10_9 Hockey Print

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

YEAR LVI. VOLUME A. ISSUE III

CRISTINA ROMANO | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior forward Kamil Bednarik (38) celebrates a shorthanded goal against Michigan State University.

THE NEXT SHIFT

What went wrong BY HANNAH CONNORS BHB Director

Boston University men’s hockey head coach Jay Pandolfo doesn’t want to talk about last season. But who can blame him? In his first three years as an NCAA coach, he racked up just about every accolade in the books. The only accolade he’s missing is a national championship banner hanging from the rafters of Agganis Arena. So, when a BU team that came into the season with arguably the nation’s best roster — including 19 NHL draft picks — and played in the national championship the year prior ends the year with a .500 record, it’s fair to want to move on. “[I] don’t really want to talk about [last year],” Pandolfo said. “I think I did a poor job.” But whether or not BU is ready to move on, the reality is people are going to compare the season ahead to last year’s. Expectations past and present don’t disappear, especially when a blue blood program like BU is etched across your jersey. I sat alongside my fellow Boston Hockey Blog members at nearly every game last season in Agganis Arena, drove my parents’ car to rinks across New England and spent practically every second of my spare time trying to work out where it went wrong. Here’s what I saw, and what the people around the program have said. BU brought in high-end talent, but many of those players had never before been asked to fill bottom-six roles — that’s hard. When I spoke with senior college hockey writer Mike McMahon, I asked what he believed was BU’s primary issue last season. McMahon recalled a conversation he had with Pandolfo while preparing for a broadcast ahead of BU’s series against Merrimack College. BU was dealing with several injuries,

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Hockey Edition

20 26 In collaboration with the Boston Hockey Blog

Go be Mari: 1% better every day BY KALLI PAPANTONIOU BHB Writer

From 100 feet away, Hugh Pietersen can tell when his daughter is smiling. The goalie mask conceals most of Mari Pietersen’s face. But after years of watching his daughter play hockey, Hugh knows what to look for. “I can always tell by her smile, even with a mask on,” he said. “Even if I’m standing 100 feet away in the stands, I can always tell by her smile that she’s having fun.” For Hugh and his wife, Sandy, that smile matters more than whatever number is glowing on the scoreboard. It tells them that, beneath the pads and pressure that comes with being a goaltender, their daughter still loves this. Entering her senior season at Boston University, Pietersen is allowing herself to appreciate the moments around her. The goalie entering the crease is not the same one who arrived on Commonwealth Avenue three years ago. “Everyone says that the time goes by fast, but I mean, going into my senior year, you really feel how fast the time goes by,” Mari said. “Freshman year, I was young, I didn’t know everything that college hockey had to offer, all the ups, all the downs … [now] I feel very confident as not only a goalie, but as a person, as a player.” Pietersen grew up in Ontario as an only child, surrounded by the hockey culture that runs deep throughout Canada and especially in her home province. She spent her first year of hockey as a skater, but it didn’t last. “She played on a mixed team and I think her competitiveness came out in that,” Hugh said. “She just felt that she could do

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Men’s transfer portal pickups look to bolster new blue line BY ANTHONY GASOWSKI BHB Writer

The Boston University men’s ice hockey team’s defensive core is reeling from big offseason departures. Just one day after the Terriers’ 2025-26 season came to an abrupt end in a 5-3 loss to the University of Connecticut in the Hockey East quarterfinals, BU’s leader in points –– sophomore defenseman Cole Hutson –– signed an entry level contract with the Washington Capitals. Two days later, captain and junior defenseman Gavin McCarthy –– who finished second in team assists behind Hutson –– inked an entry level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

When the transfer portal opened in April, three more defensemen left BU. The biggest departure was Sascha Boumedienne. The junior –– who is continuing his development at The Ohio State University –– was taken by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft and scored the game-winning, goldmedal clinching goal at the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship for Sweden. The other two defensemen, sophomores Malte Vass and Kyle Kim, will continue their collegiate careers at University of New Hampshire and Colgate University, respectively. Only three returning defensemen saw consistent appearances throughout last year’s regular

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior defenseman Jax Wismer (9) drives the puck in the offensive zone during a shift at Alaska Fairbanks. Wismer comes to BU after spending two seasons at the University of Vermont.

season: seniors Mick Frechette and Aiden Celebrini, and sophomore Charlie Trethewey. As a result, this year’s transfer portal priorities were drastically different. Last year, BU picked up former University of North Dakota forwards Sacha Boisvert and Owen McLaughlin, both of whom signed pro after the season ended. The Terriers couldn’t afford these “one and done” players, forcing the team to look for defensemen that would make a longer lasting impact. That resulted in the pickups of University of Vermont’s Jax Wismer and Lake Superior State University’s Adam Barone. “They’ve played meaningful minutes in the NCAA, which is a hard league, especially for defensemen,” said BU head coach Jay Pandolfo. “Both came from programs … [where] they relied on heavy minutes for their teams. We just felt like we wanted to get a little bit older, have a little bit more depth, and those guys fit in very well.” Wismer is no stranger to Hockey East. The junior spent the most time on the ice of any Vermont player last season, averaging just over 21 minutes of skating time in the 29 games he played his sophomore year. He said this time allowed him to mature on the ice, tallying just four penalty minutes last year compared to 22 penalty minutes across 34 games his freshman season. “I think that familiarity … will be really easy for me to not have to always be in the unknown,” Wismer said of his experience in Hockey East. “You already know the league, you know how each team plays that you’re going to play against,” Pandolfo added. “That, no question, is a benefit for him from that standpoint.” Despite not coming in as an NHL draft selection the 5-foot11 defenseman offers playmaking

potential suitable for the forwards up front. During his two seasons at Vermont, he tallied 16 points (3 goals, 13 assists) against conference opponents, including two goals against BU. “We’re a pretty talented team up front this year, so [I hope] to be complementary to that and add on when I can,” Wismer said. Wismer acknowledged the program’s five national championships and recognized that means playing with a different standard. “The pedigree you have when you come here is no secret,” Wismer said. “There’s a bit of a different standard that I’ve been seeing day in day out … but [I] feel pretty good out there.” Meanwhile, Barone, who’s coming off two seasons at Lake Superior State –– a school in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. that enrolls roughly 1,500 students each year –– will be playing in a far bigger environment, which he said he has loved throughout h i s transition. “Boston’s a huge city a n d

The PWHL’s growth was evident in the stands. The Athletic reported that the league drew 1,116,497 fans across 120 regular-season games in 2025-26, the first season to eclipse the one-million-fan mark. Average game attendance climbed 28%, rising from 7,230 spectators per game in 2024 to 9,304. Now whether that was a direct result of the Olympics is harder to tell, but it certainly correlates. With a fast-growing fanbase, a move to the major city made sense for the Fleet and its fans, even if a bulk of season ticket holders call Lowell their home. In April, the Fleet sold out a game at TD Garden. “You hook people with that game, it’s huge because now you are in the city where you just sold out a 17,000-seat venue full of people who had a great time just by losing 1-0,” Murray said. Agganis helps the Fleet reach more fans in Boston, and at the same time the location helps advertise BU women’s hockey. “It’s a cool partnership to have, even selfishly, right,” said BU head coach Tara Watchorn. “The BU logo is on the ice, and it’s right there for our players to go watch.” Years ago, that proximity didn’t seem feasible. College is no longer a one-stop shop for women’s hockey, but rather a pathway to the professional ranks. As opportunities at the next level increase, Watchorn believes BU is uniquely positioned to help players prepare for what’s next. That shift has already altered how college programs approach development. With professional opportunities now established, coaches can prepare players for success in the NCAA and success beyond college athletics. “The landscape of women’s hockey has changed, and you don’t

need to be perfect by the end of college,” Watchorn said. “You just have to keep growing.” Members of the Dog Pound, BU’s organized student section, believe the Fleet’s arrival could draw more students into both the professional and collegiate game. “As an international student, sports was a big means for me to get involved in the local culture. That proximity to professional sports allows me to get into it, so now that it is here, it’s a really exciting proposition,” said Nicole Tse, a

Sault Ste. Marie is pretty small,” Barone said. “I’ve been loving it … getting adjusted [quickly] and it’s been awesome.” The 6-foot-1 defensemen recorded a 4-15-19 line for the Lakers last season –– where he was one of just five players on their roster who saw ice time in all 36 regular season games — a massive jump from his freshman

year, when he tallied just one point off one assist in 16 games. “I think a big thing in my game is pretty offensive,” Barone said. “I love to contribute on that side of the puck. At the same time, [I’m] a defenseman, so rounding that game out and helping keep pucks out of our net is huge.” At Lake Superior State, coaches regularly praised Barone for his work ethic, specifically during the offseason. “I just wanted to prove [to] myself that I could play at this level and that I fit in,” Barone said. According to BU Hockey Stats, Barone is the first player to transfer from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, which the defenseman described as a “gritty” conference. He said his playing style complements the demands of competing in Hockey East. “Hockey East [requires] a much faster, more skilled game,” he said. “ I think my game fits that style of play.” For a team that had a sour 2025-26 season, the limited returners on the blue line are now tasked to mentor a fresh group of defensemen that will look to contribute towards rewriting the program’s identity. “I know a lot of us are really disappointed with how last year went, and we’re just looking to turn the page,” Celebrini said. “I think everybody’s come in with great energy and the new additions have done a great job of keeping up with the intensity and pushing it.” and pushing it.”

COURTESY OF ELIZA NUESTRO/BU ATHLETICS

Junior defenseman Adam Barone (5) poses for a photo on media day.

The Boston Fleet’s move to Agganis puts BU at the center of women’s hockey growth BY HANNAH CONNORS BHB Director

Thirty miles doesn’t sound like much. But for Boston hockey fans making the trip to Lowell, Boston traffic often made attending a Boston Fleet game a bigger commitment than the 30-mile distance would suggest. That changed this July, when reporter Lydia Murray –– a BU alumna and Boston Fleet reporter –– broke the news that the Fleet would be relocating their primary venue to Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Now, not only will one of the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s most successful franchises become more accessible to the Boston community, but also for BU students. The move does more than bring professional women’s hockey to Commonwealth Avenue. It further intertwines the BU women’s hockey

identity with the professional game, strengthening a culture already shaped by the many Terriers playing professionally. “The key to long-term success for a professional league is the ability to draw casual fans. You were never going to draw casual fans in Lowell. It’s too far,” Murray said. “Take a BU student, for example, who [is] not a huge fan of the team, but is looking for something to do on a Wednesday night. Go buy a $30 ticket, walk down the street and go to the game. That’s how you create new fans.” While the PWHL isn’t necessarily “brand new” — its inaugural season was two years ago — the professional circuit experienced a surge in attention following the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games, where USA Hockey earned a hat trick and completed a historic gold medal sweep across the men’s, women’s and Paralympic tournaments.

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

The Boston Fleet huddle around their net before a matchup against the Minnesota Frost at Agganis Arena on Dec. 7, 2025. This July, the Fleet announced that Agganis Arena will be their new home.

“If you see it, you can be it, and for our players to personally know or know of it just makes it feel like more of a reality.” Tara Watchorn BU Head Coach social media manager and graphic designer for the Dog Pound. It’s not just the fans that are experiencing the growth of the game — the players are too. For senior forward Greta Henderson, the league’s expansion has transformed what once felt like a distant dream into a tangible career path. “The league’s growing so much, and it’s so exciting because we all, as young girls, dreamed of something like this,” Henderson said. “To see it actually come to life is pretty amazing and pretty special. I’m very fortunate that I have a chance to potentially be a part of something like this.” While the benefits are evident inside the locker room, supporters see the Fleet’s presence as equally

meaningful for the broader BU community. “The whole birth of the PWHL is happening right here on our lawn. The accessibility that it provides, the link to the students and the campus is exciting for everyone,” said Lucas Rie, co-president of the Dog Pound. The Fleet’s move creates a unique relationship between the professional and collegiate game, allowing the two levels of the sport to become increasingly interconnected. The access to professional hockey may attract new fans to Agganis Arena, which in turn may increase interest in BU’s program and expose more spectators to the next generation of professional talent. The Terriers have already sent players to the PWHL. Andrea Brändli, Sydney Healey and Maeve Kelly were selected this past summer in the PWHL 2026 Draft, with Kelly being drafted by the Fleet. For Watchorn, the Fleet’s presence creates an opportunity for studentathletes to be able to watch, interact with and learn from professional players who are competing in the same arena where they practice and play. What once felt distant is now a part of the everyday environment of BU women’s hockey. “If you see it, you can be it, and for our players to personally know or know of it just makes it feel like more of a reality,” Watchorn said. The addition of another team in Agganis will be a new chapter in the growing book of BU hockey. “They won’t be the same, but they won’t be different. They will be a similar thing in a new light,” said Noah Gendreau, head of fan engagement for the Dog Pound. “The Fleet won’t change BU’s recognizable hockey scene, but it will add to it. It creates a second event, but one that still brings us together for hockey.”

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The new faces of Boston University women’s hockey BY JANE GUAY BHB Writer

There will be plenty of fresh faces when the Boston University women’s hockey team takes the ice this season. After losing eight seniors, all eyes turn to the newcomers who will replace them. Of the 10 new players, eight are freshmen. They make up one-third of the entire roster. Transitioning from a seniorheavy group to a young squad requires adaptability and time, and the Terriers as a whole will need to define their identity as a team. “We’re starting a lot slower in terms of how we play, and taking a lot more time to coach the foundation that serves our identity and the bigger concepts and systems that we play under,” said head coach Tara Watchorn. Despite roster shake-ups and a measured start, the expectation still stands that every player, regardless of experience, must earn their role. “Everything is earned on this team,” said senior forward Greta Henderson. “Nothing is given to you, no matter seniority.” Luckily for Watchorn, these young players are used to adapting, especially those who have performed on the international stage.

Kylie Hollingsworth | #7

Kali Maechtel | #17

Mylie Ellis | #19

Lo Lachapelle | #20

Eden Bergman | #21

Bronwyn Langis | #22

Quinn Taylor | #24

Julia Curran | #28

COURTESY OF MEG KELLY/BU ATHLETICS

Freshman forward Lo Lachapelle joined the Terriers after a championship-winning performance with Team Quebec in the 2025 U18 Women’s National Championship in Canada. During her season with Quebec, Lachapelle scored four goals and tallied three assists across six games. “I’ve been fortunate to play with a lot of different groups through Team Quebec and Hockey Canada, and every group has been a little different,” Lachapelle said. “I don’t want to come in expecting everyone to play the way I’m used to.” The focus, since the summer, has been on building chemistry. The coaching staff introduced a

mentor-mentee program which paired freshmen and upperclassmen together to learn the team’s system and, more importantly, build relationships. “This year is very different with a lot of new faces,” said assistant coach Megan Meyers. “So we tried to slow it down for them, but it’s been cool to see [freshmen] have their own upperclassman mentor.” The team is hoping to create connections on and off the ice. “I think the hardest part has just been getting out of my shell,” said freshman defender Mylie Ellis. “I was really nervous coming into this, but I think all the girls have made it a lot easier.”

At the end of the day what matters is the team’s ability to perform. “[Watchorn] always says ‘I’m really looking forward to working with you,’... but I think it’s more so I’m really looking forward to working with her,” said freshman forward Quinn Taylor. The freshman praised Watchorn’s work ethic and passion for this group, and said she looks forward to learning under her. Taylor is coming off of a season of 74 goals and 55 assists across 76 games for the North American Hockey Academy White. For this performance, she was named the 2026 Junior Women’s Hockey League Forward of the Year.

Like Lachapelle, Taylor has experience on the international stage, where she competed in the 2026 Collegiate Series vs. Canada and represented Team USA in the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women’s World Championship. Taylor and the seven other freshmen are bringing in an energy to push themselves and everyone on the team to compete. “None of us were expecting them to catch on this fast, but they’re putting in the work,” said junior defender Keira Healey. “We have a lot of newcomers that are earning their spots on special teams, and some upperclassmen that haven’t earned that.” After finishing last season with a record of 11-21-3, BU is in desperate need of a restart, and the hope is that the freshmen will bring it. Watchorn isn’t the type of coach to treat players differently based on their experience at BU, and thanks to these freshmen stepping up, she wouldn’t have to anyway. “I can see us winning a Beanpot, and hopefully Hockey East, and then leading into national championships,” Taylor said. New faces bring questions. This group of freshmen hopes to deliver answers.

From make-believe to making his mark: Jack Harvey’s journey to captain not arrive on Commonwealth Avenue as the player he is today. The Stacy, Minn., native Jack Harvey was three years eventually left home for the Chicago old when he would glide from his Steel, where he spent three seasons bedroom, make his way to the living in the United States Hockey League room and do laps while his parents and became the franchise’s all-time announced: leading goal scorer. By his final “Starting forward, number three, season in Chicago, he scored 40 Jack Harvey!” goals and 74 points. Then, he’d make them do it again Then came BU. — and again. The Tampa Bay Lightning Harvey would retreat to selected Harvey in the seventh round his bedroom, wait for another of the 2023 NHL Draft before he introduction and emerge once more, played his first collegiate game. gliding across the living room as His first few months at BU, if he were skating out in front of a however, required something packed arena. different from him: patience. Twenty years later, Harvey Harvey recorded just one point doesn’t have to ask anyone to make during the first three months of his the announcement. freshman season. On a roster filled He hears his name echo through with NHL talent and future pros, Agganis Arena before taking the ice opportunities had to be earned. for Boston University. Only, now “He didn’t get to play a lot his first there is another title attached to it. semester of his freshman year,” said Captain. head coach Jay Pandolfo. “He had to Harvey’s path at BU has rarely take a little time to get comfortable been about standing still. He has with where he’s at.” gone from a freshman finding his Slowly, Harvey began earning his place in the lineup to an offensive time. contributor, a defensive contributor, His breakthrough came during an assistant captain and, entering his the second half of the season. He senior season, the player entrusted recorded two assists against the with the ‘C’ on his jersey. University of New Hampshire in For the kid who once turned laps February before scoring his first around his family’s living room two collegiate goals just 27 seconds imagining this very introduction, the apart against Merrimack College the reality carries more weight. following week. “It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” By the time the NCAA Harvey said. “Looking back and Tournament arrived, Harvey had seeing where my journey gone from fighting to establish has taken me through himself to contributing when BU these last four years.” needed it most. B u t He recorded three points Harvey during the Terriers’ two did wins in the Sioux Falls Regionals, including a goal and an assist against the University of Minnesota in the regional final, earning a spot on the AllRegional Team. It was the beginning of a progression that has defined Harvey’s time at BU. COURTESY OF KERRY HARVEY “By the second half, he Five-year-old (left) and 12-year-old (right) Jack Harvey.

BY KALLI PAPANTONIOU BHB Writer

took off,” Pandolfo said. His role expanded as a sophomore, and so did his production. Harvey became a regular presence in the Terriers’ lineup and developed into one of the players the coaching staff could rely on in increasingly important situations. By his junior season, that trust extended beyond what he could provide on the ice. An ‘A’ was etched on his jersey. Serving as an assistant captain gave Harvey a different perspective on the program. He was no longer one of the younger players watching how BU’s veterans carried themselves. He had become one of the players being watched. It also gave him a season to learn what leadership at BU demands before assuming the role of captain. “A big thing for us is accountability, and just being open with each other,” Harvey said. “We all want the best for the team, and [want] everyone to speak their mind and make it more of a group effort where we hold ourselves and each other accountable.” Those who knew Harvey long before Boston, though, explained that the leadership role fits a personality that has been there all along. “He’s always had a mature way about him,” his mother, Kerry Harvey, explained. “Even when he was a little kid, he always seemed to be more mature than the other kids around him.” The arenas got bigger. The competition got better. And the stakes became higher. For Harvey’s family, watching him become captain means seeing the culmination of a journey that began long before anyone outside their living room knew his name. “It tugs at my heart to see that he has made it this far,” his mom said. For Pandolfo, however, putting the ‘C’ on Harvey was about more than what’s on paper. It was about the player and teammate he had become once he got here. “He’s really good at grabbing a guy to the side and talking to him. He knows when guys are going through hard times,” Pandolfo explained. “That’s not easy for everyone to see.”

Harvey enters his final season at BU with a perspective few players on the roster can replicate. “No one was more disappointed in the way that last season ended[than he was],” his mom said. “He knows the pain of falling short.” After reaching back-to-back Frozen Fours during Harvey’s first two seasons, BU missed the NCAA Tournament last year. For a program

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior forward Jack Harvey (12) skates around during warmups. Harvey, who was once a freshman fighting for ice time, is now named captain of the team in his final year.

Harvey skates along the blue

a c c u s t o m e d line. to measuring s e a s o n s against championship expectations, the early ending left something behind. Harvey has carried it into his senior season. “The biggest thing is the group has to really be bought into it,” Harvey said. “Everyone has to be a part of it. Everyone’s got to feel like a family.” Now, he is responsible for helping make sure those lessons extend beyond himself. Harvey leads a roster that features players at the same point he once stood: Freshmen entering the college hockey scene trying to understand their roles, earn ice time and adjust to the expectations that come with wearing the scarlet and white. He knows what that feels like. He also knows how much can change in four years. “I just want those guys to understand that BU is a really special place and there’s not many places like it in all of college hockey,” Harvey said. “It’s a privilege and an honor and [you have] to not take it for granted and try to do everything you can to leave the place better than when you got there.” The responsibility does not mean Harvey suddenly has to become someone different.

Leadership can come in speeches and conversations held on the bench. But it can also show itself more quietly — in the moments when no one is watching or the moments when he’s simply being himself. “The guys have a lot of respect for him and how he handles things both on and off the ice,” Pandolfo said. Harvey will have one season to leave that mark as captain. Eventually, there will be a final introduction at Agganis Arena. A final time hearing his name over the speakers. A final skate onto the ice wearing the scarlet and white. That moment can wait. For now, there are still laps to take. “I hope they remember me as someone who was always there for them,” Harvey said. “Someone that really cared about all of the guys and the entire program so much.” “I hope they remember how much I gave to this program,” Harvey said. More than two decades after 3-year-old Jack repeatedly emerged from his bedroom to an introduction from his parents, the imaginary arena has become a real one. The number has changed. The audience has gotten bigger. And this time, his parents don’t have to announce him. Agganis Arena does.

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Why couldn’t BU hockey meet its sky-high expectations? Continued from page 1 including one to Cole Eiserman. McMahon told Pandolfo that, once the Terriers got healthy, they would likely find their rhythm. Pandolfo’s response surprised him. Rather than focusing on Eiserman’s return, Pandolfo emphasized the importance of getting sophomore forward Nick Roukounakis in the lineup. Roukounakis missed the first 11 games of the season due to injury, and his absence left a hole in a role that few others on the roster were equipped to fill. Roukounakis occupied a bottomsix role, which many of BU’s highly touted forwards had seldom been asked to do before arriving on Commonwealth Ave. Most came from programs where they were top-line scorers and offensive focal points. Playing a gritty, defenseoriented role lower in the lineup was a foreign concept to many. That reality became a challenge for a roster loaded with elite talent. “If you bring in 12 first-line forwards … there’s only six spots in the top six,” McMahon said. “When you start to try to force players to play outside of the role that they want or the role that they expected … players aren’t comfortable playing that style.” Roukounakis’s return came during BU’s 6-2 loss to Quinnipiac. By then, there were warning signs that the season was not unfolding as expected, but that game felt particularly revealing. Roukounakis scored his first collegiate goal against Quinnipiac. His line, alongside Ben Merrill and Jonathan Morello, was BU’s lone bright spot. Though listed as the fourth line, the trio earned increased responsibility as the game wore on

and saw time on the power play in the third period as the Terriers searched for a spark. “Well, they’re the only line that showed up,” Pandolfo said postgame. “So, yeah, they deserved to be out there.” For me, that night was a clear indication that BU was not on track for the season many expected. When a team’s fourth line becomes its most reliable unit, it is often a sign that larger issues are at play. During the 2025-26 season, the Terriers rostered 20 underclassmen. It is one of the oldest debates in college hockey: Can a team built around elite young talent win a national championship? The Terriers became a case study for that question. BU was the youngest team in the NCAA, with an average age of 20.1 years old, according to College Hockey News. The roster was loaded with NHL draft picks, World Junior participants and players who arrived on Commonwealth Ave. with high expectations. Yet, it was also exceptionally young. Following BU’s loss in the national championship last spring, the Blog examined whether a roster constructed around top-end young talent could get over the hump. In 2025-26, the Terriers pushed that model to its extreme. Youth brought undeniable talent, but it also brought growing pains. Many of BU’s players were still learning how to handle adversity, establish consistency and fulfill the demands of winning at the highest level of college hockey. Pandolfo admitted that managing such a young roster was one of the biggest lessons from the season. “You can’t expect kids at this level to just get it without continuing

to stay on them with certain things,” Pandolfo said. “I think I did a poor job last year from that standpoint. [We] could never find our way.” “We had some moments where it looked like maybe things were turning, and then we’d take two steps back,” he added “[It gave me] a better understanding of how to manage a team that maybe is a little younger. I don’t think I did a great job.” Talent was never the issue. The challenge was turning that talent into a cohesive, mature group capable of navigating the ups and downs of a championship-caliber season. BU lost its identity. I’m not going to pretend like I was in the locker room. But when a team falls off like BU did, it is easy to suspect a more simpler solution. Identity is difficult to quantify. It is not a system or a style of play. Rather, it is a culture that defines some of the program’s most successful moments. When reflecting on last season, senior Aiden Celebrini did not point to injuries, talent or bad luck. Instead he pointed to a team that drifted away from “BU Hockey.” “We strayed from it last year, and I think that was one of the most detrimental things to our success,” Celebrini said. “From a leadership standpoint, [I want to] continue to foster the tightness and the character that is BU hockey.” An assistant captain this season, Celebrini is now tasked with reinforcing the identity the Terriers drifted from. “There’s a mutual understanding from everyone in the group, and especially the leadership group, that we want to get back to being an incredibly tight-knit, good-culture character squad that will do anything for each other,” he said. Celebrini has experienced both

sides of the program. He was part of BU’s Frozen Four squad and also part of the team that finished with a .500 record. T h e disconnect was evident on the ice. There were periods when the Terriers looked capable of living up CRISTINA ROMANO | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER to preseason Then-sophomore forward Nick Roukounakis (7) grieves e x p e c t a t i o n s . Boston University losing the 73rd Beanpot final. BU men’s Then, as hockey’s 2025-26 season culminated in disappointment. Pandolfo put it, they would take minutes. “two steps back.” BU picked up two transfer portal Those inconsistencies were likely veterans to specifically fill the symptoms of a larger issue that only defensive holes that the departures those within the locker room have of Gavin McCarthy and Cole Hutson the answer to. opened. “They learned a lot about what “We still have a very young a team looks like when a team is squad, but we’ve got a very mature connected and what a team looks squad this year,” Celebrini said. like when a team’s not connected,” While the message for this year Pandolfo said of the returning may not be new, it’s more important leadership group. than ever. And if Celebrini is correct, the “We have to approach every day Terriers’ biggest problem last season how we need to play as a group and was not that they lacked talent. It how we have to play together as a was that they forgot what made them team,” Pandolfo said. successful in the first place. BU’s head coach is done talking about last season. So what now? The good news is that he won’t “First you sit down as a staff and have to for much longer. you look for what went wrong or The Terriers believe they’re more why things went wrong,” Pandolfo mature. More connected. Better said. “I’m not going to sit here and equipped for the expectations that talk about the different things that come with wearing the scarlet and we felt like we didn’t do a good job white. with, but we addressed everything But belief is easy in October. that we felt we needed to get better Last season taught the Terriers at as a staff.” that talent alone is not enough. The The Terriers have plenty of lessons have been identified. The returners who played meaningful fixes have been made.

‘I just focus on where I am right now’: How Caleb Malhotra navigates life in the spotlight BY CHRISTIAN MARSHALL BHB Writer

The word “pressure” in sports is glamorized. Every week, every contest, athletes’ ability to triumph over pressure is tested. While many succumb to the moment, others shine. But Boston University’s freshman center, Caleb Malhotra, doesn’t feel pressure. He’s worked to embrace it his entire life. Pressure is unavoidable from the first time you pick up a hockey stick when your father is Manny Malhotra, a former NHL first-round pick and 16-year hockey veteran. There is pressure when you dream of becoming a professional athlete, and your uncle is Steve Nash, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history. There is pressure when you commit to Boston University –– a program searching for its first national championship in 17 years –– and are tasked with leading a team coming off its worst season in seven years. There is pressure when you’re drafted third overall in the NHL draft by the Vancouver Canucks and fans expect you to become the face of a once-storied franchise that’s sunk to the bottom of the league. Oh, and your father is the Canucks’ new head coach. That’s pressure. But the 18-year-old Etobicoke, Ontario native handles it by following one piece of advice his dad taught him: stay where your feet are at all times. “He just said, ‘Take it one step at a time, focus on everything daily, not even … our next game in a week and a half or our next practice, just [focus] on where I am right now.’” Malhotra said. “It’s a piece [of advice] I’ve lived by for the last year and a half.” The spotlight on his life has

magnified since the moment one step at a time.” handle the expectations of college Malhotra stepped off the NHL draft Taking things one step at a time stardom: Macklin Celebrini. stage in a Canucks sweater and onto means experiencing being a freshman Two years ago, Macklin was the BU’s campus. in college and enjoying everything newest superstar prospect in a Terrier But as questions about his future the city of Boston has to offer. jersey, facing the same expectations swirl, behind the closed doors of Since moving to Boston, he has of stardom and the same questions Agganis Arena, about whether he Malhotra takes on would live up to the responsibility them. and expectations Everything of being one of M a l h o t r a hockey’s future will face at stars, one day at a BU, Macklin time. has already “One practice experienced. I’m focusing on my Everything hands, [another] M a c k l i n practice I’m acco mp lish ed focusing on my as a Terrier, skating,” Malhotra Malhotra will said. “Every day hope to replicate. [I’m] focusing As the two on something ran through and honing in drills, Malhotra on that instead JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER watched while of trying to look Freshman forward Caleb Malhotra (27) dekes past three Alaska Fairbanks the 20-year-old [at] the big picture players as he enters the offensive zone. Ahead of his highly anticipated freshman Sharks captain because that can season, Malhotra handles the expectations of greatness one day at a time. refined his craft. get overwhelming Every shot found pretty quick.” its target and Part of that big picture is stepping caught a couple of Red Sox games. every pass landed on the tape of the out of the shadow of his famous If you peek into BU’s Fitness and receiver’s stick. Macklin intended for Recreation Center at the right every movement in every drill to be uncle and father. From the outside, it looks like a time, you might see the Terriers’ perfect, and Malhotra took notes. privilege to grow up in NHL locker centerman getting some shots up on “It was an eye-opening rooms, watching your father take the basketball court. experience,” Malhotra said. “I think At the end of the day, when the that’s something I’m going to take on the world’s best, or playing pickup basketball in the driveway puck drops for the Terriers’ 2026-27 with me for the rest of my career, against one of the greatest Canadian season, fans in Boston and Vancouver being able to have that perfection basketball players of all time. But will be watching, and the pressure mindset.” to Malhotra, they’re not former will rise again. But not every rep can be perfect But Malhotra intends to take it in — and that’s when the doubters’ NBA or NHL players, it’s just his dad and Uncle Steve. The two are stride, game by game, day by day. voices get louder. A 30-second clip overqualified loved ones he can When you grow up in a family full of Malhotra’s practice with Macklin lean on for guidance in his fledgling of athletes, you learn not to run from went viral on social media. Celebrini hockey career. They are resources, the pressure, but rather to live with it. was positioned on the wing, firing During the most chaotic offseason backhand passes to Malhotra, who not blueprints for his own success. “I don’t feel any pressure about of his young hockey career, Malhotra worked to receive them and shoot in performing for their sake,” Malhotra took a trip to British Columbia to one motion. Celebrini’s passes were said. “I love them, and I want to do spend a couple of days training with perfect, and Malhotra’s shots looked the best for them, but I think this is perhaps the one player uniquely weak. Internet doubters jeered. Rival my journey and I’m going to take this capable of teaching him how to fans were already calling the prospect

a bust, while some supporters worried he wouldn’t live up to the hype. Did Malhotra see the viral video and the negative comments? Probably not. If he did, he scrolled right past them. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before. “I think I’ve gotten really used to it, with last year being my NHL draft year and my whole life having a little bit of attention and some eyes on me,” Malhotra said. “As long as the people in my life … are giving me advice, helping me with my play, those are the only opinions I really care about.” But what about the positive comments? For every detractor in the 18-year-old freshman’s comment section, there’s a fan who hopes he succeeds. For every person who thinks Malhotra won’t live up to the hype, there’s someone who believes he’s a franchise savior and future star. Malhotra said he appreciates the comments, but he scrolls past them too. “I think it’s cool to see, but I think I deal with it the same as the negative stuff, to be honest.” Malhotra said. “I’ve got to put the blinders on and can’t get a swollen head … You don’t want to have them pump your tires, and you get arrogant or cocky about yourself.” Beneath the hockey euphemisms and analogies lies an understanding: The pressure, the expectations, the noise — positive or negative — will always be there. One day, Malhotra may be in the NHL with his dad behind the bench and his uncle in the stands cheering him on. But right now, his focus is on the present, not on meeting expectations or answering questions, but on accomplishing a singular goal. “Looking back, I want to be able to say, ‘Yeah, we were champions on this team,’” Malhotra said. “We want to win everything.”

5

Pietersen enters her senior season with confidence and purpose Continued from page 1

a better job.” Goaltending offered Pietersen the opportunity to directly change the game. Hugh said he remembers a game at the Stoney Creek tournament when BU was scouting his daughter. The game went to a lengthy shootout, and Pietersen surrendered just one goal. For Hugh, it wasn’t just the saves that stood out. It was the pressure. “She could do well, even with the spotlight on her,” he said. E v e r y offseason, Pietersen returned home with something she wanted to fix –– an idea that her family instilled in her. “I think Mari really enjoys the journey,” Hugh said, “the process of getting better and being the best version of herself.” That process was tested when she arrived in Boston. Former BU goaltending coach Bret Gilmour remembers f r e s h m a n P i e t e r s e n as a “raw competitor.” She already had the desire to win and she had the potential for strong athletic ability. Gilmour and Pietersen often talked about finding a way to improve “1% every day.” One spring practice gave Gilmour a glimpse of what all those small percentages could become. They had been working on Pietersen’s puck handling, specifically on finding the confidence and power to clear the zone. She struggled with the drill, and Gilmour moved on to work with the defensemen. When he looked back down the ice, Pietersen hadn’t moved on. She grabbed the other goalies and spent another 20 or 30 minutes

attempting it. Again. Again. And again. At their next skate, she did it on the first try. “[Great athletes] pick up stuff super

ANNIKA MORRIS | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

quick,” Gilmour said. “She’s always picked things up very quickly, but to see that switch of ‘I’m gonna sit in this until I can get really good at it,’ that was a big moment for me to see her growth.” But college hockey demanded more than technical growth. Goaltenders occupy an unforgiving position –– their mistakes light up a scoreboard. “When you win, you’re the hero,” Gilmour said. “When you lose, you get the blame.” As an underclassmen, Pietersen would check in with Gilmour in between periods. They would discuss what was working, what wasn’t and what needed to change. “Coming into her senior year,

college career. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, Pietersen stopped 63 shots across two games for BU to win the Friendship Series, earning her tournament MVP honors. Head coach Tara Watchorn said she remembers that the Terriers didn’t play their best that tournament, but it didn’t matter. “When you think a b o u t how she played in [Northern] Ireland last year, we did not play well in front of her,” Watchorn said. “We don’t get to where we were [without her].” Pietersen wasn’t chasing a shutout or a perfect performance. She was simply trying to find the next save her team needed. “She just was in it with the group, helped [us] find a way to win, COURTESY OF HUGH PIETERSEN and she was just Then-sophomore (left) and 13-year-old outstanding,” (right) Mari Pietersen in net. Watchorn said. Throughout her life, Pietersen’s career The Pietersen has been grounded in perseverance. family’s saying is “enjoy the season, she started journey,” and Mari had never made 19. that journey alone. “I spent a lot less Gilmour –– who spent countless time thinking and a lot more time hours with her on the ice and just as just playing the game,” Pietersen many conversations away from it said. –– and her goalie coach from back Her family had a simple message home, Brad Fogal, have played key for her: Go be Mari. roles. There are also her parents, “I was honestly just doing that,” Hugh and Sandy, and of course her she said, “just going out there, teammates and coaches. playing my game [and] having Collectively, they have a name: fun.” “Team Mari.” She wasn’t thinking about “It takes a village, and that’s statistics or what would happen cliche,” Pietersen said. “I’ve never after a mistake. The objective felt like I’m alone going through this.” became simple. Now, as a senior on a relatively “How can I go out there and give my team the best opportunity to young BU team, Pietersen has found her voice and become someone her win? That’s all it was,” she said. Last January, thousands of miles teammates look towards as a leader. “She [has] a calmness, a from Boston, that mindset produced one of the defining weekends of her composed maturity that’s always

been there,” Watchorn said. “You can tell she’s taking things in before she speaks, but when she speaks, it’s thought out and timely.” For years, Pietersen has had her village. As a senior, she has the opportunity to become part of somebody else’s. She wants to communicate more with the young team in front of her. Make the first pass. Help the blue line. Keep the Terriers out of their defensive zone. Pietersen wants to keep finding her 1%. The difference is that she no longer seems to be searching for evidence that she belongs. Her father sees what he calls a “quiet confidence” in her now. “She believes in her ability,” Hugh said. “She has an understanding that she belongs.” Her mother sees something bigger. When Mari eventually plays her last game at BU, it’s not the saves or awards that will make Sandy proudest. “Sometimes I’m in awe with the way that she conducts herself,” Sandy said. “I’m just going to be proud of the incredible, good human being that she is.” Pietersen has her own idea of what she hopes to remember when her time at BU eventually ends. Not her save percentage. Not the 63 saves in Belfast. Not even the trophies. “I would like them to remember me as someone who made them better on and off the ice,” Pietersen said. “We’re more than just a hockey team. We’re family, and I want them to remember me as someone who they could always go to and could talk to and could trust.” She arrived at BU as a raw competitor trying to establish herself in the crease. Three years later, the technical game has been polished. The opportunities have increased. The big saves have come. So have the big stages. But perhaps the most important development is simpler. Mari learned how to be Mari. And when Hugh looks toward the crease this season, past the players and through the mask, he’ll know that his daughter is doing exactly that. He’ll see her smile.

try and grow the game of women’s hockey,” Metcalf said. In just the past few years, the BU’s women’s ice hockey team has felt the growth of women’s hockey firsthand. “I think when I was first learning to skate, there was not even an inkling of where [women’s hockey] is at now,” said BU senior captain Neely Nicholson. “Thinking of my younger self, I would have been completely blown away by the thought of playing in TD Garden in front of 14,000 people in the Beanpot final.” Not only has the league grown in attendance, but also in competitiveness. In the last four seasons, there have been three different winners of the Hockey East Tournament, with UConn, BU and Northeastern each snagging at least one title. “I think it’s going to be a dogfight this year, which is exciting,” Nicholson said. Hockey East is an incredibly competitive league — the type of league that will help women’s hockey continue to grow. “Our league getting players to the pros should be everything, and a part of our identity,” said BU head coach Tara Watchorn. For the 2025-26 season, a record 44 Hockey East alumni were rostered in the PWHL, making up about 21% of the entire league. “Tamara [Giaquinto] is a great example,” Nicholson said. “I think she was a great leader for us, and

she led us to a championship. Watching her in the PWHL has been amazing.” Giaquinto, a former Terrier, received Hockey East Defender of the Year in the 2024-25 season. One year later, she won the Walter Cup with the Montreal Victoire. The excellence of Hockey East did not always translate into opportunities to play professionally. Now, it’s about getting the chance to play and sustaining that growth for the future. With the growth in attendance at Walter Brown Arena, different generations have shown up to watch teams battle it out on the ice. “There’s one girl that plays goalie, and she’ll talk to me about the equipment, asking, ‘What sticks do you like to use,’ or we’ll talk about goalie stuff,” senior goalie Mari Pietersen said. The true measure of the league’s success may not be found in championships, trophies or professional contracts. Instead, it’s found in the young fans who now have players, teams and dreams that look like their own. “When you ask [young girls] who their favorite player is or who their favorite team is, it’s no longer an NHL team or a male hockey player,” Pietersen said. “They have these female role models to look up to, so it’s just really cool to see the game grow and how much it’s impacting generation to generation.”

she doesn’t necessarily need the soundboard,” Gilmour said. “She can start to do it on her own.” That independence did not arrive all at once, but neither did being in net. Pietersen appeared in 10 games as a sophomore. L a s t

Women’s Hockey East celebrates 25th anniversary

Over the past few decades, the investment in women’s hockey has drastically improved the physical resources and spaces women’s A quarter of a century ago, the hockey players utilize. While Hockey East conference made one the league has grown, players of the most defining moves in the league’s history: the establishment themselves have followed suit. of a women’s hockey league. “The players are faster, they’re A division that started with five more skilled, the game is more women’s hockey programs — physical, all those things,” Metcalf Boston College, the University said. of Maine, the University of New The increase in physicality and Hampshire, Providence College overall hockey talent has led to the and Northeastern University — high skill level fans see on the ice would undergo unprecedented in today’s era. A lot of that talent growth over the next several started out in Hockey East. Now, it’s being showcased on the international stage. This past winter, 34 female Hockey East alumni played in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. Eight of those 34 were on Team USA — which went on to win the gold medal. The popularity of women’s hockey has grown exponentially since Team USA’s gold medal victory. One of the many results? The Boston Fleet of the Professional Women’s Hockey League are calling BU’s Agganis Arena their home for the season. “Moving into a building and a school that has a great women’s hockey program, I COURTESY OF MATT WOOLVERTON/BU ATHLETICS Captain Tamara Giaquinto (23) hoists the Bertagna Trophy after the 2025 Hockey think there’s an opportunity for great synergy there for East final. This upcoming season will be nothing short of historic for the Hockey East the BU women and the Fleet conference as it celebrates the growth of the women’s division over the past 25 years. to do some things together to

BY JANE GUAY BHB Writer

decades. The 2026-27 season marks the 25th anniversary of the women’s league of Hockey East. The league has expanded vastly since its inception with the additions of the University of Connecticut in 2002, Boston University and the University of Vermont in 2005, Merrimack College in 2015 and College of the Holy Cross in 2018. “Training and having access to … coaches, facilities, resources in order to get better. There’s been a growth in all of that,” said Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalf.

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‘He bought into it’: How Carter Amico’s time at Muskegon reshaped his confidence and brought him back to BU BY CHRISTIAN MARSHALL BHB Writer

Carter Amico’s confidence was shot. That’s not something you ​ hear often about the 6-foot-5, 218-pound sophomore defenseman who has literally stood above the competition at every level on his way to being drafted No. 38 overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2025 NHL Draft. ​But through his first 18 games at Boston University, Amico struggled to adapt to the fast pace and bright lights of college hockey. Amico averaged 6:40 time on ice per game and recorded zero points in his first stint as a Terrier. Talent was never the issue. A year before he arrived at BU, Amico was projected to be a firstround NHL draft pick. Then he fractured his patella twice, and the combination of injuries and the adjustment to college hockey left the talented teenager a step behind and near the bottom of the Terriers’ depth chart of defenders. For Amico to reach his potential, both at BU and beyond, something needed to change. When thenfreshmen forward Tynan Lawrence announced he was making the jump from the United States Hockey Leagues’s Muskegon Lumberjacks to Boston University m i d w a y through the season, the Te r r i e r s came to Amico with a n

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

opportunity: He would spend the rest of his freshman year in Muskegon and get the playing time he needed to develop in the USHL that he couldn’t get at BU. “There was an honest conversation between BU and Carter on what the future looked like and potentially what he needed,” said Muskegon Lumberjacks head coach Colten St. Clair. “To extend his career, he needed to touch the puck a little bit more and gain some confidence and get back to his game.” The Lumberjacks have a reputation for developing hockey prospects into top-end college talent. Entering the 2026-27 season, 69 former Lumberjacks will take the ice for NCAA Division I hockey programs and 11 Muskegon alumni suited up for NHL teams on opening night. Despite Muskegon’s reputation for development, some prospects would find the idea of going back to the USHL unthinkable — especially those as experienced as Amico, who spent several years on the United States Development National Team Program. However, Amico understood the power of work ethic — the quality that made him into an elite NHL prospect and helped him fight through two major knee injuries. Accepting the chance to play for the Lumberjacks wasn’t a demotion — it was a chance to put in the work to get back to Boston, even if the two teams felt a world apart. Committing to the Lumberjacks meant buying into Muskegon’s tireless schedule of two-a-day workouts, skill work and daily film sessions. The schedule was built to prepare players for the college game — for Amico, it

Amico looks for an open teammate to pass to.

was a vehicle to get back on track. That level of consistency in practice translated to the game. In his brief stint with BU, Amico’s playing time was inconsistent, and he couldn’t afford to take risks when he didn’t know when his number would be called. At Muskegon, Amico had the freedom to take risks and make mistakes because he knew St. Clair would call his number to hop over the boards again. “I think the biggest thing for me was just learning how to work through a mistake on the ice during a game and go back out there and just keep playing,” Amico said. “Playing free mentally and just keep going.” When Amico arrived in Michigan, St. Clair felt he played as if “he needed to make up for everything and every shift in the last two years.” In the second half of his unconventional year, the Terrierturned-Lumberjack committed to keeping things simple. Once he mastered St. Clair’s proverb “less is more,” the game began to slow down, and Amico began to thrive. After going point-less in his brief stint at BU, Amico tallied 11 points in 27 games with the Lumberjacks. In Muskegon’s run to the Clark Cup finals, Amico’s improving offensive skill set continued to shine. He tallied 3 goals and 4 assists in 16 playoff games, culminating in a moment that showed St. Clair the struggling player he inherited was no more. In Muskegon’s Eastern Conference final matchup against the Madison Capitals red-hot goalie Caleb Heil, Amico’s large frame somehow snuck behind the Capitals’ defense and got the puck on his stick, staring down Heil with a decision to make: shoot or pass? The Amico who arrived in Muskegon short on confidence might have passed the puck to a teammate. The Amico who lacked confidence entirely in Boston probably wouldn’t have been in that dangerous position to make a play in the first place. But after weeks of playing his

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Sophomore defender Carter Amico (15) fires a wrist shot. After spending the first semester of his freshman year at BU, Amico played with the Muskegon Lumberjacks to rebuild his confidence after several major injuries.

best hockey in years, Amico’s confidence was flowing, so he fired a slap shot over Heil’s right shoulder. Goal. Bar down. Carter Amico, the player who had earned acclaim from NHL teams and the attention of Boston University just a year ago, was back. Amico’s confidence and improved play in Muskegon opened the door to even more opportunities. His resurgence continued into the Flyers’ summer development camp and earned Amico an invite to the World Junior Summer Showcase to represent Team USA and a chance to make the World Junior Championship team this winter. At both stops, Amico continued to amaze. But the most important door Amico walked back through was the one to Agganis Arena. Six months after he left Boston for Muskegon, Amico made his way to Commonwealth Avenue for his sophomore season, becoming the first BU hockey player to leave and then rejoin the Terriers since 1985.

“[Carter] was committed to coming back here. A lot of guys, if they leave mid-year like that, they’re not coming back, and I give him so much credit for that,” said Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo. “From what we’ve seen ... he’s so far ahead of where he was last year. He’s going to be a huge part of our [defense].” ​For a lot of players, getting sent to Muskegon, seemingly demoted from college hockey, after two major injuries could have destroyed the last bit of a player’s confidence. For Amico, the experience restored it. “Maybe [Carter] had to eat a piece of humble pie. It’s not easy, especially in today’s world of social media and everybody judging you like, ‘Oh wow, this guy must not be very good if he’s going back to the USHL.’” St. Clair said. “This was a pure development path for him that he needed to take in order to extend his career, and he bought into it.” “He’ll be laughing at the end of the day,” St. Clair said.

BU opts in to House v. NCAA settlement BY HANNAH CONNORS BHB Director

For a year, Boston University window shopped while virtually every other blue blood college hockey program spent the money. Now, it’s the Terriers turn to join in. On May 5, 2026, the Boston University Athletic Department announced it elected to opt in to the House v. NCAA settlement beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. The program’s decision came a year after the settlement was approved on June 6, 2025, establishing an agreement that allowed college athletic departments to directly share revenue with their athletes. Seeds were planted for the house settlement back in 2021 when the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness for the first time. However, BU’s delay to opt in didn’t affect the Terriers’ ability to compete on either the men’s or women’s side, but rather put them in a position to evaluate how the new landscape would affect college athletics. BU said in a statement posted on social media that its athletics department spent the past year reviewing how the settlement was being implemented, including its effect on peer schools. The statement said opting in was “the most prudent and strategic course of action,” and “appropriately

positioned [BU] for sustained competitive strength.” “The patient approach is generally how Drew [Marrochello] does things, and I think that’s one of the reasons Drew has been so successful as our athletic director. He’s always taken a very patient and even-keeled approach to running our athletic department,” Colby Cohen, former BU hockey player and vice president of Hockey and Player Experience for the United States Hockey League, said. Although BU took longer than many of its peers to opt in, the decision places the Terriers on a level playing field in a rapidly changing college hockey environment. “College athletics is still operating through an educational institution with an educational mission. Athletes are not simply employees like in a traditional, typical professional sports model,” said Kathryn Heinze, University of Michigan professor focusing on organizational and institutional change in sport. “So it’s almost like a hybrid organizational forum that’s emerging in that space.” But with this hybrid model comes incentives outside of the educational value of college. Steve Metcalf, commissioner of Hockey East, acknowledged both sides of the hybrid model college athletics is nearing. While he acknowledged some positive aspects of paying players, he said development should be

the primary reason for choosing a college. “If you decided that you wanted to go to a program and that was the best place for you, the best fit, and where you were going to develop ... then go there and prove your game,” Metcalf said. Mike McMahon, a senior writer for College Hockey News, echoed the sentiment. “You need a little bit [of money] just to get into the conversation with the higher end players,” McMahon said. “I don’t think it’s going to ever be a situation where in hockey you have to outbid someone for a player.” So did waiting to opt in affect BU men’s and women’s hockey ability to recruit high-end talent? No. Being first isn’t always better. Heinze explained this in terms of organization behaviors. Sometimes companies benefit from being the first to adopt something new because they can get ahead of competitors and gain an advantage. But those benefits usually apply when introducing a new product or service. In BU’s case, waiting to see how the new system worked before jumping in was just as valuable. “We are not talking about a traditional firm,” Heinze said. “ Waiting to collect a little bit more information to do it in a way that is a bit more informed and makes sense.” When players are choosing BU, they are choosing a winning

pedigree deep-rooted in hockey tradition. On the women’s side, Olympic gold medalist Tara Watchorn runs the show as head coach. On the men’s side, you have Jay Pandolfo — tenured NHL player and former development coach for the Boston Bruins — and Kim Brandvold, former development coach for the Boston Bruins. “If you want to be developed to play in the NHL, you get two guys on the staff that worked in player development in the NHL. To me, that’d be a pretty big selling point,” McMahon said. “When you come to BU, your first priority isn’t how much you’re going to get paid,” Cohen said. “I don’t think that’s why players choose BU. They choose it for the tradition, the coaching staff, the facilities and the school itself.” Change remains a constant in college athletics, now more than ever. New settlements, policies and proposals continue to reshape the landscape, creating uncertainty about what the future of the industry will look like. But at the center of these changes are the athletes themselves. As college sports continues to navigate an increasingly professionalized environment, Heinze said there is pressure on all stakeholders to create a system that can endure. “There’s just a lot of incentive to try to stabilize things and make things more sustainable,” Heinze said. If that stability can be achieved,

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Walter Brown Arena. This summer, Boston University opted into the House v. NCAA settlement, meaning the school can directly share revenue with its student athletes.

some believe the changes will continue to grow the game of hockey. “More people are going to watch. I think more people are going to go to games. I think more people are going to do all that stuff,” McMahon said. Still, despite that optimism, significant questions remain about how the benefits of revenue sharing and NIL will affect the landscape of college sports moving forward. “But there’s an empirical question still, as we’ve been talking about,” Heinze said. “Time will tell.”

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BU to host the 2026 Women’s Ice Breaker Tournament BY ANTHONY GASOWSKI BHB Writer

The BU women’s hockey team will make its debut in the sixth annual Women’s Ice Breaker Tournament, on its home rink, Walter Brown Arena, Oct. 23-24. The tournament, hosted by the Hockey Commissioners Association, began as a men’s tournament in 1997 and features four teams each representing a different hockey conference in the NCAA. It’s usually played during the beginning of the season to bring excitement for the sport’s return and act as an early season test for participants. “[Gathering] four teams from four different conferences together to play which I think is great for hockey just to have ... crossconference matchups that you might not [often] see,” said Hockey East Commissioner Steve Metcalf. “I think it’s been quite successful.” The BU men’s team has won the tournament three times out of four appearances, including when they hosted the tournament at Agganis Arena in 2008. The HCA introduced a women’s version of the tournament in 2019. This year, the Terriers will play in it for the first time. “It’s a privilege to be able to host like this,” said BU women’s hockey assistant coach Megan Quinn. “Not every program can, and I think [it] shows that BU supports hockey and is willing to give us these opportunities.” The Ice Breaker Tournament is a semifinal format, similar to the Beanpot and the Friendship Series. BU will take on Yale University of the Eastern College Athletic Conference in the semifinal round. In the consolation or championship game, BU will either face Robert

Morris University of the Atlantic Hockey America conference or Minnesota State of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. “When you bring teams in from all over the country you don’t normally play, you’re earning another great opponent in a lot of ways,” said head coach Tara Watchorn. “That dynamic of competitiveness of wanting to say ‘we’re the best in this tournament’ ... spans across conferences.” With the Beanpot scheduled in January and the Hockey East playoffs beginning in late February, a tournament like the Ice Breaker in October is an unexpected, but an early opportunity for players to compete. “It’s really important to feel these one and done elimination games,” said junior forward Lola Reid. “You got 60 minutes and we win or we are knocked out. I think that’s really important before the Beanpot and the Hockey East tournaments, especially for the newcomers.” The team is no stranger to strong midseason tournament performances. Under Watchorn, the Terriers have appeared in three consecutive Beanpot finals and won the first women’s Friendship Series in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In January, the Terriers arrived in Belfast with a 4-11-2 record and were set to take on No. 8 ranked Quinnipiac University in the opening round of the tournament. The Terriers would come back from a 2-0 deficit against the Bobcats to force a shootout that would cap off the upset. For Reid, the tournament served as a testament that every

tournament is anyone’s for the taking. “No matter who’s supposed to win a game or who’s supposed to lose, anything can happen,” Reid said. The message would persist when BU faced Northeastern University in the Beanpot semifinal. The Huskies came into the 2026 tournament as defending champions, having shut out the Terriers 4-0 in the previous year’s championship game. NU would also sweep BU on Halloween weekend, winning 3-1 and 7-3, and making a good argument that the Huskies would emerge from the Beanpot as the top dogs. That was until Maeve Carey scored the overtime game winner in front of a record breaking crowd at Walter Brown Arena that would send the Terriers to the final. “[That was] probably [one of my] top three most fun environments I’ve been a part of as a player and a coach,” Quinn said. “The fans are always there to support. The building’s always going to be loud. Our band, our Dog Pound ... they all show up for us.” It’s the atmosphere like the one at last season’s Beanpot semifinal that makes hosting an in-season tournament like the Ice Breaker seemingly a nobrainer. Metcalf suggested that the tournament go to BU and the decision was “unanimously supported by the group.” “Being able to bring in schools from everywhere that aren’t normally around here and getting the feel of what BU and Boston [have] to offer in terms of hockey

Wang moved to Toronto to continue developing his skill set and face a higher level of competition. At 12 years old, that transition was not easy. “It definitely mentally [was the] hardest year I have [had] in my life,” he said. Halfway across the world, Wang often felt homesick and missed his friends and family back home. Between balancing a n e w hockey team a n d learning English, he had a lot on his plate. B u t when the

time with family,” he said. “I was training a lot harder in China, and [when] I went back [to Canada] after COVID, I felt more like myself.” For the second time, he found himself at a new school with new teammates. But this time, the hockey started taking off. After a few years of AAA hockey, Wang played his first season of junior hockey in 2023 for the Brantford 99ers, in the Ontario Junior Hockey League. He started drawing the attention of scouts, who were impressed by his size, shot, and skating abilities. Right before his jump to the OJHL, Wang also caught the attention of the Terrier coaching staff when he attended a BU hockey camp. Head coach Jay Pandolfo explained that associate head coach Joe Pereira and assistant head coach Kim Brandvold were running the camp and also noticed his height. “Right away they were like, ‘We got to talk to this kid,’ and they just saw that he had so much potential just for his size, how he skated, just like the little things he could do out there,” Pandolfo said. Drawn to the facilities and legacy of the program, Wang committed to BU in 2023. If stepping on the ice for the first time was “meant to be,” so might be his journey to BU, which has now come full circle.

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior forward Neely Nicholson (18) celebrates her goal in the Friendship Series championship game.

experience ... I’m really curious and excited to see how it’s all going to play out,” Watchorn added. During the 2025-26 season, Boston University broke the conference single home game attendance record, with 3,965 fans showing up to the Battle of Commonwealth Ave. at Agganis Arena on Nov. 14. The program also recorded the third-highest average home game attendance across all NCAA teams, averaging 1,138 fans per game. “Walter Brown is such a special arena,” said senior captain Neely Nicholson. “When it gets a good crowd, you can really feel it as a player.” While Metcalf said the increase in attendance wasn’t the primary factor in the commission’s decision to host the tournament at BU, he acknowledged Walter Brown Arena’s new makeover as an intrigue to being a tournament host. “I was a big advocate for BU

being able to host, especially since they’re one of [five] women’s programs that have their own rink,” Metcalf said. “With the recent renovations, they’ve certainly improved the facility not only for the home team, but for the visitors.” Hockey East has seen College of the Holy Cross, Northeastern, the University of Connecticut and University of Vermont participate in this tournament before. None of them advanced to the championship game. So what will it take for the Terriers to break this new ground? For Watchorn, it’s the resilience the team has in these high-stakes matchups. “If we’re resilient, we’re going to really bug a lot of teams, and we’re going to make it hard for teams to beat us,” Watchorn said.

just the family ties that made Wang familiar with Comm. Ave. Pandolfo and Brandvold first met Wang when he was 10 years old, when both were working for the Boston Bruins. Through a sponsorship with the Chinese packaging company ORG, the Bruins held training camp and played a few games in China. They also hosted young Chinese hockey players in Boston. “We didn’t realize it until we put two and two together here,” Pandolfo said. It was around the same time that Wang went to his first Beanpot game and saw college hockey for the first time. “It was really mesmerizing how college hockey looked, and that was, I wouldn’t say a dream, but definitely an eye-opening moment for me,” Wang said. More eyes noticed Wang’s skillset in junior hockey, and he was drafted to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League after his rookie season. He made the jump to the OHL, one of three Canadian major junior leagues, after exploding to 22 points in 38 games in his second OJHL season. Leading up to the 2025 NHL Draft, Central Scouting ranked Wang as the No. 34 North American skater of his draft class, and he was ultimately drafted No. 33 overall by the San Jose Sharks — the third time a Chinese player has been drafted. “It was always a dream of mine [to be drafted], but I never really thought it would come to reality until really two years ago,” he said. “Before that, it was just the passion of the game and how much I want to get better every single day that kind of motivated me.”

Wang returned to the OHL for a second year after getting drafted, and at the end of the season he represented China in the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship Division I, Group B. Wearing the national team jersey for the first time on home soil, he was named the best defenseman of the tournament, and his team won the silver medal. “I’m really proud of what [the team] did for Chinese hockey, and I feel like it’s trending in the right direction, and I’m really excited for the next chapter for [the team],” he said. For now, his focus is on continuing to develop his game and preparing for the next level. “For me, this year is a really good developing year with less games played [than] junior hockey,” he said. “Molding my game [to be] even more efficient and more consistent, playing against better players, older players, stronger players, that’s going to challenge my defensive ability more, which I’m really looking forward to.” Even over 6,000 miles away from home, Wang’s hockey journey isn’t just about his story, but also the growth of hockey in China. He still goes back home and plans on continuing to do so to inspire others to pick up the sport that has brought him success, while paving the way to become one of the few Chinese players to play in the NHL. “I feel like there’s really no pressure [to grow the game], because as long as I do what I do best, I develop my game, I keep growing and get to the next level,” he said. “It’s a byproduct of motivation to the next generation,” he said.

Coming full circle: Haoxi Wang’s journey to BU from across the globe was ‘meant to be’ BY JENNY CHEN

BHB Writer and Photographer

For Haoxi Wang, stepping on the ice for the first time was “meant to be.” That feeling of his skates scraping the ice, wearing the equipment and learning to stickhandle was nothing like he’d experienced before and led the young four-year-old to continue playing with his friends. “The second I stepped on the ice, I just fell in love with the sport right away,” Wang said. From Beijing, a city with a population of over 21.8 million and where only around 3,000 children play in the local youth hockey league, Wang started out playing the game for the love of it. That passion would eventually propel him to become the highestdrafted Chinese-born player in NHL history, and now, one of the newest members of the Boston University men’s hockey team. Today, he towers over his competition — standing at 6-foot6. Wang skates easily around his opponents and has a powerful shot from distance, but the journey to one of the highest levels of amateur hockey was not always smooth. After picking up the sport in his hometown,

w o r l d shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine was a blessing in disguise. Wang flew back home and hit the reset button over the next year. “I had another year to really take a step back and regroup and [spend] more

JENNY CHEN | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Freshman defender Haoxi Wang (61) toe drags to change the direction of his shot. Wang’s path to BU as the highest-drafted Chinese player in NHL history comes full circle as he starts his first year.

Wang chose to go to school in Boston because of his brother, who is also a BU graduate. But it wasn’t

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Jay Pandolfo’s most significant coaching wins BY HANNAH CONNORS BHB Director

BY ANTHONY GASOWSKI BHB Writer

BY JENNY CHEN

BHB Writer and Photographer

With a 4-0 shutout win against the University of Alaska Fairbanks on Oct. 3, Jay Pandolfo recorded his 100th win as Boston University’s head coach, becoming the fifth men’s ice hockey coach in program history to achieve that mark. Of these wins, which ones did victory taste sweeter? Here are some picks below:

Oct. 1, 2022 | Win No. 1 for Coach Pandolfo

Jay Pandolfo’s return to Commonwealth Avenue as a coach was marked by a 8-2 win over Bentley. While a win over Bentley isn’t the most impressive, it ushered in the start of Pandolfo’s decorated tenure.

March 18, 2023 | 2023 Hockey East Final

BY EMMA JEE Master of Games

ACROSS 1. Strava metric 5. Silly Bandz or a mood ring, to some 9. Gone missing, in the military 10. A tall story? 11. Oversaturated meme from 2010s 12. Disruptor shoe brand 13. Hissing sound 14. “___ do something!” 15. BU Hockey victory song 19. Spanish lasso 20. Toe drags and crossovers, in hockey 24. COM Professor David 25. Hockey East to the ECAC, as divisions 26. Providence art schl. 27. ENG post-grad program option

MARCUS ANTONELLI | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Head coach Jay Pandolfo coaches the Boston University men’s hockey team during the 2026 Beanpot Semifinals. Pandolfo In the second minute of overtime, Lane Hutson earned his 100th win as at the helm of the program, following a fired a shot from distance and celebrated by dabbing 4-0 win over the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

and kneesliding across the ice — completing BU’s

comeback win and securing the Lamorillo Trophy in Pandolfo’s first season. DOWN March 25, 2023 | NCAA Regional Final Against Cornell 1. Hockey protectors This game started Pandolfo’s three-season Frozen Four streak. BU strung together one its best defensive performances, holding the Big Red to just 14 shots through 60 2. Completely overrun minutes. Freshman forward Jeremy Wilmer notched an assist on senior Wilmer Skoog’s opening tally. Ethan Phillips secured BU’s ticket halfway through the third period. 3. Protects, as energy The win advanced the Terriers to their first Frozen Four since 2015, when Jack Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award. 4. Deer species Oct. 7, 2023 | BU vs. Bentley University 5. DoJ trafficking buWhile a 3-2 overtime winner in the season opener reau wasn’t the most ideal start for the Terriers, the names on the score sheet proved to be among the most 6. Men’s Ice Hockey successful players under Pandolfo. Macklin Celebrini tallied two goals and dished opening series locale the game-winning assist to Lane Hutson. Celebrini would go on to have one of the most successful 7. GSU dance space college campaigns in history, culminating in his 2024 Hobey Baker Award. 8. “I’m blind, I’m ___,” Both Hutson and Celebrini — playing for the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks, chant in regards to respectively — are now two of the most iconic names in the NHL. 14-Across COURTESY OF MATT WOOLVERTON/BU ATHLETICS Nov. 30, 2024 | Bedlam in 16. Triangular roadsign Pandolfo smiles during a 2025 Frozen Four press Belfast conference. Down 3-1 after two periods in the Friendship Series 17. Comic book championship game against the University of Notre Dame, BU was heading toward the same fate as its 2018 onomatopoeia tournament run. However, the Terriers were never in doubt. third period saw the Terriers score three unanswered goals, including two within 20 seconds set 18. A hockey team’s first up AbyHerculean co-captains Ryan Greene and Shane Lachance, to ring the bell for the first time in program history. line, slangily Feb. 10, 2025 | 72nd Beanpot Final Two weeks after Boston College swept the Terriers in the Battle of Comm. Ave., the top-ranked Eagles were 20. Hockey East primed to end their Beanpot trophy drought after a dominant first period. postseason mon. However, it only took 70 seconds for freshmen Brandon Svoboda and Cole Hutson to unlock the gear that propelled BU to a 4-1 win and its 32nd Beanpot trophy. Mikhail Yegorov, who joined the team just three weeks 21. Kimono sash prior, won the Eberly Award for his heroic .972 save percentage performance throughout the tournament. This marked Pandolfo’s first Beanpot title as a head coach and stood as a turning point for the season when the 22. 0-0, as a score Terriers went on to make the national championship. April 10, 2025 | Overcoming the Frozen Four Semifinal 23. IG, e.g.

Hump

They say the third time’s the charm. For Pandolfo, it took three straight Frozen Four appearances to overcome the semifinal plateau and advance to BU’s first national championship game since 2015. On the way, BU ended Penn State’s Cinderella run with a 3-1 win to spoil the Nittany Lions’ first Frozen Four appearance.

EDITORIAL BOARD Emma Clement, Editor-in-Chief Jack Schwed, Managing Co-Editor Toby Moses, Managing Co-Editor Kyle Appleby, Sports Co-Editor Olivia Barrett, Sports Co-Editor Anna Peelen, Layout Editor Hannah Yu, Graphics Co-Editor

Dec. 13, 2025 | The Last Game at Matthews Arena

Momentum wasn’t going BU’s way. The Terriers entered the game hoping to get back on track after an upset loss to the University of Vermont, which Pandolfo had never lost to before. On top of that, Boston Bruins anthem singer Todd Angilly sang the national anthem — BU had never won when that happened pregame. But the Terriers found a way to properly bid farewell to the arena they first called home. Trailing Northeastern University by one goal with two minutes remaining, Kamil Bednarik tied the game with the extra skater and Brandon Svoboda iced the game, netting a shot while falling down.

Oct. 3, 2026 | Win 100 in the Last Frontier

Who would’ve thought the place for Pandolfo to win his 100th as a coach would be 3,000 miles away in Alaska. Postgame, he said he wasn’t aware of the milestone. It was a tense staring contest for the first two periods between the Terriers and the Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, but Haoxi Wang caught the defense blinking with a toe drag that gave the Terriers a lead they wouldn’t let go.

Hannah Connors, Director Anthony Gasowski, Writer Kalli Papantoniou, Writer Christian Marshall, Writer Jane Guay, Writer Jenny Chen, Writer and Photographer

CAROLINE FERNANDEZ | BHB PHOTOGRAPHER

Pandolfo coaches the team during the 2023 Manchester Regional.

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BHB staff offer their 2026-27 season predictions Where does BU men’s hockey go from here?

Women’s hockey games to watch out for BU women’s hockey will be challenged early and often this season. If you thought last year’s non-conference stint was hard, this year’s is a whole different ballgame. The Terriers will open with five of their first seven games against ranked opponents.

Wisconsin WHEN

Oct. 1-2 Yale/ Minnesota State/ Robert Morris

The BU men’s hockey team entered the 2025-26 season with most of the Boston Hockey Blog convinced its raw talent from an exciting freshman class and recent appearance in the national championship game would be enough to make a return to a third straight Frozen Four –– one member even projected that it would be the season BU won its sixth national title.

Instead, the Terriers had a rollercoaster season that ended with a 17-17-2 record, a quarterfinal exit in the Hockey East playoffs and no NCAA Tournament appearance. With a new season upon us, how will the team regroup from a disappointing finish? Who will emerge and uplift the squad? How far can this new squad go?

HANNAH CONNORS

ANTHONY GASOWSKI

Oct. 31

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 21-10-5 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional final MVP: Tynan Lawrence MOST IMPROVED: Charlie Trethewey BOLD PREDICTION: Tynan Lawrence will be a Hobey Baker finalist.

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 21-13-2 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional final MVP: Caleb Malhotra MOST IMPROVED: Carter Amico BOLD PREDICTION: Xavier Villeneuve will lead all NCAA defensemen in points.

UConn

The Terriers’ biggest weakness last season was inexperience, an issue they won’t face this year. Several of the team’s key forwards return for their sophomore seasons and the blue line has been reinforced through the transfer portal. Last season, BU failed to find a rhythm, but if they can find consistency this season, they can get back to the NCAA Tournament.

BU entered 2025-26 with one of the most exciting rosters the program has seen –– just to miss the NCAA Tournament. This year’s squad offers returning depth and an exciting freshman class. I won’t be surprised if things start slow, but I’m confident BU can return to the NCAA Tournament.

KALLI PAPANTONIOU

CHRISTIAN MARSHALL

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 22-11-3 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional final MVP: Mikhail Yegorov MOST IMPROVED: Carter Amico BOLD PREDICTION: Caleb Malhotra leads BU in scoring as a freshman

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 22-12-3 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional final MVP: Tynan Lawrence MOST IMPROVED: Jack Murtagh BOLD PREDICTION: Six BU players score 10+ goals

With a strong returning core and promising newcomers, I expect BU to rebound with a 22-11-3 record and reach the NCAA regional final. Mikhail Yegorov’s improvement should provide stability in net, while Carter Amico will take on a larger defensive role. Offensively, I predict freshman Caleb Malhotra will lead the Terriers in scoring.

The Terriers seem to have all the tools to bounce back after a disappointing 202526 season. The team has forward depth, an exciting freshman class, and a goaltender primed for a bounce-back season. I think the Terriers will improve on last season, but their lack of top-end talent will keep them from competing with the best.

JENNY CHEN

JANE GUAY

BHB Director

BHB Writer

BHB Writer and Photographer

BHB Writer

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 21-13-2 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional final MVP: Caleb Malhotra MOST IMPROVED: Charlie Trethewey BOLD PREDICTION: BU fields an All-American

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 23-12-1 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in NCAA regional semifinal MVP: Jack Harvey MOST IMPROVED: Charlie Trethewey BOLD PREDICTION: Their season will end in overtime

This year’s team has the talent to rebound from an underwhelming 2025 season. The team returns a majority of an underperforming but talented forward group and a revamped defensive core. Similar to last season, the question isn’t whether BU has the talent to compete, it’s whether the group can execute head coach Jay Pandolfo’s vision on the ice.

This season is BU’s final chance to prove they still are what they once were, or else they’ll end up stuck in a “rebuilding” cycle. This is a championship-winning program. Rebuilding won’t cut it. Adapting will, and it will be enough to get their names back on the NCAA bracket.

Alaska Fairbanks WHEN

Oct. 2-3 Michigan State WHEN

Nov. 6-7 Denver WHEN

Men’s hockey games to watch out for BU will have plenty of statement opportunities this season. From non-conference matchups against some of the nation’s top programs to rematches fueled by the disappointment of last year’s results, the Terriers will be tested early and often.

Northeastern WHEN

BHB Writer

BHB Writer

Nov. 27-28 Boston College WHEN

Jan. 29

PHOTOS BY JENNY CHEN GRAPHICS BY HANNAH YU | Graphics Co-Editor

WHEN

Oct. 23-24

WHEN

Dec. 4-5 PHOTOS BY JENNY CHEN GRAPHICS BY HANNAH YU Graphics Co-Editor

What does the new era of BU women’s hockey have in store? The BU women’s hockey team had a whirlwind of a 2025-26 season. After winning the Hockey East title the year prior, they were hoping to produce an encore. The first half of the season did not meet expectations. Despite showing flashes through the back half of the

year, the team finished with an 11-21-3 record and failed to defend its title. After an active offseason that saw a handful of PWHL declarations and transfer portal departures, this new roster will have some big skates to fill.

HANNAH CONNORS

ANTHONY GASOWSKI

BHB Director

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 17-15-2 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Hockey East quarterfinal MVP: Lexie Bertelsen MOST IMPROVED: Avery Suprkya BOLD PREDICTION: Lexie Bertelsen earns a spot on the Hockey East Second Team. After an inconsistent season, BU will have to rebuild its offensive core with the loss of eight seniors. The Terriers’ early-season slate will be a challenge, but with the pedigree of the incoming freshman, I suspect BU will make it back in the win column. However, BU is rebuilding its roster, and rebuilds take time.

KALLI PAPANTONIOU BHB Writer

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 17-14-3 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Hockey East semifinal MVP: Mari Pietersen MOST IMPROVED: Lexie Bertelsen BOLD PREDICTION: BU will reach its fourth consecutive Beanpot championship game. I expect BU to improve to 17-14-3 and reach the Hockey East semifinals as its young roster matures. Mari Pietersen’s consistency in net makes her my MVP, while Lexi Bertelsen projects to assume greater offensive responsibility. Despite roster turnover, BU has the potential to reach the Beanpot championship game yet again.

JENNY CHEN

BHB Writer and Photographer

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 17-16-1 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Hockey East semifinal MVP: Mari Pietersen MOST IMPROVED: Avery Supryka BOLD PREDICTION: BU wins the Ice Breaker Tournament. The biggest question facing the Terriers is how they will fill the offensive void left by last season’s graduating stars. BU will open the season against several ranked opponents, and those early tests will show how the Terriers’ younger core will fare this season.

BHB Writer

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 13-19-2 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Hockey East quarterfinal MVP: Lo Lachapelle MOST IMPROVED: Lola Reid BOLD PREDICTION: BU wins the Beanpot. Can this retooled offense replicate the production left by the graduating seniors? I hope the answer comes early, but realistically, I won’t be surprised if it takes a while. That’s why I see this season playing out like last year.

CHRISTIAN MARSHALL BHB Writer

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 16-17-1 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Hockey East quarterfinal MVP: Mari Pietersen MOST IMPROVED: Kaileigh Quigg BOLD PREDICTION: BU wins the Beanpot. It feels like the Terriers are at the end of one era and the start of another. The team carries eight incoming freshmen, some with sky-high potential, but it’s too soon to know whether they can fill the void left by last year’s veterans. The season will be full of exciting flashes, but likely without consistent success.

JANE GUAY BHB Writer

REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 16-18 POSTSEASON FINISH: Loss in Hockey East final MVP: Quinn Taylor MOST IMPROVED: Lexie Bertelsen BOLD PREDICTION: Quinn Taylor wins Hockey East Rookie of the Year. This season, there are new names and storylines coming to Walter Brown Arena. There’s no doubt this team has a lot of adjusting to do. Line changes in the first few weeks will be frequent, but that’s expected. These young future stars of BU women’s hockey and their experience playing with different skill sets are what will save this team –– though maybe not enough for another NCAA Tournament berth.

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