BHN Daily
BHN Daily: Thank You Jerry York! Winter Classic Back To Fenway.
Before we get into your daily Boston Bruins and NHL links, please allow us to thank not only one of the greatest college hockey coaches ever but one of the best the game has seen in now retired Boston College head coach Jerry York.
After 50 years -28 with Boston College – behind the bench, Jerry York decided now was the time to be with his family more and spend way more time golfing.
“I have been thinking about the possibility of retiring during the past several weeks and it just seemed to me to be the right time to do so,” York said in a statement. “I am so blessed to have been involved with Boston College these past 28 years and to have had the opportunity to coach so many wonderful student-athletes.”
Per USCHO.com:
York was hired at Boston College in 1994 after coaching for 15 years at Bowling Green (1979-94) where he won the national championship in 1984. He began his head coaching career at Clarkson University at the age of 27, leading the Golden Knights from 1972 to 1979.
One of only three coaches in NCAA history to win an NCAA championship at two different schools, York led BC to the national title in 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012. On Dec. 29, 2012, he became the all-time winningest coach in college hockey, passing Michigan State’s Ron Mason.
He finishes his career with 1,123 wins—including a record-setting 41 NCAA tournament victories. York coached the Eagles to nine Hockey East Tournament titles and 12 regular-season championships, including at least a share of five of the last seven league titles. He was named Hockey East Coach of the Year in 2004, 2011, 2014, 2018, and most recently in 2021, and won the Spencer Penrose trophy as NCAA Division I coach of the year in 1977.
Now on the latest Bruins Daily:
Boston Bruins
Before we get into the previous 24 hours, let’s talk about the good and fun news that came from the Boston Bruins on Wednesday. On Wednesday morning, friend of BHN, NHL Network and ESPN Insider Kevin Weekes tweeted that he had confirmed that, as speculated, the 2023 NHL Winter Classic opponent for the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park would indeed be the John Henry and Fenway Sports Group-owned Pittsburgh Penguins.
**Breaking News** 🚨📰
I’m told it’s the @penguins that will be the @NHLBruins opponent for the upcoming 2023 @NHL Winter Classic to be played on Jan 2nd at @fenwaypark the home of the @NHLBruins . @espn @NHLNetwork #HockeyTwitter pic.twitter.com/pQYsHLoJnH
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) April 13, 2022
Weekes also reported that the game would take place on Jan. 2 and not the traditional New Year’s Day, and the as expected, sources have confirmed to BHN that is because the NHL didn’t want to go head-to-head with the NFL on New Year’s Day.
The NHL made the official announcement early Wednesday evening.
The 2023 Discover NHL #WinterClassic will feature the @penguins and @NHLBruins at Fenway Park on Monday, Jan. 2.
Details: https://t.co/EoXCBrHJZU pic.twitter.com/UiiZc4yMHl
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 14, 2022
Prior to TNT’s broadcast of the Colorado Avalanche-Los Angeles Kings game Wednesday night, Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand gave his reaction to what will be his first chance to skate on Fenway ice.
The @NHLBruins and @Penguins are shipping up to Boston for the 2023 #WinterClassic on #NHLonTNT ‼️☘️@Bmarch63 spoke with Liam about getting the chance to play at the historic Fenway Park and more ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/X0JjJmr49l
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) April 14, 2022
The Boston Bruins also signed prospect John Beecher to an ATO with the Providence Bruins on Wednesday.
OK, now to the bad news about the Boston Bruins. Where do we start?
So, in the first period of their 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, the Boston Bruins lost defenseman Brandon Carlo to an undisclosed injury. Carlo, who missed practice on Wednesday, joins fellow defensemen Matt Grzelcyk (upper-body) and Hampus Lindholm (lower-body) on the battered blue line injury list. Forward David Pastrnak also remains out.
National Hockey Now
NYI: Two-time Canadian Women’s Hockey Olympic Gold champion Cheryl Pounder will be joining the New York Islanders TV broadcasts as the season winds down.
Philly: The Hockey Gods may be having mercy on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart as his season could be over.
Wash: It’s becoming pretty clear that the Washington Capitals have cured whatever ailed them through a frustrating and inconsistent season until the last two weeks.
Detroit: If the Detroit Red Wings do fire Jeff Blashill, don’t expect former Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice to be a candidate.
Vegas: Very disheartening to hear that Vegas Golden Knights fans have viciously attacked goalie Robin Lehner for his recent play, but have to agree with my Vegas Hockey Now colleague here that it’s tome for head coach Pete DeBoer to go back to Logan Thompson between the pipes.
Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche have bee raiding the NCAA Free Agent market this week.
San Jose: Our man in San Jose, Sheng Peng gives the latest scuttlebutt on who might be the next GM of the San Jose Sharks.
Canada Hockey Now
Montreal: Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Martin St. Louis erased recent doubts that he may not want to shed the interim tag and become the full-time head coach of the Habs going forward.
NHL
Bird Bird Bird, Bird is the word for Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman and he’s a bit poorer for it.
Uh oh. Ryan Hartman gives Evander Kane the finger after a scrum. pic.twitter.com/R5SXu7wx5c
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 13, 2022
Honestly, Evander Kane deserves a lot worse than that!