Tag Archives: Kieran Millan

Mar 24 2012

Catching Up With Chris Connonnly (BU Men’s Hockey)

By Elizabeth Thomas 

BOSTON, MA- The Boston University Terriers are set to face off against the University of Minnesota in the opening round of the NCAA West Regional Tournament on Saturday, Mar. 24.

This will be head coach Jack Parker’s record setting twenty-fourth tournament appearance, which is an NCAA record. Also, this will also be the second time seniors Kieran Millan and Chris Connolly will experience the postseason, too. Both players are just two of the only names on the current roster that helped BU win a national championship in 2009.

I had a chance earlier this week to sit down and chat with Connolly about the tumultuous season, as well as his outlook on the upcoming Frozen Four tournament. Below is our conversation.

Is it exciting or nerve racking to return to the NCAA tournament – not having played in it since your freshman year?

“I think it’s more exciting than nerve racking, but that’s speaking for myself since I have been fortunate to have been there before. I think it’s a mixture of both for most of these guys who haven’t been there. It’s exciting for a new group like this to get back there and have a chance to win the national championship.”

Have you and Coach Parker discussed a different game plan going into Saturday’s game or will it still be the same lines we’ve seen all season?

“I think we have to focus on what we do well and try to execute that. It’s a team we’ve never seen before in a different league, so we looked at video and what their tendencies are and just concentrated on what we do well, and just focused on that for this game.”

You and senior goaltender Kieran Millan played your entire Boston University college careers together and you have experienced a great deal of success together. What is it like to potentially be playing in your last game together, and understanding the strong bond you have shared with one another since freshmen year?

“We only have maybe a maximum of four games left.  It’s hard to think that we’ve been playing together the past four years and maybe will not again if we can’t win. The class you enter college with is the class you are going to be closest with and Coach Parker always makes a huge emphasis of it. Right away when you come in as freshmen he has a meeting and usually says ‘stick with this group because these are the guys you are going to spend day and night with for the next four years. I’ve just been blessed to have Kieran back there for the last four years and I think he’s one he best, if not the best in college hockey with the things he’s been able to do. So just to be able to watch him develop and have all the success he has, has been great and very rewarding.  He’s also an amazing guy off the ice as well and I do regard him as a very close friend.”

The whole team has been under intense national media scrutiny since December with the dismissal of Corey Triviro and Max Nicastro, accused of sexual assault and rape. That same week Charlie Coyle left college to go to the NHL. How did it feel going through that turmoil and how did you help the team move forward for the post season?

“It’s unfortunate and it’s something you absolutely never expect or ever want to see someone go through and these guys are as close to anybody that you’re going to meet in college. We see them every day. They are kind of like brothers to us, and I just told the guys that we just got to start taking some strides forward. We can’t change the situation and as unfortunate as it is, we still have an opportunity to do something special as a team. We’re still going to have them with us in sprit even though they can’t physically be with us. They are still a big part of our team, and that’s how we’ve been able to move forward and face some of the adversity we’ve had so far.”

Do you believe that this hardship has affected the team’s chemistry or was this an incident that you were able to just put on the backburner? Is this something that might still affect the team to this day?

“I think it’s something that has brought us closer as a team really. There are a lot of people who like to criticize about things they really don’t know. We know who those guys really are. And like I said, it really did just bring us closer. If anything, we used it as motivation to prove some of the naysayers wrong, that we can still do something special. To be able to have the team we’ve had, to have an automatic bid into the national tournament and have an opportunity to win another championship, is testament to the guys in that room and the kind of character those guys have. We are very much still united as a team.”

You seem to have brought some positive light out of it, with the formation of the “BU Hockey Task Force” which you and the assistant captains formed, focusing on how to behave respectfully as a BU hockey player while off the ice.  What did you want the current team and future BU hockey players to learn from this?

“I hope it’s something that sticks. That we are trying to make guys more aware of certain situations and make guys more careful of what they are doing out there and just to be more aware. College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life, but at the same time you have to be careful. We are in a city school setting and there are a lot of other colleges in the area too. [We just want] them to think and be safe. I think it’s a great idea, and can only help the guys and the incoming freshmen from here on out to just give them the right steps to take when put in certain situations.”

So, it’s something you’d like the team to carry on after you leave in hopes the team will not have to go through the same difficult situations you had to endure this season?

“Yeah, it never hurts to have a little more information and if any of the guys ever have questions on things. I think this will help guide them through it. [We want] to make sure that they are well prepared for certain instances if they were to come about again. It’s not only something that can help everybody on the team in particular, but also everybody at the school.”

On an entirely different note – is it exciting or nostalgic that you and your younger brother Jake will both be playing in this championship tournament for the last time in your college careers?

“It’s extremely exciting! Obviously, we are both seniors, so we want to take our teams as far as we can. He has had a tremendous career [at Minnesota-Duluth], so we are both grateful to have the opportunity to have the chance to win another championship, and just go as far as possible. I think that’s the way both of us would like to go out.”

I bet your parents are absolutely thrilled to have both their sons in the championship tournament, especially since you’ll get to play in your home state of Minnesota.

“They are, absolutely. It’s back home for me, so they don’t have to travel far for it and I have a lot of friends and family down there who will be at the game, so it will definitely be an exciting homecoming to say the least.”

Any final thoughts on what you would like to do after walking across the stage in a cap and gown this May? 

“I would like to keep playing as long as possible, as long as I have the opportunity to. Where and when I am not so sure, but wherever that may take me I am going to explore those opportunities and then later on down the road I would love to get into coaching. That’s further on down the road, so we’ll see.”

Finally is there any chance we could see you behind the bench next season? 

“[Laughing] Yeah, yeah, that’s something I might have to talk to Coach about in my exit meeting.”

Mar 17 2012

Hockey East Semi-Finals: Rapid Reactions from Maine 5, Boston University 3

By Matt Noonan

BOSTON, MA – Rapid Reactions from University of Maine’s Hockey East semi-finals victory against Boston University.

How the game was won: Maine tallied three goals in the second period, and two in the third, which secured a 5-3 victory against Boston University on Friday at the TD Garden.

Maine’s Power Play: One of the few things BU head coach Jack Parker chirped about after the game concluded was his opponent’s power play. Maine finished the contest 4-of-6 with the man advantage.

Maine outshoots BU: Another reason the Black Bears managed to earn a semi-final win was due to their shots on net. Maine tallied 43 shots on BU’s cage, while the Terriers ended the contest with 28 shots.

Diamond In The Rough: Junior Joey Diamond tallied two strikes on senior netminder Kieran Millan, which included the clincher at 19:31 in the third period.

Finals Rematch: Maine earned a spot in Saturday’s conference final against Boston College, who defeated Providence College, 4-2. The Black Bears and Eagles last met in 2010 in the championship, and the end result was a BC victory, 7-6 in overtime.

Feb 14 2012

60th Boston Beanpot – Arnold: “I’m On Cloud Nine”

By Matt Noonan 

BOSTON, MA – Monday’s game-winning overtime goal against Boston University wont be forgotten, especially for Boston College sophomore Bill Arnold, who flung the puck past Terriers senior goaltender Kieran Millan for the score with 6.4 seconds remaining.

“Kieran and their whole team played really well, [but] we just tried to get everything we could on net, and he was stopping everything for a while,” said Arnold.

The local Needham hockey star netted what probably will be remembered as one of the greatest strikes in the tournament’s history, which helped the Eagles earn their third consecutive Beanpot championship since 1963-1965.

“When you put the puck on net, good things happen,” said Arnold. “I’ll never forget this [moment]. I kind of blacked out there at the end, I don’t really remember what happened after I scored the goal, I was just so happy.”

The sophomore center continued by saying, “I was lucky enough to be the benefactor of the last play for my line-mates, and it’s nice to get the freshmen their first [win] and send the seniors out on top, give the juniors a chance to go four in a row next year.”

Arnold’s goal will certainly be savored in his memory bank, along with those various trips to the TD Garden to watch the team that he currently plays for with his family.

“[My family] would bring me out here, and it was always really exciting, and I always cheered for BC, so to play in the Beanpot, win it, and have it be for BC, it’s surreal [because] I’m on cloud nine right now.”

The BC sophomore has experienced a great deal of success this season by netting 13 goals, recording 11 assists, and earning 24 points.

“We won last year, and we won again this year, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Arnold. “To score the goal feels nice, but winning’s what’s important and that feels much better than scoring the goal.”

Feb 14 2012

Boston Beanpot Championship Recap: BC 3, BU 2 (OT)

Sophomore Bill Arnold's game-winning goal helped BC defeat BU in the 60th Boston Beanpot championship! (Photo Credit: Hockey East)

By Matt Noonan 

BOSTON, MA – On the final day of the 60th Boston Beanpot, Boston College and Boston University gathered on a sheet of ice, and entertained a full house at the TD Garden, who watched sophomore Bill Arnold net the game-winning goal with 6.4 seconds remaining in overtime, which lifted the Eagles past the Terriers, 3-2.

“My two line mates made two very good passes, and [Steven Whitney] found me streaking in, and the coaches have been harping on me to shoot the puck more, so I wasn’t going to give up that chance in overtime, so I let it go and when you put the puck on net, good things happen,” said Arnold.

“I thought our club played extremely well,” said BC head coach Jerry York. “The pass Steve Whitney made to Billy Arnold at the end was textbook. We had an odd man advantage, and he found a late guy, and Billy wristed it glove side, which was pretty electric on our bench.”

The Eagles began the game by earning the lead on a shorthanded goal at 8:54 in the opening period when junior Chris Kreider, (one goal, one assist) connected with junior Pat Mullane, who flung the puck from the far left circle in the Terriers zone past senior netminder Kieran Millan, (44 saves) for the score.

BU attempted to respond following their opponent’s strike, but struggled immensely against junior Parker Milner, (32 saves) who deflected nine shots in the opening frame.

Although, the Terriers did strike back late in the middle period when sophomore Garrett Noonan, (two goals) scored on the team’s first power play, which tied the score, 1-1.

After the equalizer, Noonan and junior Sean Escobedo were directed to the penalty box for tripping and cross-checking, which opened the door for Kreider, who registered BC’s first power play goal at 18:42, which gave the home squad a one goal advantage after two frames.

Once the third period began, BU again made themselves comfortable in the BC zone, and eventually fed Noonan the puck, who beat Milner for his team’s second goal, which forced overtime.

In the extra frame, both teams raced up and down the ice for 19 minutes until Whitney connected with Arnold, who rifled the puck past Millan for the win.

“We won last year, and we won again this year, and that’s what it’s all about,” said Arnold. “To score the goal feels nice, but winning’s what’s important, and that feels much better than scoring the goal.”

The Eagles victory on Monday marks the first time since 1963-1965 that they’ve won three consecutive Beanpot championships. As for the Terriers, they’ve now lost three consecutive tournament finals, which dates back to their original losing streak from 1983-1985.

Feb 12 2012

Boston Beanpot Championship Predictions

Can BC earn their second consecutive Beanpot championship on Monday? (Photo Credit: Boston Globe/Boston.com)

By Matt Noonan 

Monday’s 60th Boston Beanpot should draw a great deal of attention, especially since the title match will once again feature Boston College and Boston University, who’ll be facing-off for the 21st time in the tournament’s history.

BU currently leads the championship meetings, 12-8, and has defeated BC twice this this season. Although, BC’s class of 2012 has won six of their last seven contests in the tournament, which included a first round contest victory last February against BU.

Here are my predictions and thoughts for the upcoming championship, as well as the consolation game, too.

BC 4, BU 2 – It’s been a while since a team potted seven goals in the first round, but against BU, I don’t see BC running up the score. Jerry York’s squad enters Monday’s clash as the defending tournament champion with a target on their back for Jack Parker’s unit, who’ll need senior goaltender Kieran Millan to be at his best against BC. If he can keep his team in the contest, then the Terriers will have a chance, but if the Eagles score early and often, consider his night over.

Harvard 4, Northeastern 3 – Despite their lackluster defense against BU last week, Harvard proved they could hang with the top squad in the country last. Against a struggling Northeastern team, the Crimson should have no problem skating circles around the Huskies defense, and depositing pucks against junior netminder Chris Rawlings.

Feb 7 2012

Leftover Thoughts From Day One Of The 60th Boston Beanpot

 

By Matt Noonan 

Here are a few leftover thoughts from Monday’s Boston Beanpot.

* Boston College appeared to be the strongest team in the city on Monday, especially since they defeated a Hockey East conference opponent by six goals.

* Northeastern University appeared dazed and confused, and head coach Jim Madigan stated bluntly that his squad was definitely “schooled.” The Huskies have now lost 12 games this season, and seriously, this has to be one of the most excruciating contests Madigan has ever experienced behind the bench.

* Random thought – did anyone else think that Jerry York’s squad was going to tally 10 goals on the Huskies?

 

* In my honest opinion, Harvard University’s men’s ice hockey team is certainly better than their record, which is 7-7-9. Yet, isn’t it quite amazing that the Crimson have nine ties this season? Against the number one team in the nation, Boston University, the Crimson won the shots on goal battle by rifling 30 shots on Terriers senior goaltender Kieran Millan, who easily turned away 29 of them. BU finished the contest with 25 shots, and three goals.

* Another random thought – I’m not expecting Ted Donato’s squad to lie down against the Huskies next week in the consolation clash. Harvard beat BU last year, 5-4 in the first game of “Championship Monday,” and I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat Northeastern.

* BU head coach Jack Parker should certainly compliment junior Wade Megan, who notched his second and third goals of the historic tournament against Harvard. The junior forward has now recorded three points in his five appearances in the Beanpot, and yes, they’ve all been goals.

* We’re still a few days away from another epic showdown of BC-BU, but if the Eagles play the way they did against the Huskies, then I’m picking the Eagles. However, if Millan keeps the puck out of the net, and assist his offense, then I’m picking the Terriers.

* The Eagles and Terriers have faced-off against one another 20 times in the tournament, and BU has won 12 of those contests. Can they earn lucky number 13 next Monday? We’ll see!

Feb 6 2012

Boston Beanpot Rapid Reaction: BU 3, Harvard 1

By Matt Noonan 

BOSTON, MA – The Boston University Terriers defeated the Harvard University Crimson men’s ice hockey team on Monday in the first round of the 60th Boston Beanpot tournament at the TD Garden, 3-1.

What it means: BU erased a 5-4 consolation loss from last year by crashing Harvard’s net, and taking advantage of the Crimson’s lackluster defense to compile three goals in three periods. The Terriers also used numerous crisp passes in the zone, which set up two of their three goals. Although, despite building a three-goal advantage, Harvard did manage to score once, as senior forward Alex Killorn scored late in the second period.

How the game was won: Junior forward Wade Megan notched his 13th and 14th strike of the season in the middle frame, which helped the Terriers earn their 17th win of the season, while the Crimson snapped their one-game winning streak to fall to 7-7-9 overall. Also, Megan has now scored three goals in his five career tournament games.

Taking advantage of the Power Play: Both teams combined for two goals on nine power plays. The referees did not whistle either team for penalty in the third period.

What’s next: BU will face the winner of Boston College-Northeastern University, who is slated to face-off at 8:00pm, while Harvard will return to the consolation game next Monday for the second year in a row. The Terriers last visit to the title match came in 2010 when they lost to BC, 4-3. However, BU did beat Northeastern in the championship in 2009, 5-2.

Stat of the Game: Harvard compiled 66 cumulative shots through three periods, but only mustered one goal on 29 shots through three frames. BU senior goaltender Kieran Millan deflected 29 of 30 shots between the pipes.

Beanpot History Note: The Terriers will be making their 49th visit to the finals on Monday, Feb. 13. Also, BU head coach Jack Parker is 58-19 in the Beanpot, and 33-6 in first round games.

Oct 23 2011

Holy Cross Shocks BU Hockey, 5-4

Holy Cross stunned the BU Terriers on Saturday, as the Crusaders escaped with an exciting 5-4 victory!

By Brian Willwerth 

BOSTON, MA – The Holy Cross hockey team did something Saturday night it had never done before. It beat Boston University, on the Terriers’ home ice no less. Backed by three power play goals, the Crusaders beat the Terriers at Agganis Arena, 5-4.

Don’t let the one-goal margin fool you. Holy Cross outplayed BU for much of the night.

“It’s fantastic for this group of guys,” said Holy Cross head coach Paul Pearl. “This is a testament to these guys working hard.”

It was an action-packed first period. BU had the first golden opportunity when Alex Chiasson had a wide-open net on the power play, but hit the post. Shortly thereafter, the goals started coming fast and furious. Holy Cross got on the board at the 6:46 mark when Erik Vos put a rebound past Kieran Millan to put the Crusaders up 1-0.

It only took the Terriers 78-seconds to get the equalizer, as Sahir Gill took a beautiful pass from Adam Clendening and beat Matt Ginn to tie the game, 1-1.  Just 40-seconds later, Chiasson beat Ginn to put BU on top, 2-1. Chiasson extended his point streak to six games.

Holy Cross came right back, taking advantage of a 5-on-3, as Adam Schmidt beat Millan to tie the game. Then with less than three minutes remaining in the period, Schmidt gave the Crusaders the lead for good, once again on the power play.

“I thought defensively, we were pathetic in our own zone,” said BU head coach Jack Parker, who used the word ‘pathetic’ several times after the game.

“When we got the two goals, it was like everyone went selfish….everybody thought ‘oh, this going to be easy, I’m going to go take care of me now.’” Parker said that trend continued throughout the game.

In the second period, Andrew Fox gave Holy Cross a two-goal lead. The Crusaders continued to outshoot the Terriers by a margin of 9-6 in the second period.

“We had one ‘Grade A’ shot in the entire second period,” said Parker.

There was a serious moment in the third. BU’s Wade Megan threw a wicked hit from behind, injuring Shane Stockton. Megan received a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The Crusaders took advantage of the ensuing power play immediately, with Brendan Baker scoring to make it 5-2.

With BU still shorthanded, the Terriers closed the gap to two when Chiasson scored a shorthanded goal right off the faceoff. His second goal of the night made it 5-3. When the BU penalty box was finally cleared, Matt Nieto made a beautiful move, coming out of the corner and fooling Ginn to make it 5-4. That brought the crowd of 5,766 to life. But the Terriers never could get the equalizer.

This was only the second-ever varsity meeting between these two schools. The last was in November of 2008, when BU beat Holy Cross, 3-2.  But on Saturday night, the Crusaders were the better team.

“This is by far the most fun game I’ve ever played in my life,” said Schmidt. “This team has been battling all year so far….beating a Top 10 team in the country is something to really scream out, and it feels great.”

The Crusaders travel to Connecticut on Thursday night, while the Terriers will face UMass in Amherst on Friday.

Oct 8 2011

BU Beats Up UNH, 5-0

By Brian Willwerth 

BOSTON, MA – If the Boston University Terriers keep playing like this all season, they’re going to be tough to beat.

Kieran Millan stopped all 35-shots he faced, as the Terriers defeated the New Hampshire Wildcats, 5-0, Saturday night before a crowd of 5,148 at Agganis Arena.

The teams played a scoreless first period, due to the stellar play of goaltenders Millan (BU) and Matt DiGirolamo (UNH), but the opening 20-minutes featured several glittering chances on both ends, but both goalies were up to the task.

However, the Terriers got on the board early in the second period on the power play, and when UNH’s Kevin Goumas was in the box for hitting from behind. Wade Megan took a beautiful centering pass and put it pass DiGirolamo to make it 1-0.

Then, exactly two and a half minutes later, they doubled their lead when Corey Trivino took a pretty pass from the wing from Chris Connolly, and knocked it home to make it 2-0. At the other end of the ice, Millan made the advantage stand up, as he stopped all 18 Wildcat shots – including several from the point-blank category.

“Overall, I thought both goaltenders played great,” said BU head coach Jack Parker, who said it could’ve easily been a 4-3 game after two periods.  “All of our players played extremely well… All in all, pretty good deal.”

In the third, Matt Nieto picked up a loose rebound in front off a shot from the point and beat DiGirolamo to make it 3-0.

“That third goal was a killer for us,” said UNH head coach Dick Umile. “I don’t think we played as well as we’re capable of playing in our defensive zone.”

Alex Chiasson added an empty-netter to make it 4-0, and then Kevin Gilroy scored on a wraparound to cap off the scoring.

As for Millan, he tied BU’s all-time record for wins, (62) and hopes to break the record in his next start too.

“It’s pretty nice,” said Millan.  “It’s pretty nice to tie it up in the first game, with a game like that.”

For BU – Saturday was also a rarity in its long, storied hockey history. It was the first time the Terriers’ season opener, home opener and Hockey East opener all happened on the same night since 1989, which is pretty cool, right?

The Terriers travel to Providence next Friday night to face the Friars, while the Wildcats will play at Northeastern, also on Friday too.

Oct 6 2011

Boston University’s Jack Parker’s Outlook on the 2011-12 Season

By Matt Noonan 

Last week at the Hockey East Conference media day, Boston University’s men’s ice hockey coach Jack Parker admitted that he believes his team will be better this season, especially since they’re all a year older.

The Terriers, who are ranked second in the pre-season coaches poll will kick-off their ’11-’12 campaign on Saturday, Oct. 8, against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats at Agganis Arena, face-off is scheduled for 8:00pm.

Here’s the coach’s outlook on the upcoming season:

“We were a very inconsistent team last year. We started off great, we finished pretty well and in the middle we were horrible and then when the playoffs came we were horrible again, so I think that’s typical of a young team. That’s typical – probably we got a little full of ourselves early because we were rated so high and doing so well early on and a lot of that had to do with our great goaltending at that time. Kieran Millan was [winning] games for us, [and] it was the youngest team I ever coached [in] 38-years. The only team that came close to that was my very first team and that was not only young [squad] as far as age, but also, young as far as classes go. The best thing that could possibly happen to our team has already happened to us – we’re a year older. We’ve gotten sophomore to [become] juniors, 18-year-olds to become 19-year-olds, so that in it itself is going to make us a better team.”