Following an offseason of adjusting, the Boston Red Sox managed to bully their way into the ALCS and gave the Houston Astros a real run for their money. Limping through the months of August and most of September, the Sox secured their spot in the American League Wildcard against the New York Yankees on the final day with a win against the Washington Nationals. 

The Red Sox and Yankees were tied at 90-72 records, but with the Red Sox having hold of the tiebreaker, the Wildcard game was set to take place at Fenway Park. Thanks in part to homers from Kyle Schwarber and a two-run shot from Xander Bogaerts, Alex Cora’s men took down Gerritt Cole and the Yankees 6-2. The game reignited the Red Sox fanbase, and the city of Boston had gone Sox crazy again, reminiscent of 2004. The victory set up an ALDS series with the defending American League Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays. 

The Rays had won the American League East with the influence of manager Kevin Cash and a play of talents, such as Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena, but faced an uphill battle against their division rival.

Opening the series served as a wake-up call for Cora’s group, as they fell 5-0 at Tropicana Field in game one thanks to a home run by Nelson Cruz. The Sox responded the only way they had known how all year, with their bats. While they were down 5-2 at the end of the first inning, the team rallied and scored 12 runs over the next eight innings before evening up the series at 1-1 with momentum on their side. The next two games would see the Sox putting up six runs each time, defeating the Rays 6-4 and 6-5 in consecutive home games, putting the Green Monster to work and wreaking havoc on Tampa’s outfielders as the perfect response.

The victories reinvigorated an already raucous fanbase, as they were slated to play the Houston Astros. Travelling to Houston, the Red Sox’s hot bats were ready to cause trouble, with the bat of Kiké Hernandez swinging the hottest by far. Hernandez batted to a .450 clip in the series against the Rays to go along with 9 hits, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs when all was said and done.

Game one was a test from start to finish for the Red Sox, with the Astros inching out a one-run victory in an intense matchup of two foes. Carlos Correa made sure his presence was felt, tapping his wrist following his game-tying home run in the seventh inning in a manner so as to suggest, “It’s time,” sparking retaliation further down the line. The very next game, the Red Sox responded with their bats before they did their words. A 9-5 victory behind the bats of Devers, Hernandez and J.D. Martinez helped tie the series back up at one heading into game three. 

The Red Sox bats woke up early and often this time around as well, with four different batters sending shots to the moon, including an overly emphatic grand slam off of the bat of first baseman Kyle Schwarber in the second inning, setting up the Sox to take a 2-1 series lead. In response to Correa’s tap, Red Sox hurler Eduardo Rodriguez mimicked the action heading off the mound before manager Alex Cora reprimanded the starter. Whether it’s superstition or not, the action led to a downward spiral within the series. The Red Sox would go on to fall to the Astros in each of the team’s next three games, culminating in a 5-0 loss in Game 6 on Friday night to seal the deal. 

While the loss marks the end of the year for the Red Sox, the success achieved this season after practically gutting the franchise a little over a year ago is nothing short of impressive. This team’s camaraderie and overall willingness to win helps put this group in a contending position at any point over the next decade. The Astros will now go on to play the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

Following an offseason of adjusting, the Boston Red Sox managed to bully their way into the ALCS and gave the Houston Astros a real run for their money. Limping through the months of August and most of September, the Sox secured their spot in the American League Wildcard against the New York Yankees on the final day with a win against the Washington Nationals. 

The Red Sox and Yankees were tied at 90-72 records, but with the Red Sox having hold of the tiebreaker, the Wildcard game was set to take place at Fenway Park. Thanks in part to homers from Kyle Schwarber and a two-run shot from Xander Bogaerts, Alex Cora’s men took down Gerritt Cole and the Yankees 6-2. The game reignited the Red Sox fanbase, and the city of Boston had gone Sox crazy again, reminiscent of 2004. The victory set up an ALDS series with the defending American League Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays. 

The Rays had won the American League East with the influence of manager Kevin Cash and a play of talents, such as Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena, but faced an uphill battle against their division rival.

Opening the series served as a wake-up call for Cora’s group, as they fell 5-0 at Tropicana Field in game one thanks to a home run by Nelson Cruz. The Sox responded the only way they had known how all year, with their bats. While they were down 5-2 at the end of the first inning, the team rallied and scored 12 runs over the next eight innings before evening up the series at 1-1 with momentum on their side. The next two games would see the Sox putting up six runs each time, defeating the Rays 6-4 and 6-5 in consecutive home games, putting the Green Monster to work and wreaking havoc on Tampa’s outfielders as the perfect response.

The victories reinvigorated an already raucous fanbase, as they were slated to play the Houston Astros. Travelling to Houston, the Red Sox’s hot bats were ready to cause trouble, with the bat of Kiké Hernandez swinging the hottest by far. Hernandez batted to a .450 clip in the series against the Rays to go along with 9 hits, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs when all was said and done.

Game one was a test from start to finish for the Red Sox, with the Astros inching out a one-run victory in an intense matchup of two foes. Carlos Correa made sure his presence was felt, tapping his wrist following his game-tying home run in the seventh inning in a manner so as to suggest, “It’s time,” sparking retaliation further down the line. The very next game, the Red Sox responded with their bats before they did their words. A 9-5 victory behind the bats of Devers, Hernandez and J.D. Martinez helped tie the series back up at one heading into game three. 

The Red Sox bats woke up early and often this time around as well, with four different batters sending shots to the moon, including an overly emphatic grand slam off of the bat of first baseman Kyle Schwarber in the second inning, setting up the Sox to take a 2-1 series lead. In response to Correa’s tap, Red Sox hurler Eduardo Rodriguez mimicked the action heading off the mound before manager Alex Cora reprimanded the starter. Whether it’s superstition or not, the action led to a downward spiral within the series. The Red Sox would go on to fall to the Astros in each of the team’s next three games, culminating in a 5-0 loss in Game 6 on Friday night to seal the deal. 

While the loss marks the end of the year for the Red Sox, the success achieved this season after practically gutting the franchise a little over a year ago is nothing short of impressive. This team’s camaraderie and overall willingness to win helps put this group in a contending position at any point over the next decade. The Astros will now go on to play the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.

With the World Cup a little over a year away, nations across the globe are vying for their spot in one of the greatest spectacles in the sporting world, including the United States’ Men’s National Team. Here in the U.S., head coach Gregg Berhalter is more than ready to make up for the group’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in 2018. The infamous “Trinidad and Tobago game,” as it is now known as, marked the end of an era in American soccer on the national stage, opening up the door for boundless amounts of youth to join the roster. 

That youth was on display over the past two weeks as the team participated in World Cup qualifying matches against three fellow CONCACAF nations. Berhalter’s group took on Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica, three nations that all pose a serious threat. Beginning the slate of matches with a rematch of the 2017 Gold Cup Final, the U.S. welcomed the Jamaican National Team to the Q2 Stadium in Austin. 

The match featured a star-studded lineup for the American side, with youngster Ricardo Pepi earning his place in the squad only about a month after declaring his citizenship for the U.S. instead of Mexico. With Pepi, other top-level talents such as FC Barcelona’s Sergino Dest, Juventus’ Weston McKennie and the New England Revolution’s Matt Turner rounded out one of the better squads in recent USMNT history. 

Under the night sky in Texas, the two nations started their battle feverishly, playing to a scoreless halftime whistle. Both teams came within inches of scoring, with Jamal Lowe having his curled effort parried away by Turner before halftime, and Weston McKennie having a free-kick from the edge of the box deflected over the bar just minutes beforehand. 

The second half of the game became a completely different story, as only four minutes after the break, Pepi managed to strike. A perfect cross from Dest found Pepi’s head, completely uncovered in the six-yard-box, before the FC Dallas forward headed home the opening tally. Pepi continued his dominating run of play about 12 minutes later when a low cross from Brendan Aaronson was met by Pepi’s outstretched foot, and subsequently found the back of the net. With a 2-0 lead, the American side was able to fend off any further advances en route to a confident victory. 

While the team was able to celebrate the victory, the joy was not long-lived. In their second match in the October qualifying window, the team took on Panama, who had the home-field advantage. The team featured an almost completely new starting lineup with only Turner, Paul Arriola, Yunus Musah and Walker Zimmerman having started in the Jamaica game. Facing a surprisingly stout Panamanian side, the teams remained scoreless at halftime just as they had against Jamaica. 

Panama capitalized only ten minutes into the second half off the head of team captain, Anibal Godoy, scoring the goal that cemented them as the winners. The loss for the USMNT set up a nerve-wracking final game with Panama, who were now tied at eight points with the U.S.

Heading to Lower.com Field to play Costa Rica in Columbus, Ohio, Berhalter reverted to the lineup that he used against Jamaica with only a few minor changes. The most notable was the involvement of goalkeeper Zack Steffen.

Steffen was thrown straight into the fire early, as Costa Rica’s Keysher Fuller tapped home a cross in the first minute, leading to collective calls for offsides by the American team. Furiously searching for an equalizer, Sergino Dest set the tone with his twenty-fourth minute strike from the edge of the box finding the top corner of the net, sending the American Outlaws into a frenzy. 

The second half looked to be the U.S. Men’s game for the taking. Forward Timothy Weah charged into the box and rifled a shot that ricocheted off the post and keeper Keylor Navas, before rolling into the goal and putting the American side ahead 2-1 with just under 30 minutes to play. Berhalter’s side held onto the lead and collected all three points at the end of 90 minutes, putting his squad in a great position for the next month of qualifying matchups.

Wrapping up their preseason slate with an overtime loss to the Washington Capitals, the Boston Bruins will look to turn things around when they welcome the Dallas Stars to the TD Garden this weekend for opening night. Ending with a record of 2-1-3 in preseason, the team will look to improve on that mark throughout the upcoming regular season. As the group worked to recover from the loss of David Krejci to the Czech league and Tuukka Rask to hip surgery this offseason, the front office managed to bring in various players that look to be key contributors this year. 

Throughout the preseason campaign, multiple prospects were given opportunities to showcase their talents, with none shining brighter than Jack Studnicka. Currently in his third NHL season, the forward led the Bruins in scoring during the preseason, including a goal and an assist in a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers late last month. Studnicka was still sent to Providence before the start of the campaign, but the hope around the franchise is that the young center is able to take the leap to the next level and “never look back,” a hope for head coach Bruce Cassidy. 

As for NHL-ready talent, former Nashville Predator and Vegas Golden Knight Erik Haula made an instant impact, scoring in the second period of the Bruins preseason opener against the Capitals. Haula paired up with Jake DeBrusk and Jesper Froden as their line contributed to all three of the important scores of the night, including DeBrusk potting home the game-winning tally in the shootout. Haula, a 30 year-old winger, managed to dish out three assists to go along with a goal in the preseason, a welcome sight for a team that had just lost their second best playmaker in the offseason. 

Another former Golden Knight, Thomas Nosek, also found his way to Boston after signing a two-year, $3.5 million dollar deal to play in Boston this season. The skilled forward has been consistently improving as he gets older, and at the age of 29, the Bruins are in perfect position to utilize Nosek in his prime. 

University of Maine product Jeremy Swayman made sure to have his presence felt, starting three games in the early campaign, earning wins in two of the three en route to solidifying his spot as the starting goalie. His back-up for the time being looks to be newly acquired Swedish goaltender Linus Ullmark, who also managed to start in three of the team’s preseason games. While Ullmark failed to win a game, and had a fairly worrisome error to start off his preseason, his play has only seemed to improve as the beginning of the year inches closer.

Following a trade last season that sent Anders Bjork to Buffalo in exchange for Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar, Hall has been nothing but stellar on the second line. His play was enough to warrant a four-year contract extension with an AAV of $6 million. In the preseason alone, Hall was able to find the back of the net once and add on two assists in his three games of action, a welcome sight for a player that looks to be a key part of Bruce Cassidy’s offense going forward. 

“The Perfection Line,” as they’ve come to be known, continued to stay hot, with Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Patrice Bergeron combining to score five goals and hand out four assists over the six preseason matchups, only three of which the group actually saw ice time in. Bergeron will be entering his first full-length season as captain of the Bruins, as the previous year was shortened to 56 games as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Brandon Carlo was able to score a rare goal in the team’s win against the Flyers this preseason, but it’s his defensive ability has taken center stage. The 24 year-old defenseman has done nothing but elevate his game. The star of the defense is Boston University product Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy recently inked an eight year contract that sees him making $9.5 a year.

While the preseason may not have been a perfect showing for the Bruins, the pieces are certainly in place to make yet another run at the Stanley Cup this year. 

On a cold and rainy night in Orono, the University of Maine women’s soccer team took on the University of Vermont in a midseason clash. The Black Bears pressed high early on, forcing Vermont into rushed decisions. Second-year midfielder Delaney Labonte looked to add to her team-leading two goals on the season, sending the ball into dangerous areas as UVM looked to counter. 

Vermont eventually broke through via a goal from fourth-year forward Cricket Basa only ten minutes into the contest. After sprinting down the wing, the Vermont native slotted home the opening score into the far left corner of the goal, forcing the Black Bears into recovery mode early on. Basa looked to beat fourth-year Maine goalkeeper Kira Kutzinski again at the 17-minute mark, but had her strike parried away.

With the attacking contingent dealing with the wet conditions, fourth-year Black Bear defender Julia Mahoney unleashed a shot from distance that forced Vermont goalkeeper Lydia Kessel into a save only five minutes after Basa’s chance. Switching the tempo again, Vermont’s third-year midfielder Frances O’Donnell found herself in space alone and sent a shot toward Kutzinski, who preserved the deficit with a great reactionary save. 

Maine regrouped and charged back up the field to press Vermont in, nearly equalizing the score when fourth-year forward Gaby Panagakos’s strike at the 38-minute mark whistled just over the bar. UVM answered with a chance of their own, when first-year forward Kate Bossert had her shot from close just barely kept out with a phenomenal kick save from Kutzinski just before halftime. 

Heading into the second half the Black Bears were down 1-0 and the mission was clear for them: get back in control of the match. Early on in the second half, Maine’s play mimicked that of a team that would end up on top at the end of 90 minutes. Labonte had a chance to score on a volley about eight minutes into the half, before a long looping ball from third-year defender Halle Rogers rolled past everyone, nearly tying up the score. 

Vermont took back control of the game with authority only minutes later after a brilliant dummy from first-year midfielder Bailey Ayer led to a completely uncontested goal from fourth-year midfielder Alyssa Oviedo, making the score 2-0 in favor of Vermont. The Black Bears weren’t going to roll over and give up that easily though, and they made that very obvious soon after. Fourth-year forward Emma Donovan came within inches of cutting the lead in half when her 60-minute header bounced by the post. 

Defender and fourth-year captain Tiana Bucknor used her cannon of a leg to deliver free-kicks from a distance throughout the half, causing mayhem in the opposition’s eighteen-yard box. Maine continued to search for an answer, with Donovan coming the closest of any Black Bear during the game when her shot from in-close was kept out after an acrobatic lunge from Vermont’s Kessel. With 20 minutes to play, opportunities were beginning to run scarce for the Black Bears. 

Vermont’s offense was not ready to give up just yet, despite being up 2-0. A late chance from Vermont forced a save à la famous German goalie legend Manuel Neuer, as Kutzinski slid out to the edge of her box to deny a third Vermont goal with a stunning double save, keeping the Black Bears’ hopes alive. 

With the whistle sounding at the 90 minute mark, Maine had officially fallen to Vermont 2-0. Post-match, head coach Scott Atherley remarked on the team’s effort. “I thought our team had really good energy, came out and we were very aggressive in their half with the press, forcing turnovers,” said Atherley. “It’s tough to win when you can’t put the ball in the net, but there were a lot of good moments we had in the game, but ultimately the outcome was based on scoring goals.”

This loss puts the team’s record at 2-4-2 heading into their next match against the University at Albany on Sunday Oct. 3 in Albany, New York. 

Following up on a breakout 2020-21 season that saw the Canadian product put up a near double-double on top of 2.6 blocks a game, fourth-year forward Stephane Ingo is ready to cement his place as one of the University of Maine basketball greats this year. From Mississauga, Ontario, the six-foot-nine-inch power forward was able to dominate the paint down low, while commanding his defenders to stick to him as he showcased his range at a multitude of points the past few seasons. 

Coming out of Gould Academy in Bethel, Maine, Ingo was considered a top prospect, with the stats to back it up. Averaging a double-double with three blocks a contest, paired with 50% shooting from the field, defenders struggled to halt such an imposing force. 

Ingo was redshirted as a first-year, training with the team and honing his skills before being added to the rotation in his second year with the program. In his first full season with the team, Ingo started in 13 of the team’s 30 games, putting up 4.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and just over a block a game while shooting 40% from the field.

Ingo’s high-flying putback dunks and blocks made him a star attraction as he fought his way into the starting lineup, pacing the big men around him in blocks, rebounds and steals. Ingo ended the season with a statline of 3 points, 14 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals and a block in the team’s final game against the University of Vermont, showcasing his athleticism. 

The rising star was able to grab at least 10 blocks in each of the team’s final five matchups to conclude the year, swatting nine shots over that same timeframe. The forward finished the year ranked third in the conference in blocks with a staggering 40. 

After proving himself the prior year, Ingo started all nine of the Black Bears’ games in a COVID-19-shortened season, while subsequently being named team captain. Though he shot nearly twice as much, shooting numbers across every category improved when compared to the previous season, further proving his versatility. One of the more notable leaps seemed to be the development of a consistent three ball, where he was able to jump .063% from the 2019-20 campaign and shoot 30% from deep in 20-21. 

On the defensive side of the ball, Ingo was able to rip seven steals to go along with 23 blocks on the year. Academically, Ingo was an America East All-Academic selection, complementing a 3.663 GPA last year, while double majoring in Management and Finance.  

Q&A with Stephane Ingo:

Q: What does being named the captain mean to you? 

A: It’s an honor to be chosen to lead a group of guys and personally, it helps me raise my level of play knowing that they look to me for leadership especially in those tough moments. It means a lot knowing that your peers have that kind of respect for you and it’s my job to be the best teammate every day. As a senior, I’m the most experienced and my goal every day is to push everyone and transfer everything I’ve learned over the years.

Q: What are you most looking to improve on compared to last season?

A: I’m looking to improve on my consistency and effort. I had up and down games and I’m really looking forward to bringing that same energy to every game and providing a spark in areas when I’m not scoring. I’m also looking to improve my overall percentages in my offensive categories.

Q: What’s been your favorite memory so far with this team?

A: My favorite memory was our trip to Hawaii at the end of 2019. That trip brought us a lot closer as a team and it didn’t hurt to be out of the cold and on the beach.

Q: What game are you most looking forward to this season?

A: I’m most looking forward to our season-opener against Virginia Tech. It’s been two years since we’ve played in front of fans and we’re all eager to get out there and compete against a top-tier opponent.

Q: What would you say is your biggest strength on the court?

A: My biggest strength is my defensive versatility. I feel like I can switch onto every position and impact the game without scoring with blocks, steals, and communicating on defense.

Q: What’s one message you have for Black Bears fans heading into this season?

A: We’re going to play hard and we’ll be a lot of fun to watch so make sure you come out and support us this season!

Fun Facts about Steph:

Q: Favorite food?

A: Lasagna.

Q: Favorite hobby?

A: Watching TV or going on walks.

Q: Favorite NBA team?

A: The Toronto Raptors.

Q: Donda or Certified Lover Boy?

A: CLB for sure.

Q: Sport you’d play if not basketball?

A: Volleyball.

After an emphatic victory over NYCFC last week, the New England Revolution safely cemented themselves 14 points ahead of second place Nashville SC in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, and nine points ahead of Sporting KC, the next closest team league-wide. 

Their record of 17-4-4 serves as a testament to the dedication Bruce Arena’s men have had towards capturing the club’s first MLS Cup. This sudden run of incredible success has been a product of arguably the most talented squad in the history of the club. 

 The club is led by the current leader in the MVP race, Carles Gil. The Spaniard, in spite of missing time recovering from a sports hernia surgery, has put up a league-leading 16 assists. In addition, the captain sits top of the league in key passes with 79, 16 more than the next closest player. Before the injury he was on track to break the record of 26 set by Carlos Valderrama in 2000.       

Alongside Gil, the Revolution attack is rounded out by Gustavo “La Pantera” Bou, an Argentine forward with a cannon for a leg, and Adam Buksa, the lanky target man from Poland. The three lead a Revolution attack that ranks first in goals scored, and goal differential. On the right wing, 2021 Gold Cup Best Youth Player Tajon Buchanan has been tearing up defenders and goalkeepers alike, all the while earning himself a $7 million transfer to Club Brugge at the end of the season. 

On the left, the spot has been occupied by Icelandic international Arnor Traustason for a majority of the year, but an inability to produce has opened the door for the five-foot-six Ema Boateng to step up. In only seven appearances this season, Boateng has been able to find the net twice, most recently in the team’s previous match against NYCFC. 

The midfield generally features two defensive midfielders, with one of them guaranteed to be Matt Polster. Though he’s only found the back of the net twice this season, his impact has been palpable as the key cog moving the ball upfield, complementing Gil just in front of him. 

Wilfrid Kaptoum and Tommy McNamara have both played DM at various stages this season, with veteran Scott Caldwell seeing limited action. Brazilian-born Maciel, a Revolution II product, filled in the role early on in the year, but has seen minimal action as the year carried on. 

At left-back, third-year SuperDraft pick DeJuan Jones has had a breakout season, scoring twice and dishing out five assists to compliment some stellar defensive play comparative to previous years. 

In the middle, longtime stalwart Andrew Farrell and U.S. Men’s National team member and second-year SuperDraft pick Henry Kessler both have proven they can handle even the league’s deadliest attacks. Backing up the two central defenders has been cult hero Jon Bell, a Revolution II product that spurred the #AnnounceJonBell movement prior to the 2021 season getting underway. 

On the right side, the ever-consistent Brandon Bye has been locked in, slotting home the first goal of the season for the club and coming into his own in his third season with the team. 

In goal, Matt Turner has had a coming out party this season, backstopping the USMNT to a thrilling Gold Cup victory. In addition, Turner was named the best goalkeeper in the tournament, and subsequently was named to the MLS All-Star Team. 

Bruce Arena’s leadership, combined with the cohesiveness of this group, frame what looks to be a very special season in New England.

As the NHL preseason nears its start, the 31 teams across the league are inviting their young prospects to training camp. 

In Boston, Don Sweeney and company have been faced with replacing various key cogs in the lineup following the departure of David Krejci and the losses of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug within the past two seasons. While the pandemic gave players such as Jack Ahcan, Anton Blidh, and Oskar Steen opportunities to play in meaningful games, a majority of the talent seen last year has not looked ready to take the next step forward. 

Training camp this year will serve as a serious opportunity for some players to prove they deserve a chance with the Bruins, with all three of the 2015 first round draft-picks on the hot seat. 

While he has spent a majority of his time in Providence, Zach Senyshyn has only scored once in his 14 big league appearances. His lack of size, paired with his sub-standard puck skills have negated the speed that made him an attractive selection out of Sault Saint Marie of the OHL. 

Jake DeBrusk has been able to show flashes of the player that earned a nearly four-million dollar extension after the Bruins fell to the Blues in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, but he looked completely lost at stages during the 2021 season. DeBrusk failed to surpass 15 goals in a season for the first time in his career, only managing five goals in 41 regular season games, before being relegated to a healthy scratch as the year carried on. The 24-year-old was able to seemingly find his stride in the playoffs, finding the back of the net twice in 10 appearances. 

Jakub Zboril’s experience has been the most confusing of the three, as the defenseman has tiptoed the line between being a stellar AHL talent and an average NHL player. In his first full season this past year, Zboril was able to see 42 games of action. The chances of the Czech native getting increased ice-time this year is unlikely.

Going a bit younger, the Bruins will look to showcase the talents of former University of Maine standout Jeremy Swayman as he looks to earn the job as the starting goalie, following his rise to stardom in Tuukka Rask’s absence last year. Swayman put up a record of seven wins and three losses in 10 regular season appearances, ending the year with a 1.50 GAA and a .945 save percentage. While the team signed Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark to a deal as well, both will split time while Rask recovers from surgery for a torn labrum in his hip. 

In this year’s draft, the team opted to take Swedish forward Fabian Lysell with their first selection, building up their reinforcements on the wing, an area of need in recent years. Lysell spent the previous season competing above his age division, managing still to score twice for Lulea HF of the SHL. While Lysell most likely won’t see consistent action this season, it will be interesting to see how a player billed as one of the best skaters in the draft class develops in Bruce Cassidy’s system. 

The Bruins will begin their preseason campaign on Sunday, Sept. 26 as they travel to Washington D.C. to take on Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.