Month: August 2013

BU lands Shattuck St. Mary’s star forward Clayton Keller

By Kevin Dillon/DFP Staff

The Boston University men’s hockey team now has its first commitment from a player born in 1998, as 15-year-old phenom Clayton Keller announced his commitment to BU via Twitter Thursday.

“Proud to announce that I have committed to Boston University for my college hockey career,” Keller wrote.

Keller, who is going to be a sophomore in high school, is set to arrive at BU in 2016 according to a USHR report. The 5-foot-10, 144-pound forward compiled 58 goals and 71 assists in 60 games with the Shattuck St. Mary’s Bantams last season.

Shattuck St. Mary’s has a history of producing great hockey players, as current NHL stars Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Zach Parise all have been a part of its hockey program. Nathan MacKinnon, who was the first overall pick of the 2013 NHL draft, recorded 54 goals and 47 assists in 58 games for the Tier I bantam program during the 2009-10 season.

Below is a highlight video of Keller.

BU changes Bentley date, announces game times

By Tim Healey/DFP Staff

Slowly but surely, hockey season draws near.
The Boston University hockey team announced in a release Thursday afternoon that the date of the Bentley game at Agganis Arena — originally set for Dec. 13 — is now Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. For BU students, it’s the Saturday of study break before finals begin.
Additionally, the team announced start times for most games. Of note is that the first round of the Beanpot against Boston College will be the late game, set to start at 8 p.m.
Friday home games will start at 7:30 p.m., just as they did last season, while Saturday contests at Agganis will typically begin at 7 p.m.
The schedule side bar to the left has been updated to include start times.

Offensive defenseman Charlie McAvoy commits to BU

By Kevin Dillon/DFP Staff

Puck-moving defenseman Charlie McAvoy announced his commitment to Boston University Tuesday via Twitter, becoming the fourth player to commit to BU under new head coach David Quinn.

“Proud to announce my commitment to Boston University,” McAvoy wrote. “A big thanks to everyone who has helped me get to this point.”

The earliest McAvoy will arrive on Comm. Ave. is 2015, though what year he will actually come is unclear.

McAvoy, who was born in 1997, was named the Offensive Defenseman of the Year in the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League after leading defensemen in scoring with 43 points (12 goals, 31 assists) through 34 league games. The Long Beach, N.Y. native scored 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in eight playoff games for the New Jersey Rockets, which was tied for the team lead.

This season, McAvoy will play with the U.S. National Development U-17 team, which is the same program offensive defenseman Matt Grzelcyk played with before joining the Terriers. Fellow defenseman recruit John MacLeod spent the 2012-13 season with the U.S. U-17 team as well.

McAvoy, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder, had been selected 113th overall by the Kitchener Rangers in the 2013 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.

Sahir Gill not returning to BU for 2013-14

By Tim Healey/DFP Staff

The Boston University men’s hockey team has yet to release its official 2013-14 roster, but when it does, there is another name that won’t be on it: Sahir Gill.

The forward, who had been set to be a senior with the Terriers, is not returning to the school for his final collegiate season, a team source confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Gill took to Twitter earlier Thursday to break the news — sort of.

“Thank you to BU for the opportunity and lifetime of memories & friendships made,” he wrote. “Honoured to be a Terrier, but excited for what lies ahead!”

Senior Garrett Noonan, an assistant captain for the second half of the 2012-13 season, took it one step further with his tweet.

“Tough to see [Gill] leave school but I know he’ll tear it up wherever his next stop is,” Noonan tweeted. “One of the best guys out there.”

There is no word on where Gill might play this season.

After three years, Gill concludes his Comm. Ave. career with 28 goals and 50 assists, including 22 points (10 goals, 12 assist) as a junior — his lowest total in of any of his three seasons.

Gill’s departure leaves BU without half of its top six forwards from the end of last season, with Wade Megan gone to graduation and Matt Nieto having signed with the Sharks in April. That leaves first-year coach David Quinn with juniors Cason Hohmann and Evan Rodrigues, plus sophomore Danny O’Regan, as returning forwards from the top two lines.