With second semester about to begin, BU has bolstered its roster with a pair of mid-year additions, bringing aboard AJHL goalie Ashton Abel and NAHL center Wilmer Skoog.
Abel, a 20 year old from Grand Prairie, Albert, has played 26 games for the Okotoks Oilers, generating a 2.16 GAA with a .910 save percentage and a 20-3-1 record. He’s been named AJHL Defensive Player of the Week twice this season (video).
Oilers’ coach Tyler Deis: “Ever since we acquired Ashton all he’s done for us is give us a chance to win every game with his calm demeanor. The work he has put in during the first half of the year has put us in a great spot for the remainder of the 2019-2020 season.”
— Neutral Zone (@_Neutral_Zone) December 27, 20193.5
⭐️Ashton Abel to @TerrierHockeyin January. Stays square and in position. 6' and shifts into pucks and catches them in front of hid body. Quick, fluid movement and controls rebounds. NZ's #1 ranked 1999 @TheAJHLgoalie last season. 👤https://t.co/CBt6ADfDvqhttps://t.co/1LKb86w6XoAbel is in his third AJHL season having played two campaigns with the Calgary Mustangs. Last season he had a 2.88 GAA and a .909 save percentage.
● Okotoksoilers.ca report
Skoog, who also is 20, is a 6’2” left-shot center who committed to BU last July for the 2020 recruit class. Ty Amonte’s season-ending injury led to the decision to accelerate the Stockholm native and strengthen the Terriers at center.
Skoog is the leading scorer on the Maryland Bears with 33 points (15G,18A) in 24 games He has at least one point in 20 games and his 1.38 points per game is best in the league. He was NAHL Forward of the Month in September, recording 15 points in eight games.
Wilmer Skoog leads the @NAHLHockeyin PPG. Great on the dot. Strong on the puck with vision and a creative blade. Not a burner but high grade from NZ at the Showcase. 1999 should fit up and down the lineup. This has been in the works for a while. https://t.co/g8aioHqw2o— Neutral Zone (@_Neutral_Zone) December 26, 2019
Last season, Skoog produced 47 points in 57 games for NAHL Minot. Previously he played for VIK Västerås HK on multiple levels.
● Black Bears report; player profile
● Black Bears video interview
►Terriers begin second semester Sunday with an exhibition game against Concordia at Walter Brown Arena.
At the end of two, #TeamUSAhas a 4-3 lead.
Take another look at the Hall goal to get ready for the third!#USAWJC| #WorldJuniorspic.twitter.com/trfPu5WZ86— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 27, 2019
Freshman Trevor Zegras registered four assists, earning U.S. player of the game honors in Team USA’s 6-3 win over Germany in the World Junior Championships at Ostrava, Czech Republic. Zegras has a tournament-high five assists through the first two games.
● USA Hockey recap and statistics
Looking back
John McCarthy, co-captain of BU’s 2009 national championship team, has retired from hockey following an ischemic stroke earlier this month from which he has recovered.
The former St. John’s Prep standout was in his fifth season with the AHL San Jose Barracuda, serving as captain in the last four. He’ll continue his career as a member of the Barracuda coaching staff.
A recruited walk-on at BU, he became a key member of the Terrier offense as a senior, scoring 29 points in the march to the Frozen Four and the NCAA title. McCarthy spent his entire pro career with the Sharks organization after being drafted in the 7th round in 2006. He played 88 NHL games with San Jose and holds all major Barracuda franchise records including games played (275), goals (62), assists (76), points (138), power-play goals (17), and shorthanded goals (5).
Barracuda GM Joe Will: “"John has helped set a standard for our young players, leading the Barracuda to the playoffs in all four years since the team relocated, helping prepare our young players for the next level, and showing them what it takes to be a pro.”
McCarthy skated for Team USA in the 2018 Olympics Games in South Korea, joining his fellow 2009 Terrier co-captain Matt Gilroy, Jordan Greenway and Chris Bourque.
Due to health reasons, John McCarthy has announced his retirement. We can’t thank Mac enough for his contributions and we wish the #SJBarracuda all time scoring leader the best of luck as he begins a new chapter as a member of the coaching staff.
🗞: https://t.co/OBJ3w8fz7epic.twitter.com/BURA41IfL1— San Jose Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) December 27, 2019
● NHL.com report
● sjbarracuda.com report
● Elite Prospects page
►As the decade comes to an end, Nostatistics.com offers its take on the BU All-Decade Starting Six.