Boston University officially welcomed its new head hockey coach, David Quinn, on Tuesday, and the former BU assistant coach and player said the feeling is “incredible.”

Quinn has a diverse coaching resume, at both the college and professional level, and said he’s looking forward to following the 40-year legacy former head coach Jack Parker has left.

Parker said Quinn will be a great fit in the position, telling Tom Caron, “He knows BU, he’s been here as an assistant coach, he’s been here as a player and he has a great portfolio.”

Check out what else Quinn and Parker had to say in the video above.

“I’d like to thank President [Robert] Brown and [athletic director] Mike Lynch for giving me this incredible opportunity and entrusting me with the BU hockey program,” Quinn told reporters during his introductory press conference. “I surely wouldn’t be in this position if it were not for Jack Parker and I’m very lucky to be able to call him my coach, mentor and friend.

“One of the things that makes this job so unique is that beyond all the success here, the former players have such a loyalty towards the program. I look forward to continuing that and the legacy that Coach Parker leaves behind.”

Before joining the coaching ranks, Quinn played three seasons for the Terriers, totaling six goals and 42 assists and earning All-Hockey East honors as a defenseman. A rare blood condition cut his BU career short and kept him off the ice from 1988-91, after which Quinn played 19 games for the Rangers’ affiliate in the AHL in 1991-92 and 60 in the IHL the following season before retiring from the game for good.

BU will be Quinn’s second head-coaching gig — he led the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters from 2009-12 — and his second stint on the Terriers staff, where he served as an associate head coach for a five-year period culminating in the school’s fifth national championship in 2009.

The full press conference, plus an exclusive interview with Parker, will air Tuesday night on NESN at 6 p.m. ET.

Photo via Facebook/Boston University Athletics

According to WHDH’s Joe Amorosino, Colorado Avalanche assistant coach and former BU associate head coach David Quinn will be announced as the team’s next head coach Tuesday, replacing longtime BU boss Jack Parker.

Source: #BU will announce David Quinn as new Boston University Hockey Coach tomorrow. #HockeyEast #FrozenFour #TerrierNation #7News

—
Joe Amorosino (@joeamorosino) March 26, 2013

Like Parker, who officially ended his 40-year career with a 1-0 loss to UMass Lowell in Saturday’s Hockey East championship game, Quinn played at BU before joining the coaching staff, earning All-Hockey East and All-New England honors as a defenseman and serving as a co-captain as a senior in 1987-88. He was selected 13th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1984 but never played in an NHL game.

Quinn spent five years on Parker’s staff before departing after the Terriers’ national championship season in 2009 to take over as head coach of the Lake Erie Monsters — Colorado’s AHL affiliate. He joined the Avalanche in 2012 and is expected to finish the season with Colorado.

Jack Parker has coached his last college hockey game. After a 40-year career behind Boston University’s bench, he made his last exit Saturday night after the Terriers’ 1-0 loss to UMass Lowell in the Hockey East Championship.

After their coach announced he would be retiring at the end of this season, the BU hockey team vowed to extend their season as long as possible for him. After losing the last game of their season, Terriers forward Wade Megan said the team had no regrets, that they had left everything on the ice.

Parker’s illustrious career included three national championships and 21 Beanpot titles. His face will forever be associated with college hockey in Boston.

“He had a good 40 years here,” BU defenseman Ryan Ruilkka said.

The storylines now turn from Parker’s exit, to who will be his successor. Check out what some of Parker’s players had to say about their coach in the video above.

Final, UMass Lowell 1-0: And it’s over, UMass Lowell survives a furious, last-gasp effort by the Terriers to win its first Hockey East tournament championship in dramatic fashion.

Behind another stellar performance by goalie and tournament MVP Connor Hellebuyck, the River Hawks continue the best season in school history and will likely be a No. 1 seed when the national tournament opens next week.

As one run continues, another comes to a close tonight, as — barring a near-miracle bid from the national selection committee — Boston University head coach Jack Parker has now coached his final game for the Terriers.

He retires as the third-winningest college hockey coach of all time.

Third period, 17:15, UMass Lowell 1-0: Maguire heads to the bench. BU will make one final push.

Third period, 15:39, UMass Lowell 1-0: Norm Bazin takes a timeout with 4:21 separating his River Hawks from the first conference title in school history.

If the score holds, Arnold will be the hero of another playoff game. The Foxboro native scored the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch UML’s quarterfinal series against Maine.

Third period, 11:09, UMass Lowell 1-0: Goooooal!

Derek Arnold has put Lowell up for the first time tonight. Arnold, Scott Wilson and Chad Ruhwedel made a 3-on-2 rush into the BU zone, with Ruhwedel’s initial shot deflecting off Wilson’s skate and behind the net. Maguire slid to his right to stop Ruhwedel’s bid and was unable to get back in position in time, leaving an open net for Arnold to punch in the game’s first score.

Third period, 9:57, 0-0: Since Wright rung iron, the period has progressed without a hitch — and without a goal. Both teams are doing a nice job of limiting quality chances in front of the net — something the River Hawks struggled to do in the second.

Third period, 3:25, 0-0: Evan Rodrigues sends a slap shot off the post for BU then Wright, fresh out of the penalty box, follows suit on the opposite end of the ice. The atmosphere is electric at the Garden as both teams search desperately for the game’s first goal.

Third period, 1:12, 0-0: The third period is underway, and after killing off the remainder of Ruikka’s penalty, the Terriers will go on the power play themselves when Colin Wright is called for boarding.

Second intermission, 0-0: The Terriers and River Hawks have now played 40 minutes of scoreless hockey.

UML will again come out of the locker room up a skater after BU’s Ryan Ruikka was penalized for tripping with 1:20 to play in the second.

The way this game is going, one goal may be all a team needs, making every shift a crucial one. The goalies needed to work a little harder in the second, but both have remained flawless. Maguire saved 15 shots in the period to bring his total to 21 and Hellebuyck stopped 18 for a total of 26 on the night.

Second period, 16:38, 0-0: Wasn’t I just saying we haven’t seen a case of embellishment all weekend? Well, we now have our second case in less than five minutes.

BU’s Garrett Noonan made contact with UML’s Joseph Pendenza after the whistle and then crumbled to the ice when Pendenza gave him a shot to the face. The refs assessed matching penalties on the play: two minutes to Pendenza for roughing and two minutes to Noonan for embellishment.

The extracurricular activity is definitely ramping up as the game wears on; nearly every whistle is followed by a bit of pushing and shoving.

Second period, 12:05, 0-0: Derek Arnold is whistled for diving — a call that does not sit well with the River Hawks supporters in the arena. It’s the first time we’ve seen embellishment penalized this weekend. The Terriers can’t capitalize on the man advantage, though, as the UML penalty kill holds steady.

Second period, 10:01, 0-0: The intensity is finally starting to pick up on in all three zones. Ryan Santana was almost able to hammer the puck past Hellebuyck in the UML end, BU’s Jake Moscatel leveled River Hawks captain Wetmore into the boards in front of his own bench, and a nice feed from Terrence Wallin to Kamrass in front of the BU net almost resulted in the game’s first goal.

But, alas, the zeros remain.

Second period, 5:47, 0-0: Zack Kamrass is sent to the box for interference and BU will have its first power play of the night.

Second period, 2:57, 0-0: Ryan McGrath almost earned himself a spot on SportsCenter with a backhanded shot attempt from the left face-off circle that was smothered by Maguire.

But A.J. White, who scored Lowell’s first goal in last night’s 2-1 win over Providence, gave the River Hawks their best scoring chance yet when he tried to wrap the puck around the net past an out-of-position Maguire. The goalie managed to recover just in time to get a pad on it, though, and we remain scoreless.

First intermission, 0-0: Twenty minutes in, the scoreboard shows a pair of goose eggs.

BU was on the offensive for much of the opening frame but was unable to put one past Hellebuyck. The freshman netminder didn’t need to make any spectacular saves, but he stopped everything that came his way.

The performance of the game’s other first-year goalie cannot be overlooked, though. Playing in his first conference tournament, Maguire has made 40 or more saves in each of BU’s three postseason games — winning all three. He has six saves so far tonight.

UML will have 30 seconds remaining on its power play when we return.

First period, 18:30, 0-0: The River Hawks have struggled to put shots on net tonight, continuously sending pucks off the high glass behind Maguire.

They’ll be on the power play for the remainder of the first, though, after O’Regan wrestled Ryan McGrath to the ground in front of the BU net to earn the game’s first penalty

First period, 12:26, 0-0: Still no score here at the Garden, but BU has been taking control of the tempo. The Terriers have a 7-3 edge in shots and seem to put pressure on Hellebuyck on every shift.

UML head coach Norm Bazin will try to calm his defensemen down during this television timeout. BU’s extended pressure seems to be getting to the Lowell blueliners a bit, as Derek Amlong smacked his stick into the boards in frustration on his way to the bench.

First period, 6:45, 0-0: This first period is humming right along, as the teams played more than six minutes before a long BU pass was touched up for icing to stop the clock for the first time. Both team have moved with ease through the neutral zone, but neither Hellebuyck nor Maguire has been tested yet.

First period, 0:00, 0-0: Referee Scott Hansen drops the puck and we are underway.

A quick update on the starting lineups: sophomore Zack Kamrass will join Ruhwedel in Lowell’s top defensive pairing to open the game. Kamrass has played in all 37 games this season, totaling zero goals and 10 assists.

Let’s play some hockey!

6:40 p.m.: The River Hawks are undefeated in three meetings with the boys from Agganis Arena this season, outscoring BU 10-4 over three regular-season wins.

Their status as a top seed — UML’s first such honor in school history — also bodes well. Since the Hockey East tournament began in 1985, the No. 1 seed has gone 14-6 in 21 appearances in the championship game.

But tournament history between these two squads heavily favors the Terriers. BU has won eight of nine postseason meetings with the River Hawks, with Lowell’s only win coming in a 2008 quarterfinal series they would go on to lose.

6:15 p.m.: We’re just about an hour from game time here at the Garden, so let’s take a moment to delve deeper into a matchup that, surprisingly, we’ve seen twice before on this stage.

This is just the third Hockey East finals appearance for UMass Lowell, but the River Hawks’ opponent in both of the previous two was Boston University.

Tonight’s tilt will be a study in contrasting styles. Lowell boasts the conference’s top goaltender — statistically — in Connor Hellebuyck while the Terriers feature a high-powered offense that embarrassed Parker Milner, last year’s NCAA Tournament MVP, with six goals last night in a rout of Boston College.

Four BU skaters rank in the top 10 in Hockey East in scoring, with freshman sensation Danny O’Regan leading all Terriers in points with a 16-22–38 stat line. O’Regan skates on a potent second line between leading goal scorer Matt Nieto and sophomore Evan Rodrigues, who lit the lamp twice last night.

Taking the ice first for the Terriers will likely be the top line of sophomore Cason Hohmann between senior captain Wade Megan and junior Sahir Gill, with the defensive duo of seniors Sean Escobedo and Ryan Ruikka in front of freshman netminder Sean Maguire.

The River Hawks will send out senior captain Riley Wetmore centering between junior Derek Arnold and freshman Ryan McGrath, with freshman Greg Amlong and junior Chad Ruhwedel on the blue line and Hellebuyck in net.

8 a.m. ET: The Jack Parker farewell tour will continue for at least another day.

Parker’s Boston University Terriers scored five consecutive goals to take down three-time defending Hockey East champion Boston College in the conference semifinals Friday night, setting up a matchup with No. 1 seed UMass Lowell in Saturday night’s title game.

River Hawks freshman Connor Hellebuyck and his Providence counterpart, Jon Gillies, put on a goaltending clinic in the first semifinal, with Lowell edging the Friars 2-1 to clinch a spot in the Hockey East finals.

The championship game will be a rematch of the 2009 title game won by the Terriers. Neither team has returned to the finals since that day four years ago, and Hellebuyck and the River Hawks will be looking to cap off their first regular-season championship with their first conference tournament title.

Puck drops at 7 p.m., but be sure to check back in throughout the day for up-to-the-minute updates from TD Garden.

Photo via Twitter/@evanmlips

Final, BU 6-3: It’s official, Jack Parker and the Terriers will play for their eighth Hockey East title tomorrow after thoroughly dismantling Boston College in the final two periods.

BU will take on UMass Lowell in a rematch of the 2009 title game — the last appearance in the finals for both teams.

Puck drops tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Click here to find out what channel the game will be shown on in your area, and be  sure to check back in to NESN.com as we will live blog all the action from faceoff to the final horn.

Third period, 17:31, BU 6-3: Evan Rodrigues finds the Eagles’ empty net from his own faceoff circle and leaps into the arms of his teammates on the BU bench. That will just about do it.

Third period, 17:06, BU 5-3: Desperation time for BC, as Parker Milner heads to the bench to be replaced by an extra skater with 2:54 remaining in a two-goal game.

Third period, 13:43, BU 5-3: Boston College finally gets back on the board, with Hobey Baker finalist Steven Whitney bouncing the puck off the back of BU goalie Sean Maguire and into the net. The goal is crucial for the Eagles, who had been held scoreless for nearly 25 minutes. They’ll have their work cut out for them, though, as they still need to find the back of the net twice more in the final five minutes to force overtime.

Third period, 9:57, BU 5-2: O’Regan strikes again for the Terriers, and fans begin filing out of TD Garden. The score marks BU’s third power-play goal of the game and the second for the freshman sensation, who led all Terriers in scoring this season with 36 points.

Third period, 1:42, BU 4-2: The Terriers have a chance to seriously break this game open. Freshman Danny O’Regan scored just 30 seconds into the power play, but BC will remain shorthanded for another 4:30 because major penalties are not cancelled out by goals.

Milner has not played to the best of his ability tonight, as O’Regan’s tally again slipped under his glove hand.

Third period, 1:08, BU 3-2: Sean Escobedo is sent into the boards by Gaudreau and comes up favoring his left shoulder. He returned to the bench after a brief trip to the locker room but still looks to be in significant pain. The Terriers will be on the power play for five minutes as Gaudreau is assessed a major penalty for cross-checking.

Second intermission, BU 3-2: The complexion of this hockey game sure changed in a hurry.

BU turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead in under six minutes, and while BC still has a sizable edge in shots (31-16), the Terriers now have all the momentum.

Don’t expect them to let off the gas. As the No. 17 team in both the USCHO.com poll and the PairWise rankings, BU almost certainly needs a conference title to clinch a spot in the national tournament, meaning that a loss tonight would likely end Jack Parker’s legendary career.

Second period, 17:59, BU 3-2: We have bedlam at the Garden.

Garrett Noonan (great hockey name) beat Milner with a tough-angle shot on the power play to give the Terriers their first lead of the night. It was another goal that Milner should not have had a problem with — this one sliding under his glove and just inside the right post.

Second period, 14:21, 2-2: And just like that, we’re all tied up.

BC’s Danny Linell misplayed a pass in front of his own bench and Matt Lane capitalized for the Terriers, skating in on Milner and beating him five-hole for the unassisted goal.

Second period, 12:17, BC 2-1: That’s one Parker Milner will want back.

BU’s Evan Rodrigues deked his way into the BC zone, settled near the right faceoff dot and blasted a shot through the space between Milner’s body and his blocker hand.

That’s Rodrigues’ 13th goal of the season, and it brings the Terriers right back into this game with plenty of hockey still to be played.

Second period, 9:46, BC 2-0: No post this time. Smith found his way behind the BU defense, took a perfect feed from Mullane and beat Maguire top-shelf. That upper-right corner seems to be a problem spot for the BU goalie, as both Smith and Arnold have managed to lift pucks over Maguire’s left shoulder.

Second period, 5:02, BC 1-0: The Eagles came within inches of extending their lead with BU’s Ryan Ruikka in the penalty box, but Quinn Smith rang iron with his shot past Maguire.

The Terriers were then called for a borderline offside infraction — the second questionable call handed down in the past few minutes — to kill a potential breakaway. Some frustration seems to be setting in for the boys in red, who are voicing their disapproval to the officials.

Second period, 1:06, BC 1-0: BC’s Michael Matheson is whistled for interference, and the Terriers will go on the power play searching for the equalizer early in the second.

First intermission, BC 1-0: A huge cheer erupts as the TD Garden Jumbotron commemorates Johnny Gaudreau, who was announced as the Hockey East’s Player of the Year yesterday. It’s been some year for the sophomore, who led Team USA to a title at the World Junior Championship in Sweden earlier this year.

Overall, both rosters in this game are stacked with future NHL talent, as Gaudreau — a Calgary draftee along with Arnold and Providence’s Jon Gillies — is one of 14 BC or BU players whose rights are owned by an NHL club. Comparatively, this afternoon’s game featured just seven draftees.

First intermission, BC 1-0: Boston College’s offensive assault finally paid dividends in the closing minutes of the first frame, but Maguire has kept the Terriers in the game. BU will need to improve on the offensive end in the second, as Jack Parker’s crew has been outshot 18-7 and hasn’t put much pressure on Milner.

First period, 18:33, BC 1-0: Less than a minute after Maguire made the save of the game so far to keep the game scoreless, Needham native Bill Arnold finally put one by the BU goalie with under two minutes to play in the period, sniping a shot over Maguire’s left shoulder on the power play.

And, right on cue, the student sections begin trading chants that are not very family-friendly.

First period, 11:24, 0-0: Save for a pair of mini-breakaways during Gaudreau’s penalty, BU hadn’t been able to get any prolonged pressure on Milner, who’s had to make just two routine saves thus far.

They finally found a quality scoring chance more than halfway through the period — a shorthanded chance, no less — when Rosen pickpocketed Pat Mullane and nearly stuffed the puck past Milner. The goaltender did not budge, though, and the puck ended up on top of the net.

Rosen appeared to jab Milner a few times with his knee before referees came in to separate the two teams.

First period, 5:50, 0-0: BC escapes the Gaudreau foul unscathed, and BU weathers a shorthanded stint of its own after Ben Rosen is sent to the box for high sticking.

The Eagles have peppered the young Maguire early, notching five shots on goal in the opening five minutes. Don’t be surprised if this ends up being much more of a barnburner than this afternoon’s contest.

First period, 0:10, 0-0: We’re just 10 seconds into the game and the Terriers already have their first power play. BC won the opening faceoff, but winger Johnny Gaudreau was called for tripping immediately after, giving BU the early man advantage.

8:45 p.m.: With puck drop just minutes away, let’s take a glimpse at the two contestants. As one of the greatest rivalries in all of college hockey, BC and BU obviously know each other well, facing off three times each season and often again in the annual Beanpot.

But tonight’s game will mark the first time the two teams have met in the postseason since 2009, when the Kieran Millan-led Terriers toppled the Eagles in this same round en route to a Hockey East title and a national championship.

These two schools have thoroughly dominated the conference tournament for nearly a decade, combining to win the last eight championship games. It has been all BC in recent years, though, both on a regional and national scale. The Eagles have won both the Hockey East and NCAA titles in each of the last three years.

Senior Parker Milner was the starter in net for two of those championships, and he’s back again for BC. He’ll backstop the Eagles’ defense behind freshman Teddy Doherty and senior Patrick Wey, with Bill Arnold centering Johnny Gaudreau and Destry Straight up front.

BU will send out sophomore Cason Hohmann between Sahir Gill and captain Wade Megan, with Sean Escobedo and Ryan Ruikka on the blue line and freshman Sean Maguire in net. Let’s get it on.

8:15 p.m.: A few observations from the the first three of hours of hockey:

-For a team that has not enjoyed the success of some of the conference’s elite, UMass Lowell has a tremendous fan base. The River Hawks have always traveled well, and tonight they packed their corner of the Garden with students and older fans alike. The wide range of uniform styles spotted in the crowd — with some even sporting sweaters bearing the school’s old Chiefs logo that was retired in 1994 — illustrates the fact that these are true diehards rather than just front-running bandwagon jumpers.

-The crowd, as a whole, is very anti-BC. How much so? Well, any children caught on the Jumbotron camera wearing Boston College gear have been met with a spirited chorus of boos. So, yeah, these guys do not like the Eagles.

Final, UMass Lowell 2-1: The Friars’ final rush falls short and the River Hawks are headed to the finals.

We expected a defensive battle, and that’s exactly what we got. Both Jon Gillies and Connor Hellebuyck were sensational in net, finishing with 33 and 34 saves, respectively.

UMass Lowell now advances to the conference championship game for just the third time in school history and the first time since 2009. They’ll take on the winner of tonight’s matchup between Boston College and Boston University, who will face off in just under an hour.

You can check out viewing information for tomorrow’s title game by clinking here. So, take a break, take a peek at the basketball scores, but keep it tuned right here as we bring you all the action from the Eagles and Terriers starting in just a few minutes.

Third period, 19:10, UMass Lowell 2-1: Hellebuyck is pushed all the way back into his net but manages to keep the puck out. Providence calls its timeout and will look to draw up one final play.

Third period, 17:59, UMass Lowell 2-1: Lowell calls for a timeout, and Providence now has just two minutes to find a way to put the puck past Connor Hellebuyck — something the Friars haven’t been able to do since the 8:59 mark of the first period. PC sends out a line of four forwards and two defensemen, with Gillies sent to the bench.

Third period, 12:30, UMass Lowell 2-1: Scott Wilson puts the River Hawks on top for the first time all night with an incredible, highlight-reel goal.

Wilson carried the puck into the Providence zone and with Friars defenseman John Gilmour draped all over him, let off a shot that sailed between Gilmour’s legs and over Gillies’ left shoulder, giving Lowell a 2-1 lead with 7:30 remaining.

Third period, 8:49, 1-1: It seems like both teams have needed a little kick in the behind to get their offenses going tonight. Just as Lowell did after surrendering Kevin Rooney’s goal in the first, PC has ramped up its attack in the wake of White’s tally.

Derek Army and Steven McParland have managed a few promising rushes into the River Hawks zone, but Hellebuyck has been stout in net, his save total now up to 27.

The Friars continue their Kyle Arrington impression, though, as Velischek is sent to the box for PC’s fifth interference violation of the night.

Third period, 4:11, 1-1: Riley Wetmore gets sent off for slashing, and Providence has an opportunity to respond with the extra man.

Third period, 0:34, 1-1: The River Hawks finally solve Gillies barely half a minute into the final frame. After making a save on a shot from the point, the PC netminder was bowled over by his own captain, Kyle Murphy, leaving a wide-open net for A.J. White to bury his second goal of the season. Looks like we’re headed for a thrilling finish here in this one.

Second intermission, Providence 1-0: What Marshall Henderson is to Ole Miss basketball, Jon Gillies is to the Providence Friars. The second-youngest player on the ice (behind fellow Friars freshman Mark Jankowski) has been the best through two periods, stopping all 25 shots he’s faced to backstop PC to a 1-0 lead through 40 minutes.

If any representatives from the Calgary Flames (who own the rights to both Gillies and Jankowski) are in attendance at the Garden, they have to be encouraged by their investment.

Second period, 16:02, Providence 1-0: Riley Wetmore almost capitalized 45 seconds into the power play. The senior captain tried to sneak the puck between Gillies’ right skate and the post, but the goalie was able to cover the puck amid a mad scrum in the crease. A lengthy review determined that the puck had crossed the goal line, and the Friars continue to hold a 1-0 advantage.

Second period, 15:00, Providence 1-0: Gillies does it again, making the save of the night to deny Joseph Pendenza with his right pad. The Friar faithful certainly approve of their freshman’s performance, as a “We got Gillies!” chant echoes from the section decked out in black and white.

PC is not doing its netminder any favors, though, as Derek Army was whistled for — you guessed it — interference. The River Hawks will again go on the power play.

Second period, 10:57, Providence 1-0: The interference bug bites the Friars again, and Kevin Hart is sent to the box, marking the first penalty in what has otherwise been a very crisp period of hockey.

Second period, 8:30, Providence 1-0: To properly illustrate the reason for Providence’s remarkable turnaround this season, look no further than the man in the crease. Jon Gillies has been a brick wall for the Friars yet again tonight, stopping all 19 UML shots and foiling what to this point has seemed like a period-long scoring chance.

He hasn’t done it alone, though, as the Friars D-men — especially freshman Tom Parisi and senior Pittsburgh draftee Alex Velicshek — have done an excellent job of taking out the trash in front of the net.

Second period, 2:45, Providence 1-0: Strangely, the beginning of the second period is playing out much like the first one — only with the roles reversed. Providence can’t seem to get the puck out of its defensive zone, and the River Hawks were almost able to jam it home during a scrum in front of the net before Gillies found his bearings and stopped play.

Second period, 0:00, Providence 1-0: UMass Lowell wins the faceoff and the second period is underway.

First intermission, Providence 1-0: Norm Bazin’s club got its best scoring chance of the night in the closing seconds of the first period.

With Friars defenseman Myles Harvey in the box for interference, the River Hawks fired away at Jon Gillies. Gillies weathered the storm with a little help from the iron, as a rocket from the blue line rang the left post and allowed PC to go into the locker room with a one-goal cushion.

Play has been rough thus far, as is expected in a playoff game, but both teams could benefit from cleaning up their checking a bit. Officials handed out five penalties in the opening period — three for interference — and Lowell has shown the ability to exploit Providence’s far-from-dominant penalty kill.

First period, 13:20, Providence 1-0: Rooney’s tally seems to have altered the momentum a bit, and now it’s UMass Lowell spending a lot of time in the Providence zone. The Hawks have yet to find many quality scoring chances, though, as Gillies has stopped all eight shots that have come his way.

First period, 8:59, Providence 1-0: We have our first goal of the night, and it comes from an unlikely source.

Freshman Kevin Rooney lit the lamp for the first time in his collegiate career after Hellebuyck couldn’t control a Noel Acciari slap shot and and Rooney slipped the rebound into the exposed net.

The Canton, Mass., native played in 28 games this season but had only three assists on his record until today.

First period, 6:29, 0-0: PC had its chances, but the River Hawks’ top D-pairing of Amlong and Ruhwedel got their bodies on a few pucks in front of the net to kill off the Wallin penalty. Their reprieve didn’t last long, though, as Foxboro native Derek Arnold was called for a trip, again leaving Lowell shorthanded.

First period, 3:35, 0-0: A physical few minutes produce the first power play of the game, as UML’s Terrence Wallin is sent to the box for hitting from behind. Providence nearly sneaks one by Hellebuyck in the opening 20 seconds of the man advantage, but the 6-foot-4 netminder gets a glove on it to force a face0ff.

5:05 p.m.: The Garden crowd is definitely skewed toward the River Hawks at the moment. There’s a lot of blue, red and white in the building.

A quick adjustment to the starting lineups: Providence will open up with its line of freshman Steven McParland, senior captain Kyle Murphy and junior Derek Army in front of defensemen Tom Parisi and Alex Velischek.

4:45 p.m.: The fact that the Friars and River Hawks are playing with a spot in the conference title game today is a testament to how much the Hockey East has evolved in recent years.

Before this season, UMass Lowell had finished better than fifth in the conference just twice since 2005-06 (third in 2009-10 and second last year), while PC finished seventh or worse six times over that span.

The winner of this game will have an excellent shot at breaking up the Boston College-Boston University monopoly that has claimed every title game since 2004.

4 p.m.: Good afternoon, hockey fans. We’re just about one hour from game time here at the Garden, so let’s take this chance to get acquainted with the boys from Providence and Lowell.

As I mentioned earlier, the goalies will be the story in the afternoon matchup, as both Jon Gillies and Connor Hellebuyck (pronounced HELL-e-buck) have been stellar in their first year at the college level. Their success has been evident on the score sheet, as UML and PC are tied for second in goals allowed per game (3.66) in conference play.

The goalies aren’t the only young guns making a name for themselves, though, as the teams will send out a combined six freshmen for the game’s opening shift.

The River Hawks’ top line features senior captain Riley Wetmore — the squad’s top goal scorer with 15 — centering between junior Derek Arnold and freshman Ryan McGrath, with freshman Greg Amlong and junior Chad Ruhwedel making up the first defensive pairing.

On the Providence side, senior Tim Schaller centers the Friars’ first line with freshmen Mark Janowski and Paul de Jersey on the wings, and senior Myles Harvey and junior Kevin Hart (no, not that Kevin Hart) patrolling the blue line.

8 a.m. ET: This weekend — and much of the next few weeks — will be dominated by college basketball, but March Madness isn’t limited to just hoops.

Some of the finest collegiate hockey players New England has to offer will take the ice tonight at TD Garden for the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament, with the victors earning the chance to play for the conference title Saturday.

There weren’t any upset specials in last weekend’s quarterfinals, with the higher seeds going a combined 8-1 to sweep the four opening-round series.

Top seed UMass Lowell, coming off its first regular-season title in school history, punched its ticket to the Garden rounds with a two-game sweep of Maine. Lowell will take on a fourth-seeded Providence squad backstopped by freshman sensation Jon Gillies. The matchup will showcase two of the game’s best young goaltenders, as Gillies and River Hawks freshman Connor Hellebuyck rank second and first, respectively, in the Hockey East in both goals-against average and save percentage.

But the marquee event will be the nightcap, as Boston University looks to send coach Jack Parker to his 10th and final Hockey East title game with a win over crosstown rival Boston College. The Eagles’ own legendary coach, Jerry York, is expected to miss the game as he continues to recover from a detached retina suffered last Saturday.

UMass Lowell and Providence will get the action under way at 5 p.m., with BC-BU following at 8 p.m. Be sure to check back throughout the day for up-to-the-minute updates leading up to puck drop.

Photos via Twitter/@HeightsSports / Facebook/Boston University / Twitter/@HeightsSports / Facebook/Providence College Men’s Hockey

The Eagles and Terriers have combined for 10 national titles and more recently have brought four of the last five Frozen Four crowns back to Beantown. Headlined by legendary coaches Jack Parker and Jerry York, respectively, Boston University and Boston College have a strong case for the nation’s top feud.

Other historic college feuds to be considered are Wisconsin and Minnesota, with the winner bringing home the Border Battle Cup, while Michigan and Michigan State share one of the best intrastate rivalries. The Battle of Boston also has competition not only on a national stage, but on a regional one as well. The rivalry between Maine and New Hampshire has stood for decades and was at its peak when Maine topped UNH in the 1999 national final. Harvard has its annual Beanpot with the likes of BC and BU, but the Crimson consider Cornell as their ultimate foe.

Some coaches will use anything to motivate their players, whether it’s an emotional speech or a movie to get their point across.

Jerry York seems to have a Hoosiers-esque quality about him. He has been coaching Boston College for 39 years now, and is inching closer to his eighth Hockey East title.

Jack Parker, who recently stated his time with the Boston University Terriers has come to a close, will look to capture his fourth NCAA crown to seal his 40-year coaching career. UMass Lowell’s second-year head coach, Norm Bazin, has put his River Hawks on top, and with the semifinals on the horizon, his presence has been felt on the bench.

All of those coaches are great, but if you wanted to get an extra edge, what movie would you use? Would it be Miracle, the story behind the 1980 US Olympic team? Or would you choose Mel Gibson‘s Braveheart to lead your players into battle? If you’re an underdog, you might want to choose Remember the Titans, The Mighty Ducks or Hoosiers.

Vote in our Hockey East poll below.

Jack Parker stressed several times during his retirement press conference that everyone he has coached and coached with during his four decades at Boston University is a part of his family. Several of his former players were on hand for that announcement Monday afternoon, and they echoed the legendary coach’s sentiments.

“Hockey is a very close, close community, and BU hockey is even closer. And I think that’s because of Jack,” said Mike Eruzione, who played for Parker at BU before going on to captain Team USA to the gold medal at the 1980 Olympics. “He said earlier that we’re all his sons, and he’s right. During my four years here, he was my coach, he was my father at times and he was my friend. Even today, he’s not my coach anymore, but he’s one of my closest friends and a man that I have great respect [for] and love dearly.”

For more from other BU hockey alumni, plus Jamison Coyle‘s interview in studio with Parker, check out the video above.

“Institution” is a word often thrown around to describe legendary sports figures, but when it comes to longtime Boston University coach Jack Parker, the word seems apt.

With the coach announcing his intention to retire at the end of this season, Boston Terriers past and present reached out to share their words of congratulations with the coach. NESN Nation’s Dan Duquette found some of the best ones, so check out what Parker’s former players are saying in the video above.

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In a move that came as no surprise to any college hockey fan not living under a rock this weekend, Parker, on his 68th birthday, announced his retirement after 40 years as head coach at Boston University.

“The question is why, and again, it’s time,” Parker told an assembled group that included numerous former  coaches and players. “I’ve been coaching the team for 40 years, I’ve been a coach here for 44 years and I was a player here before that. So for 48 out of the last 49 years I’ve been reporting for duty for BU hockey, and that’s enough.”

A man that would certainly be enshrined on the Mount Rushmore of college hockey, Parker has racked up 894 career victories since taking over at BU in 1973 — second among active coaches behind crosstown rival Jerry York of Boston College — to go along with seven Hockey East titles and three national championships. He’ll hope to add a few more trophies to the case at Agganis Arena before calling it a career, however, as Parker will continue to lead his team in this weekend’s conference tournament and into the NCAA tourney, should the Terriers qualify.

Parker admitted that he originally planned to retire following last season, but after a difficult year for the team that included multiple suspensions and accusations of a “culture of sexual entitlement,” he decided to return for 20012-13. As for choosing to announce his intentions in the week between regular season and the tournament, Parker said the timing just felt right.

“I didn’t want to do it earlier on,” he said. “I didn’t want to go through a farewell tour of all the other rinks in the league. That’s not me and I didn’t need to have that happen. But at the same time, I didn’t want to wait until the end of the year and have myself and my team find out when all the games are over that, ‘Oh by the way, guys, that was the last time I’ll coach you.’

“I always talk about BU being a family. I have two daughters and about 226 sons, and the team I have now are my youngest sons. And I’m not going to have any more children.”

Though Parker is beloved by his BU family on Commonwealth Ave., his influence reaches far outside the city limits. During his tenure, the Terriers have produced dozens of NHL players, six Stanley Cup winners and four members of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” squad that won the Olympic gold medal in Lake Placid, including Team USA captain Mike Eruzione and goalie Jim Craig.

“If you look at my record, it looks like it’s a real good record,” Parker said. “If you took me and put me at Yale and took Tim Taylor and put him here, he’d have a better record than me. There’s a lot of great coaches around. The only way you can stay a long time is continue to win, and the school has to want you to win and be behind you. And this university over a long period of time, and more so now than ever, has been behind the hockey program and the hockey coach.”

Parker remains under contract with the university until 2017-18 and will continue to be a part of the BU community, serving as a special adviser in charge of fundraising to university president Robert Brown. But his final games behind the bench at the rink that bears his name will come this weekend, when BU hosts Merrimack in the opening round of the Hockey East tournament.

When Boston University men’s hockey coach Jack Parker announces his retirement, which he is expected to do at a news conference at 3 p.m. on Monday, he will walk away from the game with one of the most impressive resumes in the history of collegiate hockey.

During Parker’s 40-year tenure, the Terriers won three national titles, seven Hockey East championships, 21 Beanpot championships and 894 total games — the most wins ever by a coach at a single school.

NESN Hockey East analyst Jim Connelly joined Jamison Coyle on NESN Daily to discuss what BU fans will remember most about the coach and how Parker’s impending announcement will affect the current Terriers squad heading into the conference tournament.

Check it out in the video above.

According to ESPN’s John Buccigross, Boston University head coach Jack Parker will announce his retirement Monday after four decades behind the Terriers bench.

We've learned Jack Parker will announce his retirement tomorrow after 40 years as Head Coach of Boston University. #espn #cawlidgehawkey

—
John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 10, 2013

Since taking the reins of the BU program in 1973, Parker has led the Terriers to 32 winning seasons, seven Hockey East championships and three national titles, with the most recent coming after the 2008-09 season. His 894 victories are the most ever by a coach at a single school, and rank third all-time behind Boston College’s Jerry York and former Michigan State coach Ron Mason.

BU finished the 2012-13 regular season as the No. 3 seed in Hockey East and will host Merrimack in the conference quarterfinals beginning on Friday.

In the conversations of the best player in the Hockey East, it really is a toss up between four competitors: Boston College’s Johnny Gaudreau and Steven Whitney, University of New Hampshire’s Kevin Goumas and Merrimack College’s Mike Collins.

Gaudreau has posted an impressive 44-point performance this season, with 21 goals and 23 assists. The 5-foot-8 forward has brought a huge presence to BC (19-10-4) in just his sophomore year.

Another Eagle is also in the talks: Whitney. The 5-foot-7 forward has complemented Gaudreau nicely for the Eagles, tallying 28 points on the season (seven goals, 21 assists).

Heading north to Durham, N.H., the Wildcats are also in the mix for Hockey East glory. Their strongest player this season has arguably been third-year forward Kevin Goumas. No. 27 has recorded 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) throughout the 2013 season.

Finally, Merrimack College is in the middle of the pack due to Collins’ display on the ice. The conference’s leading scorer, he has posted 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 26 games while keeping the Warriors competitive.

Needless to say, this decision will be tough for the Hockey East conference voters. Vote for your preferred player in the poll below.

The mission statement of Athletes 4 Autism is “Because life isn’t a spectator sport.” But for the one million Americans afflicted with autism, that’s exactly how it can feel — removed from the rest of the world.

However, Athletes 4 Autism looks to break down such walls. A volunter-run organization and part of The Autism Research Foundation, A4A’s goal is simple: to team up top-quality athletes to mentor an individual who can benefit from some time playing a game they love. Boston University defenseman Sean Escobedo is just one of those taking part, and his two-year story of teaming up with young Derek can be watched above.

And if you want to learn more about Athletes 4 Autism, you can visit their website at athletes-4-autism.org.

Undeniably the most high-profile player on this list, Paul Kariya was a dominant force during his short time in Hockey East. Prior to his 15-year NHL career, Kariya became the first freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player — a mark that still stands to this day — while leading Maine to the Hockey East and NCAA championships. By the time he started his career with the Mighty Ducks midway through his sophomore year, he had already left an undeniable mark on college hockey.

Also deserving consideration is Gustav Nyquist, another Black Bears great. Nyquist led his team in points during each of his three seasons in Orono, including a 61-point campaign in 2009-10 that led all of college hockey and made him a finalist for the Hobey Baker.

Former UMass defenseman Justin Braun had a banner season in 2009-10 as well, tallying 23 goals and 31 points from the blue line as captain of the Minutemen. Braun, who now patrols the defensive zone for the San Jose Sharks, topped the 20-point mark in three of his four seasons in Amherst and was named a first-team USCHO All-Star and a second-team All-American as a senior.

Boston College fans remember fondly the days of Brian Gionta wearing the “C” at Conte Forum. The diminutive (5-foot-7) winger led the Eagles to a national championship in 2001 and took home a host of conference and national awards, including three first-team Hockey East nods, three first-team All-America selections and the Walter Brown Award for the nation’s best American-born college player.

Just a few miles down the road, Kevin Shattenkirk made history at Boston University in 2009-10, becoming the first sole junior captain of the Terriers in nearly 50 years. He earned his honors on the ice, being named to the All-NCAA second team while leading BU to a national championship in 2008-09.

Though it’s rare for a goalie to serve as team captain, no discussion of Hockey East greats would be complete without mentioning Jimmy Howard. The current Red Wings netminder was a brick wall between the pipes for the Black Bears from 2002-05, setting team records in shutouts, goals against average and save percentage while leading Maine to the NCAA title game in 2004.

It’s hard to narrow down such a loaded roster, but if you had to choose one player to captain your squad, who would it be?

No. 4 Boston College played host to No. 12 UMass-Lowell, with the RiverHawks leaving Kelley Rink with a 4-2 victory while outshooting the Eagles 10-5 in the final period.  Lowell’s victory moves the Hawks into a tie for first place, while Boston College missed a golden opportunity to gain a two-point cushion on the rest of the conference.

Meanwhile, just a few miles east, No. 19 Boston University hosted No. 17 Merrimack. The Terriers jumped out to a 5-0 lead through two periods, thanks to two goals by junior forward Matt Nieto. BU’s victory thwarted the Warriors’ (14-12-6) chance to take sole possession of first place as well.

Those results have forced a four-way tie across the top of one of college hockey’s most competitive conferences. Idle New Hampshire and Providence join BC and UMass-Lowell with 28 points apiece. Merrimack sits a point back with 27, and the Terriers’ victory brought them to within two points, as they sit with 26.

All teams in the conference have played an even 23 league games, and each has four left to play.

New Hampshire has the luxury of closing out its season with four games at home against Massachusetts and Maine. However, with Maine and UMass fighting for the eighth and final seed in the postseason tournament, the Wildcats have a tough test in front of them.

Providence controls its destiny, as the Friars will play a home-and-home series with Boston College this weekend, then do the same against UMass-Lowell the following weekend.

BC still has to be considered the conference favorite. They will play a home-and-home with the Friars and then close the season out with two games up in Burlington against Vermont.

UMass-Lowell and PC will both face the toughest schedules on paper to close out the season. The RiverHawks have a home-and-home with Merrimack, who is just one point behind them. A weekend later, they will close with another home-and-home against the Friars.

The Hockey East regular season title has been a coveted crown over the past few seasons. The No. 1 seed in the tournament has won three of the last four conference championships — the exception being UNH in 2010.

Regardless of the result, the final two weekends of Hockey East play and the ensuing tournament should make for some entertaining hockey among the many local rivalries throughout New England.

Photo via Twitter/@heightsphoto

One day after the Boston College men captured their fourth consecutive Beanpot title, the BC women get their chance to bring some hardware back to the Chestnut Hill.

The Eagles get set to take on Northeastern in the finals of the annual tournament on Tuesday night, and NESN.com will be streaming the action live.

Boston University and Harvard square off in the consolation game at 5 p.m. ET, before BC and Northeastern meet in the finals.

Thumbnail via Twitter/@RyanGStone

If it’s February in Boston, that means it’s Beanpot time.

The Women’s Beanpot is set to get underway on Tuesday at Northeastern, and you’ll be able to follow all the action with NESN.com’s live streaming of the action.

The action gets underway at 5 p.m. when Boston College takes on Harvard. That’s followed up by Boston University-Northeastern, which is slated to begin at 8 p.m.

Thumbnail photo via Facebook/Northeastern Women’s Ice Hockey

End of game, 4-1 BC: Boston College has won the Beanpot three years in a row, and anyone watching their effort in this one has to figure they’re poised to capture a fourth consecutive, and 18th overall.

In next week’s championship game, BC will take on Northeastern, which beat Boston University 3-2 earlier in the day.

So, thanks for sticking with us on this Monday, and we’ll be back next week to live blog the rest of the Beanpot.

Third period, 4:54, 4-1 BC: That was an absolutely wicked wrist shot from Steven Whitney, who uses the Harvard defender as a screen before beating Girard.

So, with just five minutes left, Harvard’s chances are on life support, and BC looks like the power team they’re supposed to be despite their recent troubles.

Third period, 9:43, 3-1 BC: After having some difficulty getting pucks to the BC net, captain Danny Biega puts Harvard on the board. It’s Biega’s first goal of the season.

The goal cuts BC’s lead, and if Harvard can add another one in relatively short order we could have a hockey game.

Third period, 12:16, 3-0 BC: If not for Raphael Girard, this game would be even more of a blowout.

Girard’s made a number of solid saves against the BC offense to keep Harvard even as close as three goals. Moreover, he’s done well in terms of rebound control, either holding onto the puck or steering it into the corners.

End of second period, 3-0 BC: If you’re going to win hockey games, these are the types of goals you just can’t let in. Sloppy defense in front of the Harvard net allowed Quinn Smith to knock in his second tally of the game and defenseman Michael Matheson sent a slap shot from the top of the right circle past Girard for what could prove to be the nail in the coffin. Again, the Crimson allow a solid period of hockey slip away at the end.

Second period, 4:23, 1-0 BC: Harvard has played tough and physical in the defensive end, but the Crimson offense has not been able to find any sort of momentum. Eagles goalie Parker Milner has hardly been tested, needing to make just 13 saves so far. Girard has more than double that on the other end, turning away 27 of the first 28 BC shots.

Second period, 12:00, 1-0 BC: Patrick Wey (not to be confused with former NHL goalie Patrick Roy) is whistled for interference and the Crimson will go on the power play. That may not be a very uplifting thought for Harvard fans, however, as their team’s extra-skater unit makes the Bruins’ power play look like a well-oiled machine. The Crimson have converted on just 9.9 percent of their power-play opportunities, good for dead last in the ECAC.

This comes just one year after Harvard’s power-play unit operated at an outstanding 27.0 percent efficiency, leading the nation in the category.

Second period, 14:11, 1-0 BC: Another huge stop by Girard, who denies Pat Mullane from point-blank range with a kick save. The junior has taken at least a pair of would-be goals away from the Eagles thus far.

Second period, 17:31, 1-0 BC: The puck has been living at Harvard’s doorstep, it seems, as every Crimson clear is taken right back down by BC’s forwards. Harvard’s blueliners have been game so far, but they are getting worked very hard. How their stamina holds up may be a key to the rest of this game.

End of first period, 1-0 BC: Girard withstood the Eagles’ onslaught during the power play, but could not escape the first period unscathed. BC’s Quinn Smith slapped in a rebound with just over 20 seconds remaining to give his team a 1-0 lead heading into the locker room.

Tough way to end the frame for the Crimson, but they are playing much better hockey than their 5-14-1 record would indicate, keeping up even as BC’s offense started clicking on all cylinders late in the period. A quick Eagles goal in the second could change that in a hurry, though.

First period, 3:13, 0-0: Brendan Rempel plants Bill Arnold to the ice, but the referees spotted a bit extra in Rempel’s hit and BC will have the game’s first power play.

First period, 5:50, 0-0: Girard foils BC’s first serious chance of the game and is seriously fired up about it. Harvard responded by taking the puck right down for a scoring chance of its own, but a rocket from senior Luke Greiner rang off the inside of the left post. Still scoreless at the Garden.

First period, 13:07, 0-0: This first period has been swift and physical, with few whistles and heavy checking provided by both sides. BC has yet to test the junior Girard, who is in his second year as the Crimson’s starter between the pipes.

Harvard will need to stiffen defensively if they are to have a chance against the Eagles. The Crimson have dropped 11 of their last 12 games, allowing 3.92 goals per contest over that span.

Start of first period, Boston College-Harvard: BC and Harvard take the ice for the nightcap, with Parker Milner starting in goal for the Eagles and Raphael Girard backstopping the Crimson. The boys from Cambridge are the last team other than BC or BU to take home a Beanpot title, but that was way back in 1993. We’ll see if they can work some magic against coach Jerry York’s No. 5 Eagles tonight.

Final, 3-2 Northeastern: The clock hits triple zeros and the Huskies will play for the the Beanpot championship. The win marks Northeastern’s first win over BU in this tournament since the 1988 title game, which gave the Huskies their most recent Beanpot championship. They’ll look to break that streak, as well, next Monday against the winner of tonight’s Boston College-Harvard semifinal.

Third period, 1:11, 3-2 Northeastern: And just as I say that, BU pulls within one. With O’Connor on the bench, Sahir Gill sent a rebound past Rawlings to cut the deficit to 3-2. This game is not over yet.

Third period, 2:00, 3-1 Northeastern: Terrific defense being played in the Northeastern end. Rawlings has been a rock in net but his teammates have given him tremendous help in front, continuously disrupting the rhythm of the Terriers with great stick movement and body checking.

Third period, 4:38, 3-1 Northeastern: Kevin Roy strikes again. The freshman phenom continued his stellar effort with his third goal of the contest, giving the Huskies a two-goal lead with just over four minutes remaining.

A Josh Manson slap shot from the blue line was deflected into the pads of O’Connor by Garrett Vermeersch, but the BU goalie couldn’t corral the puck and Roy pounded home the off-angle shot for his first career hat trick.

Third period, 7:54, 2-1 Northeastern: It seems that this entire period has been played in the Northeastern zone, as BU owns a 10-5 shot advantage in the frame, including a couple of rockets from the slot that Rawlings turned aside.

Third period, 12:32, 2-1 Northeastern: You can sense the urgency on the ice right now, as both teams come up with solid scoring chances. Rawlings and O’Connor have held strong, though, keeping the third period scoreless thus far.

Start of third period, 2-1 Northeastern: Just 20 minutes separate one of these squads from next Monday’s Beanpot championship. A key for Jack Parker’s squad will be capitalizing on power-play opportunities, as the Terriers have been unsuccessful on all six of their extra-skater chances tonight.

Second Period, 3:15, 2-1 Northeastern: Roy hasn’t looked as quite as dangerous as O’Regan, but he created his own opportunity there on an unassisted lead, giving Northeastern the 2-1 edge.

Boston University has looked to be the better team overall in terms of puck possession, but Northeastern’s been far more opportunistic.

Second period, 7:35, 1-1: Nothing doing for BU there on the power play, as they couldn’t even really get set up in the offensive zone.

Though BU’s had the better of puck possession tonight, Northeastern’s been opportunistic. In fact, Colton Saucerman (what a great name) nearly put a nifty move on the BU defense for a shorthanded bid.

Second period, 9:47, 1-1: BU looked dangerous in a power-play opportunity, nearly slotting a goal home as the penalty expired. going the other way, Northeastern’s Braden Primm just roped a BU player going back into the defensive zone, and so he gets two minutes for hooking.

On another note, O’Regan continues to look dangerous. Every time BU takes the puck into the offensive zone, O’Regan just gravitates towards the net.

Second period, 16:16, 1-1: Both squads trade a couple of Grade A scoring opportunities. First, Northeastern gets a clear-cut two-on-one opportunity, but credit BU defenseman Alexx Privitera with sliding to break up the feeding pass.

Going the other way, O’Regan is just a force to be reckoned in this one. Once again he finds himself in front of the goal on the receiving end of a pass. He couldn’t quite tip it on net, though, as a Northeastern defenseman got just enough stick on it.

End of first period, 1-1: BU’s thought process in the offensive zone isn’t difficult to determine. They try to control the puck back at the points or above the circles, have one guy break towards the front of the net to look for a rebound or a tip.

Going into the end of the period, BU got a couple more swipes at Rawlings and the Northeastern goal, but were kept off the score sheet. O’Regan, in particular, nearly got on the end of another pass right outside of the crease.

So, we go to the first intermission tied at one, with Northeastern putting up quite a fight despite their place in the Hockey East standings.

First period, 10:05, 1-1: Northeastern netminder Chris Rawlings makes a few sprawling saves to foil a BU scoring chance. Rawlings, who is listed at 6-foot-5, is starting his 115th game in net for the Huskies, having served as the team’s starter since his freshman season in 2009-10.

First period, 14:07, 1-1: Danny O’Regan isn’t about to let Roy steal the spotlight. The San Jose draftee — who ranks second to Roy in scoring among HE freshmen — completes a nifty give-and-go to knot the game at one goal apiece less than six minutes in. We may have a high-scoring affair on our hands.

First period, 17:51, 1-0 Northeastern: We are barely under way at the Garden and freshman sensation Kevin Roy has already given the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Roy, the leading freshman scorer in the nation, beat BU’s Matt O’Connor for his 13th goal of the season.

8 a.m. ET: It’s the first Monday of February, and Boston knows it’s time for the Beanpot.

This year’s tournament will mark the 61st time that the four Boston-area colleges have met on the ice for bragging rights, beginning all the way back in 1952. Now, of course, the first two Mondays in February are reserved for the Beanpot, with all but the inaugural event taking place at an arena named “Garden.”

For the last three years the Boston College eagles have won the tournament, so that means they’re the top dog going in. That’s also kind of true of Hockey East in general, as the Eagles have been the top team in conference play, earning 25 points. However, they’re also second to New Hampshire, who has one more win, in NCAA competition.

That only means everyone else will be gunning for Jerry York’s crew, and Jack Parker and the Boston University Terriers are certainly one of those teams. BU opens the tournament against Northeastern, and while the Terriers have remained in the high-middle of the pack on Hockey East, Northeastern is dead last in the conference with a mark of 4-11-3 (7-13-3 overall).

So, follow along here for all of today’s Beanpot action. The first game between BU and Northeastern begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Photo via Twitter/@BCHockey