tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81680387669449007942024-02-20T00:57:45.148-05:00Bleed ScarletBleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-52563643942748110832014-01-29T11:39:00.001-05:002014-01-29T11:39:24.786-05:00Why The Beanpot Still MattersEvery school has its legends. Whether it's a tour guide, upperclassmen, university officials, or alumni, you're guaranteed a tale or two. At Boston University, its usually of the seal, where to find the best and worst parties in Allston, and nicknames of each school that are always circulating.<br />
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But there's another story, too. One about two Monday nights in February. About cramped green lines that rival commuter hour rides. About an tournament that might as well be called an invitational. About an added benefit to calling yourself a Terrier.<br />
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But there's something off about the retelling of those nights. In perfect sequences, there are a few hundred students that make the trek, at least. The line around Agganis begins early and not everyone walks home happy. There's a scarlet and white sea among the gold of the Garden. There's only one student section to show up decked out in sweaters. The upper balcony rumbles and shakes with voices too excited to hold back witty response chants. But things have been truly far from that image in recent years.<br />
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If BU isn't playing BC or isn't in the finals, nobody seems to care. If we want to pride ourselves on being the most present student section, it does not bode well for the tournament as a whole. If BC or Northeastern fans manage to make it to a game, they never seem to make a dent in attendance numbers. Harvard might never sell another student ticket again. Casting the student sections aside, the lower seating never seems too into games either. Unless it's the finals, a few exuberant alumni may splatter into the seats, but never fill sections.<br />
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For the past four Beanpots, there seems to have been more and more disinterest from the general public. The trend may have started long before the current crop of students showed up to TD Garden and may continue long after they're gone. But it's obvious that right now the consensus from the Boston public is for change.<br />
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Almost every alteration has been throw out there. Change the dates, changes the times, change the venue. Cycle out the historic four for other Boston-area schools that could generate more interest. Make it an every other year tournament or maybe even less frequently. And of course, there are those that say the tournament might as well be over.<br />
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Yet despite all the heat that the tournament gets, there is a reason it does exists and should always exist.<br />
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Boston University men's ice hockey is having a difficult season. Boston College men's ice hockey is not. Northeastern men's ice hockey is taking everyone by surprise. Harvard men's ice hockey is not. There are 13 local Terriers, 9 local Eagles, 4 Massachusetts Huskies, and 5 area Crimson. Boston College is the only team with current members to have won the Beanpot and Harvard hasn't even made a final since 2008.<br />
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And you can bet these two games mean everything to the men on those teams.<br />
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Certain fans of any of the teams will try and tell you it's not an important couple of games. Conversely, other fans will tell you it means everything. But in the end, it's about what the guys on the ice feel. They learn about this tournament just like every other prospective student. But they hear the other sides of the stories. They hear from the players that endured the tournament, those that won and lost. They hear about the memories and the emotions. About the talks in the locker rooms, the chatter on the bench, the late game timeouts. Then they get to go and make their own. For a year, two years, three or four. They get to make that series of events that they'll tell the players after them. They get to make marks.<br />
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For the local kids, they've known this tournament since the beginning. They've most likely been to it, sat in the crowd and watched game after game year after year. It's a draw that brings some of those local kids to the area teams. They know that they finally have the opportunity to not only say they've been a part of it all, but maybe even won it. At the very least, they played their hearts out trying to win hardware. To them, it might not have been a goal to play in a National Championship game. But it may have been to play in a game for pride, to say they're worth all the beans in Boston.<br />
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As for the out of town kids, it could arguably carry even more weight. Everyone knows what it feels like to win an away game. To be in a place so foreign and perhaps without support, but to come out on top anyways. They haven't grown up with the thought of a Beanpot Championship in their head, but that doesn't make them want it any less. To be able to leave their home state or country, come to Boston, and say they're a part of the best team in that city. Right where they belong. It's like finding a second home.<br />
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The only other thing that cycles out as frequently as the team is the students. If you're a BU student, you probably know what a BC away game feels like. You've most likely made a trip to Northeastern. Maybe you've even hit up the Bright Hockey Center. But it's completely different for every student at the Garden. It starts from storming the T, attempting to block out other schools or missing them completely. Before the puck drops the air in the Garden makes it feel like playoff season. You can't but help feel your blood pump when the lights dim and the scoreboard reminds you of the past 60+ seasons. Then the chants start. There's always a safety school or a Sunday school, someone is always someone else's reject, someone always has grade inflation. But it's only in the Garden that you can respond to an "I can't hear you" with an "I can't see you." It's only in the Garden that the student section and the band continually play dumb with security for 45 minutes before they just give up and let them sit next to each other. It's only in the Garden that you can root for a team in week one and then want to destroy them the very next. It's only in the Garden that the extra space makes you extra dauntless.<br />
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There is always a guarantee that they'll be the same old faces at the Beanpot. Some people can't stay away, no matter the quality of the competition. Ticket prices could go up, games could be later, they would still be there. In the same token, there will be people that leave before they really give it a chance. They might watch a single game before giving up, or never return to the Garden after they graduate.<br />
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But in between the die hards and the fair weathers lie the group of people that truly make the Beanpot what it is. The group of fans with stars in their eyes and voices ready to be lost. The people who have never experienced it all firsthand, but have been told of the magic that can happen. People who not only buy into the hype, but contribute to it themselves. The people who are willing to sit through the game, whether their team is guaranteed a win or needs an epic comeback.<br />
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It's an awkward time in the hockey world where people are dismissing every type of specialty game because the novelty has worn off. There's constant complaints about outdoor games and mid-season tournaments. The people that have been around for a while are trying to convince everyone around them that these games shouldn't exist. But they should. They should exist for the group of people that never had the chance to see them. Everyone's first game is special, everyone's first outdoor game is special, everyone's first Beanpot is special. These games will always be new and exciting to somebody and that's exactly why they matter.<br />
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This tournament is not all about pleasing resentful sports writers. It's not made for the fans that would rather sit on a couch and watch on NESN. It's made for the people that wouldn't miss a single second for anything. They'd skip class, leave work early, and still come back for the consolation game. They are the people that make the tournament worth playing. So stop trying to put reasons in their heads why they shouldn't show up. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Even if they walk out and never return, they have every right to make that decision themselves.<br />
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It's a genuine hope that the group of people that have never experienced a Beanpot before drown the bitterness out. You don't have to attend, but if you do, hopefully it's with an open mind. The Beanpot is what you make it. No other fan can define the tournament for you. It can be all you want it to be. Make the memories you tell future Terriers, Eagles, Huskies, and Crimson about.<br />
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Oh and for the love of god Terriers do not let my class be the second class to graduate without a god damn Beanpot. Thanks.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-27797978848134387892013-10-14T15:47:00.000-04:002013-10-14T15:47:22.362-04:00Sit Down, Shut UpAfter having written countless blog posts encouraging people to give BU Athletics I try, after having admitted over and over again that I don't care if you're only there because there are free give aways, after promising you need to know nothing about sports...I think, I think I'm changing my mind.<br />
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If you don't have anything nice to say, shut up. And if you can't shut up, get the hell out of the rink.<br />
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Most of the inhabitants in the student section have a ton of patience. It's okay if you come to a game to see what the hype is all about and mess up some cheers or yell something that makes no sense. For the most part, the student section is a pretty forgiving place. But there a few things that really just shouldn't be part of the game atmosphere. Almost no exceptions.<br />
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The first of that being the completely uncalled for and yet still hanging around phrase that comes after "ole" in the first whistle of the game. It has gotten way, way, way better, yes. But shit. Why is it still a thing at all? There's a clear split between people who want to get rid of the song that precedes it all together and other people who believe that the tag can go on its own, but either way it needs to change. There's been a lot of people in the student section incoherently yelling after "ole" to try and drown it out but that shouldn't be the case. Seriously if you still do this you sound like an idiotic prick. It's not funny, not even a little bit.<br />
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Secondly, and this has gotten way worse this weekend, is having chicken take precedence over winning. Look, we all get it. We're a bunch of broke college students and the thought of saving a couple of bucks here and there is entirely worth cheering for. By all means, chant that we want chicken. This weekend it was a bit different, too. Both games you could feel the students getting antsy for chicken towards the end of the third period when things were looking okay in the win column anyways. It's okay to get loud at those moments, shout "oohs" and "aahs" when the puck gets close to the net but just isn't close enough. It's fine, it's all in good fun.<br />
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But Friday night was really out of place. 24 shots on goal out of the needed 25. Seconds ticking away, game already won. All we wanted was to have our cake and eat it, too. It all made sense. But as time expired and Coach Quinn earned his first W as bench boss, all that could be heard in the arena were boos. Boos that the final shot of the night was not one on net but one to the corner. The arena sounded like we had just lost by multiple goals with sloppy, inexcusable, less than division I play. Jesus there's been less boos directed towards Northeastern's team.<br />
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The last point of contention builds off of that one. Booing your own team, for any reason, ever. Before discussing that, though, full disclosure that I am a true blood Boston sports fan. And as much as I love Boston sports fans, they are truly irritating in this respect. They're so passionate about the games, love the teams so much, but if athletes wrong them even remotely - they'll toss them aside so quickly. They're notorious for leaving early and calling loses even earlier.<br />
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But, for the most part, BU fans have been better than that. Yeah, they still leave way too early, but for whatever reason there's generally been a better sense of camaraderie. At least in game. What is said in tweets and blogs and USCHO forum posts later is a different story. But that's not what matters anyways. In game, whatever team is playing feeds off fan energy. And with such a small contingency of collegiate fans, those that are there need to be louder and more energetic than ever. It can be difficult, especially when games aren't going the way anyone wants. But even if you can't fake it until you make it, just shut the hell up.<br />
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This Saturday I had the unfortunate opportunity to sit near some fans in 117 who knew nothing about anything. For the most part it didn't matter. They spent the beginning half of the game just begging for Quinn to put Garrett Noonan on the ice. It was funny, we all love Noonan, it wasn't bothersome. But towards the end of the game those same fans started belligerently yelling at anyone on our team not named Noonan. We have a lot of freshmen. We have a lot of people that need to adjust to playing with each other. We have an entire team that needs to learn a new coach's style. But Saturday night's game was not that bad. Room for improvement as there always is, but I've seen this team play worse. Almost everyone has. We've seen this team play way worse, even in wins. Saturday night was not a time to knock the team.<br />
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There's always going to be times when we wish our team was playing better. Stupid plays happen to every team and every one. We've all done it before, yelled reactionary statements. But there's a line between a sharp intake of breath and full out telling one of your players they suck. It doesn't have to be all rainbows and sunshine, it never is. But what purpose does yelling demeaning crap at players - on YOUR team - serve? You take away from the atmosphere both in the stand and on the ice. If they were playing bad before, chances are they're going to play even worse after you open your big damn mouth.<br />
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The student section doesn't need to be a second RSIG. No one should have to police anyone when it comes to this stuff. But there should be a lot more intelligence coming from some (and I really mean a small portion) of the students that are making their way to games. It's not that you shouldn't come but maybe you should just silently observe for a while. And if you can't, well, I'm not really sure we'll miss you.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-73187999432024578742013-10-11T10:52:00.002-04:002013-10-11T10:52:31.814-04:00The Teams Are ReadyExhibition games are fun. They get you back into the spirit of the season and give you a chance to watch people play that normally wouldn't. But nothing compares to the start of the season, to the time when it all starts to count. From the first time the freshmen see what the hype is all about and the upperclassmen electrify whatever building they're currently inhabiting. Everything's fresh and new. This weekend both of our hockey teams start playing for real.<br />
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Every year, the writers over at the Boston Hockey Blog write a hockey preview issue. I'll admit that sometimes it's better than others, but this year they wrote a few feature stories that really got me excited to once again be a Terrier. If you haven't checked out the issue yet, you can find it <a href="http://issuu.com/dailyfreepress/docs/hockey_preview" target="_blank">here</a>, but the articles I really think you should check out are the one's on <a href="http://dailyfreepress.com/2013/10/10/becoming-that-bu-guy-how-david-quinn-became-coach/" target="_blank">Quinn</a>, <a href="http://dailyfreepress.com/2013/10/10/unfinished-business-noonan-looks-to-leave-mark-on-bu/" target="_blank">Noonan</a>, and especially the one on <a href="http://dailyfreepress.com/2013/10/10/jake-moscatel-bus-very-own-rudy/" target="_blank">Moscatel</a>.<br />
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There's one thing all those feature stories had in common, though. A connection to Boston University. But not the connection that they formed by playing on the team. They all had moments prior to stepping on Walter Brown or Agganis ice that made them realize that this was the one place that they wanted and needed to be.<br />
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I'm not a huge proponent of jumping into athletes' personal lives. Certain things reports ask truly piss me off and they'd piss you off too if a reporter ever asked you those questions. There's a pretty fine line between what makes a person who they are and what has nothing to do with the game. The point is that we have to take these good features when we get them. Especially that one on Jake Moscatel. Nothing in it is invasive, but it's all really telling. Someone worked his ass off to get himself in the position he is today and he has learned not to take his time spent in this school or in that rink for granted.<br />
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I get it, though. We can't all be BU babies. BU is so diverse that the likelihood of even the majority of students growing up dreaming to go to this school is almost none. It was my first and only choice, but for other people I know it was on the bottom of the list. Regardless wether or not they've changed their opinions since they came to this school, the point still remains that the personal connection was not forged far before the acceptance letter.<br />
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So, in short, no. We can't get the same level of devotion to this school let alone its athletic teams as some of the people playing on them. We are bred to take our time for granted in the stands, always worried about the next best thing or all the homework we have to schlep through over the weekend. We wear our jerseys with a sense of disconnect and go to most games for the 'free' shirt we paid for already through tuition checks. We go to say we've been, to notch it off our college wish lists and bury the memories of our time in a bank that gets completely trashed every weekend. So, in short, it is completely unrealistic of us to eat, sleep, and breathe BU Athletics.<br />
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But there are some of us that do. Every weekend.<br />
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What the hell is our allegiance to the athletic department? Absolutely nothing. We continue to splurge for our Student Pass Upgrades, jersey customizations, and red pants. We spend our night and weekends where ever our mascot does. We've endured car rides with kids we don't know, bus stations early in the morning, and airports that exist miles from our hotel rooms.<br />
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It seems stupid to some of you, I get it. But the real reason behind it is that a small contingency of us have our best memories during athletic events. And they keep getting better. We didn't necessarily have personal connections to BU before we got here, but we have them now.<br />
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Yes, it will start with the games. The senior class can recall how godly we all thought Charlie Coyle was going to be. Or the America East Championship game were we all lost our voices after we had already been to three other games that weekend. Matt Nieto's hat trick.<br />
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But then it goes a little deeper. The songs the Dog Pound created through their facebook group. Every time that you high five a stranger because something awesome happened. The superstitions you stupidly follow, knowing that it without a doubt has an effect on the final outcome of a game.<br />
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Before you know it, it has almost nothing to do with the games. The time the women's soccer team ran over and thanked us for coming to an NCAA game on a freezing cold afternoon at Nickerson. The conversations that took place late at night in a Minnesota hotel room. The friends you always have a meeting place and time with.<br />
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Then, you end up like us. Completely devoted, probably a little crazy. You sit through four years of madness just to sit and reflect on the idiotic inside jokes you swear only you know.<br />
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One time I spent the afternoon crying because I thought I had strep throat. If I did, I was not going to tell a single soul because they'd keep me home and not let me go to the men's hockey game that night. I wanted so badly to run the risk of infecting all of 118 just so I could watch a game.<br />
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One Christmas break I didn't go home until after the men's basketball game in Agganis. I told my mom I had to stay on campus until that day because a project was due, so she had to come pick me up after the game was over and drive me home that night just two days before Christmas.<br />
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Once I won Bruins tickets. Too bad the game fell the same night as the first round of Women's Beanpot. I almost didn't go but decided to because I had invited my brother to Boston before I realized the date. But then the hockey gods were on my side because I enjoyed a great game in TD Garden while the collegiate refs spent a huge chunk of time trying to repair the messed up ice in Walter Brown Arena. I made my brother drive like a maniac through the streets of Boston (sorry Mom) because I had the chance to catch the last period of the game. I'm pretty sure I didn't even say goodbye.<br />
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These are memories only specific to me and the represent only a small portion of what other people have gone through. These are our remembrances of college. When we tell our grandchildren about our glory days, these are the kinds of things we will mention. Yes, we do have other things that tie us to this school, but nothing unites us more than these memories.<br />
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But the best part of it all is that none of us expected this. We all had our thoughts about college and how it would all work out. Maybe some of it involved sporting events. But close to none of us could have predicted this. These things that happen so suddenly and randomly but mean so much for so long.<br />
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You can usually catch me yelling give the puck to Danny and ice is slippery, making jokes about Ryan Ruikka or what Sam Kurker does on a day to day basis to get penalties. And there is a core group of people that know exactly what I'm talking about and joke right back. When hockey dads who think they're hot stuff yell things at Kerrin Sperry through thin cracks in the glass, there's a chorus of voices willing to help me drown him out with cheering. Even though BU's Male Dance Team, Hulk Hands, and Hartford weekends are gone, I can name a specific handful of people that can reminisce with me. And I never thought I would.<br />
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Maybe you don't like sports, I get it. But the camaraderie you can feel at these games is what makes them special. It goes far beyond the athletes and the equipment, it runs through each and every person in the stands. And if you're one of the people that likes sports, it's time to go and check your school's out. No we don't have baseball but our women's lacrosse team can fill your spring afternoons. No we don't have any Heisman Trophy winners but we have an athlete in the MLS. There's so much hidden in the cracks that you won't find unless you just give it a try.<br />
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I'm not suggesting by any means that BU Athletics will be your only ties to this school after you graduate. There are many other things that I myself am connected to and owe a debt of gratitude to that aren't sports. All I'm saying is that you might find yourself in positions you've never dreamed of if you dive head first into some of these games. You might walk away with a story or two, or even better, a friend or two. There's really nothing to lose.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-66574640893988024452013-04-06T12:19:00.000-04:002013-04-07T17:51:48.615-04:00Save BU WrestlingI love hockey. I like basketball. Softball is great. I don't mind a good soccer game. Nor do I mind the occasional lacrosse game. Pair that up with "BU" in front of each sport and you can basically figure out where I am on campus at any given time. I wasn't exactly expecting to love BU athletics as much as I do when I first came to this school, but I've been having such a fun time watching them these past three years.<br />
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Now, there are BU sporting events that I haven't made it out to yet. Not because I don't want to, but usually because the timing just doesn't work out with my schedule. One such sport that I have yet to cheer on in person is BU Wrestling. That doesn't mean I haven't kept up with them, gotten excited when they won. But this week I found out that if things go the way they're headed right now, not only may I never be able to make it to a BU Wrestling match, but future Terriers won't either. Even more so, future BU Wrestling Terriers won't either.<br />
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I really never imagined myself writing a post about BU Wrestling. Even when I found about the administration's decision to end BU Wrestling at the end of the 2013-2014 season, I felt badly but still didn't rush to speak out for them. But in this short week, so much of my opinion has changed. Now, I don't think I could advocate enough for them.<br />
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Some of the members of the BU Women's Ice Hockey team have been really vocal about standing up for this team. That's when it first struck me. I love our Women's Ice Hockey team and seeing them so passionate about something like saving this program really made me believe that this is not something that should be taken lightly. If there's another BU athletics team that is going to support Women's Ice Hockey like they deserve, then they are beyond good in my book.<br />
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But it didn't stop with them. BU Women's Lacrosse was the team to make me realize just how heavy a decision this was. A few days ago, they posted a status on their facebook that included this sentiment:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><i>"<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">While ice hockey is most certainly "the face" of BU Athletics, wrestling has always been the heart of it. With their gentle spirit and undying s</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">upport of EVERY BU athlete & team, there can be no one who says they haven't benefitted or become better as a result of their interaction with Carl Adams and members of the wrestling program. They have been our constant through the ups and downs of BU Athletics with their work ethic, their strength, their positive outlook, and their compassion."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;">I don't think a message has ever hit me so hard as that one. Suddenly, it did not matter if I had ever seen a BU Wrestling match. It went deeper than that. This wasn't just saving a program, it was about doing what's right.</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">I severely urge everyone reading this to think about what it is that connects you to this school. Whether it's another sport, an extracurricular activity, an event, a class, a major, a group of friends. Now just imagine that that one thing, that one spark, that one reason why you continue to pay outrageous fees to go here, why you decide to stay here in your dorm one weekend instead of going home, why you feel safe and feel like you've finally discovered the concept of a second home - is gone. Not just gone, but ripped away. Taken away by the school that you love so much because they've suddenly decided it's not good enough; you're not good enough. Taken away because they don't feel they can invest in you.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">I don't know about you, but every time I think about that, I cringe. It's basically unfathomable, yet it happened right before our very eyes. A team has lost what it is that identifies them with this school.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">What money cannot measure, what trophies cannot measure, what this university cannot measure, is heart. Dedication, spirit, drive. A group of guys that throws on Scarlet and White and represents our school day in and day out. They represent this school even out of uniform, in normal clothes, in the stands, as one of us, cheering on our other teams. They give back. No, they don't just give back, they add a whole new level to why BU athletics feels like a family. Beyond that, they might be the best link to keeping the athletics family connected to the university as a whole.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Now the university wants to take that away. It's not just a team. These guys chose to come here. They chose to compete for us. They wanted to call themselves Terriers. They've earned everything they've ever been given. They picked BU out of everyone and now BU wants to take that away.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">They make me proud to go to this school. They make me proud to own a sports pass. They make me proud to be a Terrier. They make me realize that spending every ounce of free time I have in West Campus - in Agganis, in Walter Brown, in Case, on Nickerson, in the Track and Tennis Center, in the pool, on the banks of the Charles - is time well spent.</span><br />
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God damnit do they deserve better. And we can give that to them.<br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">If you don't already like their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveBuWrestling" target="_blank">facebook</a> or follow their <a href="https://twitter.com/savebuwrestling" target="_blank">twitter</a> I suggest you do so immediately. Get involved. Do whatever you can to help these guys out. They're going to start selling shirts soon and I assure you you've spent money on much stupider things. Show this school that these guys make you proud to call BU your home.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Look, coming from someone who doesn't know a thing about wrestling, this decision breaks my heart each and every time I think about it. I've come to hold this team in such high regards and I wholeheartedly believe everyone else should, too. I know next year I'm making a point to get out and see one of their meets, if not multiple. No matter what happens, that is something we can all give back to a team that has given BU athletics so much. Next year, whether it's the last one or not, should be the most successful in BU Wrestling history. I can't wait to see you all there.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18px;">Make BUnited actually mean something.</span>Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-55510609501143140192013-04-04T11:26:00.001-04:002013-04-04T11:27:14.955-04:00Garrett NoonanThis week, it has been "confirmed" that Garrett Noonan is coming back for his senior season. I put the confirmed in quotes because although I certainly believe that is his intent right now, obviously things change and I still think there's a slight chance he signs before next season rolls around. But anyways, when I heard that news, I thought about Noonan in that BU jersey for one more season and I couldn't help but be ecstatic. I've loved Noonan from the beginning (even after getting kicked out of all those games freshmen year) and I know the students start loving him not long after that. Noonan is one of the most well liked Terriers on this team and perhaps in a while before this team.<br />
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Even if we never get to see him in Scarlet and White again, I'm damn appreciative off all the heart Noonan has put into this program the past three years. He doesn't have much hardware to show for it, but I know there's thousands of people who could honestly care less with him around. He's one of the few players who has consistently improved and done what was needed of him and that's all any of us can ask for. And if we do get the opportunity to watch him skate with this team again, well, that's going be a whole lot of fun.<br />
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But until next season, go ahead and watch this little recap video on Garrett Noonan. I think it might be the second best video of him only behind his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn-HRzVJdMc" target="_blank">Vernon Vipers intro video</a>, but hey that might just be me.<br />
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<br />Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-57511822899713837902013-03-11T21:43:00.001-04:002013-03-11T21:43:37.594-04:00In Parker We TrustI don't have a picture to share of myself and Coach Parker. I don't have any emotional anecdotes or funny quotes to tell. I'm pretty sure I've never even had a one on one conversation with the man. I'm not a reporter. I don't work for him. I certainly have never played for him. I haven't ever tried to reach out to him.<br />
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But the news of Parker retiring was a harsh reality. Even before he uttered the sentiment himself, I found myself repeating over and over and over again that it just couldn't be true. This man that I have watched for three seasons cannot be calling it quits. Not yet.<br />
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Of course, a legacy has to end in order to be remembered. We all saw a retirement coming, some of us a few years ago, some of us hoping for a few years from now. But after 40 seasons, Jack Parker will be leaving his post as Boston University Men's Ice Hockey Head Coach.<br />
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I didn't grow up watching Parker. I knew not of the work he had completed, the roads he had forged, the unforgettable moments he has been a part of. Sure, living in Massachusetts I had heard of him before. But it never really hit me until I got to BU.<br />
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I learned a lot during my first BU hockey game. Charlie Coyle is really good at hockey. Sieve was about to become commonplace in my vocabulary. The student section likes alcohol. The student section also likes chanting. And the man's name we chanted after "Kieran" was more than just the coach.<br />
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All the upperclassman told me that Jack Parker was a god. He molded and made this program what it is. He was always right and in Parker we were to always trust. I accepted that as any freshman would, but never really understood the full weight of it. I wasn't allow to question it, I should just start worshipping now.<br />
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So as a good BU hockey freshman fan I went along with it. I kept clapping his name. I kept reading his thoughts on his team, Hockey East, and the state of hockey as a whole. I kept falling deathly silent whenever he was speaking. I built a temple of sorts to him in my mind, all the while never questioning my motives.<br />
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It went on like that for a year, but then I started working at my work study job. My boss there is really something. She tells you when you're messing up and she doesn't deal with mental errors. She's intimidating, yes, but has quickly become one of my favorite people since coming to BU. She never gets into her personal life with only two exceptions: to tell me of her adorable niece and to talk about Coach Parker. She hasn't just heard of him. She hasn't just been around him. She has spent most of her life with him. I have never heard anyone hold someone in so much esteem as she holds him. Whether it was the way he answered the phone or the way he talked to her about hockey, she would spare no detail of her favorite interactions with Parker. I listened to those stories like five year olds listen to their parents talk about rewards for doing all of your chores and getting good grades. Hearing someone you respect more than your professors share some of the happiest moments of their life with one particular person certainly makes you take up an interest in that person.<br />
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That's when I started becoming infatuated with all things Jack Parker. Anytime someone had a story to tell about him, I'd listen. It doesn't matter if it was quick passerby quote or a lengthy tale. I wanted to know everything and anything about this man. And I was learning it all so quickly.<br />
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Around that same time I read Eleven Seconds for the first time. If I wasn't already a devoted Parker follower, I was after that. I'll admit that the simplest things in books make me cry, but never anything like that. I had to stop multiple times just to regain my composure. I am not afraid to admit that I weeped through the majority of that book but would not put it down until I finished. Though I find Travis Roy's life story immensely moving, it was the personal quotes and experiences he had with Parker that got to me most.<br />
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No longer was I just intrigued by learning about Parker. It was starting to set in just how unique a man he is. My hockey games were no longer just categorized by watching an NHL draft pick or two weekly. I was watching one of the best coaches in the history of sports teach, discipline, and motivate his team. For that he became more than just a coach, he has moved into legendary status.<br />
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I remember Chili Fest at last year's women's ice hockey game apart from a lot of other games. Not because of the play and the team. Not because of the great chili on my empty stomach. But because of what happened during one of the intermissions. Some of the band kids and I got up to eat. We stood there and just ate our chili, thinking nothing special of the moment. All of the sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was in the middle of laughing and I didn't think it would be anyone but another kid in the band so I turned around with a beaming smile on my face. It was Coach Parker. My smile fell so fast. He leaned into the group and said, "good to see they feed the band, we need you!" With a quick chuckle he walked away to where ever he was headed. Everyone else I was with was able to at least get out a "thank you" but I stood there, in amazement, almost like I had seen a ghost. After Parker left the circle we all stared at each other before I finally was able to slip an "oh my god that was Coach Parker" from my lips, probably followed by a few explicatives. Later on that day my awe of Parker grew exponentially. On that same day he took the time out to say one side comment to us, on that same day he cracked a smile in my very small group of unsuspecting friends, Max Nicastro became public news.<br />
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Now I wasn't just fascinated by Parker the same way I get fascinated with scientific marvels. He wasn't just another legend, preparing to be lost among sport heroes everywhere. I got a momentary glimpse into who Parker was as a person.<br />
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I decided this year to take my fandom to the next level and went out to North Dakota to support the team. That trip went by in a blur, but a very memorable blur. I loved every last second of it, but it was a moment after the first game which would define that trip. The Friends of BU Hockey graciously allowed the fans that made the trip to come scarf down their food and crash their quaint get together. Of course, Parker stopped by for a post-game appearance. Even though we had lost, he strolled right over to us, a huge smile on, and thanked us genuinely for making the trip out. He said something inspirational and amazing I'm sure, but the only thing I can remember aside from the smile and thank you was him telling us that the state tree of North Dakota was a telephone pole. The twenty or so of us that were there laughed like we had never heard humor until this exact moment. Somehow, that was by far the funniest joke we had ever heard or could ever hope to tell.<br />
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People are always going to have role models. As a natural human instinct, we cling to people that have taught us something that we never really expected to learn. We are drawn to those who make the best of themselves and their situations. Parker said in his press conference today that he has over 200 sons. That's at least 200 people who look up to him as a role model. The man that showed them what hockey was really about, yes, but also about growing up and becoming a man. I can't call Jack Parker my role model in that sense.<br />
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At the same time, we have people in the world that we idolize. It generally boils down to who we want to be like or who we want to be with. Someone with great accomplishment. A dedicated, hard working person who has something to show for it. If you take a look at Parker's stats it's no wonder why he's a legend. He has done so much and given so much to this school. There are coaches that wish they could live up to just a small portion of his accomplishments, older brothers and fathers who want to be as inspiring as he is, and a lot of other "little people" who wish they could simply shake his hand. Although I do have a great admiration for him, calling Coach Parker an idol is stilling failing to tell the whole story.<br />
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Coach Parker is a special person, indeed. It's obvious to see those he has touched. I highly encourage you to check out two of the best Parker stories I've had the pleasure of reading today <a href="http://shesgamesports.com/2013/03/retiring-bu-bench-bosss-coaching-legacy-extends-beyond-athletes/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2013/03/11_time_with_parker,_always_time.php" target="_blank">here</a>. But in addition to all of them, there are legions of people that he nor I will ever know about. People who aren't close enough to call him when things get rough, but are so much more deeply connected than past anecdotes might reveal. It takes a proud, compassionate, and honest person to be known distantly and intimately at the same time. Too frequently do we find ourselves in positions of looking up to a person only to get too close and have them let us down. It could be because of circumstance or because of a character flaw you can never really see. But Coach Parker will never and can never be tainted in my eyes.<br />
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In news that is not new to anyone, Boston University Men's Ice Hockey went through a very trying time last year. Looking back now, I almost cannot believe the team got through all of it like they had. While I still believe they are all warriors in their own right, it was what Parker did that impressed me the most. His dedication to his players, his team, this school, and what was "right" somehow all shown through in his actions. In a time when it could have been incredibly easy to distance myself from BU hockey, it was Coach Parker who morphed my casual hobby into a passionate lifestyle.<br />
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I enjoy Jack Parker stories now more than ever because in the past two and a half years, I've been able to see him work first hand. I've chanted his name, laughed at his post game pressers, hung his poster on my wall and all around worshipped the ground he's walked on. I've defended him vehemently to outsiders, those close to the school, and everyone in between. I have felt forty years worth of dedication and pride beat throughout me in a single period.<br />
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And I'm not the only one.<br />
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There was an outpouring of people at the press conference today. Multiply that by a few and you'll see the public support that has been released through social media. Multiply that by a few hundred and you've got the other voiceless people that Coach Parker has touched in some way or another. We'll never be able to truly express in words what we've gained from Parker. We may not be able to tell you what he's taught us, but we can show you through our fervor of this team, program, and school. If there's one thing all of us can take away from Coach Parker, it's that showing your heart and believing in yourself is worth more than society wants us to believe. You can apply that to any situation, big or small. It goes beyond hockey.<br />
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I was so pleased to see the verbal, emotional, and outward support of Coach Parker today. From former players to lifers to freshmen, I've seen everyone offer what little insight they could into Parker's retirement. All of it was so overwhelmingly positive and genuine. But on behalf of the rest of us, us voiceless people, thank you Coach Parker. Thank you for forty years of perseverance, even if we only experienced a fourth of that. Thank you for your tweed jackets and your unabashed honesty. Thank you for the times you spoke and screamed out and thank you for the times you've listened and understood. Thank you for being the greatest coach to ever come to BU and thank you for reminding us that there's more to life than just the game.<br />
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There will never be another class of players or fans to experience Coach Parker's legacy first hand. But do know that his tradition and his influence will live far past him, us, and future generations. His mark on this sport, this school, and these people are often only dreamed of. I came to this school for academics, but I stayed for Parker. Even though I almost impaled him with the Goalie/Sieve sign once upon a time, I hope he knows just how influential a man he is.<br />
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In a world outside a frigid rink there are no stick salutes. No shin taps, no handshake lines. You can't always wear your colors on your sleeves. Cellys only exist on the ice and teams only reside in locker rooms. If pawprints really were a sufficient way to recognize that which is otherwise unnoticed, we'd all be giving Parker enough to fill up forty seasons worth of helmets and beyond.<br />
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Alas, there will come a time when we walk into Agganis and Coach Parker isn't behind the bench. He won't be sitting up top watching his team, but someone else's. The student section won't be filling the arena with his name. Coach York will be shaking another gentleman's hand while secretly wanting nothing more than to claim he's better.<br />
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But even as the ice continually melts and needs to be resurfaced; even as the paint fades and needs to be rewritten, Jack Parker's name will always endure.<br />
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Thank you, Coach.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-493074831049984962013-03-10T00:24:00.003-05:002013-03-10T08:12:11.578-04:00An Ode to WomenI'm pretty sure I knew close to nothing about Boston University Women's Ice Hockey. Scratch that, I knew nothing. The only thing I could definitively say is, yes, we had a women's team.<br />
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But I showed up to Walter Brown Arena on October 15th, 2010 nonetheless. Not much later, I showed up again.</div>
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I came to this school fully expecting to fall in love with Boston University Men's Ice Hockey. I was completely ready to let it happen, let it take up all my time. I was prepared for my weekly night in Agganis. I knew that I'd be learning more stats than I could handle about NHL draft picks. It all just made complete sense in my mind.<br />
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As for the magic that happened when I first started watching the women's team...that was different.<br />
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I didn't know what to think. I had never really paid attention to women's ice hockey in general, especially women's college ice hockey. Truth be told I didn't even think to see if we had a women's team before coming here. It was nothing against our team, it was just utter ignorance on my part.<br />
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But as I mentioned, I found my way to Walter Brown Arena within months of the beginning of my freshman year. It was cold. Why wasn't there a jumbotron? Why was there still a sign for Burger King in the Union Court? There weren't any seats behind the goals. But above all - I remember it being close to empty. What I thought was going to be another raucous hockey game felt way more scaled back than I would've ever guessed.<br />
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Everything I had learned about Boston University Ice Hockey at Agganis Arena seemed to dissipate in the waning minutes before puck drop. Even the "tradition" music was still slightly different. But then the all-too familiar "let's play hockey" slogan slipped from Jim Prior's lips. In a moment, all the reservations I was having evaporated.<br />
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I can't tell you what happened that game. I even had to look up the box score just now to remember that we even won. I can't tell you what got me back for the next game. I didn't remember any players or any goals that were scored. Nothing at all stood out to me about this team. But I kept coming back for more. Another one in October. A few more in November. Again in December and January.<br />
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Then February rolled around and I got to witness my first ever Women's Beanpot. I hated being at BC, especially because of the night before's events. Alas I stood as always through team warmups and everything went according to its usual predestined plan. Even in a foreign rink with terrible warm up music, things were starting to feel routine. I still wasn't feeling anything out of the ordinary for this team. But then it happened. Holly Lorms skated to the boards, continuing whatever warm up should would normally be doing. Curiously, she stopped, looked up at my friend and I, and waved excitedly. A huge smile was plastered to her face, like she was seeing a best friend again. All I knew was that Holly Lorms's name was Holly Lorms and that she donned a C on her chest. I looked to my friend, confused, and asked if she knew Lorms. She didn't. We both stood there, trying to figure out why on earth Lorms had waved to us. Two lowly freshman, never before interacted with the team. Just people who blended in.<br />
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At the end of the game we contemplated not only the plays, but this strange act as well. That's when it sort of hit us. This team is different. They could win, lose, or tie. They could know us or they don't have to. They still love seeing us show up. And they're going to express that gratitude.<br />
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In March 2011, the band learned two things. That our men's basketball team was going dancing and that our women's ice hockey team was Frozen Four bound. What we didn't know at the time was that we had an opportunity to go to both. When it was revealed that the men's basketball team would be playing in Tulsa, I got excited to spend my Spring Break in a warm environment. What the hell was in Tulsa? What the hell was in Oklahoma at all? I knew none of the answers but still started thinking of my wardrobe none the less. But in the first few nights of Spring Break, it turns out that there was going to be an opportunity for half of us to also travel to Erie for the Women's Frozen Four. Last minute, a bunch of us were asked to switch from going to Tulsa to going to Erie. I was not one of the people asked. My spot to Oklahoma was secured. But after a brief meeting with those of us traveling, I somehow found myself walking straight up to the director and telling him, "send me to Erie."<br />
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Erie happened. Winning the semifinal happened. Making doortags for the team happened. The team ordering us pizza happened. Dying my hair bright red happened. As I was sent home on the chartered plane (the Bruins plane, by the way) and as I sipped on my complementary gatorade wrapped in a warm blanket using WiFi at so many thousand feet, I realized that I was in love. For the second time that year, I had fallen in love with a Boston University Ice Hockey team.<br />
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Things just got better from there on out, being a women's hockey fan. The games got more intense, the players became more like friends, the love I had for that team grew bigger. The next year I found myself in a colder rink than Wally B cheering on this team for a Women's Hockey East Championship. A championship they won in thrilling fashion. I came home from that game on an all time BU Athletics high. Everything seemed perfect.<br />
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When I look back on my time being a fan of this team, there are some irreplaceable memories. The games like triple overtime versus Cornell - scratch that, every game ever versus Cornell. The multiple nights in hotels making signs for the players. The one time we made baked goods for the players. Not being afraid to go offer my congratulations to them in the dining hall.<br />
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No, I can't tell you I'm actually friends with anyone on the team. But we are so much more than fans at this point. There is some sort of special bond that I don't think has ever been had between a team and its followers before. This is a family. You can laugh all you want at that, but I guarantee you anyone involved in it would agree. A close knit unit that does nothing but offer support to each other in every way possible. It is without a doubt the most rewarding system I've ever been apart of. And it is genuine.<br />
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I've tried to convince people to come out to women's games before. Sometimes with good results, sometimes not. I've thrown stats and anecdotes all over the place, but who knows if they really work. But I'll be damned if I ever stop trying. This team (and so what if I overuse this phrase) deserves our support. For a game. For a playoff run. For a season. For four years. Whatever you can give, they will take it. I'm not asking anyone to convert to die hard fandom in moments. You can't. All I'm trying to express is that some of the best memories come from unexpected moments. I never in a millon years would've pegged myself as a devoted follower of this team, but here I am today. All it took was a little bit of spontaneity. Nobody convinced me of anything. I didn't expect anything. I didn't want anything. But I got it anyways.<br />
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So as we get geared up for another Hockey East Championship game and perhaps beyond, I just wanted to again offer my undying appreciation for this team. Thank you for giving me some of the best moments I've had as a college student. Watching you all lay it all out on the line game after game is the greatest gift a fan can ask for. I cannot wait to keep following you past my years as a student. And I cannot wait to keep bugging the living daylights out of everyone to get them to Walter Brown Arena, the place that has truly been my home on this campus.<br />
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Let's finish this season off right. Go BU!</div>
Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-16368477947389806962013-02-28T22:30:00.000-05:002013-02-28T22:30:01.243-05:00Gotta Win 'Em AllI've come to the conclusion that what I've been writing lately is terrible. If you look at my most recent posts, it's all really...depressing. They're reminders of a less than stellar few months for Men's Ice Hockey. That's not good for two reasons. One, because of the obvious. There's still reasons to be completely amped up on this Terrier hockey team. We've got enough games left to turn things around and we can make it back into NCAA play. And two, because I've been neglecting women's ice hockey. I hate when people neglect women's ice hockey.<br />
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Thus this post was born. One of the most research filled posts I've ever written. It took me two full days to write it. And it's a post in which I combine my love for both teams.<br />
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Coming after the jump: a post comparing BU men's and women's ice hockey.<br />
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To Pokemon.<br />
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Oh no, you read that right. This is a tradition of sorts that I started with a friend of mine our freshmen year and it's something I still do (on the down low of course) but now it's time to throw discretion out the window and reveal the twisted inner workings of my mind. Some of these are much more realistic than the others, and some are just straight up stupid.<br />
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Thanks to Bulbapedia for the help with this. Some of the info came straight from that site, other parts of it came from...other sources. Namely my imagination. I'm sure you can decipher which is which.<br />
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As a disclaimer, obviously none of this is meant to be malicious or real, or whatever. Also, feel free to disagree and share which Pokemon you feel would better fit the athlete. But in the end, remember, I'm comparing athletes to fictitious Japanese cartoons. It's gonna be alright.<br />
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Also Generation I only. All other generations can burn in hell with Digimon.<br />
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<b>Kerrin Sperry</b><br />
No other choice for Sperry except Onix. An absolute rock in net, but still got some sick flexibility for those split saves. As I also learned from Bulbapedia, apparently Onixes are hotheaded. All I'm gonna say is I wouldn't wanna crash the net on Sperry.<br />
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<b>Anthony Moccia</b><br />
While I was considering Mewtwo here, I decided to go to Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto is one of the most underrated Pokemon not evolved to the highest form. I'm telling you, in my extensive knowledge of playing Pokemon Yellow a million times when I was young, I always threw out my Pidgeotto in intense situations because I felt like it would always evolve the fastest. Young Moccia just needs time.<br />
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<b>Britt Hergesheimer</b><br />
Hergesheimer has the best first name ever. Like in the history of man kind. So for no other reason than that, she gets my favorite Pokemon of all time - Jolteon. Evolved from that dumb, too-many-voweled Eevee to become a total fox...made of jagged and electrical edges.<br />
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<b>Ryan Ruikka</b><br />
There really is no other choice for this one other than Alakazam. A master of all things psychic. I mean, an Alakazam has an IQ over 5,000 (it's a dumber version than Ruikka obviously) but it's the smartest of all the Pokemon so we'll give it to him.<br />
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<b>Ahti Oksanen</b><br />
Now I know I'll get a lot of slack for giving him a very feminine, un-Finnish Pokemon, but hear me out on this one. I'd say Jigglypuff for a few reasons. First of all, Jigglypuffs are known to mesmerize people and tell me one true Terrier fan that has not been in love with this kid from the second he stepped out on the blue line. Beyond that Jigglypuffs obviously have a beautiful singing voice (which I'm still holding out hope Ahti does), and Ahti's got such a great...interview voice. I'm also lead to believe a Jigglypuff will always aim high, so yeah, you could say they always shoot from blue line.<br />
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<b>Kathryn Miller</b><br />
Kathryn Miller is definitely a special Pokemon. But I'll go with Growlithe here, mostly because they are fiercely loyal. Miller is just one of those players that I identify with being a Terrier through and through. She also definitely loves those people that come to the games. Growlithes care about the stripes on the front, not the ones on the back.<br />
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<b>Patrick MacGregor</b><br />
Ya know, it's hard to find the most Truck like Pokemon. But of the lesser-Truck types, I've decided Blastoise is a good fit. According to Bulbapedia, Blastoise rams into opponents, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.046875px;">can </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.046875px;">shoot water from its cannons</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.046875px;"> with enough force to punch holes in steel, and can also throw Husky-type Pokemon through glass.</span></span><br />
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<b>Meghan Riggs</b><br />
Riggs is from Minnesota so I can only assume that she must be as nice as all the rest of the people in that state. For that reason, Riggs can be Chansey. Chansey is the nicest of all the Pokemon, sharing her eggs and each every day for injured Pokemon. I am only forced to believe that if Riggs laid an egg every day, she would give it to her injured teammates.<br />
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<b>Matt Grzelcyk</b><br />
In a completely non-biased way, I'm going with Pikachu. Like I mentioned, I was a Pokemon Yellow user so I started out with Pikachu and I refused to put him in storage or evolve him into Raichu. Pikachu is without a doubt in league of his own amongst the "rookie" Pokemon, so it seems pretty fitting.<br />
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<b>Shannon Doyle</b><br />
Oh Doyle...rules. (Couldn't resist.) Other Pokemon that rule: Zapdos. Zapdos is easily the best and coolest of the legendary birds. I'm not really sure that Doyle could start a thunderstorm by flapping her wings, but hey, we'll go with it.<br />
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<b>Shannon Stoneburgh</b><br />
First, let me just say that Stoneburgh is one of the most aptly named hockey players I've seen in a while. She has a ridiculously intimidating presence and so for that I think she'd be Rhydon. Rhydon is defense first in the sense that they use their massive bodies to get to the puck, er, win in the Poke battle.<br />
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<b>Cason Hohmann</b><br />
After his explosive offensive boost this year, there is no other Pokemon for Hohmann than Mew. Realistically, Poke trainers look at Mew and think that the little pink floating kitty thing isn't going to do any damage. But has Mew ever lost a battle? In the history of Pokemon? No. Mew dekes up through traffic and walks right in before racking up points on your stupid team and your dumb sieve.<br />
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<b>Kayla Tutino</b><br />
Kayla Tutino is as good at playing the different aspects of hockey as she is at speaking different languages. For that reason Electabuzz is the best Pokemon for her. Electabuzz does all kinds of fighting, from electric to psychic to fighting. It's also a thing that apparently an Electabuzz freaks out at the sight of red, but I'm pretty sure it's a typo meant to say the sight of maroon.<br />
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<b>Ben Rosen</b><br />
Man, Rosen is one of the most underrated guys on the team. In his time here, I've gained a lot of respect for what he's done for this team. I'd call Rosen Ditto, mostly because he's willing to do whatever to get this team where it needs to be. Came in playing defense, asked to move to forward, and he just did it. Doesn't matter which line he was on, he played to win. And let's not forget when he willingly gave up his spot in a game last year so Parker could work some things out with the lines. Dittos are also known to ride four wild ponies at once.<br />
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<b>Sarah Lefort</b><br />
Lefort is good at hockey. She is good because she scores lots of goals. In order to score those goals, she uses her hockey stick. Therefore, Lefort shall henceforth be known as Farfetch'd. The only thing about Farfetch'ds are that they love their sticks. So. That.<br />
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<b>Alexis Woloschuk</b><br />
From my Google research I learned that Woloschuk is a big Poulin fan (hell, me too!) so for that I'll call her Ponyta. Ponytas get better by chasing around other Ponytas and other Rapidashes. I'm pretty sure by getting the chance to play with her favorite player, Woloschuk will get better, too.<br />
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<b>Danny O'Regan</b><br />
The first half of this one has nothing to do with me, but thanks to the glory of Twitter I can no longer think of O'Regan without thinking about other animals. So, obviously, I'm going with Golduck. But the second part of this is that Golducks are psychic and can communicate through telepathy. O'Regan is so god damn good sometimes I could completely believe that he has telepathy.<br />
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<b>Dakota Woodworth</b><br />
Hair. Moltres. For real. I mean, this is probably one of those less serious ones, but there's no way I couldn't give Woodworth a fire type Pokemon. Also a legendary bird. The fieriest of legendary birds. And also awesome.<br />
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<b>Mike Moran</b><br />
Here's where I blame social media (again) for giving me an inside look at the so-called life of Moran. So completely unrelated to anything I think, have ever thought, or ever will think, Moran's gotta be Muk. I'll go ahead and let you Google the life of a Muk if you can't figure out why.<br />
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<b>Christina Wiley</b><br />
Once upon a time I had Buddhism class with Wiley. We learned about Buddhism all around the world, but we also learned about Zen Buddhism in China. Know what else is in China? Chinese dragons. Know which Pokemon is basically a Chinese dragon? Gyarados. Also one of the best Pokemon because even though it is a water type Pokemon, it can also learn fire and electric attacks. That was creepy.<br />
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<b>Kaleigh Fratkin</b><br />
Fratkin is gritty on the back end. For that I want to giver her Shellder. A defense-first Pokemon, Shellder isn't letting anything by it. But beyond that, when a Shellder shuts it can make a beautiful pearl. Look at the metaphor right there.<br />
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<b>Garrett Noonan</b><br />
No lie I have been beyond scared to post my Noonan pick. Not because I don't think it's accurate, but as arguably the most liked Terrier on the men's team I felt like someone might actually stalk me and kill me if they disagree with what I say. But, I'm just going to say it: Dragonite. Dragonite is bulky, but agile and fast. Dragonite is also ridiculously strong and, ahem, has a bit of, ya know, a temper. A Dragonite will go on a rampage when it's mad and it might not cool off for...a while. But at the core of it, Dragonites have a kindhearted disposition. More than just "kind." Dragonites save people from sinking ships. Noonans save teams from sinking seasons.<br />
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<b>Shannon Mahoney</b><br />
I just learned some interesting facts from the internet about Mahoney, but they can all be summed up into one thing: long hair, don't care. She played on the boys' hockey team before her school established a girls' team. Because. She held the bench pressing record. Because. She also dabbled in lacrosse. Because. How BA. A BA Pokemon? Haunter. Okay, don't go looking at the description because it's stupid and doesn't make sense. But to me, a Haunter just goes about on its business, doing the damn thing along the way.<br />
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<b>Jake Moscatel</b><br />
Oh, Moscatel. There are so many options but I'll go ahead and say Bulbasaur. Bulbasaurs are some of the best entry level Pokemon because they can learn some sick grass and poison moves before evolving. They're loyal and awesome. But actually, in some anime somewhere a Bulbasaur was abandoned for decades by its owner but still loved him to death when he got back. Moscatel sat up in the stands for such a long time, yet was so thankful to have the opportunity to finally get in a game or two this year.<br />
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<b>Lillian Ribeirinha-Braga</b><br />
Lillian will be the only Terrier I do not refer to by their last name because I frankly don't have the time to type it again...and again. For Lillian I'll go with Machop. Machop is part of one of the best tri-evolution Pokemon in the game. I've seen some good stuff from her and I feel like in a few years time she'll make her way up Machamp. Only...with less arms.<br />
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<b>Ryan Santana</b><br />
I hear Santana likes to eat. A lot. I've seen pictures of Santana eating. A lot. Jesus I've seen a picture of Santana's puke. Oh lord why did I remind myself of that. Anyways, Santana would be the most glutenous of all Pokemon - Golbat. Still a badass yeah, but is going to suck blood all day err day until it can't fly straight.<br />
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<b>Caroline Campbell</b><br />
Campbell is one of those people that can surprise you. She's redshirted, but when I've seen her play in the past, I always remember being pleasantly surprised. That's a Clefable move right there. Clefables have random attacks which is reminiscent of when I don't really expect something from Campbell yet she's dishing it out anyways.<br />
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<b>Sam Kurker</b><br />
Kurker has been more physical than I honestly expected him to be. Sure, he's also been in the box more than I expected. But I also never expected him to be the one to stand up to Bigos but on January 11th I was so excited to be proven wrong. If he could, I think he would tear people apart. So for that I'll give him Aerodactyl. The Pokemon that basically exists to rip people to shreds.<br />
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<b>Diana Bennett</b><br />
Before I begin, if you do not follow Diana Bennett on Twitter you need to do so immediately. Some of the hands down funniest tweets in the game. For that reason, I'd go with Meowth for Bennett. Meowth was always cracking jokes in his human voice and despite the fact that he rolled around with those idiots on Team Rocket, you couldn't help but be like, "hey, I want a Meowth."<br />
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<b>Evan Rodrigues</b><br />
You cannot laugh at Rodrigues's before I explain it. You also need to be a serious Pokemon player to get this reference. Rodrigues is definitely Diglett. Diglett you say? Not even Dugtrio? No, not Dugtrio. Because that one god damn cave you are forced to go into to get to Mount Moon, you run into a Diglett EVERY TWO FEET. Never Dugtrio and if you do it just runs away. Rodrigues, much like a Diglett, shows up everywhere. Oh, he's on a breakaway? Whatever. Oh, now he's on the point on a power play? Okay... Oh, now he's scoring on your sieve...again?! Digletts hate sieves.<br />
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<b>Rebecca Russo</b><br />
Russo is another one of those players that I expect to keep getting better with time. Good things so far, and things will be great soon. But for now I'll say she's Nidoran (insert female symbol here that I'm too lazy too look up). Going to be the absolute Nidoqueen someday.<br />
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<b>Wade Megan</b><br />
I almost didn't want to make Megan a Pokemon and instead a Poke trainer, but I'm not going to throw off the mojo now. But I do think Megan would make a convincing Dodrio. I know that sounds stupid, considering last time I checked Megan only had one head. But a Dodrio also has three hearts, and (okay this is cheesy, whatever) Megan's love for this school is bigger than a lot of others. Dodrios are also known to twig.<br />
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<b>Jenelle Kohanchuk</b><br />
Kohanchuk has gone through a lot in her time here, but she's always been great at what she does. For that reason, I'll say Starmie. Starmie's may get knocked down or hurt, but they always get back up (and regrow limbs). So despite injury, a Starmanchuk is tenacious and motivated.<br />
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<b>Matt Nieto</b><br />
I just want you all to know that as I sat here debating about which Pokemon to pick for Nieto, I said to myself "what is the most West Coast Pokemon I can think of?" The only logical answer was Scyther. Scyther has ninja like moves. Matt Nieto is a ninja.<br />
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<b>Isabel Menard</b><br />
I'm going to give Menard a rather stupid Pokemon which has some great traits. I'm going for Vileplume on this one, strictly because they cause paralysis. I've seen Menard stop defenders dead in their tracks. Tisk, tisk. Never going to beat a Vileplume. Or a Menard.<br />
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<b>Matt Ronan</b><br />
Ronan is the best two way player ever, in the history of the world, we're all in agreement on that one, right? Sandslash is the best Pokemon for two way battling because hello, it's covered in spikes. You see a ball of spikes coming at you, you run. At the same time, if you charge a seemingly harmless yellow armadillo, he's going to roll up into said spikey ball and play some of the best defense since the Berlin Wall.<br />
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<b>Sean Escobedo</b><br />
Escobedo is one of those Pok-I mean defenseman-who does what he is supposed to do. No jumping up and getting out of position and screwing up the entire god damn play. For that he can be Omastar. A great defensive Pokemon who waits for its unsuspecting pray to come close before it strikes. Escobedo-star.<br />
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<b>Jill Cardella</b><br />
As a leader of the Terriers, Cardella is going to have to be Venusaur. Venusaurs provided a pleasant aroma or something like that to soothe Pokemon in battle. As all good leaders should. I'm not saying Cardella soothes people by running around spraying perfume or anything...but it could happen.<br />
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<b>Sarah Bayersdorfer</b><br />
Bayersdorfer went through some injuries before she ended up a Terrier. But she's moved on and has done amazing thus far. I'll give her Wartortle because of her ability to rebound. Wartortles are really tough creatures and I'd say Bayersdorfer is one, too.<br />
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<b>Matt Lane</b><br />
The thing about Matt Lane is that he's always improved. Every single game I swear I see him getting better. Therefore I've decided to dub him Charmander. Charmander is the Pokemon you always start with. None of that Squirtle or Bulbasaur crap (sorry Moscatel). Even though I played Pokemon Yellow and was forced (willingly forced) to start with Pikachu, Charmander was always the one I'd pick up as soon as I could. One day CharMatter will become Charizard. And when that day comes all other teams are doomed.<br />
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<b>Taylor Holze</b><br />
Holze has got some fire inside of her. Coincidentally, so does Arcanine. Arcanines are regal and beautiful and everyone wants one. Who doesn't want a Taylor Holze?<br />
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<b>Jordan Juron</b><br />
I've definitely liked what I've seen so far from Juron. I think she's feisty. To me, that equals Raticate. A Raticate is not afraid to go after bigger enemies. Raticates are always on the offensive, always ready. Double J is intimidating like the big rat, but definitely not as...rat looking.<br />
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<b>Louise Warren</b><br />
I don't really try and pick favorites, but I've really liked Warren for a while. She's majestic. Not like, unicorn majestic, though. More like Ninetales majestic. Really smart, always knows what she's doing. Ninetales was created when nine saints all came together...or something. Warren was created when three towers all came together...or something.<br />
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<b>Sahir Gill</b><br />
Gill has always continued to impress. Every year I find myself liking him more and more. Kabutops seems to be a good fit. Kabutopses are offensive threats, always, because of their sycth-like hands. Kabutopses are also adaptive and when their pray took to living on land, so did they. The best non-drafted Pokemon ever.<br />
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<b>Marie-Philip Poulin</b><br />
I almost didn't have such an amazing Pokemon for Poulin, but it finally came to me. Rapidash. Agile and speedy, Rapidashes score more points than any of the other Pokemon. They chase anything that moves because they want to race it and battle it. Often found in the Canadian areas of the Poke map, a Rapidash is almost guaranteed to win a medal on behalf of all the other Rapidashes. Also, beautiful.<br />
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<b>Matt O'Connor</b><br />
Alright so there are no "sexy goalie" Pokemon that wink and/or salute, so it was tough. But I settled for Mr. Mime. Mr. Mime creates invisible barriers that no one can get by. I also read that if you interrupt a Mr. Mime while he's miming, he'll slap you silly. Direct quote. Matt O'Connor be slappin' Eagles silly.<br />
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<b>Braly Hiller</b><br />
Man, I really miss Hiller. I know she's off getting bio-hips or whatever, but I can't wait until she comes back. She is one of those other players that just bleeds scarlet and makes me proud to come support the team game in and game out. In terms of Pokemon, I see Hiller as Kangaskhan. Kangaskhan is a fierce fighting spirit, no matter what. Won't back down in battle, for anything. Loves all other Kangaskhans and will probably kill anyone who tries to touch them.<br />
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<b>Sean Maguire</b><br />
Seriously, again, why are there no "sexy goalie" Pokemon? But Sean Maguire definitely deserves Cloyster. Cloyster is the best defensive Pokemon there is, no ifs, ands or buts. When a Cloyster clamps down, there is no opening it. I mean, kid barely ever takes off his mask, even. Defense all day.<br />
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<b>Alissa Fromkin</b><br />
Fromkin is just a solid tendy. For that reason I'll give her Kakuna. Because Metapod is dumb and should feel bad. But the only thing Kakunas can do is defend. Defend, defend, defend. Fromkin's all over that one.<br />
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For the record, that was pretty tough. There are a lot of stupid Pokemon out there. Remember Lickitung? No? Don't worry I tried to block it from my childhood memories, too.<br />
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In all seriousness though, this weekend is one of the most important for our hockey teams. Women's ice hockey is back in action on Saturday when they play quarterfinals versus UConn. Yes, we did just beat UConn. Yes, we did just win the regular season. But it will by no means be a cake walk. It's right on campus so there's no excuse for us all to not get over there. It will be over before the men's game, too!<br />
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The men have two game this weekend, both at home, both versus Vermont. We need to win these games if we have any hope of getting home ice (which we can still get if we win the rest of our games). But the team will need a lot of support to do it. This team plays its best when the fans are at their best.<br />
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Three games and we need three Ws. Get out there and support your Poke-Terriers. Go BU!Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-45235072633494363992013-02-14T23:53:00.000-05:002013-02-14T23:53:00.828-05:00Murphy's LawFor those of you needing a recap lesson on Murphy's Law, it can be summed up in one statement: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.<br />
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For those of you needing a recap of the Boston University Men's Ice Hockey season since the Denver game, it can be summed up in one theory: Murphy's Law.<br />
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I've always clearly stated that I love this team no matter what. It doesn't matter if we're on some sort of offensive tear or coming in 4th place in the Beanpot. But still, there will always be things I disagree with and things that I wish we could change. I, like everyone else, just want to see a consistent effort from the teams I love every last game. But even in the times there isn't, nothing stops me from continually showing up to games.<br />
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I've been a student for three years and in those three years I've seen more drama with my hockey team than some lifers have seen. I saw Charlie Coyle score a hat trick in an exhibition game and then a year and two months later I saw him leave for WJC and never return to this school. I remember my freshman year Valentine's Day because I was more depressed by the team than by not having a valentine. I'd see Andy Glass and Victor Saponari in the dining hall more times than I'd seen them on the ice. I fell asleep after reading a tweet saying Corey Trivino had been kicked off the team only to be awaken less than an hour later by a frantic roommate explaining the situation. I was at a women's ice hockey game when I learned of what had happened with Max Nicastro.<br />
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Yet I remember the thrillers, too. Almost all of my sophomore year is marked by those occasions. Beanpot finals. Vermont weekend. Beating BC twice away. Making the trip to Minnesota. Of course, I also remember those tried and true Terriers. Joe Pereira. Chris Connolly. Kieran Millan. The ones that stayed all four years not necessarily because they weren't going to have a hockey opportunity if they left early but because I believe they really felt an affinity for this place.<br />
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This year I was hoping things were going to be different. After everything that happened last year, I had no reason to believe things wouldn't be different. I was almost certain we had reached the bottom of whatever preverbal hill we'd been rolling down. We had some of the most trying experiences last year and we passed all of that. Leaders emerged, attitudes were turned around, outlooks were made positive. The "us against the world" mentality should never have dissipated. There was no reason for it to.<br />
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Yet 2013 rolls around and I feel trapped in the same never ending cycle I was born into. Someone leaves (multiple people leave), we have a atrocious stretch of hockey (multiple stretches), "Terriers" denounce their fandom (multiple "Terriers"). I am the most optimistic person in the world but I'm really getting terribly sick of this. It's hard to find the silver linings in situations when it's the same types of situations happening over and over again.<br />
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People think it's crazy, being so into a team. I can't explain why the Terriers win/loss ratio is directly correlated to my personal happiness, but it is. People look at me like I'm psychotic because I know something about every under-ager before he even throws on the Scarlet and White. But it's just the way things are with me. It's the way things are with a lot of Terriers.<br />
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But then this happens. It's a rare situation in that it's black and white why we lost a defenseman. More than that, everyone got to witness first hand the on ice discipline issues that lead to the suspension. Regardless of how people feel about the length of the suspension, it happened and it's not going away.<br />
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No, this is not the end of the world. We all saw last year. Things could be worse. Much, much worse. Yet we're still in a position where Justin Courtnall left...Yasin Cisse left...Wes Myron left...now Privitera is gone. Our depth is gone. It's almost impossible to not say "hey, we're done. The season is over. It's just a matter of fact."<br />
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Even as optimistic as I may be, I admit it. This situation looks bleak.<br />
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It occurred to me after the Beanpot consolation loss that I may never see a National Championship as a student. Something that I completely expected and have reveled in. I may never even see another NCAA tournament game as a student. Hell, I may never see a Hockey East Championship. Yet in that moment of clarity it was okay. Those things are rare, the ultimate prize. But it's not why I watch this game. What I care more about is seeing my team battle for the even opportunity to see those big games. Even if it's a game against a last place Northeastern team - no, against a winless Sacred Heart team - I want my team to prove to me, to the coaches, to themselves, that they belong in Boston University Ice Hockey history.<br />
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With that thought, I realized our depth issues no longer matter to me. Yeah, we've lost our options. But take a look at what's left. Jake Moscatel and Matt Ronan. Two kids that have dressed few games but have stayed with this team through it all. Nobody expects them to be Matt Gilroy. Nobody expects them to even have a boat load of ice time even when they do dress. But if there's something I've learned, it's that those two kids belong more on this team than anyone that left.<br />
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People may have laughed about playing the two of them in the past. But I know a handful of passionate people, myself included, that did not joke. In the few moments I've had the opportunity to watch them play, I've seen them trying, really trying, to make an impression. Not an impression for themselves, but for the team. They want to help the group of their best friends in any way they can. Being on the ice to do so is a bonus. It's cliche, but it's true. With these two the phrase "play for the name on the front, not the one on the back" has never had more meaning.<br />
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Of course Moscatel is injured now, but as soon as he's healed up I expect him right back in the line-up, grinding like always. Matt Ronan gets the opportunity to make his return to the line-up this weekend and guarantee he doesn't take his ice time for granted. Some nameless people who walked away this season wanted 1st or 2nd line minutes, but Ronan and Moscatel would take any minutes. So what if they weren't recruited to this school. So what if they aren't drafted. So what if after they graduate they never competitively step on the ice again. The thought of walking away from this has never crossed their minds.<br />
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In all actuality, this might be what the team needs. As Escobedo and Megan said in interviews earlier, you never want to see a friend go. But it's time to step up and move on. This team does what it does best under adversity. That spark that's been missing for sometime now might just get re-lit this weekend in Maine.<br />
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Finally, and I'm still completely serious about this, I think it's time for Moccia to see some time in net. This is not a knock on Maguire or O'Connor at all, they both deserve the time they've been getting. But at this point, what do we have to lose by letting Moccia play? He doesn't have to start, he doesn't have to play long, but he deserves a shot. Parker was going to give it to him in exhibition at the start of the year but he couldn't due to injury. I don't think he should've missed his shot because of that. I've always been a fan of the underdog getting in net (Adam Kraus, anyone?) because sometimes it's those guys that stay on their toes the best. They have the most to prove in the little amount of time they've got. I truly hope before he graduates that he does get the opportunity to play.<br />
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Realistically, who knows where we'll end up this year. If the season ends today, we're still in the tournament. But that could all change (for better or worse) tomorrow. I'm not asking for wins anymore. All I'm hoping for a true display of pride in this school, this sport, and this team. It's been a while since I've heard Parker call a game (win or loss) a good one. I'd like to get back to that. Back to the roots of this team and this tradition. Things aren't going to be perfect and they sure as hell won't be easy, but we can't roll over and play dead yet. A season doesn't end in February.<br />
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So here we are. A weekend away from home and playing a team that we desperately need to win against. At this time, points and standings are still all up in the air. But there should be no question that we continue to fight. Even if we don't win a single game for the rest of the season, sweat, tears, and maybe even a little bit of blood better be spent. This team needs to leave it all out on the ice. As fans, we'll be there do or die. But we've reached the point in the season where we don't want to see wins for ourselves anymore. We want to see wins for the team, for their sake, so they know that this isn't over. Even if we don't see any games past the first weekend in March, I hope the boys know that the end of one season is how we start the next.<br />
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I don't actually think any of the team has ever read this nor will they ever, but I'm still going to say this next bit anyways. Even through the bad plays, stupid penalties, rough times - you've always made me proud to be a Terrier. There is nothing I enjoy more than my Friday and Saturday nights in Agganis or on the road to another arena. Your games are what get me through the week most times. Your games are the only thing I'm willing to miss work and pay for. Your games are my livelihood and the best part of my college experience. Obviously, Terrier Nation feels the same way. We've got your backs through anything from idiotic North Dakotans, to classless Northeastern fans, to even those terrible commenters on the Boston Hockey Blog.<br />
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Yes, anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Says philosophy. But my physicist friend Newton says differently. Objects at rest tend to stay at rest, yes. But objects in motion tend to kick the shit out of Hockey East opponents. Go BU.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-10259003386588414752013-02-01T22:54:00.002-05:002013-02-01T22:54:33.613-05:00Still Bleeding, The RepriseYou know what's awful? I haven't written a blog post in six weeks. Know what's worse? When I finally get writing again, it's because yet again BU has lost another player. Not just lost. They left. Willingly. In the middle of the season. Not even during a break in the season. For what...we still don't even know.<br />
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I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty sick of it.<br />
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In my three years of being a Terrier student, I've seen entirely too much of people packing up and moving on. It's not even necessarily that it happened, but how it happened. What else are we supposed to think when these people who we've cheered for for a few games, a few weeks, a few years decide that what BU has to offer just isn't good enough for them? We spent our Friday and Saturday nights losing our voice with their names being the cause.<br />
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It's a pretty terrible feeling and we've collectively had too much of it. At this point it doesn't matter if it's someone we cared about, hated, or felt indifferent to. I'm not even sure I had gotten to the point where I could definitively tell you what kind of hockey player Wes Myron was. But wow was that a blow today.<br />
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Of course when a player leaves, it stirs up all kinds of other drama at the same time. He wouldn't have left if there were better senior leadership. He wouldn't have left if the team played with more heart. He wouldn't have left if Parker wasn't here. He wouldn't have left if Andy Glass hadn't been kicked off the team (?.....??....???!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!)<br />
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And to continue the downward spiral, after we start bringing up all the what if's, we focus on all the bad that's already happening. Yes, that UMass game was...wait, can we even call that a game? At least it wasn't as bad as Denver. Too bad our team can't play any defense. Too bad Matt O'Connor and Sean Maguire both suck. Man, in fact, all of our freshmen are downright terrible. How DARE the Blues draft Sam Kurker? At least Ahti wasn't. And seriously, Matt Lane? Guys, MATT LANE.<br />
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I'm going to stop there. But I kid you not, I've heard everything imaginable the past few hours. From the reasonable problems with our team to the farfetched. Whatever. I'm not saying don't bring it up. It existed, it does exist, and we are all entitled to our opinions.<br />
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But here's the real problem. Why, through all of this, do we have to keep hearing fans jumping off the BU hockey cliff? A player leaves, we lose a few games, and all the sudden you're going to throw away 4 years...10 years...a lifetime of being a BU hockey fan?<br />
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Pardon me while I laugh in your face. Have fun with that. Life after BU hockey is a dirty lie.<br />
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Look, I'm usually the first person to try and convince people to stay, to keep spirits up. I've always been about rallying the troops. Despite the bads, there's still a lot of good to this team, this program. Despite the bads, damnit we can have a lot of fun during 'em. I'm pro-BU hockey until the day I die and I have a hard time hearing about how other people aren't. In some portion of my brain I honestly believe there is a chemical imbalance that prevents me from accepting people not being a diehard fan of this.<br />
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But for once, I don't feel like spitting off 80 million reasons why this team is the best, why you should keep watching, why you need to keep supporting. Instead, quite frankly, I'm just going to say good riddance. Honestly, nobody cares for your negativity anymore. It got old years ago. I get it, you think you could coach this team better than Parker and you sure as hell know what goes on in the locker room more than the rest of us. So if you seriously want to give up on the team, go ahead, what's stopping you? Stop complaining and just...leave.<br />
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But before you go, I suggest you take a minute to remember all the emotions that get stirred up in you when a player leaves midseason. How pissed you are, how frustrated, that inevitable "am I good enough?" feeling. Hurts, doesn't it? But go ahead fan, why don't you leave the team midseason, too?<br />
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Yeah, congratulations, you've just become the people you hate.<br />
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I doubt any of the people that say they're going to give up on the team actually do. Because clearly you've got some fire, some passion for this team. There's something there stopping you from leaving completely. Hey, I get it. God damnit I want wins, too. Not just wins, but good wins, good hockey. I want to win another National Championship, I want to make the NCAA tournament again, hell I just want to see a Beanpot win. These continued loses really strike a chord.<br />
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I've always been an Olé-er. Two, five, five plus minutes. Breathtaking saves or shorthanded celebrations. I've always Olé-ed until the countdown was on. But the Denver game, in the waning minutes of the third period, I stopped singing for probably a full 10 seconds. That may seem like a stupid example to some of you, but I guarantee you we've all had those games in which we just thought "what is the point of keeping this up? We sure as hell aren't going to win anyways."<br />
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But the very next game, whether it's the next day or a season away, everything I've felt for this team floods back. I get the chills and my memory becomes short term. All of the sudden I don't care that Privitera kicked a guy because he just blocked a shot...five shots. As soon as 38 minutes hits and the team comes back out, it's all about this game and this moment. Things can turn around and there is zero reason to believe they won't.<br />
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It's easy to be pessimistic. But if you take sports at face value the way it's meant to be, wasting time moping about them makes no sense. Comebacks are what the best stories are made of. People root for the underdog. A battle happens more often than a blowout.<br />
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And you have to really remember, this is college hockey. You say these kids don't have heart but I say they have too much of it. You either have a guy that is going to spend his final times competitively skating with this team and he's going to work his hardest to make the most of it. Or, you have a guy that is on his way to the AHL, maybe even the NHL, but definitely something to push for. Both of those kids have heart. But what both of those two kids have in addition to heart is pressure - immense pressure. Think about it - pressure can be damning sometimes, no matter how much you want to overcome it.<br />
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So don't be quitting on this team midseason. In fact, don't ever be. That little bit of support you provide for the team is what keeps them chugging along. I mean, would you want to play in front of 60 people screaming your name or 600 in Agganis? Or, would you rather deal with the idiots that are the Dog House with or without a few (or 300) of people in Scarlet and White chanting Go BU?<br />
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But if you still decide to walk out, thank god we got rid of you when we could. Feel free to turn in your jersey (if you ever owned one) at the door. The rest of us will take it from here.<br />
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I've said this before and I'll say it again, it's never about the kids that are gone, it's about the ones that are left. You might not be able to pinpoint which kid on the ice takes your support to heart, but he's out there. Don't let him know you've given up hope. Remind him that you've got his back, win or lose. Once we all believe that, all the guys on the team will. And how ridiculous that will be.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-10437311604141477932012-12-18T17:13:00.003-05:002012-12-18T17:13:40.181-05:00Terrier Tuesday: John PapaleIf there was ever an obvious choice for Terrier Tuesday, it's John Papale. I couldn't imagine myself feeling so strongly about a freshman deserving it this early on in a season, but I've never been happier to be wrong. After men's basketball's come back and overtime win on Sunday, two things are clear. One, men's basketball is ready to compete this year. After a rough start, they're ready to put it behind them. A good confidence boost like that one will serve them well while they get closer and closer to opening up America East play at the start of next year. Second, it's that some of the woes I had from losing our top players can be quelled with this new class.<br />
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And of this new class, I am most excited to see where John Papale is going to take us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via One-Bid Wonders</td></tr>
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First of all, kid hasn't even started a game yet this season. It's not surprising when you take a look at who else is on the team. If you're like me, you kind of expected him to go through the motions this semester, if not this year. Make it into games yes, but not even be close to a game changer. Yet in 10 games played thus far, he's got 89 points, averaging just under 9 points a game. It's clear that he's still an important part of this squad considering he's averaging over 27 minutes a game, good for fifth on the team.<br />
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But, admittedly, I had a hard time noticing him. I mean, not more than I expected to. He's never played straight up poorly, not to my recollection. But I still wasn't able to get myself past the "oh yeah, he's one of the freshman" mentality. In his defense, the only freshman I've been able to break that barrier for is Maurice Watson Jr.<br />
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Then Sunday happened. And Sunday changed everything.<br />
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For those not at the game, I'll give you a quick recap. The game was not really the best for either squad. But what was bad for them was good for us. Because even though neither team played spectacularly they played at the same level. Meaning the entire game the score was deadlocked. Meaning each and every play was important to both teams. Meaning the last few minutes of that game were grounds for a heart attack.<br />
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I'm the first to jump on the D.J. Irving band wagon. I think he's got some serious skills and can come up in big situations. But when the game was winding down the Terriers were down 50-49, Irving was given the ball. There were just a few seconds difference between the shot clock and the game clock. I had faith in Irving but, well, stuff just happens sometimes. He was playing great all game and there was no reason to believe he wouldn't have made that layup, but he didn't.<br />
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That's when things got really interesting. Quinnipiac ran the ball down the other end and we fouled them with something like 10 seconds remaining. Of course they made both shots, making the score 52-49. Time was winding down in the Terrier end. There were 5.4 seconds left on the clock when freshman Papale shot the ball up behind the line. Ask anyone, and they'll tell you it didn't seem like that ball was going to go in. But it did and Papale reminded the crowd why you stay until the last possible minute.<br />
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In overtime, the Terriers dominated and there really was no question that we were going to come out on top. Although, yeah, those five minutes were still gut wrenching. Anyways. In that five minutes, Papale would score another five points while the team scored another 17. In those five points was another 3 pointer and I tell you, not a single doubt was in my mind that he'd make it.<br />
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It was clear from the beginning of the season that we had a lot of freshmen talent. We all knew it'd take a bit for them to get settled into the college game. But after this game, I can make a confident prediction that Papale has done more than settled. He's got his footing and he'll be a big player come the second half of the year.<br />
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But what really was impressive about the kid is that while he's got the talent, he's not going to let that go to his head. In basketball in particular (and this is why I hate the NBA), everyone knows who the best guy on the team is because he's cocky as anything. Even if you've never watched the team before, if you watch an NBA game you'll know within a few minutes who's good. And it's not usually because of his plays but because of his big mouth and over exaggerated gestures. I'm not saying Papale is the best on the team, but I'm saying he's definitely a solid player who's real important to this team. He was relied on for a big situation and he came through. That type of thing can really get into people's heads. But in the overtime, I saw no evidence of that. Papale continued to play his game just as he had before the game tying shot.<br />
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Even in Papale's post game comments, it became clear that he's not that prototypical big-headed basketball star. To hear him admit that he hasn't been playing his best the past few games speaks volumes to that. I'm excited to watch where he will go in the next half of the season because of that- because he'll let his actions speak for themselves, not his mouth. Now I can't wait until the next time he goes up for a big shot. I know that I'll have that same confidence in John Papale that I do in the other guys on the team.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-85529620755752333802012-12-12T14:13:00.001-05:002012-12-12T14:13:49.200-05:00Terrier Tuesday: Rashidat AgboolaThe past few women's basketball games have been intense. With some tough games, the team really could've given up. But then that wouldn't be Kelly Greenberg's squad. Starting with the big win over St. John's at the beginning of the December, women's basketball has been just absolutely killing it this month.<br />
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There's a lot of things that can contribute to that success. But I think a lot of it has to do with Rashidat Agboola.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via AmericaEast.com</td></tr>
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Rashidat Agboola started off her career at BU coming off of benches. Then again, that was to be expected when she had Kerry Cashman and Caroline Stewart ahead of her. But she didn't do too bad for herself. She still made it into 29 games which made her the freshman that appeared in the most games by a huge margin. Her real breakout game came December 8th vs UMass. She had eight points and eight rebounds, a real sign of things to come.<br />
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Last year Agboola saw ridiculous progress. She started in 31 games and was on fire from the start. I'm pretty sure November 13th was the day when everyone hopped on the Agboola train for good. Versus UMass (again...tisk tisk UMass) she got 21 points and 16 rebounds. Her rebounding that entire year was insane. 16 games she either had the most or tied for the most rebounds. That had her ending her year with eight double doubles, the most on the team.<br />
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Oh but wait, it just gets better. This year in 11 games, Agboola already has 107 points, more than 20 points what she had last year at this time. She also already has four double-doubles, including three in a row in four of BU's last few games. So, yeah. This season she'll be just fine.<br />
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Alright, now that I'm done spitting stat sheets at you...<br />
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One thing I've learned about Kelly Greenberg is that she does not let her team roll over. Every game and every play they need to battle and prove not only why they can beat the other team, but why they deserve their playing time. The work ethic of the women's basketball team is definitely something that has helped them push along through America East lately, yes. But it has also served them well during some of these tougher, out of conference games. Ever since that absolutely gut-wrenching loss against West Virginia earlier in the season, it's clear that the Terriers are not letting any of their remaining games slip through their fingers. Including those two huge OT wins against Marist and Harvard. Oh, and not to mention kicking the absolute crap out of St. John's, the highest ranked opponent the Terriers have defeated in program history.<br />
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You best bet a lot of that had to do with Rashidat Agboola. Not to say our other Terriers don't push hard, but I never see her quit. Ever. Even if she can't come up with a rebound, it's certainly not for lack of trying. She's always in the mix, battling for that ball for her team. I think my favorite thing about her though is her focus. Even if she misses a free throw or whatever else, she shakes it off. She's not one to visibly beat herself up, but she is one to push herself harder next time. Even if there's a game when she's not putting up awesome numbers, she's still out there grinding. Every game, she's just real fun to watch.<br />
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This year she was named a Tri-Captain, so she's gotta be great off the court, too. Oh wait, I know she is. One time I ate pizza at the same table as her. She's hilarious and awesome. It was magical. I bet her teammates feel that magic around her, too.<br />
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Thanks for making me Proud to BU, Rashidat!Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-22228694437653546562012-12-05T16:55:00.000-05:002012-12-08T17:22:26.333-05:00ButterfliesI live for those moments when I can feel butterflies in my stomach. I'll take the nauseous feeling any day of the week. Adrenaline rushes are fun and tears of happiness are all great, but nothing can ever compare to that feeling.<br />
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Most people get those butterflies when leaving for school. Because no matter what, going away to college is downright petrifying. If you're like me, you've had your heart set on Boston University for a long time. It's the only school you applied to and you don't like having to imagine yourself some place else. But even with all that, all the security you feel in coming here, you never know what to expect. You know that the pedestal you've built can come crashing down at any moment.<br />
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Some things change the second you step foot on Commonwealth Avenue. The food is different and West, as big as it is, never really has what you want. The dorms that once held allure you now realize are only tiny and cramped. No matter how many times Mom explained it, you still don't understand how to do laundry. To top it all off, you're given a person at random with whom you have shut up and deal with or jump through hoops to try and get away from.<br />
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Within your first week you're already trying new things. You go out and you participate in some school sanctioned activities. You join a club and only go to the first meeting. You go to some parties and probably put yourself in some situations you had only seen in the movies. Through it all you're praying what's right for you will just come along. That something will stick and you'll find your niche.<br />
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I found mine on October 2, 2010. The first time I got to experience Boston University Men's Ice Hockey first hand.<br />
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I had heard of BU Hockey before October 2. My first tour of this school was in the summer of 2009. All my tour guides, all the guest speakers, and all the students left floating around talked about hockey. About that new and noteworthy National Championship. About the duck boats, the confetti, and the parade. About this school's biggest sport. From that tour on I followed the team like a hawk. I was downloading new sports apps on my phone and reading columns from sports writers I never knew existed. Even from the Berkshires in Western MA, I tried everything I could to feel like a Terrier.<br />
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Needless to say I was eager for October 2, 2010 as soon as I learned what it meant. To this day if you go back in my iCal, I marked a full, red bar on that day which I labeled "AHHHH HOCKEY!" I spent that whole day in Agganis rehearsing with the Pep Band. I memorized Twilight in about four and a half minutes because upperclassmen informed me I had no other choice. All day I eagerly awaited my first game and all that would come with it. I was nervous about winning, yes, as the team started that season with one of the highest ranked incoming classes. But beyond that, I was nervous that this thing I had spent over a year building up was not going to be what I had hoped for.<br />
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It wasn't. It was so, so much more.<br />
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To make a long season a short story, I knew from that moment on that BU hockey was going to be the biggest influence of my college life. Even though I was only required to attend half of BU's home games, I went to almost every last one. Yes, that Merrimack game still haunts me. I tried to make it right with myself by going to an away game at Matthews Arena, the game my friends and I affectionately refer to as "Behind Da Bench." I never looked back. Sophomore year my away game count was even higher and I was given such memories as two wins at Conte Forum, "Behind Da Bench Part 2" at Harvard, and countless others. Now as I begin my time as a junior, well, I know it'll be full of even more games and more memories.<br />
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Yet when people outside of BU ask what is up with my BU Hockey obsession, I've never been able to explain it. I've been struggling for a long time trying to put into words what this team means to me. As much as I contemplate it, I can't really construct a straight answer.<br />
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Maybe it's the team. I've only been able to see three years worth of Terriers in person, but each and every one of them has given me a memory. I lived for those games in which they let Adam Kraus play or the games in which I beg some omnipresent force to throw in Moccia. Then there are the players I truly loved watching. You can say whatever you want about either of them, their style of play, and their effort but Warsofsky and Clendening will always be some of my favorites. There are also those select few Terriers that I truly take pride in for one reason or another. I wouldn't trade the ever aggressive Garrett Noonan for anything and I wouldn't change a single thing about him. Even those games he got thrown out of freshman year. Then of course there's my newest favorite to don Scarlet and White - Matt Grzelcyk. He, somehow, has made me feel more attached to this school than I ever was. I have never wanted to support someone more than I support him. All in all, no matter what, there is a reason why I have loved every last person who has skated with that jersey on.<br />
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But the players come and go, some in good terms and some in bad. So then maybe my passion comes from the fans. That group of people who manages to get me to yell random and wonderful things. Some days they make me laugh, like when they slow down chants so the North Dakotans can understand. Other days I want to punch them for doing my all-time least favorite, the dreaded "I Believe" chant. To me, they're the complete opposite of the team. I collectively know nothing about them and I don't necessarily have an individual memory tied to each one of them. But everything they do, inside the arena and out, reminds me why I love BU hockey.<br />
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But the only fans I've ever known and will ever be a part of exist in a minuscule time frame from 2010-2014. It only seems logical then that my love of BU Hockey comes from the foundation it was built on. I've never seen Jack O'Callahan play, but I'll still tell you he's my favorite player. I've never seen the Terriers win a Beanpot in person, but I'll still refer to it as the BU Invitational. Every hockey book I've read mentions BU Hockey in one way or another. While I don't want to admit it, each of those references has made me cry because of how proud I am of this historic program.<br />
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But nothing compares to seeing the team I love right before my eyes. Then, maybe, it's the arena that drives my love. I try to get to every game early just to sit there. I have no responsibilities, yet I still find myself getting there half an hour before the forty-five minutes before game time that I'm supposed to. I sit there and stare at a clean sheet of ice, not necessarily thinking about the game, but just feeling happy in that moment. Whenever we have rehearsal there, I spend warm-up time walking around all the sections mostly looking for pucks, yes, but still stopping to admire the ice from every last angle that Agganis has to offer.<br />
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Yet I know it's not Agganis. I've only ever skated in Agganis once and I've never had the pleasure of playing hockey there. Instead I play my hockey at Walter Brown Arena. Although I'm a female and I play the game at the home of the women's ice hockey team (whom I also love dearly), every little thing reminds me of the men's team. Every last stride I take I'm reminded of some random game situation. Whether I'm trying to stop a breakaway or trying (and failing) at quarterbacking, I try to imitate all those guys that wear Scarlet and White every week. Those, not NHL players, are my idols.<br />
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That brings me back to the beginning and still without answers. I cannot place my finger on it. I'll always say I love BU Hockey, but I'll never be able to tell anyone why I love BU Hockey. I may never be able to explain to my dad why he bought me a flight to North Dakota or to my mom why she bought me a flight to Denver. I may never be able to explain to my work why I need Friday and Saturday nights off with the occasional Sunday matinee every single week. I may never be able to justify the amount of money I spend on game tickets in places like Durham, New Hampshire. But I think at this point, I'll stop trying to.<br />
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Regardless of why, I know that every game I go to, at Agganis or not, I feel like I'm home again. Those people that I'm watching it with, whether it's only two people on either side of me or they're twenty rows deep, are my long lost family. For a full sixty minutes and beyond, I am mesmerized by what I love. In that space, I don't have to explain myself. We all just...know.<br />
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So even when I'm forced to grow up and get a "real" job, when I'm told to leave BU even though I have an insurmountable amount of knowledge yet to gain, when it's no longer socially acceptable for me to tell a group of teenagers that they and the institution which they attend sucks, I'm not letting go of this program. I respect it more than anything I have ever been a part of. I feel closer to it than anything I have ever been a part of. Some people will move on, will find other passions in life to pursue. But as for myself, I'll be in following around this team. Because there is one thing I can always count on from BU Hockey. No matter who is on the team, no matter where they're playing, no matter what the final outcome of the season is. I know this each and every moment of each and every last game.<br />
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Boston University Men's Ice Hockey gives me butterflies in my stomach. And I live for those moments when I can feel butterflies in my stomach.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-84493523925853270612012-12-04T13:36:00.001-05:002012-12-04T15:46:49.793-05:00Terrier Tuesday: Marie-Philip PoulinI'm going to try a little experiment here. Weekly I'm going to try and pick an athlete that I love having wear Scarlet and White. It won't always be because of the number of points they score (although that's awesome) but it'll always be about them as Terriers.<br />
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Let's see how this goes, I guess?<br />
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First Terrier Tuesday feature: Marie-Philip Poulin<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Marie-Philip Poulin doesn't just play women's ice hockey. Marie-Philip Poulin makes women's ice hockey.<br />
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From the first time I saw Poulin, I knew we had an absolute steal. Not say that the Terriers didn't deserve her, not by any means, but I almost can't believe she's allowed to play on any college hockey team. People have referred to her as the female version of Sidney Crosby, but I'd say she's even better.<br />
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See, Poulin was making waves even before she graced the ice in Walter Brown Arena. Poulin's a household name in Canada. This girl has competed for her country multiple times with the biggest feat coming in 2010. It ended in a gold medal and both goals scored by Canada came from Poulin's stick. Sure, she knocked out the Red, White, and Blue, but if anyone was going to do it, at least it was a Terrier. And the on ice celebration after? That was epic. Okay, maybe it was a little much for the Olympic games, but at the same time - girls just won the OLYMPICS. Let 'em do what they want.<br />
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Anyways. Poulin at BU.<br />
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Poulin is a player I want on my team. It's not just that she's good (nay, great), it's that she elevates everyone around her. Jenelle Kohanchuk has been solid during her time at BU, but the line with the two of them and freshman Sarah Lefort is just downright scary. I would not under any circumstances want to face that. Granted, I love the rest of my team, but you cannot deny Poulin is something special. I've chanted "Hattrick Poulin" multiple times in my time here. MULTIPLE. TIMES. That's just on-ice. She was also named a Co-Captain this year, so I'm sure she's well respected in the locker room, too.<br />
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And this is all after an...interesting sophomore campaign. Poulin ended up missing more games than she played due to injury and international competition. That was a huge blow. But guess what? She came back and absolutely crushed it. She was player of the month in March, she was named to the all tournament team, she had two assists in the Hockey East Championship game, and she had two goals and two assists in the NCAA tourney game against Cornell. While still serving as an A and winning gold with Canada in IIHF play. Um, excuse me? Is she human?<br />
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But beyond all that, even if she wasn't a dangerously good forward, I'd still want Poulin on my team. Sure, I don't mind lending her to Canada once in a while because I know when she comes back the Terriers are her team. This is her home, her family, and she will stop at nothing to see them succeed. <br />
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Poulin, if she wanted to, could play the role of the superstar. She certainly has every right to. But I've never seen that. Every game, despite the fact that she probably hasn't seen the fourth line since she was 8, she just grinds and grinds. It doesn't matter if she already has two goals, she wants another. It doesn't matter if BU's up by twenty, she wants to keep a shut out. Every loose puck, every last battle, I see her give it her all. Her head is always down and she is just working and working and working. Girl is just always on.<br />
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I don't know about you, but that's someone I'm more than happy to have wear our jersey. She could do whatever she wants, be whereever she wants, but she's here. With us. Breaking records may be her forte, but she's doing it for the name on the front. Poulin just gets it. She's seen international competition, she's seen the Olympics, she knows what it's like to fight for something. From the first game of the season to the last, Poulin fights for her family to get to those championship matches with her. That's the kind of spirit I want on my team.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-27003503926203625072012-12-02T22:39:00.000-05:002012-12-06T23:39:47.696-05:00Back to BostonJerry York finished the weekend tied for first place in wins among Division I college hockey coaches, tying Ron Mason's 924. This Friday night the Eagles travel to Providence College and at the end of the night, Jerry York may find himself in sole position of first. Because of this, apparently BC fans are going off and grabbing as many PC tickets as they can. Myself, just like all other college hockey fans (of the Terrier variety or not) were completely shocked at this action. But don't worry, we were reassured by a BC <strike>student</strike> young fan that BC travels well. I mean, how stupid of us to think otherwise.<br />
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But this isn't about them. It's about us Terrier fans. About how we don't need an incentive to get our asses to away games and make them as exciting as they always are. About how we do it because nothing is more fun than being insulted in the name of your team. About how we can be that group of fans that college hockey needs and deserves. Case in point, last night at Conte Forum.<br />
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BC fans, as we all know, show up for the BU games. Surprisingly they seemed louder than they did last year (probably because for once they were winning) and once in a while threw in a non-standard chant. Good job BC, you're kinda making your way up in terms of fandom. Very, very, painstakingly slowly. I think you just surpassed Harvard on the standings!<br />
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But as for us...we are the funnest and most creative student section in Hockey East. Rarely do I leave a game that we lost in a good mood, but last night was completely different. Last night we all were in hysterics. Not because of the score, but because of absolutely everything else that the wonderful community of Newton presented us.<br />
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We're now accepting payment for singing the Canadian National Anthem. That was glorious. BC may have given the attendees a Nashville recording artist, but we gave them The Dog Pound a capella group. Before you ask, no, there wasn't a rhyme or reason for it. But it was one of the highlights of the night.<br />
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As was the T ride home. Love hearing everything from Christmas carols to musicals. That was magical.<br />
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Too bad the BC fans missed all of that. Good to know even when they're winning a game, their fans will still leave in the middle of the third period. Seriously BC fans, you gotta stop that. You are making me feel bad for the Brooks Dyroff's of the world. But not for the Johnny Gaudreau's. Never for the Johnny Gaudreau's.<br />
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Anyways, I've got two messages here. The first to the Terriers that made the trip last night:<br />
I have no idea who you people are. Sometimes you pop up in my news feed because you wrote in The Dog Pound. Sometimes you're in the same message threads I am. Sometimes you're even in the same hotel as me. I may not know your name, your major, or what you do outside being a diehard BU hockey fan, but god damnit I love you. Keep being you. People notice. Noticeably everyone's favorite pretty boy Matt O'Connor. I don't say pretty boy in a mean way. Matt O'Connor - you keep doing you. You keep winking and drinking your water bottle seductively. Please, we eat that shit for breakfast, even those of us (cough cough me) that hate admitting it.<br />
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The season is far from over. Let's take these loses and forget about the score. Let's have some fun with them instead. Yeah, there are times where all we want to do is be depressed as all shit. I get it, I feel it, too. But really there's no reason for us not to take a party with us everywhere we go. Man, Hockey East rinks can feel dead. The least we can do is be the best house guests the East has ever seen. We can make this conference the best one in college hockey just by doing what we do.<br />
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And for those of you that missed out on the experience of a lifetime:<br />
Seriously, nobody cares how casual a fan you are. We want you to come. If you know nothing about the game, anyone will explain it. You'll be one of us in no time. All you need is a voice that you aren't afraid to use. Follow any chants we start and you will be just fine. The boys will keep you entertained on the ice and we'll keep you entertained in the stands.<br />
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Maybe you're the type of fan that doesn't like to travel. Boy, you are seriously missing out. Nothing will beat these trips. We all love Agganis, but there's something about being the enemy that is irreplaceable. That little bit of fear you may have for your life, that's completely worth it. You get the memories and the stories that you'll continue to tell well beyond this season. You wonder why we all freak out when Chelsea Dagger comes on? You ever ask yourself why the hell we are milking imaginary cows? We could tell you, but it's much more fun to have been there in person. So take a chance on an away game. Merrimack, PC, UMass, UML, they're all close and there's no reason not to get out there. We'll make it worth your while.<br />
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Oh wait, I do have one more thing. This goes to everyone. Can we please, for the sake of Ahti, learn the Finnish National Anthem? I am not even remotely kidding. And can we please, forever more, have a non-American or non-Canadian on the team? I mean, is that too much to ask?<br />
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So then, see everyone at UNH?Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-45095190618145786372012-11-28T10:51:00.000-05:002012-11-28T10:51:58.321-05:00You Shouldn't Give Up on Men's Basketball Just YetA 0-5 start to the season is pretty rough. Even if you're the most diehard Terrier basketball fan, not seeing a win yet makes you question the season. At the same time, we have to worry that if we don't have a near spectacular overall record, there isn't a shot in hell of us making the NCAA tournament (America East you suck). It's a little nerve-racking knowing there's no longer a superstar to carry us - John Holland is gone, Darryl Partin is gone. Even dearly beloved Jake O'Brien left us. And we can't forget about Patrick Chambers and the tiny part of our hearts that followed him to Penn State. I mean, sometimes it feels like the entire heart and soul of this team has moved on for one reason or another.<br />
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Alright, are we done with the self-pity now? Men's basketball takes on Coastal Carolina tonight and I've got a few reasons why there's no way I'm giving up on this team just yet.<br />
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1) Check out that freshman class. I mean, I'm no basketball analyst, but ESPN sure has a couple of those. Earlier this summer they ranked our incoming class as one of the best at the non-BCS level. We've only had one home game up until this point but I can tell you - Terrier fans already like what they see. Maurice Watson Jr. is certainly something. Oh, and his family is the greatest group of fans you'll ever see. John Papale hasn't even started a game yet and he's already draining more threes than anyone on the team. Nathan Dieudonne is shooting 1.000% from the FT line (okay, sure, there's a tiny tiny tiny minuscule sample size on that one). If the Terriers are going to make a push at anything this year, you bet part of the credit will be due to these guys.<br />
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2) Don't forget about those vets. If you've been to a game at all in the past few years you've seen DJ Irving. And once you see DJ Irving, you remember DJ Irving. Dom Morris, Travis Robinson, and Malik Thomas. Those guys are always reliable. No doubt they'll continue to carry this team. Sure, they used to work terrifically with the Darryl Partins of yesteryear, but now they'll get a chance to prove just how valuable they've been since the beginning.<br />
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3) BU basketball is full of surprises. Of course in the games. Two years ago they went dancing and faced off against the Kansas Jayhawks. No we didn't win that game and nobody expected us to either. But the surprising part - we sure as hell held our own in the first half. I mean, Kansas could've hung us out to dry from the get-go but we gave them a hard fought battle and our starters certainly went toe to toe with theirs. They're also surprising because of that one guy you underestimate who just does work. Most recent guy to come to memory is Jeff Pelage. He wasn't expected to be a game changer, but that doesn't mean he didn't get his hands dirty once in a while. Every once in a while he would just pull a huge play out of his back pocket and blow everyone in attendance out of the water. It's only a matter of time until someone does that this year. And finally, basketball fans can be surprising. Some games, for whatever reasons, there's a hefty student section. Those games are ridiculous. Even when there aren't a ton of us, those games can be hilarious. If there's just a tight group of us, we can get creative. Do whatever the hell we want. If you haven't heard the "tuba cheers" - get on those. Some of the funniest things you'll ever hear and you can only hear them at basketball.<br />
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4) Don't forget - we haven't played a single in conference game yet. Those are the games we dominate and those are the games that are the best to watch. That record will turn around real fast once we face the Seawolves (which is actually an ugly ass fish and not a wolf in a baseball hat - sorry Wolfie), Catamounts (which, as we know, don't exist), or one of the other inferior dog breeds (Great Danes, Retrievers). There is absolutely no reason to underestimate the Terriers when it comes to conference games. Even if we don't have a chance to participate in a post season, these games will without a doubt remind me why I'm #ProudToBU.<br />
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So we call all breathe now and stop freaking out. Give our boys a little more credit. They might just pleasantly surprise you.<br />
<br />Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-77289554791142294452012-11-25T17:45:00.000-05:002012-11-26T13:35:51.275-05:00For NewtonWe've come to that week. That one week we've had circled on our calendars since the schedule came out. That one week where we can face our rivals not once, but twice. Where we can stay home and get away. Where we hope to, once again, prove that Boston College sucks.<br />
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It's really never hard to get amped up for this week. You don't need to read this or any other blog to tell you how important this weekend will be. It's pointless to try and coerce you to show up to Agganis on Friday or head to Conte on Saturday - I know you will. It's pointless to try and tell you to scream louder than ever, be more proud than ever, and act like a Terrier more than ever - I know you will. It's pointless for me to even be writing a post about this week at all.</div>
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So, what the hell am I doing?<br />
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We spend so much time saying how much better we are than BC. Our fans are better, our rink is better, our team is better, our coach is better, our program is better.</div>
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It goes without saying that our fans are better. That's something no BC Superfraud can try and beat us on. Their rink is perpetually empty. Their fans only show up when they're playing us. Their fans only travel once a year, to the Beanpot, which they think deserves some sort of pat on the back. They've got nothing creative to throw at us chant wise. They leave before the game is over. And worst of all, the only brave souls that dare to wear a BC hockey jersey have to deal with looking like a bottle of Grey Poupon.</div>
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Then just take a look at us. We've packed Agganis every game this season thus far (save for last night) and we haven't done so quietly. Even people (cough cough myself) who can be highly skeptical of us at times has been in for a serious treat. The atmosphere in that place has been untouchable and any fans, even the UNH fans, that have made the trip have been able to see that. We've started traveling better than ever. North Dakota was only the beginning. People are going to Vermont and UNH. Masses of people have gone to Merrimack and UMass. And that is not letting up anytime soon.</div>
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Case pretty much closed on that topic.</div>
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Then there's Jerry York and Jack Parker. Two of the greatest hockey coaches of all time and they've spent the majority of their careers fronting these two teams. Jerry York is just about ready to break through to number one with the most wins of any collegiate coach and despite the fact that Parker is currently in third, he does have a ways to go. Jerry York is considered by, almost all, as some sort of saint. A saint in his coaching, yes, but as a person as well. It's rare to see him get flustered. He probably really does drink only decaf. But most of all, he has made that program what it is. Jerry York will forever be synonymous with Boston College Hockey and no BC fan will ever consider that a negative.</div>
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Jack Parker will always be synonymous with Boston University Hockey. No, he's not the only coach we have to thank for building this program, but to say that the naming of the rink in Agganis Arena is well deserved is an understatement. Jack Parker is not Jerry York. Most Terrier fans have seen him come close to bursting a vein or two. We've seen him get kicked out of games and we've seen him talk down about his team. We all have made a Parker joke, whether about alcohol or his yacht, and we've all got an opinion about him. Some of those opinions, even from the most diehard Terrier, are not even remotely close to positive.</div>
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Then take a look at our teams. Sure, we're starting out the year with a pretty stacked goaltending tandem and Parker Milner is looking less and less stellar every game. But they've got the second coming of Gretzky over there in Gaudreau (that's cute) while we've got to depend on a total team effort to even think about pulling out a W. The Eagles are sitting on seven NHL draft picks. We've got nine. Year after year we pull in some of the nation's top recruits, but BC snatches all the rest. They've got two Hobey Bakers, as do we. We have five National Championships and god damnit so do they.</div>
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And lest we forget, we both have a knack for getting ourselves into deep water at times. We don't need to once again mention arrests for beatings or drunken T crashes or rehash serious sexual allegations and tons of team dismissals. It's happened, but it's happened to both of us. As severely skilled as each of our teams our, they can all make some grave mistakes.</div>
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Maybe BU and BC are a lot more similar than we all thought.</div>
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But then again...not. Even. Remotely.</div>
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See, the first thing I learned at this school of importance was that anyone who told you they went to Boston College has already told you two lies as they're not from Boston and they're not a college. That is something that will always remain true.</div>
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It seems trivial, but it's not. We are the only team that has earned the right to wear Boston across our chests and I'll be damned if I ever let BC forget that. It doesn't matter if you are from Southern California, Toronto, or Charlestown, once you step into this city it is YOUR city. Those six letters mean more to us than absolutely anything else.</div>
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At BU, yeah, we are a little rough around the edges. BC can call us out on that all they want. We'll take our outrageous and joke cracking coach over your stick in the mud. We'd rather fight for our wins game in and game out than have it all handed to us on a silver platter. We'd rather have everyone in this entire country underestimate us because we know nothing is sweeter than proving all the haters wrong. Because guess what, I have never met a single Terrier that ever wishes they had chose differently. You're right, half of us did apply to Boston College. Yet contrary to popular belief, weren't rejected. We just decided that we'd rather go to a place that feels like home than a place that feels like Prep School.</div>
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Look BC, you can go on and defend your team all you want. But you will never have the heart, the passion, the work ethic, and the overwhelming desire to be a part of this like we do. Players, fans, coaches, alumni - this place all runs via the same heartbeat. You find in convenient to jump on and off the BC band wagon all you please. No matter the sport, you only decide to show up to see your team when it's the "big game." You have actually lead me to, at times, feel bad for the BC Hockey team. I'm sure when you show up to their championship parades, that's the first time 50% of you have ever even see the team.</div>
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A few years ago, Mike Pereira, Joe's younger brother who plays for UMass, decided to call us out in a radio interview. He said he didn't want to attend to BU because we were snobby. You know what, I'll take that. We are snobby. But not snobby in the same way as the Boston College Eagles. Oh no. We are snobby because we take more pride in our Terriers than we do in the papers we have due next week. We care more about planning our class schedules around road trips than the other opportunities we may have to turn down in the process. We love this university and this city more than any outsider could ever comprehend. Wearing Scarlet and White is like a second skin here, you feel naked if you don't.</div>
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When it comes to the hockey teams, we don't have to be on that ice or have any personal feud with those BC players to be reminded that Newton University sucks and always will. We don't have to have played our hearts out at the Beanpot last year only to have the Eagles tear away our title at the last possible moment. It doesn't matter that we haven't been a part of this rivalry for as long as it's existed. Because as BU fans, we don't have to. No, the team does that for us. Every player that has come through this blood line has dealt with the agony and heartaches for us. We only have a tiny margin of that anger boiling up inside of us. But that tiny bit of anger multiples not only every time we play BC, but every time someone mentions that school. It doesn't matter if there isn't one single Eagle personally making that anger grow, the whole institution serves as a reason to stew. And there is no greater feeling than being able to support our team, turning all that inner BC turmoil into the loudest, blood curdling cheering we can muster.</div>
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In reality I had nothing new to tell the Terriers reading this. Everyone already knows and already feels what I've written. But that does not mean it didn't need to be repeated. Every once in a while it's just nice to remember all the reasons you hate the school down the street. Just a few short days until we get to prove it.</div>
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As always, Boston College fucking sucks.</div>
Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-40553378393610636872012-11-14T12:57:00.004-05:002012-11-14T12:59:28.394-05:00November 16th-November 18thThis weekend is going to be incredibly packed with Terrier athletics. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday can be spent enjoying a tropical vacation in the ever toasty Case Gym or a winter wonderland in either one of the hockey rinks. 6 games, 4 teams. And if you would rather have it any other way, you can get off my god damn blog.<br />
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Friday night you've got yourself three good options.<br />
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Let's first say you'll be in Burlington, VT. Well, I am sorry for you. UNLESS you're there for some good ol' fashion Hockey East action. The men's ice hockey team will be taking on UVM. If you like hockey and roadies, this one's for you. If you also like making stoner jokes and being a Flatlander, well, double the bang for your buck.<br />
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Listen, we all know Vermont's not that close. But neither was North Dakota. If we got upwards of 30 people on that trip, what's your excuse? There is nothing like being able to support your team, and the more you increase the distance the greater that feeling becomes. Even if the team expects 30 fans (which they probably don't), they're still blown away when they see Terriers there supporting them. Absolutely worth the time to take this trip.<br />
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BUT, I'll give you two exceptions to not going to Vermont. The first is because you'll be in Case Gym watching the women's basketball team take on Richmond. There's really nothing like an amped up Case Gym and the women's team definitely deserves it. If you haven't seem them yet this season, you'd be in for a great battle.<br />
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In their home opener, they crushed BC (god who doesn't love that). Even though BC didn't miss a single free throw the women's basketball team would not stop getting rebounds and applying intense pressure. In their second game of the season, they lost a heartbreaker to West Virginia. But they were in that game until the final seconds. That's what there is to love about that team. Even when they're underestimated, they push the limits of expectations every single game. So stomping on bleachers and distracting the West Virginia women's basketball team is an acceptable option of spending your Friday night.<br />
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Still not convinced on either of those options? Well, you've still got one more on campus when the women's ice hockey team has its first game versus Providence since ripping the Hockey East Champs title right from their gloves (and from Genevieve Lacasse - she was ridiculous, by the way). How sweet that was. Expect another blood bath in this one, metaphorically of course...maybe.<br />
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The women's ice hockey team is always contenders for the not only the Hockey East title but I'd even push for the National one as well. But that is NEVER without a fight. To me, that's way more interesting a season to watch anyways. For some (cough cough Minnesota) it might be nice to just sit back and watch their team dominate, but I get to be on the edge of my seat all season long with women's ice hockey. That makes me affinity for them that much greater.<br />
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Well that was an exciting Friday night. How about some more BU Athletics on Saturday? This one's an easy one, as you've got one and only one option - men's basketball.<br />
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The men's basketball team will have it's home opener versus George Washington this weekend. After two tough road loses to start the season, they'll need to bounce back. And what better way to do that than in front of a packed Case Gym?<br />
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If you weren't there last season, the home opener for men's basketball was insane. Without a doubt a landmark in BU Athletics. That place was sold out. In fact, probably beyond that. EVERY seat was taken and people were standing in the aisles trying to get a glimpse of the game. Not only that, but every one was on their feet, screaming for the team and trying to show those dumb Huskies and their fans that they were not welcome. That was a difficult one to drop. But hey, wouldn't that be awesome to duplicate?<br />
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I hope you don't think your weekend ends there. Because it doesn't. Not even close.<br />
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On Sunday, how about a double dose of hockey? Both the men's and the women's teams will be on campus. The men will be back at it with UNH (ahem, REVENGE) while the women will go against Harvard. Both games will be great to watch and I really can't think of a better November Sunday than hanging out in multiple rinks.<br />
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That's the other thing. You don't even have to miss any of the home games this weekend. Both games on Friday and both games on Sunday are spaced two hours apart. That means you can watch all four almost in their entirety. Sounds like a grand ol' time to me.<br />
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Weekends like this, people might only see Sunday as game day. I get it, we all love BU Men's Ice Hockey (no seriously I'm not being sarcastic I've spent an exorbitant amount of money following them around this year, but I digress) but really what have you got to lose by going to any of the other numerous games? This is the perfect weekend to finally get to one of the games of the lesser known teams. You don't have to worry about it conflicting with men's ice hockey home games. Even if you only go to one extra game, you've still got a day to yourself this weekend to do whatever the hell you want. Or, you could be crazy like some of us and spend ALL weekend on/near Babcock Street. Because who needs a day to yourself when you could be spending it with other crazy ass fans?<br />
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No matter what, there are at least five games for the choosing this weekend. I promise you you won't regret going to at least one. The few hours you have to spend is worth it. The sports pass you (or Daddy) bought at the beginning of the year is worth it. Hell, even the damaged vocal chords are worth it. Give it a chance, you'll see that it's more than just jumping up and down. I've said it once and I'll say it again - it's about the team, the fans, and the school all coming together. Whether it's physically there or not, we're all wearing Boston across our chests.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-77390128628696245122012-11-12T10:42:00.001-05:002012-11-19T15:38:08.595-05:00Cheer Up Charlie, BC Still SucksA loss against BC in any context is always brutal. It's just one of those games you never want to come out of on the wrong end. Yet inevitably, we somehow often do. But rather than dwell on a hard fought battle, I'll give you some of my reasons to take this and get more angry for the next meeting in 18 short days.<br />
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1) Matt O'Connor is more than just a sexy goalie. This is probably the most obvious one I'll bring up, but I'm bringing it up anyways. Save after save this kid was keeping us in the game all night last night. Not to say that I didn't have faith in him before, but after last night, I'm officially on the Matt O'Connor train. Can't tell you how many times there was gasps of breath in that arena during a BC breakaway or an awful turnover from us that were immediately silenced by a huge save. And yeah, I admit it. Sometimes you just wanna smack the kid across the face for winking all the time (...I could be on my own on that one...) because it makes him seem so god damn cocky. But realistically after last night, kid can wink, salute, blow kisses, give out his phone number, take off his jersey, whatever the hell he wants. Because it's all in good fun and yeah, he sure as hell can back in up.<br />
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2) The team is acting as a team and aren't allowing themselves to get out skated. Granted there are times when we're all freaking out in the stands because we think we could've received that pass cleaner (you probably couldn't, by the way) but on the whole, I'll take the consistent effort from this team. I mean, I'm comparing this season to some pretty scary ones in the past. And what I'm seeing is such a breath of fresh air. The boys aren't giving up anymore, taking a bad turnover as a reason to end the play. They aren't giving up on the battles for the puck. And even if it doesn't create an immediate play, they're throwing their sticks on the ice, redirecting opposing passes, and just being nuisances. Some games that effort won't get them a win, but there's no way it'll hurt.<br />
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3) We don't go to Newton University. We don't have a Captain that takes multiple penalties a period. We don't participate on the Diving team. We don't have piss colored Tshirts, crap colored jerseys, and just all around blinding ugliness.<br />
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4) Matt Grzelcyk. Right, I'm biased. Call me out on it all you want. But just hear me out on this one. We've got another kid that grew up right around the corner, dreaming of playing college hockey. He worked his way up, competed hard, and is realizing his dreams every day he wakes up. No, that's not a unique thing. Don't get me wrong, it's awesome, but we've seen it before. But the last time BU fans had the "fortune" of seeing a kid like this, his name was Charlie Coyle. I think most of us have gotten past him wanting to play juniors, it happens. But to see someone who wanted to wear Scarlet and White more than anybody growing up finally getting that and then just pissing it all away...yeah, that's annoying as shit. Those jerseys aren't just their jerseys, they're ours. And I don't appreciate letting someone want us so bad, having us oblige, just to then have them decide we're their number two choice. I get it, people change their minds, but nobody should turn their back on this team, this program, and this school in the manner that he did. So back to Grizzy. If you didn't see his tweet from the other day, go read it. This kid wanted nothing more than to play in this game. He got his chance and he wasn't wasting it. I bet you a million dollars he's got the Garrett Noonan syndrome right now, though. Despite how hard he might've worked and how many goals he might've scored, he didn't leave a game versus BC with a W so none of it even matters. And THAT is the kind of person I want wearing my god damn jersey.<br />
<br />
5) The atmosphere in Agganis lately has been electrifying. I almost can't comprehend the number of chills I've been getting from that place this season. Sometimes that air is stale, the fans tired, the team thusly dead. But not once this year have I wished we played some place else, some place louder. We've made that place absolutely explode this year. We all get excited and we all get jumpy, but last night I could feel the stands rattle. I'm not kidding - O'Connor would make a save and my feet were MOVING from the ground underneath them. As per usual, seeing that place go nuts after a goal or two was warranted and appreciated. We've been building on energy on each play. Somehow, someway, we dig deeper and scream louder. Even after a gut wrenching empty netter, we still didn't shut the hell up. Now not only do we have one of the nicest rinks in college hockey, some of the most diehard fans in college hockey, we're now working our way up to some of the loudest. If that continues, Agganis will be the most intimidating place to play and no one, I mean NO ONE will feel comfortable playing out there in anything but Scarlet and White.<br />
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<br />
All in all, tough pill to swallow yesterday. But it hurts that much more because we put so much into it. I'll take these heartbreaking loses when I know that my team will learn something from it, rebound, and keep plowing forward. I know everyone keeps saying BC is in a tier all their own, but don't be giving up on the Terriers this early. We have got a lot of fight left in us and we've now got twice as much desire to win, courtesy of the Eagles.<br />
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Shake it off, suck it up, and get ready for UVM on Friday.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-79552718060857648302012-11-07T11:01:00.002-05:002012-11-14T12:58:18.744-05:00Women's Basketball OpenerI'm glad we've all been having a dandy time with ice hockey and soccer and whatever else have you this fall. But this week marks the start of another season for women's basketball. Full disclosure here, I pretty much could care less about the NBA. But when it comes to collegiate basketball and BU basketball, I go crazy.<br />
<br />
I know a lot of you may have some reservations about making it to women's basketball. For whatever reason, the games just "haven't work out" and you just "didn't get a chance to go." Well, now's the time to stop making excuses. This Friday night women's basketball takes on the number one hated rival across the board - Boston College. If you're on campus and don't make it out to this game, well, quite frankly, you suck.<br />
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If you want some more convincing, keep reading.<br />
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Let's start from the beginning with a picture montage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0dH8-HMuiRP63nejZvRrS_k586FiSqT3sNYijRpxL4X98Lrd5DeKKFsaJfwUL2DNBAkI1IAUUygGFC7-nZo9mC67NzrcuSVyNf31nWjdCInyEytC6TvMKHpUQTgYfVicyrDzA1DTvQ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.30.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0dH8-HMuiRP63nejZvRrS_k586FiSqT3sNYijRpxL4X98Lrd5DeKKFsaJfwUL2DNBAkI1IAUUygGFC7-nZo9mC67NzrcuSVyNf31nWjdCInyEytC6TvMKHpUQTgYfVicyrDzA1DTvQ/s640/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.30.27+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pr6Dxef5MJ4Q_vF4rathOXxeBd46b47tpexx5pE9ilBEyMD2LKBQdSZYsPaAVE4gKSMpMyHVlivtLSxNpTWxlNsCKSml9Z_NuZjiRuUjSN7mP848T4id6CDTNhyo3BhsXLUaPBgvog/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.30.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6pr6Dxef5MJ4Q_vF4rathOXxeBd46b47tpexx5pE9ilBEyMD2LKBQdSZYsPaAVE4gKSMpMyHVlivtLSxNpTWxlNsCKSml9Z_NuZjiRuUjSN7mP848T4id6CDTNhyo3BhsXLUaPBgvog/s640/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.30.50+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoqXksbblmOuZFizsg9mpcgtBwrEzDk9gAwhKEkdZ5DUFJHLYJmT7t3lT08qjmvwyhZIAyWNfJkh0a7xJqog2UNeV1MbsBrAIwOlWeTtNB-7lUnukdzgMZy2nkt_JFa7OHsyeP7nb4g/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.30.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoqXksbblmOuZFizsg9mpcgtBwrEzDk9gAwhKEkdZ5DUFJHLYJmT7t3lT08qjmvwyhZIAyWNfJkh0a7xJqog2UNeV1MbsBrAIwOlWeTtNB-7lUnukdzgMZy2nkt_JFa7OHsyeP7nb4g/s640/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.30.58+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRwAVjGzH0brM06Lj5RA3bnHtld7rLoEoSt_s6srhjve1G92mbxzJ5bM-baCMMXn3xWnLh0iSja5d44Mtyopi4efQ95dNvPI_cGgBTy6DNfJIGxYaARh2OrgkhmSSAYNOCQdKYods1A/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.31.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRwAVjGzH0brM06Lj5RA3bnHtld7rLoEoSt_s6srhjve1G92mbxzJ5bM-baCMMXn3xWnLh0iSja5d44Mtyopi4efQ95dNvPI_cGgBTy6DNfJIGxYaARh2OrgkhmSSAYNOCQdKYods1A/s640/Screen+shot+2012-11-05+at+10.31.07+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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That's right. Aside from one small blip in the 06-07 season, the women's basketball team has finished no lower than third. They've even won it twice in the last six seasons. And for good measure, go back and look at 08-09. That's right. Look at that record.<br />
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Yeah, they're kinda good.<br />
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But I get it, you still want more convincing. You're not that into basketball and you're not even sure where Case Gym is. So let's talk about the team a little bit.<br />
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How about Caroline Stewart and Alex Young? Two of the most consistent and improved players in their time at BU. Always fought hard for their points and their wins. Oh and as for pre-game, you could find Caroline Stewart singing the National Anthem. Yeah, talented in two totally different aspects.<br />
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OH WHOOPS THEY GRADUATED YOU CAN'T SEE THEM NOW.<br />
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But let's talk about K-Mac. Probably the most popular player to don the Scarlet and White for women's basketball. Always interacted with the fans, the band. Not to mention she was a walk on. But the cheers on senior night for her were ridiculous. It was so loud and well deserved.<br />
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That's right - senior night. She's gone, too. You missed her, too.<br />
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Doesn't that suck? You've missed some cool things here while you chose to sit in your dorm room on a Wednesday night and do homework. You could've been sweating your ass off in Case Gym enjoying a hard fought game but you decided to order Domino's and Noodle Street. Ouch.<br />
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But let's say you start going to women's basketball now, this Friday night. Wanna know what you WON'T miss?<br />
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Rashidat Agboola. Chantell Alford. Mo Moran. And nah, I don't think I'm gonna tell you about them. Why don't you just show up and see for yourself?<br />
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Look, I know we aren't Kentucky. We aren't UConn. We aren't even UNLV. But we sure as hell can throw down in our own conference. It doesn't matter that the chances of making the NCAA tournament this year are slim. Every game can still be fun and a chance to show pride for our school.<br />
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One thing on that - basketball chants are fun. Not only can they be longer and perhaps more creative - they can be heard better. Even as loud as you get in Agganis, there's still obstruction. There's glass blocking off at least 5 rows of sound. At Case? Not even a little bit. Those players hear you and they feed off you. Watch what they do with that.<br />
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Oh and to top it all off, we get to start this season versus BC. Now do you really need anymore reason to start going? Throw on your best scarlet and white and I'll see you at The Roof.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-82306329041105630372012-11-04T13:16:00.002-05:002012-11-19T15:38:27.162-05:00MIH - North Dakota - 11/2-11/3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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It doesn’t matter that we all left with Chelsea Dagger stuck
in our heads. It doesn’t matter that we had to explore Grand Forks (and East Grand Forks) for eight
hours. It doesn’t even matter that Matt Grzelcyk didn’t acknowledge me at all
during warm ups (one day...). North Dakota was the place to be this weekend.</div>
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For those of you that seriously live underneath a rock, The
Dog Pound sent out 23, that’s right – TWENTY THREE – students to Grand Forks. Yeah we're all a little crazy for doing it, but it was worth it.</div>
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Here's the thing about North Dakota, it's hockey country. Really though. The whole god damn state. Everywhere we looked there were people with Sioux (I mean, North Dakota hockey) gear. In between farmlands and hunting stores, there were fans galore. Even though we were able to uncover a few South Dakota State University tshirts, it's clear that 11, 977 seats aren't enough for those fans.</div>
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But that didn't matter. Not to any of us. We were just a bunch of alumni, recent grads, and current students who care about nothing more than BU hockey. That pink shirt fan and her obnoxious boyfriend can yell at us all they want and that crazy lady can try and keep us from chanting, but we won't ever back down from supporting our team.</div>
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We're louder than North Dakota fans - we're more, ahem, intelligent as well - and even on Friday night when we were down we weren't giving up on the noise. We all enjoyed slowing down our chants and becoming the student section's puppet master. For those two games, our Terrier Pride was stronger than ever.</div>
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You know how Garrett Noonan looks when he's about really to kill a dude? Well we got a chance to see him surprised and genuinely happy. You know the winks that Matt O'Connor likes to throw our way? Good news is he still acknowledges "sexy goalie" all the way from the upper deck. And you all know Parker the business man. But now we all know the fist pounding, joke cracking Jack.</div>
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Sure a smile, a stick salute, and a tweet here and there doesn't seem like much to travel 1,700 miles for. Or break the bank on. But that's why we're god damn Terriers. People can rag on the program all they want, the school all the want, but we all care more about our teams than most people. Even the North Dakota moms know that none of their students will be showing their faces in Agganis next year. After six months of planning, we all can say we pulled off one of the greatest trips the school has ever seen. And you bet your ass there's more of it in the future.</div>
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Oh, and a moment to get real - thanks a ton to the Friends of BU Hockey for being so gracious to us. We were going to travel to the middle of nowhere no matter what, but it was even better with you all being there, too.</div>
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How long until Denver?</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-81162499685522259652012-11-01T18:27:00.003-04:002012-11-01T18:27:45.487-04:00RIP Bleed Scarlet, November 2011 - November 2012The offseason is typically a time for athletes, coaches and fans to rest. To recuperate and get away from the game if only for a month or two. A time when we can all breathe and regroup.<br />
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I don't believe Boston University Athletics got a chance at its own offseason this year.<br />
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It seems like every which way the athletes turned they were thrown into more adversity. For some, it was getting their character questioned day in and day out. It doesn't matter if they were friends with certain people on their team, all that mattered was that they participated in the same sport. People even tried to test the judgements of our recruits and questioned why they would even want to come to this school anymore. For others, it was getting their hard work devalued. It didn't matter if they could, yet again, prove how dominate they were. They were going to have that ripped away from them no matter what. Even if they fought their hardest, won as many games as they possibly could, they would have extreme difficulty trying to earn the opportunity to represent their school in a national tournament. And for the rest of them - they're still fighting day in and day out to prove their worth.<br />
<br />
Yeah - all of that sucked. Even for the fans. All the sudden we were in a position where the sports we love to support were being attacked on all different levels. It wasn't just about proving ourselves to our rivals anymore, we were being asked to prove ourselves to countless ordinary people who felt some sense of entitlement to judge us.<br />
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But the good part of it all was that nobody backed down from the challenge. People were outraged at the decisions of others. We all spoke out about it. All of the sudden there were Facebook pages popping up, petitions being started, articles being written - all in overwhelming support of our teams. We would gladly defend the right to play. It branched deeper than just the diehards, too. Anyone who wears Scarlet and White was part of this. It started last Winter and is still going strong now. It has never felt better to go to a men's ice hockey home opener than it did this year. The massive student sections spoke volumes as to how much we care about this place we've all decided was our home. That support speaks louder than any competition bans or character criticisms people will throw at us.<br />
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And that is by far way cooler than anything I could ever hope to put into words on this blog. For a year, I've tried to show just how awesome we are, but I just can't accurately do that. So it's with a heavy hear that I announce today the end. After a year of truly loving what I was doing, I will be doing it no longer.<br />
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Seriously??<br />
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Guys, I'm obsessed with BU Athletics, why on earth would I ever stop blogging about them? Hahahahahahaha<br />
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BUT REALLY, this is the end of the way things have been going. Today, I'm kicking off a new era of Bleed Scarlet. This blog, whatever it currently represented, is getting an upgrade. It's no longer just about hockey and occasionally basketball (but let's be real, I'll still talk about hockey until your head explodes) and less about me hating on the student section (yeah, I think we've all proven ourselves) and more about the reasons why we wear Boston across our chest. We meaning everyone. That's right, from the athletes to the fans to the coaches to the administration, we all have stories worth telling. Stories about why we love these athletic teams. About why we love this school.<br />
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So if BU can make it's own campaign to raise one billion dollars [Dr. Evil voice] (oh, and I'll take some of that when you raise it, by the way) I'm just gonna make my own. No, not another campaign to raise money, but a campaign to show why we all Bleed Scarlet. Starting now, you can expect more interviews (I might even interview you), more videos (send in all your photos and videos from games!), and of course, more Newton University hatred.<br />
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And from now on, feel free to send any pictures, videos, thoughts, ideas, or reasons why you should be interviewed to BleedScarletBU@gmail.com.<br />
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Until then - enjoy this video commemorating how awesome we are.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwqcSCZm1gEg4Lp0sGKWusrdWJ5aTNJloNLT-ZXI3txxg8LfSBxgaX1W6I1IxnzC-fyZy5TOF9-WjAkpSD74A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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*All images are used with permission from the owners or the teams themselves. Please go on Facebook or ask me for individual photo credit. I own almost none of the images, only the ones of the men's hockey team (sans the Kraus picture). I would've included all the sports, but I didn't get permission to use their images. So big ups to everyone I missed including Men's Basketball, Men's/Women's soccer, T/F, Swim & Dive, Men's/Women's crew and rowing, Golf, Wrestling, and anyone else!Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-7071096774184590282012-10-01T15:36:00.000-04:002012-10-01T15:36:30.581-04:00Reason #1<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/06/well-theres-officially-less-than-four.html" target="_blank">Reason #5</a><br />
<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/07/reason-4.html" target="_blank">Reason #4</a><br />
<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/08/reason-3.html" target="_blank">Reason #3</a><br />
<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/09/reason-2.html" target="_blank">Reason #2</a><br />
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Today is the first day of October which only means one thing - college hockey season is here. Yesterday the women's ice hockey team played their first exhibition game vs McGill and from what I hear killed it. This weekend they go at it again vs Newton University and then the men's ice hockey team takes the ice for the first time.<br />
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After a rough year last year and an a-typical offseason, some Terrier fans needed to be reminded why the start of the men's ice hockey season was a good thing. Over the summer I started giving people my reasons to be excited for the season in hopes to show them. But it all comes down to this post - the number one reason.<br />
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This is Boston University Men's Ice Hockey.<br />
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You can knock this program down all you want. You can say the kids aren't the same, the coaches aren't the same, the rink isn't the same. You can stop buying tickets, stop supporting, stop watching. But this program will always remain one of the absolute best in college hockey. One thing you can't deny is BU hockey's storied history.<br />
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We have five NCAA Tournament Championships. That's five times we have been able to call ourselves the best. Even if you take those away, it's still obvious just how dominant this program is. 29 Beanpot wins, 21 Frozen Four appearances, 12 conference tournament championships, two Hobey Baker Winners. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.<br />
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We have state of the art facilites. The team is well equipped to work hard and play hard. Agganis Arena is a beautiful place to play and yes, a comfortable place to watch. Everyone knows about us and everyone fears us.<br />
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But it's what's underneath that's even more important.<br />
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This is Boston's team. Boston's only team. BC doesn't count, Northeastern doesn't count, Harvard doesn't count. We play in the city and we represent the city. In the end, we're a Boston team through and through with a coach that swears too much and a team that jokes around a lot. We work hard and we play hard. We make mistakes, yes, but we also make history.<br />
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The biggest part of this is the connection between the team and the fans, this sport and the fans. Boston University men's ice hockey means something different to everyone who watches them. To some it's just a team to cover, another team in the college hockey world. To others, it's everything from something to do on a Friday night to something that breaks your heart or gives you joy day in or day out. And sometimes we can all forget that.<br />
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In Massachusetts, in Boston, at BU, hockey isn't just a sport. It's what brings us together and what defines us. It's not just about who wins or loses but about the pure joy you get out of watching some guys skate around a rink. The Dog Pound, alumni, families - we all watch this sport to come together and to be apart of something bigger than us.<br />
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And yeah, there is a difference between the fans and the players. They put on the jersey because they have to. They may want to do it more than anything they've ever wanted in their life, or it may be just a backup option. But each and every one of us puts that jersey on because we want to, because we need to. We chose to wear it because we want to make a mark on this program just as much as the players do.<br />
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This program gave us people to look up to, whether it was Jack O'Callahan or Mike Eruzione, Chris Drury or Travis Roy, Kieran Millan or Matt Gilroy. Those people exist and are as much of BU hockey as the guy who wore the number 10 last year. And face it, in idolizing these people, we get to learn more about ourselves. Some of us find a role model on the ice, some of us off of it. For some of us, thinking of these people makes us think of the way we felt when we first skated on a patch of ice. For others of us, it reminds us why Boston University is the best institution we'll ever attend. And I don't know about you - but nobody messes with the places I love.<br />
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So if you're as fed up as I am by Googling "Boston University hockey" and getting nothing but degrading articles, you should be as excited for this season as I am. Excited to get back at it and once again prove to everyone why BU is one of the best. Working hard and exceeding expectations is just what this school and this team do. And if anyone wants to be a hater, let them. It just serves as more motivation to defend ourselves as Terriers. And by defending ourselves as Terriers, we can help prove why this program is as storied as is it.<br />
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Get your jersey ready. Canada comes to town in less than a week and showing Canadians we can beat them at their own game (literally) seems like a good way to kick off yet another season of BU men's ice hockey domination.<br />
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6 days.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-38804543381977846222012-09-04T14:53:00.002-04:002012-09-04T14:53:57.369-04:00Reason #2<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/06/well-theres-officially-less-than-four.html" target="_blank">Reason #5</a><br />
<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/07/reason-4.html" target="_blank">Reason #4</a><br />
<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/08/reason-3.html" target="_blank">Reason #3</a><br />
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Well it's the first day of classes which means we've got to be getting close to hockey season, right? The Top 5 Reason countdown is almost complete, but before #1 comes out, check out reason #2.<br />
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Reason #2 - The Dog Pound<br />
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So not at all an original reason for why this season is going to be ridiculous but it is ALWAYS be worth repeating - our student section is the best (no, really).<br />
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Nobody can really quite put their finger on it, why last year there was such a turn around, but honestly who cares. We all became better fans and that's all that matters. Nothing can compare to those away games last year. Nothing can compare to how much louder we got. The best part is that everyone else takes notice of it, too.<br />
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Before I get into this year, why not reminisce a bit.<br />
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vs. BC - Bus + making a whole section plus ours + Superfrauds checking out early = our house<br />
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vs. Harvard - Sitting on top of the team + coming from behind + ChrisCo scoring (this is way more sexual than intended) = our house<br />
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vs. Providence - Losing track of which sieve chant you're on + an angry Friar - all students that attend PC = our house<br />
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vs. Northeastern - The whole thing = our house<br />
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vs. Minnesota - Lots of Gopher fans that don't know what chanting is + being mic'ed up + 20 or so of the loudest BU fans = our house...none for Charlie Coyle<br />
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Then of course there was Merrimack and Lowell and even that Vermont trip (and StuVi party back in Beantown), all of which have their place in Dog Pound Domination history.<br />
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That's cool. Now how about this year?<br />
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Well no need to spoil the fun for any of the new guys, the student section will speak (or chant) for itself. Just know that there's been preparation (aka facebook messages about nothing at all hockey related at 2 AM) for this year starting way back in May. People are going above and beyond what has been done in the past and the season hasn't even started yet.<br />
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The biggest complaint (and yeah, it's been one of mine) is how dry Agganis can be. How un-Walter Brown Arena it is. For the first time, I am completely confident it's going to be different this year. First of all, the people that inhabit the 118 and the 108 are more stupid (in a good) than they ever have been. They're closer (in every way imaginable) than they ever have been. There's no reason not to scream your ass off when you're surrounded by 2,000 of your best friends.<br />
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Secondly, the team is so apprecitive of us and what we do. I'm sure we all remember the post with quotes from the team (KEVIN. GILROY.) itself thanking us for everything we've done. That is just going to feed into how loud and how obnoxious we can get. If we can do it away there's no reason not to do it at home.<br />
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Thirdly, we've all got so much to prove. Let's just say it, last year frickin sucked. And we aren't even on the team. The emotion and energy that will be at this year's games are way more than usual. If your blood isn't boiling before you even enter those doors, something is seriously wrong with you.<br />
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Fourthly, and this is for all the haters, if you want it to be more WBA-esque, why don't you plant your ass there and watch a women's ice hockey game? I'm so sick of the argument that people miss that place but don't show up to it when they can. If you step foot in there and scream like you know you can, you're going to get that feeling again. Those old feelings of being in a rink, not an arena. The excessive noise, even the excessive cold. And I guarantee once you taste that 1) you'll want to do it again and 2) that'll transfer to Agganis. Ask anyone who's done it and I promise you that they will agree.<br />
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So this is it. The year it finally all comes together. Everyone that made last year happen is going to want to see it done again. All the progress made last year is just going to make us want more of it this year. I know that once people start to really see that we can't be messed with - at our permanent home or one of our vacation homes - it won't stop. This student section is going to get back to where it was in 2005 when it was recognized as the best in college hockey.<br />
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When we all start realizing that this is one of only three teams that can compete for conference hardware this year, we're all going to go absolutely insane. And once we all really believe what Parker said ("I think they think they help us win, but I don’t think they know how much they help us win") this is going to be one of the best years of Dog Pounding (you laughed) in years.<br />
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33 Days.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168038766944900794.post-84843978166803104492012-08-17T16:18:00.001-04:002012-08-17T21:11:33.019-04:00Reason #3<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/06/well-theres-officially-less-than-four.html" target="_blank">Reason #5</a><br />
<a href="http://bleedscarlet.blogspot.com/2012/07/reason-4.html" target="_blank">Reason #4</a><br />
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Reason #3 to be excited for this year's men's ice hockey season - the new additions in Scarlet and White<br />
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This is without a doubt one of the best recruiting classes for this upcoming season. Maybe we don't have any of the big name recruits, but BU has managed to nag a great group of guys that are all going to contribute to this team on and off the ice.<br />
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I'm not going to beat a dead horse with all the information for these guys that's already known, but I'll give a quick recap.<br />
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Sam Kurker, Mike Moran, Wesley Myron - I'll admit I don't know too much of these guys. But from what I've read, they're going to pick up the offensive slack we've accumulated. Of course we've lost people like Chiasson and Trivino, but the upcoming sophomores definitely could've contributed more than they did. And as far Kurker - we got ourselves another local that grew up a Terrier.<br />
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Sean Maguire and Matt O'Connor - There is nothing like a fresh crop of goalies. Most people expect Maguire to start out this year but that doesn't mean O'Connor's going to stop pushing to get that top spot. Friendly competition is always a good thing. Ah yes, and I do remember reading somewhere that at least one of these boys has been recognized for their intelligence in the classroom. So all the BC trolls that think our academic standards compare can suck it. Oh yeah, and the last time we had a freshman goalie in net...well, you all know how that saga ends.<br />
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Matt Lane and Danny O'Regan - Normally these two wouldn't be lumped together but I'm going to because of their play in the U18 Tourney this year. Matt Lane contributed offensively more than most expected him to, so that'll be nice to fill in some gaps up front. As far as O'Regan goes - nothing was more impressive than his grit. I think we might actually have a centerman who can win faceoffs now. Everyone, go re-read that last sentence. Now Rejoice.<br />
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Matt Grzelyck - Who's ready to read the love letter of the century?<br />
Now I wouldn't subject you all to that, but I've honestly been excited to see this kid on our side for a long time now. Another local kid, another BU baby. Now it's even gone a step further as Grizzy was drafted by the Bruins. If that's not enough to make you love the kid, know that what he'll bring is more than anyone expects. I think Grzelyck is one of the most underrated skaters coming in this year and there's nothing better than surpassing people's expectations. Shut up, we all know he's undersized, but damn is he smart. Think Clendening but with less of the obnoxious hype and even more of the defensive skill.<br />
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Right. We've got ourselves at least eight huge pluses coming in. So what? Why are our incoming freshmen better than anyone else's?<br />
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Because everyone outside our walls thinks these kids are downright crazy. They can't comprehend why on earth these recruits would stick around and come to this school with all the mud that our hockey program has been dragged through the last year. Not even just the hockey program, but the entire school. With the rate at which kids are decommitting, any one of these eight incomers could've left at anytime. Even Sam Kurker, who was about to be pushed back a year, stuck it out and got his opportunity.<br />
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Alright yeah, they might be a little crazy. But just crazy enough to take everything they've got and show the college hockey community just why Boston University hockey is Boston University hockey. Most of them are already in Beantown taking classes and battling through 8 AM workouts. They're doing it so they can focus on hockey, 100%, and so they can focus on being the best team members they can. The dedication they've already shown should be enough to reaffirm any Terrier that the incoming class is going to serve as a huge momentum swing towards playing hockey beyond the beginning of March.<br />
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So if you're feeling a little bit down on the upcoming season, take a page from these guys. They're bleeding Scarlet harder than the average CAS upperclassman right now. Their passion for this game and their excitement to play at this school will inspire anyone. The idea of playing in Agganis, being coached under Parker, and wearing the letters that are attached to some of the greatest hockey history - they've all been preparing for that longer than most of us took to even look at colleges. To them, the idea of college has always involved skates and sticks, guts and glory. And I guarantee you they will not give up these upcoming experiences for anything some idiots with a USCHO screen name say.<br />
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As for the rest of us, whether we call BU home or not, we should remember that these kids have every right to throw on that jersey and represent Boston - the whole city - game after game. Just because of things that have happened doesn't mean these freshmen all don't deserve a clean sheet of ice. This is what they grew up wanting and working every single day for. The least we can do is give them the reception they deserve. We should show them why they decided to play here, as a part of one of the most storied hockey programs. Through packed stands and top of our lungs screaming, these newcomers need to see the parts of BU hockey that we've all come to love. From October 7th at 1 PM to whenever our team last leaves the ice on the first weekend in April, they deserve our respect. After all, it's through them that we find ways to waste our time on Friday nights at 33 Harry Agganis Way and our money on plane tickets to Minnesota...and other places. It's through them that we find our jerseys acceptable every day attire and hear our voices turning more hoarse as the year progresses. It's through them that we all find our inner crazy and the reasons why we love Boston University.<br />
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51 days.Bleed Scarlethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10979594117412509512noreply@blogger.com0