By Kevin Dillon/DFP Staff
The conclusion of the Boston University men’s hockey team’s 2011-12 season ended the college careers of the remaining players from the Terriers’ 2008-09 national championship team. As these players leave the team, BU fans lose the only remaining members of the last successful BU hockey season.
The loss of such talent as goaltender Kieran Millan, who earned Hockey East Tournament MVP that season, as well as a spot on the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, or captain Chris Connolly, who scored the opening goal of the national championship game and assisted the game-winner in overtime, has to leave the BU faithful wondering who will replace their production and leadership in upcoming seasons.
While the Terriers will lose five players to graduation, lost three players during the season and lost junior assistant captain Alex Chiasson after the season because he signed a pro contract with the Dallas Stars, the future for BU hockey remains bright thanks to a strong returning defensive core and a deep, promising recruiting class.
The main area of concern for the Terriers next season is between the pipes, as the Terriers are graduating Millan and fellow goaltender Grant Rollheiser, who were both NHL draft picks. To replace the duo, BU coach Jack Parker is following a trend of bringing in two freshmen goaltenders to lock down the position just like he did with Millan and Rollheiser.
“It’s a little bit easier because we’ve already been through that ‘We have two rookie goaltenders; I wonder how we’re gonna be?’” Parker said. “Actually we were pretty good. So we have a little track record there.”
Read more at dailyfreepress.com.
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