Quinn: Expecting better puck possession, improved breakouts, stingier defense

We’re a month away from the Terriers’ first exhibition game against St. Thomas University (New Brunswick, Canada). The ice is down at Agganis Arena and has been painted.  David Quinn is welcoming a large and talented class of recruits who join 16 returnees focused on a turn-around season. The second-year head coach talked with The Terrier Hockey Fan Blog about  a variety of subjects, including what that turn-around will take, the role of new DHO Scott Young, his young but skilled squad, and his vision for the BU hockey program.

Q. When practice begins, what objectives will you emphasize to put BU on the path to a successful turnaround season?

A. Obviously we’ll have a lot of new faces again; so helping the ten freshmen adapt to college hockey as quickly as possible will be important. The fact that the returnees have been in our system for a year will make preparations easier and there won’t be as much uncertainty earlier on as there was last season. Obviously, we have to do a better job defensively this season and also limit the number of shots taken by our opponents. Some of the ways we are looking to do that are by improving our puck possession and doing a better job offensively. 

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► The Daily Free Press reported on the announcement of the final four freshman.  The BU student newspaper also reported that defenseman Dalton MacAfee is no longer on the team. With those changes, the final roster has 26 players: three goalies, 15 forwards and 8 defensemen.  Providing Coach Quinn with some flexibility, junior Ahti Oksanen and sophomore TJ Ryan are both listed as D/F on the roster.

► New assistant coach Albie O’Connell talked with The Boston Hockey Blog about his playing career at BU, his coaching career and his return to Comm. Ave. as a member of Coach Quinn’s staff. The Watertown, Mass., native, who captained the Terriers as a senior, was a member of squads that won four Beanpot titles and played in two Frozen Fours.

 

Looking ahead

Jordan Greenway and Charlie McAvoy (photo), two top BU recruits for 2015, get their seasons underway tomorrow as the NTDP U-18s compete in the 2014 Atlantic Challenge in East Meadow, Long Island, where they’ll take on USHL rivals Muskegon, Cedar Rapids and Lincoln.  
For McAvoy, a 6-0, 206 lb., right-shot defenseman, this will be a homecoming.  The Long Beach, N.Y. native grew up just a few miles away from the tournament site, Twin Rinks at Eisenhower Park, and played for the Long Island Gulls organization. He committed to BU in August of 2013.

Freshman right wing J.J. Piccinich and 2015 recruit Maxim Letunov participated in the inaugural Atlantic Challenge a year ago with the Youngstown Phantoms. Letunov, who will spend a second season with Youngstown, committed to BU two months later.

Looking back

Photo by Richard Lam

Following his breakout season in Anaheim, Nick Bonino faces new challenges in Vancouver after being traded for Canucks standout Ryan Kesler.

Women’s Team

Sophomore forward Maddie Elia has been named to the evaluation camp roster for the U.S. National Women’s Team. The camp begins Sept. 12 in Biddeford, Maine. With 28 points last season, she was the Terriers' top-scoring freshman and third in goal-scoring with 13.