Reason #5
Reason #4
Reason #3 to be excited for this year's men's ice hockey season - the new additions in Scarlet and White
This is without a doubt one of the best recruiting classes for this upcoming season. Maybe we don't have any of the big name recruits, but BU has managed to nag a great group of guys that are all going to contribute to this team on and off the ice.
I'm not going to beat a dead horse with all the information for these guys that's already known, but I'll give a quick recap.
Sam Kurker, Mike Moran, Wesley Myron - I'll admit I don't know too much of these guys. But from what I've read, they're going to pick up the offensive slack we've accumulated. Of course we've lost people like Chiasson and Trivino, but the upcoming sophomores definitely could've contributed more than they did. And as far Kurker - we got ourselves another local that grew up a Terrier.
Sean Maguire and Matt O'Connor - There is nothing like a fresh crop of goalies. Most people expect Maguire to start out this year but that doesn't mean O'Connor's going to stop pushing to get that top spot. Friendly competition is always a good thing. Ah yes, and I do remember reading somewhere that at least one of these boys has been recognized for their intelligence in the classroom. So all the BC trolls that think our academic standards compare can suck it. Oh yeah, and the last time we had a freshman goalie in net...well, you all know how that saga ends.
Matt Lane and Danny O'Regan - Normally these two wouldn't be lumped together but I'm going to because of their play in the U18 Tourney this year. Matt Lane contributed offensively more than most expected him to, so that'll be nice to fill in some gaps up front. As far as O'Regan goes - nothing was more impressive than his grit. I think we might actually have a centerman who can win faceoffs now. Everyone, go re-read that last sentence. Now Rejoice.
Matt Grzelyck - Who's ready to read the love letter of the century?
Now I wouldn't subject you all to that, but I've honestly been excited to see this kid on our side for a long time now. Another local kid, another BU baby. Now it's even gone a step further as Grizzy was drafted by the Bruins. If that's not enough to make you love the kid, know that what he'll bring is more than anyone expects. I think Grzelyck is one of the most underrated skaters coming in this year and there's nothing better than surpassing people's expectations. Shut up, we all know he's undersized, but damn is he smart. Think Clendening but with less of the obnoxious hype and even more of the defensive skill.
Right. We've got ourselves at least eight huge pluses coming in. So what? Why are our incoming freshmen better than anyone else's?
Because everyone outside our walls thinks these kids are downright crazy. They can't comprehend why on earth these recruits would stick around and come to this school with all the mud that our hockey program has been dragged through the last year. Not even just the hockey program, but the entire school. With the rate at which kids are decommitting, any one of these eight incomers could've left at anytime. Even Sam Kurker, who was about to be pushed back a year, stuck it out and got his opportunity.
Alright yeah, they might be a little crazy. But just crazy enough to take everything they've got and show the college hockey community just why Boston University hockey is Boston University hockey. Most of them are already in Beantown taking classes and battling through 8 AM workouts. They're doing it so they can focus on hockey, 100%, and so they can focus on being the best team members they can. The dedication they've already shown should be enough to reaffirm any Terrier that the incoming class is going to serve as a huge momentum swing towards playing hockey beyond the beginning of March.
So if you're feeling a little bit down on the upcoming season, take a page from these guys. They're bleeding Scarlet harder than the average CAS upperclassman right now. Their passion for this game and their excitement to play at this school will inspire anyone. The idea of playing in Agganis, being coached under Parker, and wearing the letters that are attached to some of the greatest hockey history - they've all been preparing for that longer than most of us took to even look at colleges. To them, the idea of college has always involved skates and sticks, guts and glory. And I guarantee you they will not give up these upcoming experiences for anything some idiots with a USCHO screen name say.
As for the rest of us, whether we call BU home or not, we should remember that these kids have every right to throw on that jersey and represent Boston - the whole city - game after game. Just because of things that have happened doesn't mean these freshmen all don't deserve a clean sheet of ice. This is what they grew up wanting and working every single day for. The least we can do is give them the reception they deserve. We should show them why they decided to play here, as a part of one of the most storied hockey programs. Through packed stands and top of our lungs screaming, these newcomers need to see the parts of BU hockey that we've all come to love. From October 7th at 1 PM to whenever our team last leaves the ice on the first weekend in April, they deserve our respect. After all, it's through them that we find ways to waste our time on Friday nights at 33 Harry Agganis Way and our money on plane tickets to Minnesota...and other places. It's through them that we find our jerseys acceptable every day attire and hear our voices turning more hoarse as the year progresses. It's through them that we all find our inner crazy and the reasons why we love Boston University.
51 days.
