BU: '22-'23 Season: Sail The Boats

[brassbonanza]

who's the first round there? last mookie saw manchvegas would be minn state which would be a toughie

Absolutely no way to tell until next Sunday.

 

[J.D.]

Absolutely no way to tell until next Sunday.

No but a lot of placement hasn't really changed recently in the build up. Michigan/BU seem destined for Manchester unless Harvard catches BU.

 

[Cross Check]

So I guess if you're a fan of the league you want anyone but BU to win. Merrimack could get in but probably not unless they make the final (or unless all the favorites win the other conference tournaments). If it's not Merrimack then it's BU and the tournament winner (which means it could just be BU). One of the worst years for Hockey East I can remember.

This. It will be a disaster for Hockey East and every program in it, including BU if only one team makes it.

 

[brassbonanza]

No but a lot of placement hasn't really changed recently in the build up. Michigan/BU seem destined for Manchester unless Harvard catches BU.

Right, but there has been movement in terms of who fits in as the opponent, not to mention the committee's ability to make adjustments.

 

[Bomber]

Absolutely!!!! And they are responsible for me being a BU hockey nut. My freshman year I had no idea college hockey existed. I liked hockey (NHL), but wasn’t interested in even going to a game. When a friend in the band asked if I was going to a game, I said I didn’t think so. I didn’t even have a sports pass. They said no problem - I just carried in one of their instruments through the back door of Walter Brown. The game was against #1 Michigan State at the time - we won and I was hooked - the rest is history! I don’t think I missed a home game in my time at BU after that. I even started goin to road games where I could. I went on to room with band members in my remaining 3 years and they were some of my best friends.

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

BU Band from 1984-1988 here. Played with the Alumni Band for the Cornell game this year.

 

[Lemonade]

This. It will be a disaster for Hockey East and every program in it, including BU if only one team makes it.

Or it’s the greatest thing as the league is so deep and competitive. Would the league rather one or two dominant teams or a league with most teams ultra competitive but who cancel each other out?

 

[J.D.]

Depends on how BU does then. If BU wins it all or goes to FF that's a success for the league despite not having a lot of teams in. It will be eye opening if BU gets run off the ice in the regionals though.

 

[J.D.]

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

BU Band from 1984-1988 here. Played with the Alumni Band for the Cornell game this year.

While you might be a band geek I have to say it's pretty cool that you played in the band and are a big hockey fan. Were you an outlier or were you guys all big fans? Did you get to pick the sport you wanted to be in the band for?

 

[ericredaxe]

Or it’s the greatest thing as the league is so deep and competitive. Would the league rather one or two dominant teams or a league with most teams ultra competitive but who cancel each other out?

If most teams were ultra competitive, Hockey East would have done much better overall in OOC play and there would be multiple teams in at this point.

Merrimack currently sitting at 14. If they can hold there and there is only one upset champ in the conference tournaments, we would have 2 in.

 

[buoldtimer]

Any news on Fensore?

 

[Lemonade]

If most teams were ultra competitive, Hockey East would have done much better overall in OOC play and there would be multiple teams in at this point.

Merrimack currently sitting at 14. If they can hold there and there is only one upset champ in the conference tournaments, we would have 2 in.

For clarification - it was intended they are ultra competitive within the league. Therefore, no one can make up any ground on each other by cancelling each other out.

 

[Lemonade]

Scott Borek, Jay Pandolfo, and Ben Barr have been named the finalists for Hockey East's Coach Of The Year Award. Personally, I think Borek will probably win but Pandolfo deserves it. Borek added 7 Graduate Students from the transfer portal - granted that's todays college hockey scene but is that really coaching? Its more free agency. Pandolfo took the same team and won HE and is top 5 in the country while turning around the program. Barr did a fantastic job with Maine but I don't think wins it.

 

[joen05]

Borek deserves it - as good as Pandolfo has been, Merrimack was picked to finish 8th and they finished 2nd. BU was picked to finish 2nd and finished first. Everyone knew BU could be good, and it turned out that way. No one though Merrimack would be, so to me the amount that Merrimack surpassed expectations exceeds what Pando was able to do at BU.

As for the "free agency thing" - you still have to make the team work together. Borek did that with guys getting together for the first time at the collegiate level. Pandolfo has had the benefit of a lot of these guys already being together.

Love Pandolfo, especially compared to Albie. But Borek deserves this.

 

[Bomber]

While you might be a band geek I have to say it's pretty cool that you played in the band and are a big hockey fan. Were you an outlier or were you guys all big fans? Did you get to pick the sport you wanted to be in the band for?

I'm in a group of season ticket holders that are ALL former band members (Spanning from the 80's through the late 90's). So yeah, there's a large group of former band members who are hardcore BU hockey fans. My flex: I traveled to every Frozen Four BU played in during the 90's except for 1997. And was, of course, in the building for 1995 and 2009. My wife was also in the band and we've made our kids BU hockey fans. Our oldest goes to Fordham, so no hockey conflict there. #BUFandomLife

 

[Lemonade]

Borek deserves it - as good as Pandolfo has been, Merrimack was picked to finish 8th and they finished 2nd. BU was picked to finish 2nd and finished first. Everyone knew BU could be good, and it turned out that way. No one though Merrimack would be, so to me the amount that Merrimack surpassed expectations exceeds what Pando was able to do at BU.

As for the "free agency thing" - you still have to make the team work together. Borek did that with guys getting together for the first time at the collegiate level. Pandolfo has had the benefit of a lot of these guys already being together.

Love Pandolfo, especially compared to Albie. But Borek deserves this.

I agree that Borek will win it - I just despise bringing in a bunch of 25 year olds to compete but as you stated they still have to play together.

 

[joen05]

I'm in a group of season ticket holders that are ALL former band members (Spanning from the 80's through the late 90's). So yeah, there's a large group of former band members who are hardcore BU hockey fans. My flex: I traveled to every Frozen Four BU played in during the 90's except for 1997. And was, of course, in the building for 1995 and 2009. My wife was also in the band and we've made our kids BU hockey fans. Our oldest goes to Fordham, so no hockey conflict there. #BUFandomLife

This is awesome to hear. I was a hockey fan before BU, but being in band at BU really solidified my hockey fandom. Loved the team even though they were pretty awful my first year. It was nice being the in opposing band at Conte for playoffs that year ;-). Still wish more other teams would bring their bands to opposing rinks during playoffs.... if they even allow that anymore.

 

[J.D.]

Borek deserves it - as good as Pandolfo has been, Merrimack was picked to finish 8th and they finished 2nd. BU was picked to finish 2nd and finished first. Everyone knew BU could be good, and it turned out that way. No one though Merrimack would be, so to me the amount that Merrimack surpassed expectations exceeds what Pando was able to do at BU.

As for the "free agency thing" - you still have to make the team work together. Borek did that with guys getting together for the first time at the collegiate level. Pandolfo has had the benefit of a lot of these guys already being together.

Love Pandolfo, especially compared to Albie. But Borek deserves this.

Ya it's not even a debate. It's not like Borek brought in top tier transfers either. Not the most talented team but he's gotten everything possible out of them.

 

[RENCEB]

Ya it's not even a debate. It's not like Borek brought in top tier transfers either. Not the most talented team but he's gotten everything possible out of them.

Thanks J.D. I always appreciate your perspective (even if you are a layman ;-)).
Borek has leveraged the transfer portal perhaps better than any other coach in college hockey. All of those players were available to every team, but he convinced them to come to North Andover and contribute. The BU's and BC's of the world can bring in younger high end talent given their respective tremendous hockey program traditions and yearly excellence. The "others" have to make use of all team building avenues that are available to them.

Borek also had to deal with the tragic death of his top Assistant Coach, Josh Ciocco, who died 1 week before the season started. That had to have had a tremendous impact on the team, both emotionally and on their play on the ice. That had to be really difficult for Borek to navigate.

Pandolfo and Barr have done great jobs with their respective teams, but this is Borek's year.

 

[Lemonade]

Ya it's not even a debate. It's not like Borek brought in top tier transfers either. Not the most talented team but he's gotten everything possible out of them.

It helps when they are all 24 and 25 year old players with 5 years of college hockey experience. Granted that's how Merrimack has to do to compete at this level but doesn't mean I have to like free agent college hockey.

 

[RENCEB]

Scott Borek, Jay Pandolfo, and Ben Barr have been named the finalists for Hockey East's Coach Of The Year Award. Personally, I think Borek will probably win but Pandolfo deserves it. Borek added 7 Graduate Students from the transfer portal - granted that's todays college hockey scene but is that really coaching? Its more free agency. Pandolfo took the same team and won HE and is top 5 in the country while turning around the program. Barr did a fantastic job with Maine but I don't think wins it.

A couple of things here. Borek added 6 grad students and 1 undergrad from the portal. All good players, but no game changers (you know, like Lane Hutson). As others have already stated, and I think you ultimately agreed, he blended them with the existing players and has made it work.
"Pandolfo took the same team....". Really, the same team? Did he have a hand in recruiting the Hutson brothers and Jeremy Wilmer? They've kinda had a pretty big impact on your season, don't you think? Albie was a train wreck as a head coach and Jay is a HUGE improvement.
I appreciate your fanaticism with all things BU, but c'mon, sometimes you need to take off the scarlet and white glasses.