Albie O’Connell

Dom Fensore commits to men’s hockey

Defenseman Dom Fensore has committed to Boston University after decommitting from Quinnipiac University earlier this week. He is expected to join the Terriers for the 2019 season.

The NDTP defenseman has been described as a puck-moving offensive defenseman and is one of the top 01 defensemen in the country. He is the first major recruiting victory since head coach  Albie O’Connell took over for New York Rangers head coach David Quinn.

The Thornwood, New York native has been praised for his skating ability and his footwork.

One cause for concern about Fensore is his size. However, he has managed to turn his frame into an advantage.

He is the latest commit from the U.S National Under-17 team for BU that currently includes defensemen Alex Vlasic, Case McCarthy and forward Travis Zegras.

Albie O’Connell named head coach

BU announced Tuesday that David Quinn’s associate head coach Albie O’Connell will take over as the patriarch of the hockey team. Matt is currently working on an article and BU will have a press conference Wednesday to introduce O’Connell.

Here are our thoughts:

Liam: This is a smart hire. The coaches cabinet is familiar with O’Connell and he’s someone the fan base and new recruits can trust.

Eddie: A lot of what Liam said. familiar with winning traditions at BU. He played under Jack Parker and worked alongside Quinn so he has elite knowledge of what it takes to recruit and develop young talent. I am interested to see how much Parker or Quinn rub off on him in terms of coaching style.

Matt: I’m on the same page as Liam and Eddie. I always felt O’Connell was the best person for the job. He’s familiar with the program from both his playing days and coaching. Moreover, reportedly the players liked this news. I am interested to see what his coaching style is like and how it differs from Quinn.

A look at potential head coaches

It’s been a few weeks since the “David Quinn Era” ended on Commonwealth Avenue and the Terriers are still without a head coach.

Obviously, there are some rumors going around about who is in the running and who is not in consideration for the job.

Current Boston Bruins’ assistant coach Joe Sacco had been linked to the job, but according to Mike McMahon of College Hockey News, he is no longer pursuing the gig.

Current Union College coach Rick Bennett had been rumored to be in consideration, but per Jeff Cox, he is staying at Union.  It would have been interesting to see how the BU faithful would have reacted to a coach coming from outside.

 

Cox also outlined Shawn McEachern and current BU associate head coach Albie O’Connell as the front-runners, so let’s take a closer look at them.

We would like to preface this by saying this is an unconfirmed candiates list and that this is just what we have heard on the rumor mill.

Shawn McEachern 

McEachern is currently the head coach at The Rivers School in Weston, a position he has held since the 2010-11 season. Prior to his current position, he was an assistant coach at both Northeastern University and UMass Lowell.

McEachern skated three years for BU and is sixth all-time in points (186), eigth in points (107) and ninth in goals (79). After his time wearing the scarlet and white, he spent 13 years in the NHL and scored 579 points. He won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburg Penguins in 1992.

Albie O’Connell 

O’Connell is currently an assosicate head coach on BU, a post he has held since since the 2015-2016 season. Prior to joining the Terriers’ coaching staff, he spent time as an assistant coach for Colby College, Niarga University, College of the Holy Cross, Merrimack College, Northeastern University and Harvard University.

O’Connell is also recognized as one of the top recruiters in the county.

In his four years playing for BU, O’Connell won four Beanpots and scored 108 points. He captined the 1998-99 team for BU.

In addition to those names, McMahon has also listed the following as being linked to the position.

Steve Greeley 

Steve Greenely currently is the Buffalo Sabers Assistant General Manager but he is not a stranger to coaching at BU. Greeley left his position as an assitant coach for Quinn’s Terriers after the 2014-25 season to take a job in player personal for the New York Rangers.

Greeley has been linked to NHL GM postions, so it seems unlikely that he will get the position.

Jay Pandolfo 

The former Terrier captian is currently an assitant coach for the Bruins. Pandolfo played for BU from 1992-96, highlighed by a Nationa Championship in 1995. His winning ways followed him the the NHL where he won two championships with the New Jersey Devils.

Pandolfo has only been an asstiant coach for two seasons and has the smallest coaching resume of any of the candiates listed here.

 

BU promotes Albie O’Connell to associate head coach, Scott Young to assistant coach

[Update, 11:45 a.m. on Thursday: Here’s a full story in today’s Daily Free Press about the promotions, complete with quotes from O’Connell and Young.]

The departure of former associate head coach Steve Greeley to the New York Rangers in mid-August left a hole to be filled in the Boston University men’s hockey coaching staff.

On Wednesday, BU announced that assistant coach Albie O’Connell will fill Greeley’s spot, and director of hockey operations Scott Young will be promoted to assistant coach.

Young was originally reported to be the one slated to get Greeley’s job, per Jeff Cox of SB Nation, but some hiccups along the way made that difficult. Mike McMahon of College Hockey News tweeted that “Young was said to be the man in line for Greeley’s vacant spot as soon as it opened. Small hurdle with admin, not major, & now official” and added that the “issue was that he doesn’t have a degree. Left BU after 2 yrs.”

O’Connell and Young joined the Terriers last summer but had spent their college hockey careers with BU as well. O’Connell played for the scarlet and white from 1995-99 and captained the team during its 1998-99 season. Young skated for BU for two seasons from 1985-87 before leaving to begin his 17-season NHL career that included two Stanley Cup championships and three Olympic appearances.

Prior to returning to BU, O’Connell served as an assistant coach around the region, including stints with Harvard (2011-14), Northeastern (2008-11), Merrimack (2007-08), Holy Cross (2006-07) and Niagara (2004-06). And after Young hung up his skates, he was the head coach at the St. Mark’s School from 2010-14.