#hockeyeast

[hughesandkisses43]

JACOB FOWLER YOU’RE MY HERO

[mitchbeck]

UCONN MATT WOOD SELECTED IN NHL DRAFT

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - On the first day of the NHL draft, the Nashville Predators selected UConn's Matt Wood at number 15. Wood slipped down a bit further than he was expected to be selected partly because Anaheim, picking at number two, and the Arizona Coyotes at number six, made surprise choices that gave some other teams an opening to select differently than they had wanted or planned to. Speaking to ESPN's Emily Kaplan right afterward, Wood was very complimentary of his UCONN coaches led by Mike Cavanaugh. "(I was) really happy to be there and play for my coaches and they helped me to get ready for this." Wood was the fifth UCONN player since joining Hockey East to be drafted. He wore #71 for his idol Evgeni Malkin. In speaking to Kaplan, incoming Nashville GM Barry Trotz, who's replacing the retiring David Poile, was succinct in his initial evaluation, "Short term, we'll let him develop (back at UCONN). We look at the profile; he's a big body that can score. He's got a long way to go. If you wanna go far in the playoffs, you gotta score. We hope he'll exhibit (his scoring) and he checks all the boxes." Nashville has two former Huskies under their umbrella, Czechs Jachym Kondelik, the Huskies all time-assist leader, and goalie Tomas Vomacka, who they both drafted and played in the minors with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) and the Florida Everblades (ECHL), respectively. Wood played very solidly as a 17-year-old freshman. He led the Huskies in scoring with 34 points in 35 games. Wood was superb in the IIHF U-18 bronze medal game for Canada with the game-tying goal in the last minute with the goalie pulled and made a beautiful feathered short pass to Macklin Celebrini for the game-winner in OT 4-3 win over Slovakia. Wood had a three-point performance, garnering a plus-12 and 13 points in just seven games in the tournament. He will return to Storrs next season, be among the top players in Hockey East, and is WJC eligible for Canada. He turned down an offer from the WHL Regina Pats, who drafted him and ex-Pack championship head coach, the current Regina head coach and VP of Hockey Operations John Paddock, to play there and with the first overall selection, Connor Bedard. Instead, Wood chose to come to UCONN and chart his course. At 6'4, he surpassed Tage Thompson as the highest-drafted Husky ever. A total of 10 Huskies have been drafted in the short Hockey East history of the program. RANGERS SELECTIONS The Rangers drafted 23rd overall and selected were able to have a strong player fall to them in Gabriel (Gabe) Perreault. He has lots of offensive upside potential and is heading to Boston College (HE) with linemates Will Smith (San Jose) and Ryan Leonard (Washington). They were together on the USNDTP (USHL) last fall. All three will face Wood at the XL Center when BC comes to play UConn at the XL Center in a marquee matchup. Perreault broke the team record for scoring held by Auston Matthews with 159 points. "It's cool because he's one of the guys I look up to and one of those guys to look up above you," said Perreault to ESPN. Hockey is a big part of the Perreault family. His sister Liliane just completed her collegiate career at Mercyhurst (Erie, PA) (AHA), and his brother Jacon plays with San Diego. His father, Yanic Perreault, is the skills development coach in Chicago and, for eight consecutive seasons, held the NHL's best faceoff percentage at an average of 62.89%. He played 859 games with three tours in Toronto, LA, Nashville, and his hometown Montreal. NOTES: UCONN got another commit for next season in New Hampshire native LW Ben Muthersbaugh, who played for the NJ Titans (NAHL) last year after spending time previously at Tilton School (NHPREP). Ex-Sound Tiger Paul Flache takes a second stab as an assistant coach with the Flint Firebirds (OHL) after being with Atlanta (USPHL Premier) for the last three years. Joining him is a former Ranger from the early-to-mid 1980s and two-time Stanley Cup winner in Edmonton making his North American return is Reijo Ruotsalainen. The 63-year-old Ruotsalainen had been coaching in Europe, though not over the last three years. His previous coaching assignment was with, Kiekko-Vantaa (Finland-Mestis) as an assistant coach. While he had a successful NHL career of 443 games and 344 points and was voted the best defenseman in the 1980 WJC (his third) tourney, had he been playing hockey today, he would rival Erik Carlsson of the San Jose Sharks in the skill game from the blueline in this more free-wheeling era of hockey. After leaving the NHL, he played in three World Championships, one Olympic tournament for Finland, and another 402 games in Europe (Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland). He hasn't been to North America since 2001 as an assistant coach with the long-defunct New Orleans Brass (ECHL), featured one-time Rangers head coach Ted Sator at the helm, and had former New Haven Senator Jeff Lazaro as a player. Ross Colton (Taft Prep), who scored the game-winning Cup-clinching goal three years ago for the Tampa Bay Lightning, was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Connor Doherty (Sacred Heart University) re-signs with the Maine Mariners (ECHL). After four years in Denmark and nine in Europe, Mike Little of Enfield, the SonderyskE team captain last season, has left the team. Is this the end of the road for the 35-year-old, or is he likely to play a few more years in a new destination? Derek Barach (Salisbury School) heads from Ässät Pori (Finland-FEL) and takes the risky proposition and signs with Vityaz Moscow (Russia-KHL) to continue his European-only career. The newest college hockey program was announced at the Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee, the site of the NHL Draft. It will be the first at a historically black college and university (HBCU). The club will be Tennessee State and play at the ACHA club hockey division level. The coaching staff is yet to be determined. The project was an all-in process as the NHL, NHLPLA, and College Hockey Inc. were all involved. The program will start in the 2024-25 season with a look toward going varsity Division-1 level down the road, and it will be the first hockey at an HCBU, hopefully leading to more significant participation of Blacks, Latinos, and other ethnic groups in the sport of hockey in the US and around the world. The college hockey season is over by nearly three months activity continues as Quinnipiac University stands at the mountaintop. UCONN HOCKEY HOME Read the full article

[hockeylvr59]

1.7.23 via hockeyeast instagram

[offsidenewsco]

At the start of every season, coaches, scouts and fans put forth their #NCAAHockey rankings.

Read our #HockeyEast 2024-2025 ranking here!

[lifegiantmedia]

UMass Hockey played UConn last night, Feb29th 2020. With too many starters injured to list, the Minutemen took the ice with players filling in a different positions than they even play. Honoring SENIOR NIGHT as well, it was an incredible testament to the Coaching staff and the Tenacity of the players, to rack a win, with two LATE THIRD PERIOD GOALS!

Aside my Colleague the, ‘People’s Choice Chancelor, Thomas Doherty,( TD ), my big brother, and Mentor, we watched a nearly crippled lineup of freshman + sophomores, play their hearts out. No one can say these kids left ANYTHING ON TGE ICE LAST NIGHT, with 2 Goals to rally back and win, with Under TWO MINUTES TO PLAY. Last night Was the Exclamation Point after the description ; “Determination, Relentless, Unbreakable”, of the College Hockey East Powerhouse. Coaches and Players feed off each other, and both a freshman and a sophomore took command scoring the needed 2 goals, after entering the last 12 minutes up 2 to 1. UConn rallied to go ahead, but the two unanswered 3rd period goals were exactly what we needed for a WIN! As an Alumni, and Assistant Alumni Chairman to TD, I had to compile a short video inspired by the Minutemen all season. Luckily THATS MY DAY JOB, photography and filmmaking, so here Fans, players, Faculty, Athletic Dept, ya GO! ENJOY!!!!!’

[rosebowlhockey]

Our annual Easter egg photo. Happy Easter everyone!! 🐰 #hockey #happyeaster #easter #rollerhockey #eastereggs #hockeyeaster #nhl #rosebowlhockey #bauer #ccm #inlinehockey #icehockey https://www.instagram.com/p/CcebZLnJKNv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thejerseybarn]

Charlie #McAvoy #7 Boston University Hockey East Premier #NCAA Jersey https://jerseybarn.com/products/charlie-mcavoy-7-boston-university-hockey-east-premier-jersy-new-rare-gift-s-3x Any Player - Customs #JerseyBarn #buterriershockey #Buhockey #bostonuniversityhockey #hockeyeast #bostonuniversity #buterriers #Bruins #ncaahockey #boston #bostonuniversityterriers https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn58iwAj6eH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bmmdnp0n4h8q

[rinkstories]

As a fan of the @NJDevils in the 90s, I only knew Lou Lamoriello as a GM. Now as I tour the rinks, I learn of his legend at Providence College, as a player, coach, and AD. He helped found Hockey East and is the namesake of its championship trophy, permanently housed @tdgarden #loulamoriello #providencecollege #hockeyeast #tdgarden (at Schneider Arena)

[johncerilli]

Well, #BU didn’t fare very well tonight vs. #Cornell at #MSG. But #Terriers mascot #Rhett was in fine form. #RedHotHockey #MadisonSquareGarden #HockeyEast #BostonUniversity #hockey (at Madison Square Garden)

[andrewburkett]

4:3 UMass Lowell in the lead. 5min left in the final period. #college #hockey #hockeyeast (at TD Garden)

[billherenda]

‪Congrats #HockeyEast champs @UMassLowell after defeating #UNH #NotreDame & #BostonCollege Good luck in #NCAAs & quest to get to #Frozen4‬

[mitchbeck]

SWAMP RABBITS BRING BACK BEN FREEMAN

Forward set to reprise role as Swamp Rabbits captain in 2024-25 Season By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced today that Swamp Rabbits captain Ben Freeman is set to return for his fourth campaign in Greenville for the 2024-25 ECHL Season, his fifth as a professional. Freeman joins Austin Saint, Colton Young, Ben Poisson, and Arvid Caderoth at the forward position. He additionally joins Max Coyle and Joshua Karlsson on the blue line for the 2024-25 roster. Freeman heads back to the Swamp Rabbits following the best statistical output of his career. The 6’5”, 205-pound center played in all but two games in 2023-24 and set career highs with 14 goals and 34 points in his 70 contests. Freeman chipped in an additional goal and assist in six Kelly Cup Playoff games and was named the seventh captain of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on January 19th. He played his 200th ECHL game on April 5th at Orlando. “I love Greenville as a city and am really excited about playing for Coach Mountain. From what I’ve seen and heard about returners and newcomers, we have a great core of players that will make this season both fun and competitive in pursuit of a Kelly Cup championship,” Freeman said of his return to the Upstate. “One thing I take pride in every year I’ve been here is the improvement in our regular season record. We’re super focused on building a playoff style of hockey so we can get out of the first round and make a deep run to the title, which is the goal from day one of training camp: create a culture in this team that focuses on player development and winning, above all else. “My expectation as captain is to emphasize that, while we’re all trying to get to the next level, we need to focus on being present,” he continued. “Winning is fun, but it can’t be done if everyone isn’t bought in. Winning creates opportunities, both short and long term, for all of us. Another expectation is to continue building personally. I’m always trying to get better, and I’m grateful I’ve seen that growth proportional with my output statistically. I can’t wait to get back to Greenville and look forward to another special year.” “Ben has become a major part of the fabric of this organization during his time here. It’s our goal to establish a core foundation of leadership going into the year and bringing Ben back was a major key in accomplishing that. Once that foundation is set, you have something you can build around, so Ben coming back in a major leadership role puts us in a great position to continue to grow an already great culture,” said Kyle Mountain, Head Coach/Director of Hockey Operations. “True leaders don't need a letter to do things the right way, and we saw not only Ben, but the rest of our captains, lead and demonstrate our core values day in and day out. Ben is respected throughout the room, and I think over time his confidence and conviction as a leader grew. “It's a never-ending process, but Ben has taken great steps to grow as both a player and a leader, and we know that trend will continue as long as he's in Greenville,” Mountain continued. “Ben's consistency is one of his best attributes, and he tends to play better hockey as the year goes on. Offensively, he's got the vision and skill needed to make plays, but he also has a willingness to get to the difficult areas to produce. Just as importantly, his defensive abilities allow him to be disruptive, create turnovers, and get pucks back in our possession. His well-rounded approach to the game, combined with his consistency, have made him a key component to our lineup. We expect more of the same moving forward and can’t wait to have him back in the Upstate.” A native of Falmouth, Maine, Freeman, 28, enters his fifth season of professional hockey and his fourth with the Swamp Rabbits. He begins 2024-25 three games shy of 200 with the Swamp Rabbits and two points shy of 100 with the team, amassing 37 goals, 61 assists, and 98 points in 197 contests. Freeman joined the Swamp Rabbits following the 2020-21 season, in which he made his professional debut with the Wheeling Nailers and later captured the 2021 SPHL President’s Trophy Championship with the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Before turning pro, he skated four years with the University of Connecticut in the NCAA, compiling 77 points in 135 games. As a senior, he captained the Huskies and claimed the 2020 Len Ceglarski Award, presented to the player most exemplifying the qualities of sportsmanship on the ice in the Hockey East conference. About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits … Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly, the Greenville Road Warriors and the Swamp Rabbits are the highest-level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's LA Kings and the AHL's Ontario Reign. Greenville is an ECHL Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League member. GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS HOWLINGS Read the full article

[hockeylvr59]

1.7.23 via hockeyeast instagram

[bewarethealpacalypse]

#hockeyeast semifinals ft. #bchockey goal chant. #shameless #wewon #goingtothefinals #bc #bceagles #tdgarden #stpatricksday (at TD Garden)

[lifegiantmedia]

View from the Net, isn’t ALWAYS CASUAL, sometimes it can be a waiting game. Props to Murray, he’s been holding the goal for a while now!! #umassamherst #umasshockey #umassalumni #umassathletics #hockeyeast #hockey https://www.instagram.com/p/B9LcqISAFVb/?igshid=edrfeo6na5e8

[beesonthecape-blog]

#HockeyEast #Finals Womens #BCEAGLES vs #Northeastetn Huskies Working on my sports photography but I don't really have the camera for it. I concentrated on "moments" that capture the rapport between coach and player. Mother and daughter. Proud husband of his wife the head coach. These moments fascinate me... (at Walter Brown Arena)