Captains Connolly and Chiasson take lead in win for wounded Terriers

By Arielle Aronson/DFP Staff

North Andover — Whenever a team loses some of its most vital players, it is often the captains who are looked to in order to make up for the losses on the ice. In December, the No. 3 Boston University Terriers lost forwards Corey Trivino and Charlie Coyle permanently. More recently, BU was hit by the injury bug, as it lost defensemen Alexx Privitera and Max Nicastro for the near future. In those four players’ absences, the team has been able to rely on a group of players rather than just the captains to carry the load.

But on Friday night, following a sweep one weekend prior at the hands of the then-No. 20 University of Maine, the Terriers found themselves undermanned and riding a losing streak entering a game against No. 4 Merrimack College. It was in that game, an eventual 4-1 win over the Warriors, that BU’s captains proved sometimes the contributions from a captain can be just what a team needs when faced with an important game.

“I’d go as far to say this win was necessary,” said senior captain Chris Connolly. “We needed it for our own confidence to get back to playing our best hockey. Like I said before the game, we need to get our swagger back a little bit.”

Connolly helped BU get that swagger back by netting two goals and an assist in the win while junior assistant captain Alex Chiasson recorded a goal and an assist on the night.

The captains did not simply lead, however, by getting on the score-sheet. At times, it was how they got on the score-sheet that served as a good example for the rest of the team.

“The goal that Chiasson got on the pass from Connolly where he just got it and redirected it right away, that’s the way you’ve got to beat [Merrimack goaltender Joe Cannata],” said BU coach Jack Parker. “You let him get set, you’re not getting it by him, so he was still just about moving when [Chiasson] put it on him.”

For Connolly, the goals were a welcome reward after an entire first semester in which he never once found the back of the net. Connolly has scored his four goals this season in two games, but he has found other ways to contribute offensively while the team battled through the loss of four of its top players.

The Duluth, Minn. native is riding an eight-game point streak dating back to a Jan. 6 win over Merrimack (the second game for BU since returning from winter break) in which he has four goals and nine assists. That total matches his point total from the entire first semester, when he had a 0-13-13 line.

Chiasson too is seeing improved results since returning from winter break. He has collected 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in the nine games since break, matching his goal total from first semester.

“I thought I had an okay first half,” Chiasson said. “And being a junior, maybe I put too much pressure on myself. I just had to go back to the basics and what made me successful, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”

Chiasson also has been helping the team by staying out of the box. He has not been called for a penalty since his three penalties in a game at Notre Dame drew Parker’s ire. He continued to stay composed Friday night, even after receiving a few late hits behind the net from a typically physical Merrimack team.

One of the aspects of BU’s win over Merrimack that both captains said they were pleased with, however, was not in the number of goals each of them scored, but rather the accomplishments and well-being of the team.

Since the Terriers were playing so short-handed on defense, sophomore forward Matt Ronan dressed for the first time this season (and just the second time of his college career) to help BU out on the blue line. Parker said before the game that even if Ronan dressed, Parker did not plan to use him much, if at all, in the game. But with the Terriers leading 4-0 in the latter half of the third period, Parker gave Ronan a chance to play.

The sophomore was not challenged much in his brief time on defense during the game, but he did not look out of place either. After the game, Connolly mentioned how nice it was to see Ronan get ice time since “he’s such a great teammate.”

Chiasson offered a similar response.

“It’s something you look forward to, a guy who never gets a chance to get into the lineup,” Chiasson said. “He goes out there and I thought he looked pretty good for his first game, so it’s good to see that. I’m sure he’s happy about it. As teammates, captains, that’s what we want too: guys being happy.

“Maybe he only played five minutes, but at the same time, I’m sure he’ll get out of here with a smile on his face.”

For Connolly, the smiles on the team’s faces as they left the rink with a win encouraged him as well.

“I just had a lot of fun out there,” Connolly said. “I think the guys really enjoyed getting back in the win column with that one.”