BU Hockey Week 1 Preview
A look at the opening week of games for the Terriers
Women’s
For the first time in the school history, the Terrier women’s team will open the season’s slate of hockey games at Agganis Arena. Their first week includes a home opener vs. the Merrimack Warriors (Oct 1st, 6 pm) and a trip to Minneapolis for a matchup with the Gophers of the University of Minnesota (Oct. 4/6 7 pm ET/2 pm ET).
Merrimack
(2023-24: 11-22-3 (Hockey East: 7-17-2, 9th Place))
The Terriers start off the 2024-25 campaign with a visit from the Warriors. It will be the third consecutive season in which they are opening the season at home. For just the second time in program history, BU starts off the season against Merrimack, the last time being a 2-1 OT loss at Walter Brown to start 2017-18. The opener on October 1st will be just the 3rd game the Terrier’s have played on that date (1-1-0). Last season, the Scarlet and White was a perfect 3-0 vs. the Warriors, including coach Tara Watchorn’s first Hockey East home win as a head coach on November 4th, 2023, a 4-3 OT result.
Records
18-4-5: vs. Merrimack (3-0-0 under Watchorn)
11-5-3: in Season Opener (0-1)
11-4-4: in Home Opener (0-1)
67-42-24: in October (2-2-1)
25-30-13: on Tuesdays (0-2-1)
Stats
Clara Yuhn’s (F) 4 goals is the most among active Terriers vs. Merrimack
With 9 career points vs. the Warriors, Christina Vote (F) leads all active Terriers
Since 2018-19, both of the Terriers’ hat tricks have come against Merrimack (Madison Cardaci, 1/27/23; Lacey Martin, 11/4/23)
BU-Merrimack Statistical Comparison (2023–24 Data)
Minnesota
(2023-24: 27-10-2, (WCHA 19-7-2, 3rd Place))
BU make their first trek to Ridder Arena exactly a decade after their last game, coming October 4th, 2014 (5-2 Loss). For the first time in program history, the Terriers come into a matchup with the Gophers on a win—having won their last game vs. Minnesota at Water Brown Arena on December 10th, 2016. In that game, the Terriers took a 5-3 lead into the 3rd, but the Gophers came back with 2 goals in the last 6 minutes of the period to send the game into overtime. In overtime, Natalie Flynn scored the game winner to give the Scarlet and White their first ever win over Minnesota.
Records
1-5-0 vs. Minnesota
51-43-13 on the road since last game vs. Gophers (7-7-1 under Watchorn)
Stats
Rebecca Leslie and Natalie Flynn are the only Terriers with multi-goal games vs. the Gophers
BU-Minnesota Statistical Preview (2023–24 Data)
Last Time Out vs. the Gophers
Men’s
The men’s side open the first week of the 2024-25 season with a single game at Agganis Arena vs. the Holy Cross Crusaders (Oct 5th, 7pm).
Holy Cross
(2023-24: 21-14-4 (Atlantic Hockey: 13-10-3, 2nd Place))
The Holy Cross Crusaders make their fourth trip to Agganis Arena and first in over a decade, their last visit coming October 12th, 2013, a 3-2 BU Win. It will be the third straight season that the Terriers start off the season with a game vs. an Atlantic Hockey (now Atlantic Hockey America) team. This will be the first Turnpike Trophy game involving the Men's Hockey team.
History
Despite a history that dates back to 1929, the Terriers and the Crusaders have only played 6 times previously and have never played a competitive game at Walter Brown Arena. After their first game in 1929, BU and Holy Cross did not meet again until 1947, when the Terriers won 6-4 at Boston Arena. This was followed by another BU win the following year (13-5). BU and Holy Cross would not play again for over 50 years—due to the Crusaders playing in DII for most of their history—with their next matchup coming November 25th, 2008 at Agganis Arena (3-2 BU win).
Records
5-1-0 vs. Holy Cross
2-1 vs. Holy Cross at Agganis Arena
10-4-0 vs. Atlantic Hockey (4-0 under Pandolfo)
67-27-7 in Home Opener (2-0 under Pandolfo)
Stats
Junior co-captain Ryan Greene has 2 goals and 1 assist in Home Openers vs. Atlantic Hockey. Junior assistant captain Devin Kaplan and sophomore defenseman Tom Willander both recorded multipoint games the last time the Terriers faced an AHA opponent, RIT in the 2024 NCAA West Regional Semifinal. As a sophomore at Brown, Goalie Matheiu Caron recorded his first career shutout in a game vs. Holy Cross.
