Hockey – Take Zone Sports

BREAKING: Bentley hockey set to play at Frozen Fenway vs. West Point on January 5th

Note: This isn’t breaking news at all, came out yesterday, maybe even 2 days ago, but putting “Breaking” in front of the title made me feel super legit so I went with it. Sue me.

Soooo this is gonna be sick. Bentley hockey, who was predicted to finish 8th out of 11 Atlantic Hockey teams in the preseason coaches poll (after finishing 8th last year), will take the ice at Frozen Fenway for the 2nd time in 4 years. The Falcons face off against the Army West Point Black Knights (4th in the coaches poll, 6th last season) on January 5th at 7:30, the first of 9 games that will be played at Fenway in a 10-day period.

Make no mistake: Bentley hockey is on the up and up. Senior Max French is taking over as captain in his senior year, and after a team-leading 47 points last year (23 goals, 24 assists) he’s primed to lead the squad in scoring yet again. Assistant captain Kyle Schmidt (junior) wasn’t far behind, tied for 2nd with 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) and leading the team with a plus-minus of +15, and he’ll be one to watch as well when the 16-17 campaign gets going at UNH on October 8th. And of course we’re looking for junior goalie Jayson Argue to build off of what was a strong, albeit injury-shortened, sophomore season.

With construction of the new ice rink on lower campus already underway (which should be completed by October 2017, fingers crossed), the Bentley program is set to take some leaps in the next few seasons. Fueled by a recruiting class that includes Jonathan Desbiens (who led the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL with 83 points last year and broke the franchise’s goals record with 44) and Ryner Gorowsky (83 points in 59 games for NAHL champ Fairbank Ice Dogs last year)*, the program has a strong foundation and will look to improve dramatically in coach Ryan Soderquist’s 15th season at the helm. Another game at Frozen Fenway just means more exposure for the growing program.

So I know where I’ll be January 5th at 7:30. Where you gonna be?

*Stats from @BentleyTopShelf, great follow for Bentley hockey updates

NHL Free Agency Frenzy

June 29th, 2016, between around 3 PM and 5 PM, may go down as the wildest hour in NHL transaction history.

Not only did Steven Stamkos resign with Tampa for 8 years and 68 million dollars (you tried Boston), but a seemingly untouchable P.K. Subban was dealt to Nashville for another All-Star defenseman in Shea Weber. WOW. On top of it all it was a one for one trade. No money. No prospects. You don’t see dealing like that now a days.

Oh yeah and Peter Chiarelli managed to screw a team over but it wasn’t our hometown Bruins this time (praise the Lord). By dealing 2010 #1 overall pick Taylor Hall to New Jersey for Adam Larsson, Chiarelli has now, somehow, dealt the #1 and #2 overall picks of the 2010 draft in god awful deals (see Seguin to Dallas). And it was another one for one deal. You can’t make this stuff up.

Now for my personal take on the deals. Subban out of Montreal was inevitable, as much as the Habs wanted to deny it. You mess with the big bad Montreal tradition, then be prepared for a lashing in a French accent. The return Montreal got wasn’t adequate for the franchise talent P.K. is but Shea Weber is no push over. 108 MPH slapshot? Yeah that’s legit. Also, for what it’s worth, Subban would’ve looked unbelievable in black and gold.

I’d have a longer take on Hall for Larsson but Christ my 11-year-old sister wouldn’t have made that deal. Yes Hall has not performed to his hype, and certainly not as good as Seguin, but he’s still a top-6 forward who’s produced at least 50 points in all but two seasons he’s been in the league (one lockout shortened season). Larsson can play don’t get me wrong, but for the former #4 overall pick (also 2011 draft), he’s been down in the AHL more than he should be. Good, but Chiarelli messed up, AGAIN.

As for the rest of Free Agency, Jimmy Vesey out of Harvard is the big name remaining. The equivalent of a developed top 5 pick, Vesey has informed teams he will field all offer, even though Buffalo owns his rights. Personally I see Vesey and Boston as a perfect fit. The North Reading, MA native is young, plays up-tempo, and can put the puck in the net, which is something the Bruins need desperately. Realistically the field is most likely narrowed to Toronto, the Rangers, Buffalo, and Boston. Eichel, also a Massachusetts native, would be lethal paired with Vesey on Buffalo, while Matthews and Vesey could be a good look as well on Toronto.

Other notable signings are as follows.

Backes to Boston for 6 years and 30 million.

Okposo to Buffalo for 7 years and 42 million.

Brouwer to Calgary for 4 years and 18 million.

Lucic to Edmonton for 7 years and 42 million.

Reimer to Florida for 5 years and 17 million.

Ladd to Islanders for 7 years and 38.5 million.

Eriksson to Vancouver for 6 years and 36 million.

The 2016-2017 season is approaching rapidly, and with more news to follow soon, expect your boys at Take Zone Sports on top of it, nearly as much as Don Sweeney isn’t really on top of the Bruins right now.