Month: March 2014

By Kevin Dillon/DFP Staff

BU celebrates after one of its goals during Saturday’s game against the University of Notre Dame. Photo by Michelle Jay.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The meaning of the phrase “rebuilding year” can change depending on one’s outlook.

For the negative Boston University men’s hockey fan, a rebuilding year is one that featured a lot of losses. The Terriers came in fourth place in the Beanpot, went on an 18-game stretch in which it only won a single game and, thanks to Saturday night’s 3-2 loss at No. 11/12 University of Notre Dame, did not make it out of the first round of the Hockey East tournament.

There is a positive way to look at a rebuilding year for BU fans, however. The Terriers (10-21-4, 5-12-3 Hockey East) are only graduating two players who received significant playing time this season in defensemen Garrett Noonan and Patrick MacGregor, and have a whole bunch of underclassmen who used the season to get experience playing against some of the top competition college hockey has to offer.

“I think one of the bright spots about having a tough year is that our young players had to play a ton,” said BU associate head coach Steve Greeley. “And because of that they’re going to be better sophomores and they’re going to help this team going forward.

“Guys were put in situations – important situations in the last minute of the game or on the power play or penalty kill had a little extra time. They’ll all benefit from that, as will the team.”

One of those players was freshman forward Robbie Baillargeon. The center led the Terriers in points this season with 27 – including a power-play goal in the third period of Saturday night’s loss to the Fighting Irish (21-12-2, 9-9-2 Hockey East).

To Greeley, Baillargeon was one of the freshmen who benefitted most from the extra usage this season.

“When he came here he was an offensive kid and all of a sudden against [the University of Vermont] in a win he is playing 30 minutes in a game and he is taking important faceoffs,” Greeley said. “He is killing penalties for probably the first time in his life.

“All of these guys are getting put in situations that they haven’t played in before and Robbie Baillargeon – I think he grew a ton as a player and I think he is going to be a great Hockey East player next year.”

It’s not just the growth of the freshmen that will give BU a boost next season, but the addition of a large and strong recruiting class. The expected nine-man crew is highlighted by phenom Jack Eichel, who sources indicate will be coming to BU next year, contrary to rumors of him going to play Major Juniors in Canada.

Perhaps the most important thing about the class is that it will provide depth. BU played several games without a healthy scratch this season, which led to the nine freshmen getting more significant ice time than they would have gotten, ideally.

“I think you want competition in your lineup so you’re always trying to make sure you’re playing and you’re always trying to stay in the lineup,” Greeley said. “This will put kids in a situation where you’re just getting pushed and you’re trying to get your ice time.”

As BU head coach David Quinn pointed out, the Terriers had a rebuilding year in 1988-89 when it went 14-21-1. The following season, BU was 25-17-2 and back in the Frozen Four.

While that does not necessarily mean the Terriers will be back to glory and raising trophies next season, it does serve as a reminder that season-to-season turnarounds happen in college hockey. With the big recruiting class coming in and the large group of returning players, anything is possible with a little patience.

“Nobody wants to be 10-21,” Quinn said. “I certainly didn’t come here to coach 10-21 hockey teams, but everybody kind of knew the situation we were in this year and I think everybody has a good idea what we’re going to do moving forward.”

Moving forward, the young core of the team is getting older. BU’s top-three scorers will all be returning, and that doesn’t even include the team’s two returning juniors, forwards Evan Rodrigues and Cason Hohmann. With sophomore defenseman Matt Grzelcyk back from his shoulder injury, there is a lot of skill returning for BU.

While that group of returnees does not include Noonan, Quinn’s first captain expects big things coming up for BU hockey.

“They’re going to be a wagon of a team next year,” Noonan said. “They will be loaded in years coming. Sometimes it takes a year like this to get back to the way they want to be.”

By Tim Healey/DFP Staff

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Garrett Noonan stood by the door to the Boston University bench, waiting as his teammates filed by one-by-one down the tunnel and into the offseason. It was a slow walk off the ice after a 3-2 loss to the University of Notre Dame with the Terriers in no particular hurry to get to the locker room. Only goodbyes and hindsight awaited.

Garrett Noonan skates down the ice after the Terriers fell to the University of Notre Dame Saturday evening. Photo by Michelle Jay.

Some gave Noonan a fist bump, others a hug, most a few simple words of thanks. Associate head coach Steve Greeley offered a pat on the back. All of it served the same purpose: delaying, however slightly, Noonan’s exit from the ice, his last as a Terrier.

Saturday’s loss to the No. 11/12 Fighting Irish in the first round of the Hockey East tournament brought an end to not only a disappointing season for the BU men’s hockey team, but also Noonan’s collegiate career.

“It just really hit me in the locker room that I will never put a BU jersey on again,” said a sullen Noonan in the bowels of Compton Family Ice Arena. “It’s not a good feeling. It’s probably one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. I’m crushed. This place gave me so much and I wish I could have gave back more.”

He almost did. Noonan, the captain, assisted freshman center Robbie Baillargeon’s power-play goal at 14:22 in the third to bring BU within one. Despite a desperate spurt of energy from the Terriers — including Noonan, who played most of the remaining 5:36 — the effort ultimately fell short.

Noonan’s assist came minutes after he was hit hard into the boards and went down in the corner. He remained motionless on his stomach for several minutes before getting back to his feet and taking the next shift, a two-man advantage for BU. That sequence was, along with the post-game parade, one of the few occasions Noonan stayed in one place for an extended period of time all night.

BU coach David Quinn half-joked that Noonan, who was shaken up but felt fine after the hit, stayed down to catch his breathe. Playing about 30 minutes per night wears on a guy, after all.

“It’s almost inhumane what we’ve asked him to do,” Quinn said.

Noonan’s senior year was by any measure a difficult one for the Terriers. Last spring, Noonan decided to come back for one more season in the scarlet and white with two main objectives: win trophies and study under the tutelage of Quinn to become a better defenseman.

BU missed on the first one, finishing at 10-21-4 and in ninth place in the conference, its worst since Hockey East’s inception three decades ago.

But that second goal? Ask any of the parties involved and they will give rave reviews.

Noonan’s game has evolved dramatically from his 16-goal, 11-assist campaign in 2011-12, back when he was a sophomore regularly sneaking up the wing and banging home back-door goals. This season’s circumstances forced him into a different role — one with much more defensive responsibility for a young Terrier team that lacked depth as much as it did experience.

Noonan tallied four goals and 15 assists to go with his immeasurable defensive impact.

“His play without the puck has really improved. His backward skating has improved,” Quinn said. “His stick has been great, and defensively he’s been good on the d-side of people.”

Noonan agreed that he achieved what he had wanted to accomplish with Quinn on an individual level.

“I thought that he helped me grow as a person and a leader and really matured me off the ice,” Noonan said. “He just made me a better player and person.”

It might not be too long until Noonan takes to the ice again, but next time it will be as a professional. Noonan will likely sign with the Nashville Predators — who selected him in the fourth round (112th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft — sooner rather than later.

When the ink dries on that contract, Noonan will keep with him plenty of lessons from his time on Commonwealth Avenue — time that has meant a lot to the Norfolk native.

“So much,” Noonan said. “Everything — so much history at this program. I consider it the best program in college hockey. It’s a privilege and I’m so honored to say that I had the opportunity to play here. This place means the world to me.”