ST. LOUIS — Standing frozen on the ice as celebration erupted around him, Shane Lachance was fighting a losing battle with the tears in his eyes.
The sophomore captain had dreamt of this night — playing in a national championship game for the Boston University men’s hockey team — since before he learned how to ride a bike. It just wasn’t supposed to end like this.
After skating their way through an up-and-down regular season, Lachance and the Terriers willed themselves through the NCAA Tournament to a place the program had not been in 10 years.
But BU could not find its way past Western Michigan in Saturday’s title game, losing 6-2 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
“I’ve grown up playing — going to BU and watching games and stuff like that,” said Lachance, who is the grandson of legendary former head coach Jack Parker. “You dream of winning a national championship. It just sucks that we came up short.”
As the final buzzer sounded and the Broncos (34-7-1) tossed their sticks into the air, Lachance skated over to console freshman goaltender Mikhail Yegorov (22 saves), before making the rounds to the rest of his teammates.
Much of BU’s season was marked by inconsistency, which head coach Jay Pandolfo harped on in press conferences all season long.
But Pandolfo had no qualms with his team’s effort Saturday night. The Terriers (24-14-2) hung tough with the Broncos deep into the third period, trailing by just one goal before the game slipped away in the final 10 minutes.
“It was a good game,” Pandolfo said. “I don’t think it was quite a 6-2 game. Obviously we were pushing really hard there. It’s 3-2, we’re pushing hard. We’re getting our chances, the puck’s not going in the net.”
The Terriers never led, and trailed by margins of 1-0, 2-1, 3-1 and 3-2 before Western Michigan rattled off three unanswered goals to seal its first title in program history.
The pivotal sequence came partway through the third period, with the Broncos holding a 3-2 edge. Playing with clear desperation, the Terriers had several quality chances on net — including multiple from freshman forward Cole Eiserman and freshman defenseman Cole Hutson, and others from fourth-liner freshmen Nick Roukounakis and Brandon Svoboda.
But Western Michigan freshman netminder Hampton Slukynsky made each save. Soon after, Hutson whiffed on a one-timer in the offensive zone, and Western Michigan forward Owen Michaels burst down the other end to give his team a 4-2 advantage.
The Terriers had a final push, and thought they scored to make it 4-3 with 8:04 to go when senior forward Matt Copponi jammed in a rebound that trickled across the goal line. But the referee had blown the play dead before Copponi reached the puck. The officials waved it off on the ice, which was confirmed after a review.
“Someone said it was on top of his pad and we pushed it in,” Pandolfo said. “It’s hard to comment when I haven’t seen the replay yet.”
The Broncos took over from there, taking full control after freshman forward Iiro Hakkarainen made it 5-2 at 16:02 of the third. By the time Michaels scored his second of the night on an empty-netter at 17:52, the party in Kalamazoo was well underway.
Eiserman and Lachance provided the goals for BU — both of them scrappy tallies off rebounds. It was that kind of night for the Terriers, who had to scrape and claw for every inch of space against a Western Michigan team Pandolfo called “heavy” and “structured.”
As the reality of the result set in for the Terriers late in the third period, most of the team buried their heads in the bench as the emotions began to flow. There was nothing left to do but watch.
When it was all over, some players hunched over on the ice, others stood motionless and a few, including Lachance and senior goaltender Mathieu Caron, skated over to console various teammates.
After a few moments, players began to file into BU’s locker room, where they would sit in dead silence for the next 40 minutes — jerseys still on.
Once the rest of the team skated off the ice, all that remained was Lachance, on one end, and the raucous Western Michigan celebration on the other.
It was time to go, and the program’s favorite son tapped his stick twice, hung his head low and slipped off into the tunnel.
the better team won so i tip my hat to WM
Bu needs to take a real hard look at their D core going forward. they basically played 4 guys; Understandably, Pando does not trust the third D pairing, so he sits them. this gasses the other 4
never expected them to get this far, so kudos. but it is still a bitter pill to swallow. three straight years coming up empty. ouch
i am ok with 9, 21, and 18 moving on. time for some new blood
Big credit to Western Michigan. The far better overall team tonight and this season.
BU needed to play their best and have Big Mike have a Superman game. Unfortunately, neither happened. BU went further than expected. (My kingdom for BU defensive depth next season for the 1st time in Jay’s tenure – his one blindspot.)
I wish we’d have played the solid but flawed, like us, Denver squad. Western was everything you’d want a team to be. Strong, fast, heavy, relentless, consistent, elite scoring, great team defense, strong goaltending. They had an excellent season.
Can’t blame Big Mike. He’s been phenomenal since he arrived and arguably got us here. But he was just ok tonight. Good learning experience for him.
Also huge credit to Caron who a friend told me went around after the game and hugged and spoke to every guy on the ice. He was the only one able to collect himself to do it. He deserved to play behind a better defensive unit. He saved us when he arrived and deserved a better fate.
Lack of defensive depth and key players not showing up tonight did us in. Just a tough loss against a superior team.
Disappointed but this wasn’t like 2015. I’ll get over this one. I won’t get over 2015.
We had a really good season and probably went deeper in the NCAAs than we should have. We’ll get two elite forwards in the portal and have a lot of top recruits coming in, but until we bring in top quality and experienced defensemen to balance our youth, I’ll have my concerns.
But it’s easier to fix a slightly flawed team than where we were headed before Jay took over. He’s learning as we go as well and he’s had a heck of a first three seasons. (I still think we need a top defensive mind as an assistant.)
But championships is what the world looks at these days. And we need to give Big Mike (or any goalie we have) a chance to not have to stand on his head every night. Team defense and structure win the ultimate prize. It’s the one thing we need to address.
Good luck to 4, 5, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, and 61 (hope I didn’t miss anyone) in whatever pro level they land. I particularly appreciated 15 this season as he came from another program, put in a real shift for BU, and did his best to always play the right way).
I know 18 is an old sophomore but I think he could use one more season at BU. But I think he thinks he’s ready.
If 21 is named a captain……… I just don’t get it. Maybe he’s the best practice player ever and good in the room. But he’s the poster child for our issues. Isn’t consistent. Still takes too many dumb penalties to this day. And often disappears for long stretches (especially in big games). I really just don’t get it. C’s and A’s are supposed to be leaders who play exactly how you want everyone else to play.
If anyone can clear things up for me, I’d greatly appreciate it. I’m at a loss with him. I wish him well and success. But I didn’t get the “A” this season and I’d be flabbergasted by a “C” next season.
Otherwise, let’s enjoy the titles the boys earned along the way, the experience that should help the young-ins (and coaches) next season, and look forward to what seems to be a challenging 2025-26 schedule.
It wasn’t the most fun team to cheer for because they often drove us and their coaches nuts with their inconsistency. But they carried us on a ride most fanbases dream for.
Just gotta figure out how to get over that final hump.
And thanks to the Blog staff for another excellent season of coverage.
Enjoy your summer.
Go BU.
Mike
Good analysis Mike but i also think Mr Hyde showed up tonight against admittedly a very good W. Michigan team. Bu I think started well in the game but were not able to get that many clear shots at goal, indeed the two goals they scored were just dirty area goals where there were just a lot of bodies and confusion in front of the net. However the turnovers i the D zone and also in the offensive end really were what did the Terriers in as well as not the best game from Yegorov in the nets. I agree with your assessment of Kaplin, a real disappointment throughout the tourney and his foolish penalty near the end of the second period was critical and took away momen tum from what seemed like like a Terrier surge after they scored to make it 3-2. I also didn’t like the approach in the 3rd period when they had 20 minutes just to score a goal to tie the game and then who knows? They threw too many players forward in desperation ( which wasn’t needed) which allowed the Broncos odd man break out ( also mistake by C. Hudson in a gamble to keep puck in zone) , which produced the insurance goal. After that it was just too difficult against a strong defensive team to rescue the situation. Maybe with more experience for a very young team they can evolve to overcome these flaws. By all accounts BU will be stacked again next season so we’ve got a lot to look forward to going forward.
Not even going to read the negative comments that will follow just on here to say thank you for covering the team and to say how proud and grateful I am to follow this team a loss like this stings but the kids gave it all they had nothing to hold their heads down over. I win and I loose with this team I’m proud today to call myself a bu fan .
I would be shocked if 21 came back, and even more shocked, if he returns and is named captain. i totally agree with Vito and Mike that if he is named captain, we are in trouble. I hope he decides to leave and take his game to the AHL
the loss of Engum hurt, but still we need more quality D on the back line. I can not remember when we rolled out 6 quality D men.
is 61 gone? I was looking forward to his return to see if he could get bigger and stronger
I am really surprised that 18, and his family advisors, think he is ready to move on; he just lacks the speed for the next level. IMO, if anyone should stay the whole 4 years, it is him. didn’t his grandfather once say: “if you are going to play directly in the show, i will drive you to the airport, but if you are gonna ride busses in the minors, stay in school.” I guess sometimes what is good for the goose might NOT be good for the gander
we need portal money if we are going to compete, and where we come up with that capital at a school that does not generate much athletic revenue, is anyone’s guess. in time, the way the NIL thing is evolving, there will be a limit to how many guys want to play at BU without extra $$ incentives, just because it is BU
and Colin, despite the legititimate criticisms from a number of fans throughout the season, we are all proud to be BU hockey devotees. Go BU
Mike you said you have not gotten over 2015; i am still smarting from the triple overtime loss to to NM in 1991
A great 2024/2025 hockey
season, reaching the Frozen Four and
championship game. 👍
BIG Thanks to Coach Jay Pandolfo,
graduating seniors, and all 🌟 players.
Lyndon B. Johnson quoted
“Yesterday is not ours to recover,
but tomorrow is ours to win or lose”
GO BU!
A not so good ending to a very good, yet inconsistent season. I highly doubt that DK is coming back. He is a talented player, who needs to control his play. Can’t really see Zetterberg leaving either. Skilled but needs to get stronger. Let’s see if we land anyone else in the portal. Next season should be fun. TK out!
That’s right Vinnie, but for a couple of hit posts in OT and a puck slipping out of a gloved puck by a goaltender we’d have seven NC, just about as good as any team in college hockey history.
It’s always a pleasure reading everyone’s commentary throughout the season. And I appreciate you all taking too much time out of your days to digest my tomes 🙂 It’s my way of processing my hockey happiness and frustration.
61 is already in the transfer portal. Quinn is on his way to the Oilers. Great point, Vinnie, on Jack’s philosophy not matching 18’s decision. We’ll see how he does. Maybe playing in a faster league will adapt his game organically – like a baseball player who doesn’t look ready but hits better in the majors because the pitchers are always throwing strikes. He’s BU through and through with high character off the ice but he never reached the Brian Boyle level in college. Maybe he’ll be a later NHL bloomer like Alex Tuch.
I was told the coaches learned a lot this season and have plans in place to address what they need to address from that knowledge. We’re in good hands. Just need a few tweaks to get to the mountaintop.
It’s pretty wild how BU and BC are mirrors of each other over history. Head to head record is near .500. We have 5 titles in 25 Frozen Fours. BC has 5 in 26. Credit to Denver with 10 in 20. A remarkable achievement. A bounce here., a save there. Small margins.
We’ll reload. I’m not as worried as much about NIL since the CHL kids will soon be available, opening up so many more kids to recruit. The key will be identifying the kids that might be a little overlooked but pair enough skill with the drive to be great.
See you all in October.
Mike
Please build up the depth and quality of the D corps
Yeah Vinnie all we need is 3 Jacob Slavin clones and we’ll be good.
Thanks to the players and coaches for a fun ride I never expected.
And thanks for the commentary Mike.
Looking forward to an offensive boost from the newcomers next year.