Tag Archives: College Hockey

What is Going on with Boston University Hockey?

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With the history and tradition that surrounds the Boston University Terriers’ Hockey program, a “down” or “rebuilding” year are out of the question. The students, alumni, season ticket holders, and higher-ups expect and demand greatness, and every game the team endures “Sucks to BU” chants where ever they go.

Coaching

David Quinn has been given the unfortunate gift of taking the helm of the Terriers from Jack Parker. This is perhaps the most unenviable position to be in College Hockey, Quinn has taken the Terriers to some success. Coach Quinn has taken the Terriers to a record of 83-53-17. They are 44-29-13 in Hockey East action. Comparatively, this is a good record for a hockey school, but Boston University is no ordinary hockey school. Coach Quinn’s reign as produced the only one down year, the 2013-2014 season when the Terriers finished 10-21-4. They went 5-12-3 in Hockey East games. In light of this season, the Terriers bounced back the following season which saw them finish first in Hockey East and end runner’s up in the NCAA Finals. Coach Quinn has led the Terriers to two first place finishes in Hockey East Standings.

This Season

Currently the Terriers stand at 8-10-1. They are 6-6-1 in Hockey East Games. The Terriers are not in the Top 20 in NCAA. Playing .500 hockey in Hockey East this season good enough for third place in the standings. The main stay between the pipes this season is Sophomore Jake Oettinger. The first round Dallas Stars pick has appeared in 17 games this season and boasts a 2.91 GAA and a .902 SV%. These numbers are too “average” for a Boston University goalie. Sophomore Patrick Harper leads the team with 21 points this season. The Nashville fifth round draft pick has 8 goals this season. The team leader in goals this season for the Terriers is Bobo Carpenter, with 9 goals.

Problems

These numbers are the root of the Terriers’ struggles this season. They lose too may close games and get blown out far too often for a team that should be competing. Some the defense and goal tending shows up, the offense sputters, and other games the offense is firing on all cylinders, the defense and goal tending cannot stop anything. The 2017-2018 Boston University Terriers are the worst thing you can be in sports, inconsistent.

Going Forward

The Terriers season is far from over and the chance for them to succeed is very high. The schedule is weaker than what the Terriers went up against during the first half of the season with multiple games against Merrimack, Vermont, and Arizona State. There are multiple chances for Boston University to win. Only 2 games under .500, the Terriers are not out.  Hockey East is a tough conference and in order to survive, consistency is key.

The Enigma That Is College Hockey

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History of College Hockey

New England College Hockey is a treasured luxury to complement our brutal winters. Other than back-breaking shoveling, what provides New Englanders with a sense of pride is college hockey. The Hockey East Conference, which was established in 1984, is home to amazing teams, legendary hockey-minded coaches, and NHL Hall of Famers. In no other sport do coaches last if they do in college hockey. Jack Parker, Jerry York, Dick Umile all had 20+ year coaching careers, all with the same team. Jack Parker coached the Terriers for 40 seasons. That is unheard of in other sports. Maybe college basketball comes close, but in college hockey, coaches are loyal to their programs.

Current Members

There are currently eleven teams in the Conference following Notre Dame’s exit for the Big Ten. BC, BU, UMass Lowell, UMaine, UNH, Northeastern, and Providence were all founding members in 1984. Merrimack joined in 1989, UMass Amherst in 1994, UVM in 2005, and UCONN in 2014. BC and BU have certainly dominated the conference, winning 11 and 8 Hockey East Championships respectively. UMaine, UMass Lowell, UNH, Northeastern, and Providence have all been multiple time winners. Sorry Merrimack, UMass Amherst, and UVM. Hockey East Schools have won 8 NCAA Championships, most recently the 2015 Providence College Friars.

Fans

It is not even winning the Hockey East Championship that matters to New England College Hockey fans. While fans want to see, their team succeed and go on to win National Titles, most fans watch college hockey for the spectacle of it. When you attend a college hockey game, you will see a wide vary of fans. There are little kids whose parents attended one of the schools playing, watching the mascot the entire game. The loud, obnoxious, drunk college kids, and the old season ticket holders wearing an old autographed jersey are a must see. These fans add to the spectacle of New England College Hockey; without them it would just be a hockey game. The crazy game day promotions also make up the spectacle. From bobbleheads to cowbells, fans will line up an hour before the game in the freezing cold just to get one.

Cycle

Many College Hockey fans can live every part of the cycle of a college hockey fan. We are born in and die in New England and are damn proud of that. Our parents bring us to games, now we’re the drunk, fun-loving college students. Until one day we’ll be the old season ticket holder, rocking the throwback, autographed jersey.