5th career season with BU Record: 83-54-17

Freshman Defenseman Victor, New York 5’11” | 195lbs

Sophomore Goaltender Lakeville, Minnesota 6’4” | 205lbs

Associate Head Coach 3rd career season with BU Former Terrier captain (CAS ‘99)

Freshman Defenseman Espoo, Finland 6’2” | 190lbs

Redshirt Sophomore Goaltender Andover, Massachusetts 6’3” 180lbs

Assistant Coach 1st career season at BU 25 year coaching veteran

8 HOCKEY

20 QUESTIONS with sophomore Max Prawdzik 1. What was the best part of your summer?

7. What song or songs get you pumped up before a game?

The best part of my summer was that I had a bunch of my friends from prep school to my lake house for a weekend. We all got to hang out and had a really good time together so it was great to see everybody.

We’re not really allowed to listen to rap before games so it’s basically all techno. I’m hoping our new euro [Finnish freshman defenseman] Kasper [Kotkansalo] can bring some good house music for the boys before the game.

That should be fun.

2. What’s your favorite place to eat around campus?

I like going to Garlic ‘n Lemons in Allston.

It’s kind of a spot a bunch of the guys go to on Thursday nights before the game so it’s kind of our tradition.

3. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

I like to juggle. I like to read a little bit just to kind of calm the mind down, but other than that I just try to have fun and just get ready to have a good time with the guys.

4. Which game are you looking forward to most this year?

I’m just looking forward to all of them. I’m just excited to start and see what happens. I think it’s going to be great for the guys to start playing real hockey together and I think it’s just going to be a really, really exciting year.

5. You spent the past semester playing in the National American Hockey League with the Lone Star Brahmas. What was that experience like?

It was great. I went down to Texas just so I could get just a little more playing time because I wasn’t really getting much time here and we actually had an unbelievable season down there. We won the league [championship] and I kind of did a good job of putting myself in that much better position coming back now. I’m in a much better situation now than I was previously so I had a really awesome time in Texas.

6. Let’s say you’re stuck on a desert island and you can only bring one of your teammates. Do you know who’d you bring?

Probably [freshman forward] Hank Crone.

Just a good guy. Keep me calm out there.

Hang out. Have a good time together.

8. If you could switch places with anybody for a day, who would it be?

Let’s go Leonardo DiCaprio for a day. He’s a pretty cool dude. See what he does in the day of the life of Leo would be pretty cool.

PHOTO BY BETSEY GOLDWASSER/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Sophomore goaltender Max Prawdzik said he has pregame rituals such as juggling and reading.

9. What would you say is a common misconception about goaltenders?

13. What is your favorite practice drill?

Some people like to say that maybe we’re a little bit weird, but I think we’re just fun guys and intelligent people as well. I think maybe sometimes people interpret that as being a little odd, but no I think we’re just good guys.

I like any of the in zone games like we’ll put two nets on one side of the ice and do a little like three-on-three mini competition. That’s pretty fun just compete with the guys so I like that one.

I like Matthew McConaughey. He’s kind of a dork, but he’s still a pretty cool dude and he’s played in some pretty good films. Mark Wahlberg, I like him as well.

10. Is there anybody in particular that you look up to in the hockey world?

14. What is the BU locker room like before a game?

18. What was your favorite memory of playing youth hockey?

I really like Scott Darling, who’s a goalie who’s going to play for the Carolina Hurricanes this year. He’s got a pretty amazing story about how he got kicked off of the hockey team at [University of Maine] and kind of worked his way up the minors.

It’s pretty exciting. Honestly, we have the music on, the guys are messing around. I mean getting focused, but everyone’s just really excited and ready to compete and try to make our families and our school proud.

I guess when I was really young. I’m from Andover, Massachusetts and there was this big tournament called the Heseltine Tournament in honor of this kid Scott Heseltine who died in a [car] crash. Basically it’s just like a tournament to honor him and a bunch of towns in the local area come. There’s literally thousands of people going to watch these little kids play hockey and we won it a couple years in a row, which was pretty cool.

11. What advice would you give to your freshman self?

To my freshman self I would just say, “Just have fun.” Kind of trust the process and don’t ever be complacent with anything, just keep working and try to just have fun on the ice everyday and everything will take care of itself.

12. Aside from hockey, what’s your favorite sport?

I play a lot of golf in the summer with my brother. I also love to go fishing. Me and [junior forward] Jordan Greenway did a little fishing this summer, had a pretty good time, but I go fishing up in New Hampshire with my brother and just play a bunch of golf. I like tennis as well.

BY LIAM O’BRIEN AND NICOLE HAVENS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

15. What is the best thing about playing for Coach Quinn?

I’d say the best thing [about] playing for Coach Quinn is that he treats you like an adult and he gives you the chance to prove that you can be an adult and kind of handle yourself.

Also like just playing at BU in general, you have every opportunity in the world to get better and it’s up to you to kind of take advantage of that.

16. Who is the best dancer on the team?

[Laughs] The freshmen are coming in pretty hot this year with the dance moves. I gotta go with [freshman forward] Jake Wit[kowski] by far. Well I mean Crone’s pretty good, but it’s going to be Wit. Wit’s got some pretty good moves. So definitely Jake Wit.

17. If your life was like a movie, do you have a specific actor who would play you?

19. What made you first want to play hockey?

My older brothers both played hockey. So I had two older brothers, one is 25 and his name’s Ben and the other’s 23 and his name’s Daniel.

Daniel’s a goalie and Ben was a forward, but I just liked playing goalie.

20. What is your favorite thing about fall?

My favorite thing about fall is that all the guys are back at school together and the season’s right around the corner.

SOME RESPONSES HAVE BEEN SHORTENED FOR CLARITY.

Dropping the Gloves: NHL draft changes are not a good idea

BY JESSICA CITRONBERG COLUMNIST

Raising the NHL draft age has been in discussion for a long time, but a new statement from the league and its players’ association might make it happen in the next few years.

The NHL’s new initiative, Declaration of Principles, was announced on Sept. 6.

“While not everyone who plays the game will have an NHL career, every player at

every level — and the family and friends of every player — can enjoy rewarding experiences and share a common commitment to respect, inclusiveness and sportsmanship,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement to the public.

One of the aspects of the Declaration of Principles may involve a draft age increase.

Many arguments have been made for and against both sides over the years, but some of them make more sense than others.

Some argue that the draft increase will give team administration a better chance at drafting the right players if they are a year older. There are a few things that don’t really add up with this argument.

Firstly, what’s the difference between one year? If this becomes the main argument, could the draft age potentially increase to 20?

Second, the best coaches know how to draft well. If you draft incorrectly just because a player is 18 years old, that’s their own problem. It doesn’t make sense that the league should cater to poor draft decisions.

There has also been discussion of tweaking the draft age increase rule. Potentially, the draft age would still be 18 for first round picks and go up to 19 for the other rounds.

This would ensure that stars such as BU’s Jack Eichel would be able to start playing in the NHL at 18, rather than waiting the extra year.

That being said, that’s a very low percentage of NHL players. It begs the question, will it really matter that much? Maybe it does.

The NHL already has problems with viewership. The Stanley Cup Finals, the most exciting event in the season, gets fewer viewers than the Super Bowl. If teams are restricted from drafting those unique players because they are not yet 19, the league’s limited viewership may be less inclined to watch because it’s no longer as exciting without those young superstars.

If there is no exception to the rule, the look of the league would drastically change.

During every draft, there are always some players who immediately begin playing with their respective teams in the NHL. In recent years, first all-around draft picks Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Aaron Ekblad, began playing in Toronto, Edmonton and Florida, respectively.

One big problem this change would pose, is the effect on the draft class if the rule becomes in effect. When you’re 18 and

planning on being drafted into the NHL, that’s your plan. You don’t necessarily have an idea of what to do for a whole extra year.

The connection to this potential change with the Declaration of Principles is a bit foggy, but maybe the NHL thinks that 19-year-old draft picks are better suited to represent the league than 18 year olds.

Perhaps the best example of immature athletes entering the league at 18 is Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s had his fair share of off the ice issues from an incident at a college sorority party to a fight in a cab in Buffalo, New York. Perhaps Kane could’ve benefited from an extra year to mature before entering the league.

Or should I say, the league would’ve benefited from the PR scandal had Kane stayed out of the league that first and second year. It wasn’t an ideal situation for Chicago or the NHL, but Kane has been a key player in three Stanley Cup championships. The first one came just three years after being drafted.

It seems as though this draft age increase is inevitable at this point, but there are certainly some things to work out. But right now, the negative aspects are slightly outweighing the positive.

HOCKEY 9

Freshman forwards Brady Tkachuk and Ty Amonte hope to leave their own legacies at BU, the alma mater of their NHL fathers.

PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

New meanings for names Tkachuk and Amonte

BY NICOLE HAVENS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

The last names Amonte and Tkachuk may sound familiar, and it’s not because they are commonly heard. Perhaps the names ring a bell because Tony Amonte and Keith Tkachuk both played for the Boston University men’s hockey team during the 1990-91 season, and went on to have professional NHL careers that each lasted more than 17 seasons.

Those two names will appear on the same roster once again during BU’s upcoming season, but this time the Terriers welcome their sons, freshman forwards Ty Amonte and Tkachuk Tkachuk. While being raised by five-time NHL All-Stars and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees might seem daunting, both reflect positively on their adolescent years — which were marked by trips to the rink and watching the latter years of their fathers’ careers alongside other excited fans.

It may seem like the two are simply following in their father’s footsteps by donning the same scarlet and white jersey. However, Amonte and Tkachuk have goals of helping BU reach new heights this season and hope to leave behind their own hockey legacies.

Despite growing up in different regions of the country, Amonte in Norwell, Massachusetts and Tkachuk in St. Louis, their two lives have many parallels to one another.

They both recall loving hockey since they were children, as well as the perks of having an NHL father, like skating in the arena after games and meeting the other players on the team.

“We used to go to the rink a lot when we were younger,” Tkachuk said. “It was just awesome being in the empty arena and you can just picture yourself there.”

Although noteworthy and fun, having professional athletes for fathers never fazed the two growing up. Amonte said that most of the memories he had of his father’s career occurred when he was eight to 10 years old, but said his father in the NHL “got to be pretty normal.”

For Amonte, something strange this season will be seeing his father Tony — a two-time Olympian — sitting in the stands of Agganis Arena among fans who wear “Amonte” jerseys to games even now.

Before playing with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League for one season, Amonte was coached by his father in high school at Thayer Academy. That is where Amonte’s father currently is the head coach of the boys Varsity team.

“This is the second year I haven’t had him behind the bench,” Amonte said. “He’s always been the head coach. He’s always been coaching me and my brother, and last year was the

first time I haven’t had him as a coach in a long time so it’s really fun to get out there.”

Amonte noted that his father always kept a good balance between being a coach at the rink and a dad at home even though hockey is intertwined with many aspects of the Amonte family’s home life, as both of his younger siblings play hockey at Thayer as well.

As both players quit other sports and began to pursue hockey more seriously, they said it was their fathers who helped them immensely during their junior hockey careers.

Tkachuk said that his father Keith, who scored over 500 goals in his career, served as his role model growing up and remains one of his main supporters. He said he and his father have a strong relationship that only got stronger as Tkachuk moved up to Ann Arbor, Michigan when he played two seasons with the elite US National Team Development Program.

Tkachuk stated that his father was the one who gave him advice after games, whether he wanted to hear it or not.

“He’s always got something to say whether I did something bad and what I need to improve on, but he also says stuff that I did well and I got to keep improving,” Tkachuk said. “So he’s definitely a great resource to have.”

While their fathers have played a huge role in their development as hockey players and people, Amonte and Tkachuk want to bring their individual skills and talents to BU. However, it’s quite easy for coaches and fans to draw comparisons between the fathers and their sons who play the same position.

Although both stated that they never felt forced into playing the sport or expectations to live up to their fathers by coaches in the past. Tkachuk, whose older brother Matthew plays for the Calgary Flames, said he tries not to think about achieving the same feats as his father, but focusing on everyday and improving.

“I expect a lot in myself everyday to play well, to play as best as I can, but I don’t feel like I’m expected from anybody else to play because my dad is in the NHL, my brother [too],” Tkachuk said.

Amonte said he looks to have the attitude of a team player, and keep a clear goal in mind, this season.

“I’m going to try to do as much as I can for the team,” Amonte said. “My main goal is just to win whether I get 10 points or a 100.”

One thing is for certain: There will not be any expectations on the freshman to play like their fathers coming from BU head coach David Quinn, who considers Keith and Tony friends of his.

“Well for me it’s nice because they’re two great players and they just happen to be sons of two former great players,” Quinn said. “They’re not here because of their last

names, they’re here because they’re great players and they’re great additions to our program on and off the ice.”

It appears almost counterproductive to avoid the possible weight of living up to Amonte’s and Tkachuk’s fathers and comparisons by playing college hockey for the same team, but the pair said they loved the university, its facilities and coaching staff without any influence from their fathers.

Albeit, their fathers were both ecstatic when they first heard the news of their commitments.

Amonte said his father wasn’t very surprised by the choice while his mother, who’s an alumnus of BU’s crosstown foe Boston College, was a bit sad. “[My dad] always wanted to see me play college hockey,” Amonte said. “I don’t think he really cared where, but BU was the right fit for me and he’s going to be really excited to come

watch games in the stands.”

With the days leading up to the new seasoning dwindling, the two forwards remain focused and excited to begin their college hockey careers. While each has personal goals of their own, they said they both hope to help this season’s team bring a few championships back to Boston.

Like any freshman, Amonte and Tkachuk will each find their own place among the Terriers’ lineup just as their fathers did. However, after a lifetime of watching their fathers from the stands, their fathers will do the same at the school they once called their own.

“You know every now and then I look at them and [sophomore defenseman] Chad Krys,” Quinn said. “And [I] think to myself I’m getting old because I played with all of their fathers.”

10 HOCKEY

t h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r a t b o s t o n u n i v e r s i t y

46th year | Volume 93 | Issue 4 The Free Press (ISSN 1094-7337) is published Thursdays during the academic year except during vacation and exam periods by Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc., a nonprofit corporation operated

by Boston University students. No content can be reproduced without the permission of Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. Copyright © 2017 Back Bay Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

Lexi Peery, Editor-in-Chief Elise Takahama, Managing Editor Alana Levene, Campus Editor

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Shakti Rovner, Office Manager

Senior forwards Nina Rodgers and Victoria Bach reflect on their time as Terriers.

PHOTO BY MADDIE MALHOTRA/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

Women’s hockey seniors reflect on their time at BU

BY NICOLE HAVENS DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF

This past August, seniors Victoria Bach and Nina Rodgers spent their time anxiously waiting for their names to be called during the third annual National Women’s Hockey League Draft.

The draft was rendered a success as Bach was the No. 7 overall pick by the New York Riveters and Rodgers was picked three rounds later by the Connecticut Whale. Being drafted to a professional hockey team will remain a milestone in any young hockey player’s career, but the two forwards and frequent linemates know they have a job to do during the upcoming Boston University women’s hockey season.

The pair will be pivotal in leading a group of two new transfers and six freshmen all while striving for another Hockey East tournament bid and possibly competing in the team’s first Beanpot championship.

Although Rodgers’ path to BU differed from Bach’s, as she transferred to the university just last year, she and Bach both fondly reflected back on their time with the women’s hockey program. No matter how different their careers have been, the players both look toward their futures with excitement and have one thing on their minds: hockey.

While Bach and Rodgers are actively working toward bachelor degrees, the natives of Milton, Ontario and Minnetonka,

Minnesota, respectively, have pursued the sport they love for the better part of their lives.

“I want to become a pediatric nurse, but hockey’s always been the number one,” Rodgers said.

“I’ve kind of had to dial back from hockey a bit, but it’s always going to be there and I’m going to play as long as I can.”

In comparison to the men’s professional hockey league, the NHL, the NWHL is a small yet ever-growing league. BU has seen many of its players find success in the women’s league, which was only established in 2015 — including two forwards who were on last season’s squad, Mary Parker with the Boston Pride and Maddie Elia with the Buffalo Beauts.

Bach said she remains unsure of where she would like to continue her hockey career, but said she’s confident that she wants to continue her passion after her time with the Terriers is done.

The senior, who has represented her home country of Canada on the world stage, also has hopes of one day becoming an Olympian.

“I know the women’s hockey game is growing everyday … I’m just excited to be able to be apart of that, and just kind of enjoy the process and keep working hard and hopefully obtain my goal,” Bach said.

As the duo looks toward their futures, they also reminisced about the hockey careers they’ve built through all the challenges, the victories and the life lessons.

They said they also remember the people and the program that

helped them do it.

The team’s program has been carefully guided by BU head coach Brian Durocher for 13 years, and one aspect about the program that is mentioned time and time again by young and old players alike is the closeness of the team.

“I think really just that all of us here are a family,” Bach said.

“Everyday I come to the rink with all of my best friends. I think that’s made the experience here that much better.”

Rodgers described the team as “just a bunch of goof balls having fun and playing the sport we love” and said they all helped her immensely during her transition to a new school.

Even though Rodgers has only sported the scarlet and white uniform for a single season, from a spectator’s viewpoint the transfer appeared to blend into the BU lineup seamlessly after notching a career high 31 points last season.

At her previous school, the University of Minnesota, who the Terriers beat last season in overtime, Rodgers only posted nine goals and six assists over her first two years there.

Durocher said he believes that the skilled forward got lost in the talent that Minnesota has.

“You have 12 forwards, usually you play nine of them a lot and the fourth line is your energy line that gets out once or twice a period and [in] some tight games they may not get out as much,” Durocher said. “[Rodgers] was sort of in that role and that’s not Nina. She’s a kid who can think,

she can shoot, she can pass, she can handle a puck well.”

Durocher noted that Rodgers had a bit of slow start to her inaugural season at BU, but once she loosened the pressure on herself, she easily fit into the Terriers’ top two lines and impressive power play unit.

Rodgers mentioned that hockey as a sport helped her confidence grow on the ice and in the classroom. However, transferring to BU brought that confidence up.

“I mean hockey’s a great sport to learn [confidence] about yourself,” Rodgers said. “But once I came here and I really bought into myself, it was a real transformation mentally.”

In comparison, Bach has continued to improve and excel within BU and the greater hockey world since she first stepped onto Commonwealth Avenue three years ago.

The forward has scored at least 20 goals each season and led Hockey East in scoring 22 goals last season.

“She keeps getting better,” Durocher continued. “The best thing that’s happened for her is she continues to evolve as a thorough player.”

Adding to her already diverse set of abilities, Bach was named assistant captain this season alongside senior goaltender Erin O’Neil and junior forward Sammy Davis, and it is something she said she takes great pride in.

Durocher, as a former BU captain himself, added that serving as a captain is a “great honor, but it’s

a challenge.”

“This year will be another test because she’s one of our captains for the team and being there for others as well as herself is going to be very important … But it will help her short term and it will help her long term,” Durocher said.

Hockey can teach endless lessons that vary on and off the ice, but the pair said their college experiences would have been inconceivable without hockey. “[My college experience] would’ve been boring, really boring,” Rodgers said. “If I didn’t have hockey, I don’t want to say I’d be miserable, but I feel like I would’ve not learned as fast how to time manage and be as happy with the little things and enjoy every little aspect of life. I think hockey has helped me with that so if I didn’t have that, it would be hard to do so.”

With their pasts behind them and looming futures ahead that provide excitement, nerves and another step closer to their aspirations, Bach and Rodgers are focused on their final season of college hockey.

Each player has a certain game they’re looking forward to whether it’s against BU’s local rival Boston College or the University of Wisconsin-Madison, but the two players are mostly looking forward to what this year’s team can bring and what they can accomplish together during the 2017-18 season. “[It’s] senior year,” Bach said.

“Basically I just want to leave it all out there.”

HOCKEY 11

TOP 6 HOME GAMES TO WATCH 10/13 7:30 p.m.

10/14

7:00 p.m.

Minnesota State University has gone two seasons since their last NCAA Tournament berth, but they enter the 2017-18 season with high expectations after a 22-13-4 campaign last season. The team has experience knocking off bigger name foes, such as defeating the University of Minnesota 4-1, at home in 2016-17.

The Mavericks are a tough team to score on as junior goalkeeper Jason Pawloski looks to improve his already-stout 2.10 GAA and .920 goal save percentage. Minnesota also brings back the forward duo of senior Brad McClure and sophomore Marc Michaelis, who each tallied 14 goals a season ago.

The Terriers have plenty of experience with Denver University, having dropped a pair of games in the Rocky Mountain State last October. This season, Denver will bring their squad to Agganis Arena for a highly-anticipated late-October contest.

The Pioneers might just be the toughest test BU’s defense will face all season, returning their top two goal scorers from last season, Troy Terry and Henrik Borgstrom. Each contributed 22 goals in 2016-17, with Terry netting one and Borgstrom scoring two in the two victories over BU last fall.

11/3

7:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

While Providence College may not seem like a noteworthy team after BU left last season’s series with a win and a tie, the Friars have a lot of potential this season within Hockey East as this season’s squad brings an even mix of young and returning players.

Senior forward and captain Brian Pinho will be a player to watch during the series as well as in the greater Hockey East. Pinho has excelled on both sides of the ice with 14 blocked shots and led the Friars last season with 40 points (12g, 28a).

Fans will get their wish this season: The series against the Terriers’ crosstown rival Boston College will take place right before the holidays.

The last time the two teams met, BC beat BU for a spot in the Hockey East finals.

Freshman forward Casey Carreau was a captain at Thayer Academy and tallied 61 points (23g, 38a) in 30 games. Sophomore goaltender Joseph Woll held a .913 save percentage and 2.64 GAA and 17-13-3 record last season on top of being named to Hockey East All-Rookie Team.

12/9

10/27

12/2

7:00 p.m.

UMass Lowell may have split last season’s series with the Terriers, but went on to capture the HE regular season title and championship. The Riverhawks in the past have always been a team with lots of upperclassmen, physicality as well as a stellar power play, and this season appears no different.

With four of its five leading scorers from last season gone, senior forward John Edwarth is the only one who remains after scoring 39 points over 40 games for Lowell. Many of the freshman, including defenseman Croix Evingson, will likely fill those gaps left.

Where does BU rank in the men’s hockey top 10?

1

Univ. of Denver

6

Univ. of Minnesota Duluth

2

Boston Univ.

7

Univ. of North Dakota

3

Univ. of Minnesota

8

Univ. of Notre Dame

4

Harvard Univ.

9

St. Cloud State Univ.

5

UMass Lowell

10

Pennsylvania State Univ.

According to USCHO.com’s Preseason Division I Men’s Hockey Poll.

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