Eight months ago, Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy and Hobey Baker finalist Colin Wilson guided the men’s Terrier ice hockey team to one of the most thrilling victories in college hockey history. This year — without Gilroy, Wilson and defensive standout Brian Strait — the Terriers find themselves at the bottom of the Hockey East standings, with a long, unforgiving season ahead.
Terrier fans knew that the ’09-’10 season would be difficult after losing key components of the ’08-’09 championship team to graduation and the pros. But the Boston University faithful held on to visions of a repeat. And, in late September, the Terriers were chosen by Hockey East head coaches to repeat as conference champs. The Terriers won 6 votes, beating out UMass Lowell (2) and Boston College (2).
But, the Terriers have struggled to live up to lofty expectations — dropping their season opener to UMass, 3-2, and the home opener against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, 3-0. The Terriers have gone 2-5-0 overall, with a 1-4-0 mark in Hockey East play.
So, is the ’09-’10 season — as many feared it would be — really a “re-building” year? I’m not ready to give up hope just yet. So, before you hang up that hockey jersey, let’s take a look at what’s going on with this year’s Terriers.
Offensively, the Terriers look out of rhythm. Colin Wilson’s departure to the Nashville Predators and an early injury to junior forward Nick Bonino (out for 3-4 weeks with a shoulder dislocation) have not helped a Terrier team that has managed to score just 2.0 goals per game (well below the 2.7 goals per game average of their opponents). Offensive opportunities are not lost on the Terriers — they have out-shot their opponents 222-172. But if the Terriers want to score some goals and win some games, they must look to capitalize on these chances by making smart decisions and effective passes. Without timely goal scoring, the Terriers will continue to find themselves on the wrong end of close games (i.e., this weekend’s hard-fought loss at Northeastern).
With an anemic offense, goal-tending and defense are of paramount importance. And, while sophomore net-minder Kieran Millan has been solid between the pipes, a 2.75 goals against average and .890 save percentage are not enough to win games against some of the Terriers tougher, stingier opponents. Opponents this season have 1.98 and .937 averages respectively. The Terriers must look to shore up their defense, take some of the pressure off Millan, cut down on turnovers (which have proven very costly) and continue to pepper the front of the net with shots (their 14 goals this season ranks among the bottom of the Hockey East conference. But, hey, you have to believe that sooner or later, the puck will start bouncing the Terriers’ way…) With an improved defense and some goal support, I think that Milan can start to turn in some performances reminiscent of last year’s campaign — and that’s a VERY good thing.
A home-and-home series against Merrimack this weekend will show us what this year’s Terrier team is made of. The season is still young, and a nice two-game winning streak might give the Terriers the confidence they need to continue fighting and finish out this year’s campaign strong.
If the Terriers come out on the losing end of the series? Well then, Terrier Nation, we might have some serious struggles ahead.
It might not be the ’08-’09 team that “Burned the Boats,” but that doesn’t mean that Jack Parker and his Terriers can’t find a new recipe for success.
Just look at what Nick Bonino told Andrew Merritt from the New England Hockey Journal:
“I think guys need to realize that last year was a totally separate entity. We’re a new team, totally new dynamic in the locker room. As long as guys realize that, as long as guys are committed to forging our own path, I think we’re all set.”
The Terriers need to wake up and forge their own identity. Fast. With vastly improved teams like UMass Lowell and UMass surging and creating separation atop the standings, Boston University faces an uphill battle as it looks to regain Hockey East — and national — supremacy.
I can only hope that the battle has just begun.
