Terriers Entertain Wolverines Saturday Night

by Tristan Hobbes

“Attitude is everything,” and “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” These two sayings could easily go on the back of a t-shirt. For the Boston University Terriers men’s hockey team, they mean much more at this juncture in the season.

An 0-2 start characterized by sloppy play against the University of Massachusetts and an “inept” power play against Notre Dame has BU looking to right the ship when they host the fifth-ranked Michigan Wolverines Saturday night at Agganis Arena.
“I didn’t like the attitude of my team on Tuesday night and I didn’t like that attitude of my team against UMass,” said head coach Jack Parker after Thursday’s practice. “0 for 2.”

BU will have to turn things around fast with a high-flying Wolverines team looking to exact some revenge after being blown out 7-2 last year at Agganis Arena. Michigan was also ranked fifth at the time and Saturday’s game will be almost a year to the date of the last meeting. This matchup proves to be a lot more open than Tuesday’s grinder against the Irish.

“They are a high flying, real talented team that lets their team really go. They can put pressure on defense, get pressure on the forecheck, get pressure on the initial rush and can really move the puck on the power play,” said Parker of Michigan’s style of play. “It will be a completely different style were playing on Saturday.”

The good news for Terriers fans is that if the, ‘practice how you play’ saying is true, Saturday should see a better effort. Associate Head Coach Mike Bavis put Thursday’s practice in the top three all year. Coach Parker thought better.
“I can’t think of a practice that is better than this one,” said Parker of his team’s workout. “They were more focused and more concerned. They knew we weren’t happy.”

Junior captain Kevin Shattenkirk (’11) also felt a difference in Thursday’s workout.
“Whether it was a lack of focus and a lack of the leaders getting on guys, we didn’t have that real zip and determination to practice hard,” said Shattenkirk (’11) of the team’s preparation before the Notre Dame game. “I think today we came here with the right attitude and the right mindset to start having the right practices.”
A coach and a captain can only say so much. When the puck drops on Saturday night, attitude will be everything and whoever outworks the other will have the upper hand.

NOTES
-Senior Luke Popko (’10) is battling a stomach bug and could be out for Saturday’s game.
-Shattenkirk played sick on Tuesday night but was feeling better on Thursday.
-Injured goalie Grant Rollheiser(’12) practiced for the first time after spraining his right ankle three weeks ago.