From the FreeP: Glass makes the most of his return to the lineup

By Cary Betagole/DFP Staff

Ten games spent watching from the sidelines in street-clothes can wear on a hockey player, and for a highly touted recruit like sophomore forward Andrew Glass, it can be downright unbearable.

“It was frustrating for a while, but you just have to keep working hard and hope that eventually it’ll pay off,” Glass said of his 10-game streak of healthy scratches.

But Glass’s return to the Boston University men’s hockey team’s third line paid off in dramatic fashion Saturday night, as he broke up Providence goalie Alex Beaudry’s shutout in the third period with a goal to tie the game at 1-1.

The Wrentham native hadn’t seen the ice since the Terriers’ 3-1 loss to Providence College on Jan. 15, but was able to knock the rust off with ease and change the complexion of Saturday’s defensive struggle against the Friars.

With 13:02 to go in the third period, senior forward Luke Popko threw a pass into the slot intended for freshman defenseman Max Nicastro. But the puck bounced off his skate and to Glass on the right circle, who beat Beaudry five-hole.

The goal was his first of the season and just the third of his career.

“We recruited him to come here and be a hockey player for us, and he hasn’t had a chance to get in the lineup for a while,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “He was playing well the whole game. It was a surprise that any of us got a goal, not that Glass got it.”

Parker had no choice other than to give the Washington Capitals prospect his first start in over one month. With sophomore forward Corey Trivino out for the season with a fractured right fibula and freshman forward Wade Megan out due to illness, Parker was forced to dip into his bench and mix a little new blood into the lineup.

Sophomore forward Kevin Gilroy made his first start since that same Jan. 15 Providence the night before, manning the center position on BU’s fourth line in place of senior forward Luke Popko, who moved up to the third line.

Fittingly, it was senior forward Zach Cohen, a man who knows a thing or two about biding his time, who scored the game-winner at the 14:07 mark of the third period.

The 6-foot-3 senior forward, who according to Parker was nearly asked to leave the team before last season, had encouraging words for Glass during his series of healthy scratches.

“It’s funny, I actually talked to Zach this week about it because he was in a similar situation before,” Glass said. “He just basically said, ‘Keep your head up and keep working hard. Eventually it’s gonna pay off and you’re gonna get your chance, and just take advantage of it.’ Coach told me I was in the lineup, so I said, ‘Just play confident and loose and see what happens.’”

“It’ll be interesting to see what happens next weekend, but I can tell you that Glass will stay in the lineup after his effort tonight,” Parker said.