by Chris Aliano
Chris Connolly sits out of practice, questionable for the weekend
Sophomore forward Chris Connolly is questionable for this weekend's home-and-home series against UNH after suffering a separated shoulder, reported yesterday by The Boston Hockey Blog.
When asked about the injury, head coach Jack Parker labeled it an "upper body injury...that may or may not keep him out this weekend."
Still, barring disaster, the Terriers should enter this weekend the healthiest they've been all season.
Warsofsky to return to the lineup, but where will he play?
Sophomore defenseman David Warsofsky, kept out of the lineup last weekend due to a lingering hip-abductor injury, is set to return to action this weekend against UNH. Warsofsky practiced with the forwards during practice on Wednesday, and depending on the injury situation he could line up as a forward against the Wildcats.
"I know he can play defense for us, I know he can play forward for us," Parker said. "I think it'll be a matter of who's available, and where we'll be depth-wise."
Parker noted that Warsofsky would play on the same line as Nick Bonino should he decide to move the Marshfield, Massachusetts native up to offense, most likely taking the place of Connolly to maintain that high-energy pace that the first line set in its last game against Merrimack (Connolly, Bonino and Joe Pereira comprised the first line then).
Parker also credited the recent strong play of freshman defender Ben Rosen as a reason Warsofsky could be used up front.
Warsofsky said the decision to play up front was a "mutual thing", especially considering the wider rinks and the advantage that speedy forwards could have at the Whittemore Center.
"I've always had that offensive instinct so when he asked me I was all over it," Warsofsky said. "I don't think it'll be a career-changer, but we'll see."
Terriers hoping to play better in the crease in both zones
Parker said the Terriers practiced defending better in front of their own net, while at the same time giving the offense a chance to practice their play in front of the opposing net. The Terriers have struggled to finish goals for the most part this season, despite the impressive four-goal first period on Saturday against Merrimack.
"That's why we're not scoring because we don't get in front of the other guys' net enough," Parker said.
Team attitude still worries Parker
One aspect of his team that still worries Parker is the attitude of his players. He mentioned one of the Terriers' central slogans, "Attitude is Everything," and how through the first nine games that hasn't been the case for BU.
"We aren't focused enough, we haven't played hard enough," Parker said. "There have been moments where we've been real sharp, but other than that we've had up and down moments.
Parker noted that one of the problems early on has not just been his players pressing to do too much in terms of scoring goals, but instead players forcing themselves out of position in their own zone trying to do other players' jobs.
"More often than not, we've had key guys play very sub-par and give us sub-par efforts."
Parker attributed two key factors for this lack in a winning attitude: the seniors and team leaders not doing their job, and his players' decisions as to how hard they are willing to work.
While his words may have been directed toward the upperclassmen, Parker stressed that the underclassmen, particularly the freshmen, have not been guilty of this attitude ailment.
"You can't play the game casually," Parker said. "And none of that description applies to any of our freshmen."
When asked if Parker has ever experienced this problem with other championship-winning teams, he was quick to point out how two other year-after-championship teams (1972 and 1996) brought back plenty of talent and leadership from the year before. In '72, Parker said the team brought back plenty of talent and leadership from the year before, leading them to their repeat as national champions. In '96, Parker said his team still had plenty of character, but attributed the devastating injury to Travis Roy in the first game of the season, saying it went on to plague the team all season long.
"We've lost a lot of key guys, and we have a lot of new guys in different positions than they were in last year," Parker said. "It's hard to go back and say 'how did it work, how did we handle it then?'"
Parker compared this year's team to last year's reigning national champion Boston College squad, who got off to a slow start that ultimately cost them a chance to defend their title.
"They were expected to be a much better team last year," Parker said. "But we're on that same track right now."
Notes and Notables
Junior defenseman Colby Cohen left practice early with what Parker described as a "lower body injury." Cohen's injury was not considered serious, and he should be able to go this weekend... Parker did not say whether he would use a goalie platoon system this weekend. Grant Rollheiser made his season-debut last Saturday against Merrimack in a winning effort, although he allowed four goals.
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