BU-BC Rumored to Face Off in Winter Classic at Fenway
by Chris Aliano
According to multiple sources, including the Boston Globe, WEEI.com and the Daily Free Press, the defending national champion Boston University men’s ice hockey team will square off against its archrival, Boston College, in a unique twist to this year’s installment of the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic.
While all that is certain about the 2009-10 Winter Classic is that it will indeed be held at iconic Fenway Park and that one of the two NHL teams slated to play is the Boston Bruins (the Philadelphia Flyers or Washington Capitals are the Bruins’ likely opponent), the attention has temporarily been diverted from the pros’ affair ever since rumors began surfacing about a possible BU-BC matchup which could take place on January 8, one week after the Bruins take the ice at Fenway.
Should these rumors hold any truth to them, this would be the first time in Classic history a college hockey would team would participate in the day’s festivities. Neither BU head coach Jack Parker nor BU men’s hockey sports information director Brian Kelly could be reached to verify these reports.
WEEI.com reported on June 26 the contest between the Terriers and the Eagles would be part of a doubleheader to take place a week after the Classic on Friday, January 8, 2010, with the second game pitting two other Hockey East opponents against one another. WEEI’s article can be found here: http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212532/sources-bc-and-bu-will-play-outdoor-game-fenway-park-jan-8
A Boston Globe Bruins Blog entry article also confirmed the Flyers or Capitals as the Bruins’ opponent during the New Year’s Day matchup. That blog entry can be found here: http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/2009/04/bruins_at_fenwa.html
Until the NHL announces the 2009-10 season schedule later this month, including details about the Winter Classic, everything at this point is mere speculation. While both Parker and Boston College head coach Jerry York had been hopeful their teams would get a chance to play within the confines of Fenway Park and alongside the “Green Monster,” both assuredly have had their agendas full regardless of the swirling storm of rumors with incoming recruits and the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Boston College saw the rights to a handful of its up-and-coming talent selected by NHL clubs last week, while BU saw three of its own--including National Rookie of the Year Kieran Millan—selected in the draft.
Many fans anticipated their schools would announce their respective schedules for next season during or after the weekend of the draft, but the event came and went with not so much of a glimmer of change on either University’s athletics website. Perhaps fans could take this as a blessing in disguise—while other Hockey East schools (University of Maine, University of New Hampshire) have announced their 2009-10 ice hockey schedules, the fact that BU and BC have not yet could indicate the waiting process involved in finalizing the two teams’ midwinter night’s dream.
While waiting for the rumors to crystallize could prove to be a demoralizing task, Terrier fans can take solace in the confirmation of two key games early in the season: BU is scheduled to open its season October 20, 2009, against the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a banner-raising evening featuring two of last season’s best teams; BU and UND were the top-ranked and second-ranked teams, respectively, in the country for most of the 2008-09 season, and if not for an early upset to Cinderella-Bemidji State in the NCAA Regionals, the Fighting Irish were expected to provide BU’s stiffest test during their run to the championship.
Another familiar non-conference foe, the University of Michigan Wolverines, will visit Boston Saturday, October 24, 2009, in another pivotal non-conference matchup, pitting BU against its second stalwart CCHA opponent during that four-day span. BU routed Michigan 7-2 when the Wolverines visited Agganis Arena last October, while Michigan took both games against the Terriers at Ann Arbor in 2007.
Check back at wtburadio.org for more information regarding the 2009-10 Winter Classic and everything else Terrier hockey.
According to multiple sources, including the Boston Globe, WEEI.com and the Daily Free Press, the defending national champion Boston University men’s ice hockey team will square off against its archrival, Boston College, in a unique twist to this year’s installment of the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic.
While all that is certain about the 2009-10 Winter Classic is that it will indeed be held at iconic Fenway Park and that one of the two NHL teams slated to play is the Boston Bruins (the Philadelphia Flyers or Washington Capitals are the Bruins’ likely opponent), the attention has temporarily been diverted from the pros’ affair ever since rumors began surfacing about a possible BU-BC matchup which could take place on January 8, one week after the Bruins take the ice at Fenway.
Should these rumors hold any truth to them, this would be the first time in Classic history a college hockey would team would participate in the day’s festivities. Neither BU head coach Jack Parker nor BU men’s hockey sports information director Brian Kelly could be reached to verify these reports.
WEEI.com reported on June 26 the contest between the Terriers and the Eagles would be part of a doubleheader to take place a week after the Classic on Friday, January 8, 2010, with the second game pitting two other Hockey East opponents against one another. WEEI’s article can be found here: http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/212532/sources-bc-and-bu-will-play-outdoor-game-fenway-park-jan-8
A Boston Globe Bruins Blog entry article also confirmed the Flyers or Capitals as the Bruins’ opponent during the New Year’s Day matchup. That blog entry can be found here: http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/2009/04/bruins_at_fenwa.html
Until the NHL announces the 2009-10 season schedule later this month, including details about the Winter Classic, everything at this point is mere speculation. While both Parker and Boston College head coach Jerry York had been hopeful their teams would get a chance to play within the confines of Fenway Park and alongside the “Green Monster,” both assuredly have had their agendas full regardless of the swirling storm of rumors with incoming recruits and the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Boston College saw the rights to a handful of its up-and-coming talent selected by NHL clubs last week, while BU saw three of its own--including National Rookie of the Year Kieran Millan—selected in the draft.
Many fans anticipated their schools would announce their respective schedules for next season during or after the weekend of the draft, but the event came and went with not so much of a glimmer of change on either University’s athletics website. Perhaps fans could take this as a blessing in disguise—while other Hockey East schools (University of Maine, University of New Hampshire) have announced their 2009-10 ice hockey schedules, the fact that BU and BC have not yet could indicate the waiting process involved in finalizing the two teams’ midwinter night’s dream.
While waiting for the rumors to crystallize could prove to be a demoralizing task, Terrier fans can take solace in the confirmation of two key games early in the season: BU is scheduled to open its season October 20, 2009, against the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a banner-raising evening featuring two of last season’s best teams; BU and UND were the top-ranked and second-ranked teams, respectively, in the country for most of the 2008-09 season, and if not for an early upset to Cinderella-Bemidji State in the NCAA Regionals, the Fighting Irish were expected to provide BU’s stiffest test during their run to the championship.
Another familiar non-conference foe, the University of Michigan Wolverines, will visit Boston Saturday, October 24, 2009, in another pivotal non-conference matchup, pitting BU against its second stalwart CCHA opponent during that four-day span. BU routed Michigan 7-2 when the Wolverines visited Agganis Arena last October, while Michigan took both games against the Terriers at Ann Arbor in 2007.
Check back at wtburadio.org for more information regarding the 2009-10 Winter Classic and everything else Terrier hockey.
posted by Chris Aliano at
8:19 PM
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