January 2, 2001
Weekly Release #13

No Recount Needed: Maine Wins Florida
BC earns split in battle of the best as BU topples No. 3 North Dakota


Breaking the seal of obscurity that has kept them in the shadows thus far
this season, the University of Maine Black Bears took center stage by
winning the inaugural Everblades College Classic last week in Estero,
Florida. Defenseman Peter Metcalf made an immediate impact upon his return
to the lineup following an extended injury absence, notching two assists
and finishing +3 in a 4-2 win over Clarkson. He then scored one of two
Maine goals and helped limit Cornell to only 13 shots in a 2-1 title game
triumph. Metcalf was subsequently named Tournament MVP and has also been
named Hockey East Player of the Week. Junior goaltender Matt Yeats was
strong in both games, turning aside 39 of 42 shots to keep Maine’s
defensive gameplan stable.

Although the Black Bears were the only Hockey East team to emerge as
champions during eight holiday tournaments, every other Hockey East team
in action managed to split the weekend. Boston University enjoyed the most
impressive opening round win, parlaying a sterling third period penalty
shot save by Jason Tapp to stage a three-goal rally in defeating No. 3
North Dakota, 4-3, at the Bank One Badger Showdown in Milwaukee. Gregg
Johnson scored twice in the contest and was named Rookie of the Week
following his selection to the All-Tournament team.

Further West, Providence rode back-to-back goals by Devin Rask to a 4-2
opening round win over Ferris State at the Wells Fargo Denver Cup.
Meanwhile, in New York’s capital district, Northeastern stopper Mike
Gilhooly was holding the fort with 37 saves before teammate Scott Selig
notched his second overtime goal of the season to oust tourney host RPI.
Despite spirited efforts, Northeastern and Providence would each succumb
by slim one-goal margins in their respective tournament title games, as
would Boston University.

In the marquee event of the week, No. 2 Boston College yielded by a 4-1
final against top-ranked Michigan State in the first round of the Great
Lakes Invitational at Detroit. But several Eagles tallied multiple points
in a rebound 8-5 win over No. 4 Michigan in the consolation game.

Merrimack sophomore Anthony Aquino notched a shorthanded tally early in
the third period of a 4-2 first round win against tourney host
Minnesota-Duluth. Aquino also scored in the “title” game against Western
Michigan, but the Warriors were overwhelmed, 8-1.

UMass Lowell and New Hampshire were each bumped in their opening round
games, but came back to salvage their tourney appearances with consolation
game victories.


KOHO PLAYER OF THE WEEK

PETER METCALF – Maine Junior Defenseman; Pembroke, MA Was selected as MVP
of the Everblades College Classic after finishing +3 with two assists vs.
Clarkson and scoring a goal in a 2-1 title game win over Cornell.


ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

GREGG JOHNSON – Boston University Freshman Forward; Windsor, CT Scored two
goals, including the game-winner with under a minute to play, against No.
3 North Dakota to send the Terriers to the Badger Showdown title game.


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

MATT LIBBY – Providence Senior Defenseman; Saco, ME Paced 12-for-13
penalty kill and a defense that allowed just two goals in each game at the
Denver Cup. Also led the Friars offensively with two goals and two
assists.



HOCKEY EAST HONOR ROLL

Chuck Kobasew, BC (Fr. F; Osoyoos, BC) – Exploded for a goal and three
assists to pace an 8-5 win over No. 4 Michigan.

Krys Kolanos, BC (So. F; Calgary, AB) – Collected three goals and was
selected to the Great Lakes Invitational All-Tournament team.

Matt Yeats, ME (Jr. G; Innisfail, AB) – Stopped 39 of 42 shots en route to
All-Tournament honors at the Everblades College Classic.

Ed McGrane, UML (Sr. F; St. Catherines, ONT) – Logged three consecutive
points in a 5-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville.

Jimi St. John, UML (Jr. G; Windsor, ONT) – Had 36 saves and allowed just
one goal in 5-1 victory vs. host Alabama-Huntsville.

Anthony Aquino, MC (So. F; Mississauga, ONT) – Had two goals, including
his NCAA-leading fifth game-winner, against Silverado Shootout host
Minnesota-Duluth. Struck again vs. Nebraska-Omaha to earn a spot on the
All-Tournament team.

Joe Exter, MC (So. G; Cranston, RI) – Notched 34 saves to oust tourney
host Minnesota-Duluth, 4-2.

Colin Hemingway, UNH (So. F; Surrey, BC) – Scored a goal and posted three
assists en route to Auld Lang Syne All-Tourney honors.

Mike Gilhooly, NU (So. G; Calgary, AB) – Had 37 saves in 77 minutes to
backstop a 3-2 OT win over tournament host RPI. Made 28 saves in a 4-3
loss to St. Lawrence and was named the All-Tournament goaltender.

Mike Ryan, NU (So. F; Milton, MA) – Named All-Tournament for three-goal,
one-assist effort at the RPI Invitational.

Scott Selig, NU (Fr. F; Duxbury, MA) – Notched second overtime goal of the
season in 3-2 win vs. RPI. Set up one goal vs. SLU.

Devin Rask, PC (So. F; Parkside, SASK) – Made All-Tournament team for two
goals and one assist in 4-2 win over Ferris State.


HOCKEY EAST NOTES

Boston College: Rob Scuderi set up three of BC’s eight goals against
Michigan. He was one of seven Eagles to enjoy a multiple-point outing in
the game. Hobey Baker Award candidate Brian Gionta notched a goal and an
assist, bringing his career point total to 100 even. Rookie Chuck Kobasew
lit up the board with a goal and three assists. BC is now 12-0 when
Kobasew registers a point and only 1-4-1 when he does not. ... The 13-4-1
Eagles are off to their best start since 1988-89, when they opened with a
14-4 clip.

Boston University: The Terriers stormed to a 4-1 record in December after
enduring a 1-7 slump in November. The team hopes to repeat its success of
last January, when a 4-0-4 streak made the Terriers the team to beat in
Hockey East ... BU was forced to play with a short bench in Saturday’s
loss to Wisconsin. Joining World Junior participants Freddy Meyer and John
Sabo on the list of unavailable Terriers regulars were Jack Baker and
Keith Emery, who each sustained injuries in the tourney-opening win over
No. 3 North Dakota ... Sophomore defenseman Mike Bussoli was selected to
the Badger Showdown All-Tournament team after notching an assist in each
game.

University of Maine: UMaine’s top-ranked overall scoring defense carried
the team once again at the Everblades College Classic, allowing two goals
or less for the 12th and 13th time in just 19 games this season. The Black
Bears are impressive at 9-1-3 in those defensive gems, but are 0-5-1 when
allowing more than three goals ... The Bears’ sweep of Clarkson and
Cornell gives them a 4-1-1 record against the ECAC this season.

UMass Amherst: The Minutemen will host Brown Tuesday at 5pm in a game
rescheduled due to inclement weather in Amherst last Saturday. Junior
defenseman Toni Soderholm will make a much-awaited comeback in the game,
after missing 10 games due to a knee injury. Soderholm contributed a goal
and four assists to the team’s strong 3-3-1 start. In his absence, the
Minutemen endured a frustrating 1-8-1 skid.

UMass Lowell: The River Hawks were shorthanded at the SCI Holiday Shootout
in Huntsville, Alabama, skating without three of their top scorers in Ron
Hainsey (World Junior Championships), Yorick Treille (concussion), and
Mark Concannon (separated shoulder). But junior forward Ken Farrell made a
triumphant return from injury, notching a goal and an assist. Brad Rooney
(1-2-3) and Kyle Kidney (2-0-2) also stepped up their play during the
tourney ... The UML penalty-killing unit was 12-for-13 on the weekend and
has successfully killed 29 of the last 31 opposing power plays.

Merrimack College: The Warriors scored the third short-handed goal of
their season on Thursday. The team did not have a short-handed score all
of last year ... With three goals on the weekend, sophomore Anthony Aquino
surpassed the 50-point mark for his career. Despite having played only 57
games, Aquino has the second-highest career point total among current
Merrimack players.

University of New Hampshire: UNH has six players on its roster with better
than 15 points each ... Senior stopper Ty Conklin recorded his 48th career
win with a 21-save shutout over Miami Saturday. He needs only five more
victories to surpass Sean Matile for UNH’s all-time record in that
category.

Northeastern University: Graig Mischler, Mike Ryan, and Scott Selig made
up NU’s top line to start the season, combining for 13 goals and 16
assists in the first nine games. Coach Crowder then elected to split them
up for the next six games and watched the trio stumble to produce only
four assists and no goals among them. Reunited at the RPI Invitational
last week, the old chemistry seemed intact as they chipped in five goals
and four assists in two games ... Ryan has five goals in two games versus
St. Lawrence this season ... Junior captain Jim Fahey was named to the RPI
Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Providence College: Jay Leach and Peter Fregoe notched two assists each in
a 4-2 win over Ferris State ... Providence is unbeaten this season (8-0-3)
when taking a lead into the third period and is similarly successful
(9-0-2) when the offense produces just three goals or better ... The
Friars are looking to snap a curious five-game losing skid against UMass
Amherst when the teams exchange a home-and-home set next weekend.



WHO'S HOT

Carl Corazzini, BU (Sr. F; Framingham, MA) – Senior captain has been the
team’s offensive catalyst of late, scoring points in seven of the last
eight games (6-5-11). His goal against Wisconsin marked the 100th point of
his successful Terrier career.

Eagle Rookies – The potent freshman class at Boston College exploded once
again, scoring seven points in an 8-5 win over Michigan. The fantastic
first-year crew tallied eight points in a 7-2 win at Maine on Dec. 10.

Francis Nault, ME (Fr. D; Tracy, QUE) – Late roster addition has been a
sterling find. He has tallied six points in Maine’s last seven games and
is tied with top blueliner Peter Metcalf for second on the team in
plus/minus at +7.

Colin Hemingway, UNH (So. F; Surrey, BC) – Has lit up ECAC rivals with
three consecutive multiple-point games.

Mike Gilhooly, NU (So. G; Calgary, AB) – Has established himself as the
Huskies’ No. 1 stopper, posting a 2.06 GAA and .932 save percentage in the
span of five straight starts.

Providence Penalty Kill – In the last nine games, the Friars’ shorthanded
unit has allowed just three goals in 57 chances (a .947 PK average), and
is currently the league’s top squad overall with a .903 clip on the
season.


ITECH THREE STARS UPDATE

As part of a long-term agreement between Hockey East and ITECH, SIDs and
media will designate ITECH “Three Stars of The Game” in each of the 108
Hockey East league games. The progressive point leaders will be listed in
weekly press releases, and the player earning the most points over the
course of the season will be recognized at the Hockey East championship
banquet at season’s end.
                        Times           Total
Player, School          Selected        Points
Carl Corazzini, BU      5               11
Ty Conklin, UNH         4               9
Markus Helanen, UMA     3               9
Devin Rask, PC          4               8
Krys Kolanos, BC        3               8
Brian Gionta, BC        3               7
Martin Kariya, ME       4               6
Chuck Kobasew, BC       3               6



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