Parker salutes fans after winning final home game

Daily Free Press Admin

By Annie Maroon/DFP StaffAs the Boston University men’s hockey team gathered at the blue line to watch a video tribute to retiring coach Jack Parker, senior defenseman Sean Escobedo began tapping his stick on the ice, the on-ice version of applause. Within seconds, his teammates joined in, adding to the growing roar of approval for Parker after his last game at Agganis Arena. Parker won his final home game, 5-3 over Merrimack College, in front of a spring-break-depleted crowd of just 3,043. By the time he picked up a microphone to say a few words to the fans, though, everyone left in the stands was on their feet. “You people make it great,” Parker said, turning as he spoke to address everyone in the arena. Their cheers drowned out much of his impromptu speech, but his gratitude was clear, even though he hadn’t known he might have to speak until the microphone was in his hands.The montage on the Agganis video board spanned Parker’s entire career, including the celebration after BU’s 2009 national championship win. After stick-saluting the fans at the other end of the ice, BU’s players returned to center ice to watch the video, faces upturned to take in the tribute to their coach. “Personally, I was getting pretty emotional about it,” senior forward Ben Rosen said. “You really start to realize who you’re playing for and the organization you’re in, and the kind of guy that’s behind your bench every day. It just kind of gives you some extra boost and some pride in the jersey you’re wearing.” The Terriers earned Parker at least one more game with their win Saturday, finishing off their Hockey East quarterfinal series against Merrimack, 2-0. They’ll face Boston College on Friday, March 22, at 8 p.m. in the conference semifinals at TD Garden. From here on out, though, Parker’s career could be 60 minutes from its end on any given game day. BU has yet to secure an NCAA playoff berth, and would likely have to win the Hockey East tournament to do so.

“Everybody else loses their last game of the year,” Parker said. “And when it happens, it’s like somebody shot you in the head, because you’re going so hectic. It’s 24/7, from September to that last game. And when that last game is over, there’s no practice tomorrow. So I’ll have that same feeling that I did before. The thing now is that there’s no practice next October, you know?” Merrimack coach Mark Dennehy went out of his way to acknowledge Parker in his postgame press conference, despite the disappointment of seeing his own team’s season end. “I’d like to start by just saying what an honor it was to coach against Jack Parker,” Dennehy said. “The game will take an absolute hit with his departure. Pretty big shoes to fill.” During his conference, Parker reflected on his time at BU with characteristic humor. “All good things must come to an end,” he said, and paused, appearing to grow serious. Then he continued, “Oscar Wilde once said that, ‘Some people cause joy wherever they go. Others, whenever they go.’ So I might be – my guys might be cheering when I finish up here. You never know.” Judging by his players’ reactions to the video tribute, though, that’s clearly not the case. Freshman forward Sam Kurker, who scored his third goal of the year Saturday, said Parker has helped him maintain his confidence during a demanding rookie season. “I just feel so blessed and lucky to be able to play at least a year under his wing here,” Kurker said. “I get to play for a legend, and it’s too bad he is going next year, but I feel very lucky. … This year, I haven’t produced how I wanted to. He’s been here a long time and seen it happen before. He’s helped me along the way, and it’s paying off.”