By Jared Shafran
Looking at the teams left in the Hockey East tournament before the final weekend starts Friday, it may look similar to that other tournament that plays at the TD Banknorth Garden. Three of the teams still playing, No. 2 Boston University,’ No. 15 Boston College and’ No. 5 Northeastern, also play in the infamous Beanpot tournament every February.
However, unlike the Beanpot, nothing about the Hockey East semifinals is an exhibition. This one matters more right now.
After a crazy ride against the UMass Minuteman last weekend, the Huskies have won a playoff series for the first time since 1994.
Their opponents, the’ No. 19 UMass Lowell Riverhawks (19-15-2, 14-11-2 Hockey East), are also relative newcomers to the semis. The last time Lowell made it this far was in 2002, when they lost to New Hampshire, 4-3.
Last weekend, while the Huskies had their hands full with the Minutemen at Matthews Arena, UMass Lowell was taking care of business in Vermont. UML defeated the Catamounts, a team that likely will move on to the NCAA tournament, on consecutive nights.
‘We were fortunate the first night with some timely goals. We were able to respond the next night with a real good outing and win a series in two up in Vermont,” Lowell head coach Blaise MacDonald said on the weekly Hockey East teleconference. ‘It builds a lot of confidence in our young team.’
A young team is exactly what Lowell is.’ Forward Scott Campbell and defenseman Maury Edwards, the team’s leading scorers with 28 points apiece, are both just sophomores. And right behind them is forward David Vallorani, a freshman with 27 points.
In goal, the Riverhawks have a two-headed tandem of Carter Hutton and Nevin Hamilton. Both netminders have played in 18 games this season but with eight wins and a 2.18 goals-against-average, (GAA) Hamilton has the better numbers.
‘We played UMass Lowell a couple of weeks ago and I think we know their team pretty well,’ said head coach Greg Cronin. ‘I think they’ve got really good defensemen ‘- they all move the puck well, they all skate well, they’re physical every time they play and they put a lot of forechecking pressure on us both nights. It should be a really fast-paced game.’
The game starts at 5 p.m. and will be televised on NESN.
In the 8 p.m. semifinal Friday night, BU’ (29-6-4, 18-5-4 Hockey East) and BC (18-13-5, 11-11-5 Hockey East) will go at it in a crosstown matchup. BU,’ the Hockey East regular season champions and No. 1 seed, needed three games to beat’ eighth seeded Maine last weekend.
The Terriers’ are led in scoring by their talented and highly touted prospect, forward Colin Wilson. The sophomore has 49 points (14 goals. 35 assists)’ In net, freshman Kieran Millan has been outstanding all season for the Terriers.
While BC is the lowest seed left in the tournament, they also had the most success last season, winning the national championship. This is the fifth year in a row they have reached the semifinals.’ Forward’ Brock Bradford’ is the man to watch for the Eagles. So far this season, he leads the team in scoring with 42 points (25 goals, 17 assists).
On Wednesday, Hockey East announced the All-Rookie team for the 2008-09 season along with a several other end-of-season awards.
Northeastern (25-10-4, 18-6-3) had’ several players awarded for their performance throughout the season.
Along with’ BU’s Millan and Lowell’s Vallorani, Husky forward Steve Quailer was named to the rookie team. With 10 goals and 15 assists, Quailer is fourth on the team in scoring.
Also recognized was NU standout goaltender Brad Thiessen (2.07 GAA). The junior was awarded as the Itech Goaltending Champion and was given the Three Stars Award.
It wasn’t just the goalie keeping pucks out of the net that got the team recognition however. Senior defenseman Louis Liotti was given the Old Time Hockey Best Defensive Defenseman Award and senior captain Joe Vitale was named the Best Defensive Forward.
When asked about the confidence he has with his team going into the weekend, Cronin responded that maturity is the key.
‘They’re a very determined group,’ Cronin said. ‘I think they’re very mature, they’re determined, and they’re very composed as well ‘- they never really get too rattled.’
