For the first time in program history, Penn State men’s hockey is in the Frozen Four.

The Nittany Lions have been playing red-hot hockey, backed by strong goaltending and depth, for months, but will that continue? Standing in the way is Boston University, a hockey heavyweight. Let’s preview the Terriers ahead of Thursday’s showdown in St. Louis.

The Team

Boston University went 20-12-2 in the regular season, which finished third in the Hockey East conference behind Boston College and Maine. The Terriers were eliminated by UConn in the Hockey East Tournament, but their No. 5 PairWise ranking landed an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. The Terriers pummeled Ohio State 8-3 before they defeated Cornell 3-2 in the Toledo Regional to clinch a spot in the Frozen Four.

Boston University is no stranger to Frozen Fours, though, as this year marks its 25th appearance. The Terriers are here for the third consecutive season, with semifinal losses the first two times. The program has five national championships, most recently winning it all in 2009.

Jay Pandolfo has been the head coach since 2022. Pandolfo played for Boston University, winning a national championship in 1995 and captaining the Terriers the following season. He then spent 13 years playing for the New Jersey Devils, another with the New York Islanders, and a 15th season with the Boston Bruins before beginning his coaching career.

Forwards

Boston University is scoring 3.8 goals per game and takes 30 shots per game.

The Terriers are led by Quinn Hutson, who has a team-most 50 points. He has 27 assists and 23 goals, which is tied for team-most. Another player to watch is Cole Eisermann, who has 34 points, 23 goals, and 11 assists.

Ryan Greene, Shane Lachance, and Jack Harvey round out the top five point-getters. Greene has 34, 27, and 13; Lachance has 29, 18, and 11; and Harvey has 26, 16, and 10. Lachance, Greene, and Hutson tend to make up the top line. Lachance is an Edmonton Oilers prospect, while the Chicago Blackhawks own Greene’s rights. Harvey’s rights are owned by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Defensemen

Cole Hutson, who is second with 46 points, lines up with Gavin McCarthy to form the top defensive pairing. Hutson is a Washington Capitals prospect, while McCarthy is with the Buffalo Sabres. Despite being a freshman, Hutson is widely believed to have the potential to become a top defenseman in the NHL.

Sascha Boumedienne and Vancouver Canucks prospect Tom Willander typically form the second defensive pairing. Boumedienne has 13 points, while Willander has 23.

Goaltending

Boston University’s season has been a tale of two goaltenders. After senior Mathieu Caron struggled with a .899 save percentage and 3.16 goals-against-average in the first half, prized recruit and New Jersey Devils’ draftee Mikhail Yegorov took over at the end of January and has thrived with a .931 save percentage and 2.04 goals-against-average.

The 6’6″, 180-pound Yegorov hails from St. Petersburg, Russia. According to FloHockey, the freshman planned to spend this season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, but Yegorov and the Terriers mutually agreed it was time to move to Boston.

In the last two games against Ohio State and Cornell, Yegorov allowed five combined goals and made over 30 saves in each matchup. Despite his early success, his only shutout was against Providence in February.