Terriers drop 5-2 decision to U.S. on “retro night” at WBA

Playing at Walter Brown Arena for the first time in a decade, the #1 ranked Terriers fell to the U.S. Junior National Team, 5-2. Freshman Brandon Hickey (photo) and junior Danny O’Regan scored for the Terriers, while BU freshman Jack Eichel, skating for Team USA’s top line, scored a shorthanded goal and added an assist.

Both teams wore special uniforms for the contest. The Junior National Team’s sweaters were throwbacks to the gold-medal winning 1960 U.S. Olympic Team. BU used the occasion to introduce throwback uniforms from 1949, the year the Terriers, led by Jack Garrity and Jack Kelley, first played in the NCAA tournament. [Life Magazine Jan. 22, 1951--scroll to pg. 50]

Former BU captain and 1980 gold-medal Olympic team captain Mike Eruzione dropped the ceremonial puck between Eichel and BU captain Matt Grzelcyk.

Midway through the first period with BU on a power play, the U.S. struck twice for shorthanded goals 24 seconds apart on odd-man rushes. Noah Hanafin scored

first, followed by Eichel’s hard wrist shot that beat Matt O’Connor over the shoulder.

O’Connor had a busy first period, stopping 13 shots.

Connor LaCouvee took over in the BU net in the second period and turned aside nine of ten shots, beaten only by Chase De Leo’s score off a rebound. With the score 3-0, BU broke into the scoring column with Hickey’s blueline blast, assisted by Brandon Fortunato and Nick Roberto.

After JT Compher’s third-period goal extended the U.S. lead to 4-1, O’Regan converted the rebound of a Hickey shot to draw BU within two. In the final minutes, Anthony DeAngelo, a one-time BU commit, added an empty-netter.

Impressive in his 40 minutes in goal, LaCouvee stopped 23 of 25 shots he faced.

Following the game, Eichel joined his Terrier teammates for a stick salute to the crowd (video).

Jack Eichel stays out to thank the crowd with his BU teammates. pic.twitter.com/edVC1ncY46
— Kat Hasenauer (@sportsgirlkat) December 20, 2014

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score
● Video highlights

● BU Photo Gallery

● Daily Free Press recap and Eichel feature story

● Post-game interviews: Video--BU Coach David Quinn & US Coach Mark Osiecki, Jack Eichel, Danny O’Regan, Noah Hanifan

● USCHO recap

● SB Nation recap

● NHL.com recap

● College Hockey News: Eichel shoots down rumors

Terrier Take-Away  Today’s entry from buoldtimer

1. The US WJC Team overwhelmed BU in the 1st Period. Although the US team possesses tremendous speed and puck handling skills, BU appeared to be too respectful of their opponent in the early stages of the game. BU challenged the US to a greater extent in periods 2 and 3.

2. The third US goal was scored after a sweet Sonny Milano behind-the-back, backhanded pass.

3. Alex Tuch (US) was very impressive.

4. Connor LaCouvee played very well in goal.

5. AJ Greer played a strong game with a physical edge.

6. Very surprised that BU was able to get inside of the US defense as the game wore on.

Looking ahead

A trio of 2015 recruit were all over the USHL score sheets on Friday and all three finished the evening in the top 10 of USHL scorers.

2015 recruit Maxim Letunov scored a power play goal and assisted on a pair of goals as Youngstown doubled up the NTDP U18s. With 33 points (13G, 20A) in 25 games, the left-shot center from Moscow is now second in the USHL in scoring. Fellow 2015 recruit Jordan Greenway had an assist for the U18s. After the game the Phantoms posed with a visitor—the Stanley Cup.

2015 recruit Robert Carpenter had a four-point game (1G, 3A) for Sioux City, but the Musketeers were outscored by Lincoln, 7-5, Carpenter has an 11-16-27 scoring line in 24 games, second best on his team and tied for sixth in the league.

2015 recruit Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson scored twice—one in the first period and, later the overtime game-winner as Omaha edged Tri-City, 4-3. He also had the primary assist on a Lancers third-period goal and earned first-star honors. The three-point night gave the Stockholm native a team-leading 26 points (9G, 17A) in 23 games. He’s tied for ninth among USHL scorers and has 16 points in his last eight games.

2016 recruit Clayton Keller scored a power play goal and assisted on two goals to lead Team USA to a 5-0 win over Slovakia at the Four Nations Tournament in Ann Arbor.  2016 recruit Patrick Harper earned kudos for a strong effort, as the U.S. squad won its second game and landed a spot in the tournament final Saturday evening against Russia. Keller has a team-leading six points in the tournament and also tops the NTDP U17s in overall scoring with a 15-21-36 line in 25 games.

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