Quintet of locals will vie for US Junior team
The men’s college hockey schedule will be relatively quiet the next two weekends, with most programs on break after students wrapped up finals to conclude the fall semester.
But there will be a select group in action over the holidays for the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Several players with local ties are among those still auditioning for spots on Team USA’s 23-man roster at this week’s training camp in Plymouth, Mich.
UMass freshman forward Kenny Connors and sophomore defenseman Ryan Ufko are competing for a chance to play in the tournament, which will run Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Connors leads the Minutemen in scoring with seven goals and 10 assists, while Ufko has posted a line of 310—13. Both have appeared in all 16 games this season. Connors was taken in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Kings, and Ufko was selected by the Predators in the fourth round in 2021.
“You love to see it for the individual. It’s great for their development, and it’s great for the program,” said UMass coach Greg Carvel. “The only downside is those handful of games that you have to play without two of your better players, and that’s fine. We’ll find a way to get by without them.”
Boston University freshman defenseman Lane Hutson is also in camp. The 2022 secondround pick of the Canadiens has seven goals and 11 assists in 16 games for the No. 7 Terriers, and was named Hockey East defender of the month in October and November.
“He’s improved a lot. He works at it. He watches a lot of video,” said BU coach Jay Pandolfo. “The big thing for him I think early on was, his gaps weren’t great. I think he was kind of drifting back a little bit. That, he’s cleaned up, so his gaps are really good. His angles are a lot better. He’s trying to end plays at the blue line rather than waiting until the guy gets in the zone. We’ve been very happy with his defensive game.”
Also in the mix is Boston College freshman forward Cutter Gauthier, the No. 5 overall pick of the Flyers who has 10 goals and six assists for the Eagles in 13 games, including a 4-point night in a wild 9-6 win over BU.
“He’s pretty composed all the time. I really haven’t seen him get rattled in any game,” BC coach Greg Brown said after last Friday’s win.
Forward Ryan Leonard of Amherst, who skates on the US Under-18 team and will enroll at BC next fall, is also in camp.
Hula helper
Last April, when he announced his retirement, Jerry York explained to the Globe why he did not want to have a farewell tour while still coaching.
“I’d never want to go through a season where each game someone’s giving you a chair, or a watch, and then they’re going to try and beat your brains out 10 minutes later,” said York. “It’s not my makeup. The game’s the game. Now, if someone wants to send Bobbie and I to Hawaii, we’ll entertain that thought.”
The last part was said in jest, but the folks at BC seemed to think it was a good idea, and athletic director Blake James presented York with the trip at the BC-BU game.
“I love that. I forgot all about that,” York said.