Hockey East monitors coronavirus threat
Hockey East is closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus threat and has taken preliminary steps, including waving off handshakes in the traditional post-game lines. Players and coaches have been instructed to fist-bump if so inclined and for players to keep equipment gloves on.
In the event the situation worsens, a decision to postpone the semifinal and final of the 36th annual tournament “would need to come from the (TD) Garden and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” according to HE Commissioner Joe Bertagna.
HE spokesman Brian Smith indicated the 11-team league is “following the lead” of the NCAA Task Force, which has been set up in conjunction with the growing health problem. Both Bertagna and Smith explained that under current league rules, should the tournament be canceled, newly crowned regular season champion, Boston College, would draw the league’s automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Tournament, which has regional events from March 27 to 29, before conducting the Frozen Four in Detroit from April 9 to 11.
Hockey East has dealt with a health issues before, in particular a measles breakout at local colleges in 1985. In one memorable game played on Wednesday, Feb. 27, that year, Boston University defeated UMass Lowell, 5-3, in front of no fans at Walter Brown Arena. There were 28 media, the ice-surfacing crew, and a handful of campus and Boston police on hand. Longtime BU sports info guru Ed Carpenter quipped, “We have more doughnuts here tonight than people.”
BU forward Chuck Sullivan, of Winthrop, arguably spent years telling pals of how he scored a pair goals, including the game-winner that night, although no one probably believes him. Sullivan had 24-24-48 in 79 career games. BU drew other goals from John Cullen, Scott Shaunessy and Peter Marshall. Also, that night, UML great Jon Morris scored the first-ever goal for the then-Chiefs at Walter Brown Arena. Morris remains the HE career leader with 177 points.
Quiz of the Week
Three goaltenders own a goals-against-average under 2.00 for their Hockey East careers. Who are they? Hint: All three played in the NHL and two this season. Answer below.
Trophy Season
NU women won a third straight HE title by drubbing UConn, 9-1 as MVP Alina Mueller (1-3-4), of Switzerland, and Chloe Aurard (1-3-4), of France, and wing mate Jess Schryver (2-1-3) dominated. … How about Bruins draft pick Jeremy Swayman turning aside all 48 shots he faced to blank Providence, 1-0? Another B’s selection, Yale center Curtis Hall, scored twice as the Bulldogs beat Union, 4-1, to force a Game 3. Hall has a team-high 17 goals in 26 games.
Plymouth State freshman Myles Abbate, of Norwell, and JR Barone each posted 2-1-3 numbers to pace the Panthers to a 6-2 win over UMass Dartmouth and earn their first-ever back-to-back MASCAC titles. … Norwich claimed the NEHC title with a 3-0 win over Hobart behind junior forward Jordan Hill (2-1-3) and 29 stops from senior Tom Aubrun (23-2-2). … Norwich women kept pace, winning 9-1 over Suffolk to grab the title behind four-point efforts by Methuen senior Amanda Conway (3-1-4) and Tewksbury freshman Julia Masotta (2-2-4).
Olympic musings
The 1980 “Miracle on Ice” squad was duly recognized for its 40th anniversary during a between period ceremony at BU last week but the 60th anniversary of the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medalists went unnoticed around most locales. Harvard legend Bill Cleary, who had 7 goals and 7 assists in 7 games to lead the Americans in scoring in 1960, received a congratulatory call on the anniversary of Team USA’s 9-4 thumping of the former Czechoslovakia for the gold medal, from the son of former Olympic teammate and ex-Bruin Tom Williams, who passed away in 1992. Most old time fans will recall that the smooth skating Williams ended a 10-year span of no Americans in the NHL when he joined the Bruins in 1961-62.
Quiz answer
Maine’s Jimmy Howard (1.92), NU’s Cayden Primeau (1.96) and Notre Dame’s Cal Peterson (1.99). Drop the puck!